Basic skills aides work in schools assisting teachers in the classroom. The responsibility of the basic skills aide lies with assisting students one-on-one and helping them grasp the concepts introduced by the teacher. These concepts focus on foundational skills such as reading, math or writing. An individual pursuing a career as a basic skills aide must spend time reflecting on her own skills before the interview to respond to the interviewer's questions.

How Do You Engage Children to Learn These Skills?
Children struggling to learn concepts sometimes disengage to avoid the frustration of not understanding. The ability to engage the children in subjects they struggle with makes the basic skills aide valuable in the classroom. The interviewer asks this question to learn what techniques the applicant uses to spark the children's interest. The interviewer wants to find out what innovative ideas the applicant has and how these ideas fit into the current classroom structure. The applicant should share examples of creative ideas he has used to grab a child's interest and how the child reacted.

Have You Ever Worked With A Difficult Parent?
While a basic skills aide spends less face time with the parents than the lead teacher, parental interaction is unavoidable. Difficult parents tend to speak louder and more aggressively, requiring attention even if the lead teacher is occupied. The basic skills aide may step in and talk with the parent. Some lead teachers welcome the assistance, while others adhere to a hierarchy when dealing with parents. The interviewer asks this question to find out if the applicant approaches these situations with a proactive approach or remains hands-off. The interviewer wants to determine how well the personality of the applicant will fit with the personality of the lead teacher. The applicant should respond honestly while demonstrating respect for the authority of the lead teacher.

What Is Your Biggest Frustration?
A basic skills aide deals with a variety of challenging situations, from children not understanding simple concepts to parents not respecting the dynamic of the classroom. The interviewer wants to find out what triggers the applicant to potentially lose control and how the applicant deals with those situations. The applicant should respond by stating a frustration and focusing more on his method for dealing with that frustration.

With the Diversity of Skill Levels in the Classroom, How Do You Prepare?
Children come to the classroom with a variety skills and abilities. The basic skills aide works to meet each student at their own ability level. The interviewer asks this question to find out how the applicant maintains an even approach with each student. The applicant should discuss her flexibility and how easily she adapts to different skills, abilities and personalities.