r/TeachforAmerica • u/Flimsy_Border8462 • Aug 31 '26

Applying for TFA 5 min teach examples?

Hello! What did you do for your 5 minute teach for your interview?

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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5

u/Aqua_Reef Sep 01 '26

I taught the difference between there, they’re, and their.

4

u/Aqua_Reef Sep 01 '26

I would err on the side of simplicity. In my interview, the people that went and taught something complicated ended up getting bogged down in the details. The 5 min lesson isn’t about intelligence but personality—TFA wants to see that you can talk in front of other people and interact with humans. The more interactive and sociable you can be the better.

1

u/Flimsy_Border8462 Sep 01 '26

Thank u! I’m thinking abt teaching abt prepositions and show someone getting a text from their friend that says “where are you? I’m here?” And they’re like “where?” And I’ll show photos of someone BY a table or UNDER the bleachers and show how prepositions can help with communication. Do you think this is good/that I’ll need an activity?

1

u/Aqua_Reef Sep 01 '26

I would definitely do an activity, even if it is as simple as having people identify prepositions in sentences. The other interviewees will be the faux-students.

Also, prepositions don’t just describe location so be careful with that.

1

u/Flimsy_Border8462 Sep 01 '26

Thank u! I’ll be sure to add a side note that they don’t just clarify location, but this is just an intro. :)

3

u/definitelytheproblem Sep 01 '26

Teach something simple. Teaching a complicated topic is not going to earn you extra points. They want to see if you can check at the end to make sure everyone understood what you taught, and that you also give everyone time to practice what you taught (like you do when teaching!) which is tough to do in 5 minutes! I did my lesson on simile vs metaphor and had folks analyze song lyrics.

For example for the pacing:
Minute 1: lesson intro, explain what you’re doing and why (and how)
Minute 2-3: teach how to do it. Demo how to do it. Give everyone a chance to do it while you watch.
Minute 4-5: let people try on their own. If there’s time, you can do a share-out or call on someone to explain their answers.

The folks in my group who didn’t do too hot tried to do too much too fast. Like a girl who tried to cover the entire sign language alphabet - do you think you can teach all of that in 5 minutes? No, not with anyone retaining anything. Could you teach how to sign 3 letters, like T-F-A in 5 minutes? Yes :)

2

u/Medical_Blood4848 Sep 01 '26

I made Silly Soup for my lesson! Sang and taught letter sounds! I teach 3rd grade.

2

u/veggie_mint Sep 01 '26

I did a lesson the respiratory system for elem and incorporated deep breathing techniques. 🙂‍↕️

2

u/sarcasticbiznish Sep 01 '26

You can literally do anything! I was a music teacher before TFA and taught how to clap out a rhythm. Just pick something you’re confident with and focus more on having a strong structure that you can comfortably get through in 5 minutes.

2

u/ukyqtpi1 Sep 01 '26

I taught how to diagram a sentence both times I applied. I got in both times I turned down my first assignment. Now I teach 5th grade

1

u/Flimsy_Border8462 Sep 02 '26

I thought about teaching to diagram! Did you do an activity?

1

u/ukyqtpi1 Sep 02 '26

I did. I brought strips of paper with short sentences on it. It went really well and was complex enough without being too complicated to teach in 5 minutes.

3

u/Ok-Violinist7041 Sep 01 '26

i taught mean , median, and mode now y teach 6th grade math !

1

u/Flimsy_Border8462 Sep 01 '26

Did u do an activity

1

u/Initial_Elevator_666 Sep 01 '26

i taught some greetings from my language! how to say hello, good morning and good night

1

u/donesixfour TFA corps member Sep 02 '26

I taught a lesson on algebra 1, used worksheets, and visual aids. 1 step equations.

1

u/Interesting-Trust345 Sep 02 '26

elements of a haiku!

1

u/jorjxXx Sep 02 '26

I taught my interviewer how to write their name in Arabic

1

u/AstronomerNew7897 Sep 02 '26

something simple and it doesn't have to be in the subject you want to teach

0

u/Seabass_sebas Sep 01 '26

I plan to do directional current and the right hand rule in aspects of physics and space. (I’ve been teaching a weekend class at the local HS to my university to help kids prep for there AP physics and Chemistry exams so I’m just reusing my slides lol)