How To Make Toast

While all the questions are important, we are specifically concerned with the answers to questions that ask WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW you would do something.  These are the questions that help us evaluate how you structure and teach a lesson, the techniques and equipment you use, and the effectiveness of your instruction.  We suggest that these questions be considered as essay prompts, and that each answer be written as an essay.

LACK OF DETAIL is the number one reason applications are denied.

This is an example of the type of response we are NOT looking for:

Question
Please describe how you would teach someone to toast a piece of bread using a toaster. Be sure to include all the steps necessary so the end result is a piece of toast that can be eaten. Your answer may be in outline or paragraph form.

Answer
Put the bread in the toaster, and spread it with butter when it is done.  Enjoy eating it.

This is an example of the type of response that we ARE looking for:

Question
Please describe how you would teach someone to toast a piece of bread using a toaster. Be sure to include all the steps necessary so the end result is a piece of toast that can be eaten. Your answer may be in outline or paragraph form.

Answer

1. Check to make sure ingredients (loaf of bread, stick of butter) are available.
2. Check to make sure needed equipment (toaster, plate, knife) is available.
3. Place loaf of bread and stick of butter onto the counter.  Toaster should be within arm’s reach.
4. Make sure the toaster is plugged into the electrical outlet.
5. Unwrap stick of butter.
6. Open wrapping on loaf of bread and remove one slice.  
7. Place slice of bread on plate while you close wrapping on loaf of bread.
8. Pick up slice of bread, and place it into the appropriate slot of the toaster.
9. Make sure toaster is set to toast to a medium darkness.  This is usually done with a knob or lever.  Set it in the middle spot unless your personal preference is for lighter or darker toast.
10. Depress knob/switch on toaster to lower bread and start toasting process.
11. When toaster beeps, lift knob/switch on toaster to raise toast. 
12. Using your fingers, take hold of the top of the piece of toast and remove it out of the slot.  (An alternative method is to stick the non-handle end of a knife into the toast instead of holding it with your fingers. DO NOT INSERT ANY PART OF KNIFE INTO TOASTER ITSELF.)
13. Place the toast onto a plate.
14. Pick up the knife by the handle.
15. Use the non-handle end of the knife to remove a portion of butter from the stick.  The amount you remove will depend on personal preference.
16. Use the knife to place the butter onto the toast. 
17. Wait 15 seconds for the butter to soften from the heat of the toast.
18. Use the non-handle part of the knife to spread the butter from side to side on the slice of toast.   Be sure to cover all of the large flat surface of toast that is facing upwards.
19. Pick up the piece of toast with your fingers, move it to your mouth to take a bite, and eat.

You can see that someone who has no idea of what a piece of toast is might well have difficulty following the first answer.  However, someone can readily make a piece of toast by following the directions in the second answer.

NADOI is not looking for specific philosophies or techniques.  Rather, we are looking for individuals who are effectively and humanely instructing their students.

If you have any additional questions as you prepare your application, please feel free to contact us for more information or assistance.