Hello! This is my first post so I am not sure entirely how this works. I am beginning my job search and have just finished my cover letter. So I am looking for some feedback. I am using an online teacher application system through NY so there is no specific contact info for each of the jobs I am applying for. As I begin to apply for jobs through the districts, I plan to make slight changes to this cover letter as needed. Any feedback would be great because I am not sure exactly how this works! Thank you in advance. CONTACT INFO HERE To Whom It May Concern: It is with enthusiasm and fascination that I am writing as an applicant for your current teaching vacancy. I have aspired to be a mathematics teacher for several years. I want to make a difference in student’s lives and engage them in the classroom. I believe I can give back to students. As a newly certified teacher (pending) it is my role to actively engage students in learning. I have recently completed all the necessary requirements to become NYS certified for Mathematics 7-12. I am currently a senior at ---------------, where I will earn my bachelor’s degree this May with a dual major in both Adolescent Education and Mathematics. Through my studies, I have formulated my personal beliefs about teaching, become well versed in my content area, and have also discovered new teaching methods specifically targeted towards math classrooms. As indicated in my resume, I am completing my student teaching experience in ----. My first placement was at ----- teaching eighth-grade students. Currently, I am completing my second placement at ---- teaching a two-year Algebra program. My student teaching experience has professionally challenged me to meet the needs of students from all backgrounds and with all capabilities. I believe it is vital to understand the needs of each student in my classroom to successfully differentiate learning. I believe in a classroom that is student-centered to better meet my students’ needs. My experience has allowed me to modify lessons to provide necessary accommodations. I have also had the opportunity to allow my students to partake in both interactive learning environments and collaborative learning groups. I am eager for the opportunity to continue to pursue my passion for teaching and support students in teaching mathematics. I believe I have a strong academic background in both education and mathematics, which will even better enable me to assist struggling students. I have included my resume, contact information, and references. I can be contacted always on the details above. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and consideration, Ashley3
I'm seeing buzzwords and repetition and lots of sentences that begin with "I", but not a lot of you as a person. Ignoring your letter for the moment, please tell me a story, here and now, about a student for whom you've made a difference. Use a made-up name for the student.
Thank you for your feedback! Story time: During my first student teaching placement, I was teaching a unit on volume. There was one particular student in the class, let's call him Jonny, who had been unmotivated all year long. Jonny did not participate in class discussions, rarely turned in homework assignments, and I had never even seen him talk to one of his peers. My approach to this volume unit was interactive and collaborative groups. During one of my lessons, I set up stations. Each station contained either volume word problems or three dimensional objects that students were required to measure and find the volume of. I used ability grouping to pair my students for this activity. To my surprise, Jonny completed each of the three dimensional object stations before any of his peers. Jonny led his group through these stations and was both motivated and successful in his attempts. It was then in that moment that I realized the type of learning environment Jonny needed to succeed. It is important to note that Jonny was not the only student who prospered during this activity. From that moment on I differentiated my lessons to involve at least one interactive activity each day. I began to see Jonny, and many other students, prosper in class more than ever with this slight change in curriculum. All of my students became more engaged and interested in mathematics.
I think your letter is great. You don't want to write a novel because what would you talk about in your interview =). The only think I would take out is the word fascination in the first sentence. Good luck to you!
Nice story: it shows you in action. Pruned of repetition and unneeded words and given an introductory sentence, it would make a fine addition to a letter. Let this story flow cohesively from problem to implementation to immediate result to further consequences. I don't normally rewrite for people, but let me show you how this can be done: Notice how your story is reduced almost by half without sacrificing anything the reader can't infer, and it is student-focused into the bargain. For a letter, I'd add an introductory sentence that tells the reader what you think this story showcases about you as a math teacher worth hiring. What has made you want to be a math teacher?
