Tips on writing your application essay and résumé
Elementary education foundations
Preparation
Gather information:
- Research and read about the program.
- Attend an info session to gather more information. If you can't make it to a session, contact Arien Telles, transfer admissions coordinator.
- Visit the Exploratory, Transition, and Career Services center in 127 Appleby Hall to help you edit your essay or to learn more about the program.
Writing the essay
Write a one to two page, double-spaced, reflective essay describing your classroom experience with elementary school children and how it has contributed to your goal of becoming a teacher. Provide examples of how you demonstrated your professional skills in the classroom. Please include your name on the essay.
- Introduce yourself and the purpose of the essay
- State your name, the college, and major/program to which you are applying.
- How will your interests and experiences help you become an
elementary school teacher?
- Chronologically describe your past and current interest and your experiences working with elementary school children in the classroom (does not have to be an elementary school; include all educational settings such as community center classrooms in which you worked).
- Provide information about what you did in these classrooms and what professional skills you used in these experiences. For example, "tutored students in math and designed arts and crafts curriculum."
- Relate how these experiences have influenced your goal of becoming a teacher.
- How will the elementary education foundations
program in CEHD help you to achieve your goal of becoming a
teacher?
- Write a summary statement such as: “As highlighted above, I believe that the elementary education foundations program in the College of Education and Human Development will help me to achieve my goals because ______(insert your thoughts)_____.”
Sample elementary education foundations résumé
Specific instructions by the elementary education foundations program on what to include in your résumé:
Résumé highlighting classroom experience that you gained post high school and other education-related experiences with children in grades K-6. Education-related experiences may include positions such as group leader, coach, nanny, and camp counselor. Your résumé must include the following information for each position or experience listed:
- Title/name of position
- Name and location of site
- Name and phone number of supervisor
- Dates and total number of hours spent at site (e.g., October 2004-December 2004; two days/week to total 70 hours)
- Description of activities in which you participated
- Description of the population (include age, racial/ethnic background, socioeconomic background, special needs, and type of setting, e.g., urban, rural, suburban)
- Sample elementary education foundations résumé [.doc]
- Sample elementary education foundations résumé [.pdf]
December 2006