The cover letter is arguably the most important part of the job application packet. It is also the one that tends to get far too little attention. You have to remember that the cover letter is meant to be the tool that sells you. It is what is going to make the employer interested enough to give you that interview. How you write your cover letter affects the likelihood of that interview in a big way.
All cover letters follow the same general format: personal contact information, company address, date, greeting, introduction, body, and closing. Letters for teachers need to include a few special things within the given format. Here are a few tips for making a strong cover letter
A common mistake that teachers make is that they only list their experiences, accomplishments, credentials, and licenses in the cover letter. Commonly, we will see a sentence something like this: "I have been teaching 6th grade for the last nine years. During those years I have been recognized as innovative and twice won the most improved classroom award."
The problem with a passage like that is that it rehashes the resume or curriculum vita. Those items should already be on the resume. Restating them in the cover letter wastes precious space and squanders opportunity. Instead of rephrasing the resume, you need to show the prospective employer why these particular skills are the answer to their problems.
You need to do a little research and find out what the school district is interested in. Do they have problems with low graduation rates? Are the standardized test scores below average? Do they need to strengthen a science curriculum? Show how your skills will help to solve those specific problems. Then you will stand head and shoulders above other applicants.
Jump right into the letter and show them how you can tackle a specific issue and resolve it. Convey your enthusiasm for the educational challenge and for problem solving. Show your energy and passion.
If you are interested in going to work for district XYZ, then you need to find out what they are doing and what kinds of programs they have. Maybe they have a mentorship program. If so, you need to write a couple of sentences about how mentoring fits into your personal teaching philosophy and how excited you are to have the chance to be a mentor.
Use strong action words and avoid clichs. An oft repeated phrase in education cover letters is "I love kids." Not only does that NOT convey anything about you as a teacher, it reads as a code that says "I don't have any experience."
Psychologists tell us that a first impression is formed within 10 seconds. Your cover letter IS your first impression. Take the chance to make it a good one because, the sad reality is, once formed, first impressions are nearly impossible to shake.
We expect that teachers will be able to speak well, to use proper grammar, and to spell. That is true for all job seekers but especially so for those in the field of education. If you make spelling and grammar mistakes, you will make a poor impression. It conveys either that you are too lazy to check your work (hardly a good employee characteristic) or that you haven't the ability to speak and spell correctly. That wouldn't make for a very good teacher.
The most powerful teacher letters will accomplish the following. First, they will demonstrate that you want to work in that particular school district. Second, they will highlight your two or three major strengths as a teacher while also reflecting your experiences. Finally, cover letters will show your enthusiasm for teaching, for working with young people, and for the subject matter you will be teaching.
If you do all of those things well, you may just find yourself in a classroom full of eager faces waiting for you.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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