Teacher Prep-Elementary or Secondary-Resume Tip Sheet

As a teacher preparation graduate, you should create a career-specific resume which highlights your relevant work experience from your required fieldwork and other PK-12 educational settings.  (Click Teacher Prep-Elementary or Secondary-Resume Template, and use the instructions below to create your resume.)

Instructions for creating a teacher preparation resume:

A. Heading

List your contact information at the top center like this:

ADDISON NADAR
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000            anadaremail@gmail.com
LinkedIn (Hyperlink this phrase to your own LI profile.)

B. Key Qualifications

Begin your resume with a summary of your key qualifications. To write the bulleted statements in this section, be sure to begin each statement with an action verb or strong adjective and use keywords, requirements, and preferences mentioned in the job posting. (For more information see Begin Your Resume with Professional Qualifications and 185 Action Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome.) Below is an example:

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Skilled in developing lesson plans and instructional materials and adapting the curriculum to individual students’ needs
• Effective in communicating and working collaboratively with colleagues and administration
• Able to apply quality classroom management techniques to create a highly productive learning environment
• Model high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in personal and professional matters
• Proficient in using digital technology for classroom instruction, record keeping and assessments, online resources, and communication with parents

Key words: learner-centered curriculum, classroom management, data-driven instruction, assessment, virtual delivery, cultural sensitivity

C. Education

Place your education information directly after the KEY QUALIFICATIONS section. You may include any colleges at which you have completed courses or from which you have obtained a degree. The examples below show how to list an education degree:

EDUCATION
   Baker College                                          BakerOnline                   Expected graduation 05/0000
   Bachelor of Science                                                                        Honors: Dean’s List
   Elementary Education (ZG)-Language Arts (BX)

   Baker College                                          BakerOnline                   Expected graduation 05/0000
   Bachelor of Science                                                                        Honors: Dean’s List
   Secondary Education-Mathematics (EX)

* Other optional information can be listed: organizations, honors, and GPA if 3.5 +.

D. Fieldwork Experience

A teacher preparation graduate’s fieldwork shows important examples of professional experience. List your fieldwork using this format:

FIELDWORK
Name of School                                      City, MI                          Spring 0000/Hours: 400
Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Full Name                  

• Excelled in using positive classroom management techniques  
• Created and implemented hands-on activities based on observations of children’s interests and skills

Name of School                                    City, MI                           Spring 0000/Hours: 20
Teacher Apprentice
Cooperating Teacher: Full Name

• Consistently built rapport and respect with students, co-workers, and parents
• Used differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students

E. Certifications

List licenses or certifications granted by a governing body. If they are listed as requirements in the job posting, choose the optimum place on the resume for this information. Below are examples of possible certifications:

CERTIFICATIONS

Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-BL,                             Expires 00/0000
    American Heart Association

F. Work Experience

List other work experience outside of fieldwork with two to three bullets which highlight hard and soft skills. Also, be sure to list related work experiences with children or families outside of your fieldwork which would be desirable to the employer (e.g., before/after-school care, camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, nanny, childcare, sports coach) and highlight transferable skills.

NOTE: Place WORK EXPERIENCE as the second section of the resume before EDUCATION if it shows experience in education. (e.g., paraprofessional, substitute teacher)

WORK EXPERIENCE
Name of Organization                           City, MI                          00/0000–00/0000
Job Title

• Do not simply list job duties; state an accomplishment or a skill you have shown in this job, beginning with an action verb

G.   OPTIONAL SECTION

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Kids’ Food Basket Volunteer                                                       0000–0000
Community Church Volunteer Staff, Children’s Ministry             0000–0000                                                                                                                       

• Be sure to list volunteer hours in the community, such as clean-up crews and non-profit service.

Revised 28 August 2024