Resume advice for an average teacher
I am currently employed, but I am planning to submit applications to other districts. I am writing my CV, and I am looking for some advice.
When I am writing about my job experience, what do I write in my job description if I don't have any extraordinary achievements? Looking at some resume examples, I see things like this:
- Develop and implement engaging, differentiated lesson plans that cater to diverse students learning styles.
- Assess and evaluate student progress regularly, using both formative and summative assessments, providing constructive feedback and tailored support to improve to improve student performance and confidence.
- Collaborate with colleagues and parents to create supportive learning environments and address students’ academic challenges promptly.
- Integrate technology and innovative teaching methods to enhance student understanding and participation.
- Actively engage in ongoing professional development, completing over 30 hours of targeted pedagogical workshops and instructional technology training annually.
The problem is that these could apply to any teacher, it is just doing your job. Some advice I have read is that you should highlight your achievements, but how do achievements look like for an average teacher? I honestly think I've been doing a decently good job. I develop my own lesson plans, most students seem to like my classes, and I can see that students are learning. But I've never won a teaching award, and we don't have standardized tests in Canada that I can use to show some objective improvement in my students scores.
There are other things that are better suited for a cover letter (like for example, talk about an anecdote that made me grow as a teacher). But I don't think these belong on my CV.
So, currently, my CV has:
- My educational background
- My job experience (Without a description of my responsibilities. I am assuming that saying "full time math teacher at XXXX school district" already tells them what my responsibilities are. The only part that I describe explicitly is which courses I taught.
- Professional development (even thought they are mostly workshops I was required to take as part of PD days).
- Teaching certificate information, and which subjects I can teach
- Other skills (languages, software, etc.)
Do you have any suggestions? Is there any other information you suggest including?