Personal Statements for Teaching

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Personal Statementsfor Teaching

• Career Development and
• Co-Operative Education Office
• 401TB
• 613-520-6611

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Objectives

• What is a personal statement?
• Format
• Content
• Evaluation Criteria

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What is a Personal Statement?

• Autobiographical Narrative
• A story of the path you have taken (academic,
  work and life experiences) which led you to apply
  for your Bachelor of Education
• What you did academically and why
• What you have done outside of academia and its
  relevance to teaching
• what you have to offer to the teaching profession
  and specifically the B.Ed program
• Prove your passion - examples, achievements

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Format

• Read each question carefully and make sure that
  you answer each one.
• Customize each application.
• Many students apply to many programs. Avoid
  generic personal statements. Send customized
  personal statements. Use action oriented
  language.
• Have a beginning, middle and end
• Use examples and transition from each paragraph
  smoothly

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Format cont.

• Make sure you stay to the length requested.
• Re-read the requirements for each school. Some
  will ask you to highlight experience with your
  intended teaching age group, future goals,
  diversity or special needs
• Emphasize strengths and explain anomalies

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Format cont.

• The format varies WIDELY from school to school.
  Know what each school wants!
• For example, Brock ask to describe two
  experiences (100 hours each) and to discuss how
  this has shaped your understanding of the
  teaching and learning process. Nippissing lets
  you have one page to expand as you want, Trent
  asks in one page to critically reflect on three
  experiences you have had
• To get the forms online go to
• http//www.ouac.on.ca/teas/teas-profiles.htmlB

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What makes a GREAT teacher?

• Commitment to learning and teaching
• Working effectively with children or youth
• Organizational skills
• Effective communication
• Teamwork and collegiality
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Initiative
• Commitment to addressing issues of
• diversity and equity

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First Steps for Creating Content

• Conduct self-reflection
• What are your motivations for applying to this
  institution?
• What are your interests, skills, and goals and
  how would you link those to a classroom?
• How do your personal goals match with the
  institution and program? Talk about how you
  expect to contribute to the field of education
  and to that specific institution.
• What insights have you gained from your
  experiences

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• Research the Institution
• Faculty,
• Alumni,
• Admissions,
• Courses,
• Specialization
• and VISIT!

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Creating Content cont.

• A practical way to start is to create a time
  line. Where did your interest in teaching start?
  Why teaching? Then what? Then what did that lead
  to?
• Past._________Present_______Future
• Now mark off any achievements, experiences,
  learning's, reflections, and accomplishments!
• Use these to select what you would like to
  include in your personal statement

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Example of a Time Line

• Past Present Future

Guidance Counsellor
Deans List
Tutored Math
Courses in Child Behaviour
Bachelor of Education
Worked Summer Camp
Worked Group Home
Went to Europe
Volunteer Award
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SAR

• Situation - volunteered to tutor math
• Action or Ability explained things clearly
• Result child learned quickly and enjoyed
  learning math

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Remember to

• Get your draft critiqued
• Type-written (make sure that it is neat!)
• Spelling and grammar are important.
• Tone be genuine, realistic, unique, excited and
  anecdotal.
• Make your aim clear, succinct, and enthusiastic.
• Double check right letters in the right
  envelopes!

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What the Admissions Committees are evaluating?

• Naming your skills and then showing
• the fit or link between your experience,
  personality, reflections, learnings and teaching
• The criteria you were assigned
• Writing ability
• What you bring to the table
• Immediate and long-term goals
• Level of maturity and self-evaluation
• Dedication, commitment and honesty
• Your unique contribution to the institution

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• Your Number One Advantage
• In the Application? YOU!
• Focus on what will make you a GREAT teacher!
• Be proud of and demonstrate your passion for
  teaching.
• Prove that you put your best self forward with a
  well thought out personal statement.
• Market yourself ask others to list your best
  qualities.
• Show that youre more than a transcript!

GOOD LUCK!!
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Questions about Careers?
www.carleton.ca/cdce 401TB 613-520-6611