Best Elementary Teacher Resumes For 2024 (Template & Guide)

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Elementary Teacher Resume Example: Getting Started

Writing an elementary resume begins with choosing the right template and format, such as the above example. It is particularly important to choose a format that clearly showcases your qualifications in an engaging manner so that you stand out among other job candidates.

There are three types of resume formats that elementary school teachers can consider.

Chronological Resumes For Elementary Teachers

The most popular and recommended is the chronological resume format, which strongly focuses on the applicant’s relevant professional experience.

A teaching candidate would, for example, list all their relevant experience in the work history section, such as past teaching and teaching assistant positions.

Each work experience is given a detailed description of responsibilities and achievements, as well as the job title, name of the employer, location, and dates of employment.

Responsibilities and achievements are listed in bullets that should contain strong action verbs and quantifiable metrics to stand out and provide a unique context to their qualifications.

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Functional Resumes For Elementary Teachers

Functional resumes emphasize the skills of an applicant. They are used when a candidate lacks relevant experience for the position.

For example, a recent graduate with a teaching degree specializing in elementary education might use the functional resume format and focus on the skills they learned in school.

Because most employers place a higher value on work experience, functional resumes are not usually compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and do not engage employers as effectively.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever use a functional resume, especially if you lack relevant work experience. However, it is important to understand the limitations of a functional resume.

Combination Resumes For Elementary Teachers

A combination resume is a hybrid between the chronological and functional resume formats. It places equal emphasis on skills and experience, which allows candidates to showcase both effectively.

An elementary teacher’s resume might choose the combination format, especially if the dedicated skills section can help compensate for lack of experience.

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Choosing A Resume Format

Choosing the right resume format is important in the writing process, and it’s important you pick the best one for you.

When in doubt, most experts recommend the chronological format. In this case, do your best to highlight your work experience. Even if it’s not directly related to teaching, you can look for transferable skills that demonstrate your qualifications.

For example, imagine that you are a recent college graduate. You may have had one assistant teaching internship and some camp counseling experience. Still, other than that, your work history includes being a restaurant server and a help desk specialist at your school library.

You may think it inappropriate to include those job positions, but that’s not true! You just need to show how that work history relates to your teaching abilities.

Consider how you may have trained fellow employees or educated customers and students, how you resolved conflict, and how you have the ability to communicate with all different types of people.

Your other jobs provide these types of opportunities of skills that can then be used to help further your case as a qualified elementary school teacher.

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How To Write A Elementary Teacher Resume

Once you choose a format for your elementary teacher resume, the process is pretty straightforward. You need to include five key sections, along with the option to include additional sections, to fill out your resume.

Those five key sections of a resume are:

• • • • • Contact Information
        • Summary or Objective
        • Work History
        • Skills
        • Education

Each section plays a vital role in helping you get a job teaching at an elementary school and setting you up for professional success!

Contact Information

Your contact information contains your full name, phone number, professional email address, and location (city/town and state). You may also include your LinkedIn profile or a link to any online website or portfolio, as long as it is relevant and further demonstrates your teaching abilities.

Ensure your contact information is at the top of your resume and is easy to read. Format it to stand out enough to make your name memorable, but don’t let it overshadow the rest of the resume content.

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Summary or Objective:

Most resumes come with a profile underneath the contact information that introduces the reader to the applicant.

You have two choices, a resume summary or objective.

A resume summary gives a brief overview of your most relevant skills and experience, as well as your career goals. This is a good choice for anyone with the work history to fill out their summary.

A good resume summary for an elementary school teacher may look like:

“Accomplished Elementary School Teacher with a decade of experience in the classroom. Achieved highest standardized testing scores in the state three years in a row. Proven history of improving student learning outcomes with creative learning techniques and a hands-on approach to teaching. Dedicated to promoting academic performance, fostering social skills and character development.”

A resume objective, meanwhile, focuses on your intentions and passion for the position. This is usually used by candidates who lack the experience but want to show that they are just as qualified and dedicated to success.

A good resume objective for an elementary school teacher might look like:

“Imaginative and resourceful Elementary School Teacher with an intuitive understanding of children’s needs and problem-solving skills. Excellent management skills and over a year of experience in supervising a classroom of 30+ students. Trained in administrative duty as well. Eager to enrich my pedagogical skill set as well as contribute to the school’s extracurricular activities to become a well-rounded educator.”

Note: whichever one you end up choosing, use this profile as an opportunity to focus on the most relevant keywords found in the elementary school teacher job description. This will help your resume stand out with the ATS and employers, giving you a better chance that the rest of your resume will be read.

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Work History

Crafting a compelling “Work History” section in your elementary teacher resume is crucial for showcasing your relevant experience and qualifications.

Most employers want to see tangible evidence of your abilities, and this section does that by providing a snapshot of your professional achievements.

Start with your most recent position and work backward with a focus on roles that align closely with the elementary teacher position you’re applying for.

This will help you stand out, so make sure to highlight responsibilities and accomplishments that demonstrate your qualifications for the job.

Use strong action verbs that convey growth through accomplishment and responsibility, and whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages.

Using metrics will make your elementary more impactful because it adds credibility to your accomplishments and provides concrete evidence of your impact. Additionally, it will make you more unique, showing what value you have to offer.

Here’s an example of what the work history section of your elementary teacher resume would look like:

Third Grade Teacher
Central Elementary School, Anytown, USA
08/2018 to Present

• • • • • Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans, resulting in a 15% improvement in standardized test scores.
        • Initiated and executed a reading intervention program, boosting literacy rates by 20%.
        • Increased parent involvement by organizing monthly workshops, resulting in a 25% attendance boost.
        • Implemented technology-driven lessons, contributing to a 30% improvement in students’ digital literacy skills.
        • Collaborated with fellow educators to develop a comprehensive curriculum for critical thinking learning programs.

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Skills

In a dedicated skills section, list your most relevant hard and soft skills for the elementary teacher position on your resume. Like your work history, focus on skills that are most relevant to the specific job in question and show that you have a balance of abilities.

Some of the most popular hard and soft skills for teachers include:

Top 5 Hard Skills for Elementary Teacher Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Curriculum Development: Designing engaging and effective lesson plans that align with educational standards is a critical part of an elementary teacher’s job.
            2. Classroom Management: Elementary school teachers must know how to create a well-structured and positive learning environment to ensure effective teaching and student engagement.
            3. Differentiated Instruction: In today’s classrooms, elementary teachers need experience tailoring teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles and special needs.
            4. Literacy and Numeracy: Proficiency in teaching elementary-level reading, writing, and mathematics is crucial to success as an elementary teacher.
            5. Educational Technology: Familiarity with integrating technology into lessons to enhance learning experiences will set you apart from the competition. List any software or applications you know to demonstrate your commitment to staying current with new technology.

Top 5 Soft Skills for Elementary Teacher Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Patience: Elementary teachers require exceptional patience when working with young and diverse student populations. Highlight this skill to show your ability to stay calm when students misbehave.
            2. Adaptability: Adapting to changing educational needs, curriculum updates, and classroom dynamics is crucial to success as an educator.
            3. Interpersonal Skills: Successful elementary teachers build strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.
            4. Organizational Skills: Maintaining a well-organized classroom and staying on top of administrative tasks is an essential skill for any teacher.
            5. Creativity: Infusing creativity into lessons to make learning enjoyable and memorable for young students sets excellent teachers apart from the rest.

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Education

The education section of your elementary teacher resume will include your highest degree obtained, the name of your institution, and its location. You can additionally include your graduation date, relevant coursework, and any honors or certifications you obtained.

However, you also have the option to include such information in separate sections. Choose whatever is best based on how relevant it is to the job you are applying to, and prioritize based on the amount of space you wish to take up.

An education section on an elementary school teacher’s resume may look like this:

Columbia University
New York, NY
Master’s in Education (M.D.Ed.)
Elementary Education

Many states have specific education requirements for public school teachers, so make sure you clearly provide your information. Private schools generally have less strict requirements. However, you will still want to abide by their expectations, so read over the job description carefully to find exactly what you need to provide.

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Additional Sections

You can provide additional sections on your resume if they are relevant and do not take up unnecessary space.

For an elementary school teacher, you might include additional sections on your resume, such as:

• • • • Certifications
      • Volunteer Experience
      • Professional Associations
      • Awards and Honors
      • Relevant Hobbies

Sometimes, you can include these pieces of information in other parts of your resume, but it can be helpful to separate them. This helps the qualifications stand out even more.

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Top 5 Certifications for Elementary Teachers

Certifications are particularly important for elementary teacher resumes. This is because almost all teaching positions will require professional endorsement of your abilities. After all, you are being entrusted with creating a positive learning environment for many young children.

Some of the most popular certifications for elementary include:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Teaching Certificate: Obtaining a state-approved teaching certificate is a fundamental requirement for elementary teachers.
            2. National Board Certification: Achieving this certification showcases your excellence in teaching and commitment to professional growth.
            3. ESL (English as a Second Language) Endorsement: An ESL certification is especially valuable if you plan to work in diverse classrooms or with students who speak English as a second language.
            4. Special Education Certification: This certification is for educators interested in teaching students with special needs or disabilities. It demonstrates a commitment to educating every student, regardless of their circumstances.
            5. Early Childhood Education Certification: Obtaining this certification demonstrates your qualifications to teach young children and demonstrates a commitment to your profession.

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8 Tips For Writing An Elementary Teacher Resume

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application to align with the school’s specific requirements and the qualities described in the job posting.
            2. Action Verbs: Use powerful action verbs to describe your teaching accomplishments and responsibilities. For example, use words like collaborated, designed, motivated, enabled or adapted to create an engaging resume.
            3. Highlight Achievements: Showcase quantifiable achievements, such as improved test scores or innovative teaching methods. Use numbers and percentages whenever possible to validate your accomplishments.
            4. Keywords: Include relevant keywords from the job posting to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
            5. Classroom Management: Highlight your classroom management skills and ability to maintain a positive learning environment. Use examples in your work history section to demonstrate your ability to manage a busy classroom.
            6. Parent Communication: Mention your experience effectively communicating with parents to inform them of students’ progress. Highlighting your ability to build positive relationships with parents will help you stand out from the competition.
            7. Technology Integration: Describe your proficiency in incorporating technology into lessons for interactive learning experiences. Also, highlight knowledge of software or applications commonly used in education.
            8. Proofread: Ensure your resume is error-free, with correct grammar and spelling, to create a professional impression. Even a small mistake can make the wrong impression.