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Rebecca Shaw 3228 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60624 773.803.4910 msrdshaw@gmail.

com
January 16, 2013 AUSL Principal 3400 N. Austin Ave. Chicago, IL 60634 Dear Principal: I believe that all children can learn. It is up to us as educators to find the avenue that reaches the place where learning is meaningful for them. I believe that children need to be provided with opportunities and activities that will help them learn and grow and become independent thinkers. Being a product of an urban community, I have an innate desire to teach the students of my community and show them that successful role models can come from their own urban communities. As a teacher, I want to raise a generation of thinkers, explorers, inventors, philosophers, debaters, and every other part of greatness that can be instilled in our children. I believe that when we, as educators, demonstrate excellence, our students will expect excellence to be the standard. Please accept my letter of application for a Primary teaching position at an AUSL School. With my exceptional undergraduate and graduate record and yearlong residency at Curtis School of Excellence, I am particularly interested in utilizing my skills, residency experience, and knowledge with Primary students. My current yearlong teaching residency is preparing me to be an effective urban teacher. Through the Academy for Urban School Leadership, I am both observing and executing best teaching and management practices. In my residency I... Plan, co-plan and implement a variety of lessons and instruction both independently and with my mentor, coresident and grade-level partners Apply strategies such as Think-Pair Share, small group and mini-lessons, and a variety of checks for understanding that were creative and engaging Develop organizational techniques that help me effectively manage my time and cycle data and use that data assessment, such as NWEA and running records, to inform planning and instruction Successfully implement the ongoing practices and procedures of Signature Strategies and the Behavior Management Cycle that have taught me the importance of creating a culture of learning and a classroom environment that is academically challenging but comfortable and consistent in its expectations Use daily data to inform planning and instruction by implementing daily Do Nows and exit tickets Participate in development and curriculum trainings that will enhance my knowledge as a professional in my field

I believe my experience, strong interpersonal skills, and unwavering desire to continue learning and growing make me a perfect fit for an AUSL School. Most of all, I am eager to change the misperceptions of education in urban communities. I welcome the opportunity to be observed in my resident classroom. Thank you in advance for considering me for your program and I look forward to being able to speak with you. Warm Regards,

Rebecca Shaw Enclosure: Resume

Rebecca D. Shaw
3228 W. Jackson Chicago, IL 60624 (773) 803-4910 msrdshaw@gmail.com

Placement Preference Seeking a Primary position, 2nd grade and west side of Chicago preferred; Endorsed in Early Elementary Teaching

Education____________________________________________________________________________ National-Louis University, Master of Education in Urban Education (in progress) June, 2013 Anticipated Dec, 2011

National-Louis University, Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Credentials___________________________________________________________________________ Illinois Initial Certificate, Type 04, Early Childhood Teaching Illinois Self Contained General Education Endorsement Special Education (LBS1) Endorsement May 28, 2012 May 28, 2012 Anticipated

Teaching Experience___________________________________________________________________ Curtis School of Excellence Academy for Urban School Leadership 2012-2013 (in progress)

Currently receiving training for one full academic year under the supervision of a mentor teacher. Gaining extensive experience with the AUSL pacing guides and various other curriculum sources Independently planning, co-planning, and implementing a variety of units in a 2nd grade selfcontained classroom Three full takeover experiences for a total of 5 weeks in addition to various daily and weekly responsibilities which include, but are not limited to, guided reading groups, LLI instruction, individual student conferencing, etc. Continuing experience with using assessment data, such as NWEA and running records, to determine strategy groups and to structure mini-lessons Ongoing practice with classroom management techniques and strategies that aid in creating a culture of learning and success Instructionally incorporating the use of media and technology into classroom activities and projects

Related Teaching Experience____________________________________________________________ Mozart Elementary 2011 Student Teaching Experience Completed an intensive and accelerated 10-week program under the supervision of a cooperating teacher Created and implemented regular math, language arts, science, social studies and differentiated lesson plans for a classroom of 28 students Introduced and executed the newly acquired Everyday Math curriculum Successive weekly takeover opportunities for the duration of the student teaching experience which resulted in a full two-week takeover Garfield YMCA 2008-2010 Teacher Assistant Collaboratively prepared collective and individualized lesson plans for preschool-aged students. Formulated specialized curriculums, along with the educational team, that aided in the physical, cognitive and social-emotional development of children with special needs. Served as a facilitator in educational trainings for both parents and staff Participated in various planning and coordinating committees. Bridgeport Child Development Center 2003-2007 Lead Teacher Governed all paperwork assigned to my preschool classroom which included, but was not limited to, confidential documents, lesson plans and curriculum, scheduled reports and assessments, monthly newsletters and parent information Created documents that assisted in the day-to-day operations of the school, thus making it more efficient to report needed information Furnished written assessments, evaluations and advisory council for student teachers seeking degrees in the educational field, including new hires and trainees Implemented and evaluated all developmental, cognitive and social-emotional screenings and assessments required

Awards______________________________________________________________________________ Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society 1996

References___________________________________________________________________________ Kathy Barabasz Mentor Resident Coach Eilleen Rodriguez Mentor kathybarabasz@gmail.com eilleenr@gmail.com

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