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Deanna – high school teacher, San Jose, CA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmQZ8oQym8

Dedicated to great Mr. H.David Knobloch (HGHS orchestra director) & sidekick band teacher, Doc. 3 student creators

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jGjTXC9XBk

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Cover Letters Resumes

Interviews

Educ 450

Dr. Karen V. Lee

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Purpose of Cover letter & Resume:

Win an interviewConvinces employer you are

potential candidate for positionConcise, powerful, persuasiveTailor to employer

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Cover Letter:

Introduces your resume Academic competence

Demonstrates Professional language Grabs employer’s attention First impressions

Highlights skills Validates referral

To Win an interview

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Cover Letter tips:

Brief - maximum 3 paragraphs

1. Intro; link to referral, i.e., newspaper ad, contact person

2. Personal interests; specific goals

3. Contact info: cell phone, email

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Outline for Resume:

1. Contact Info with photo (!)

2. DO not include age, gender, marital status, SIN, health

3. Objective – career direction4. Education – degrees,

certificates5. Teaching Practicum 6. Employment Experience

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Outline (cont’d)

7. Volunteering– coaching, church, etc

8. Hobbies/Interests – clubs, music groups

9. Professional Affiliations – BCMEA, Orff Chapter, Musician’s Union, etc

10 References – Faculty Advisor, Sponsor Teacher (s), private teaching, etc

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(show samples of cover letters/resumes)

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Locating Teaching Postings :

Research - school districts have different hiring policies

Internet. www.educationcanada.comwww.bcpsea.bc.ca

www.bctf.bc.ca Networking – get to know as many

people as possible. Show your skills! Eg, requests, referrals, etc

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Diverse Career Opportunities Teacher-on-call Librarian Counsellor Administration Secondary Middle Elementary

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Other subject areas Full-time Part-time - team/teach Daytime Evenings Online Weekends

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Public Schools Catholic Schools Charter Schools Private Schools Adult Education Summer School

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College University Online Canada USA – New York, California, etc

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International

Korea England China

South America Singapore Australia

Hong Kong Germany South America

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UBC MUED

Teacher Graduates

(1999-2013)

TOTAL = 178 responses

Karen V. Lee, Ph.D.October 22, 09

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TEACHING: N/178 %

FT Sec. (other sub) = 77 45%

PT Secondary = 12 6%

FT Elem = 23 11%

PT Elem = 5 1%

Middle = 5 3%

Itinerant Band = 15 5%

Another sub. (FR,SS) = 2 1%

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OTHERS: N/37 %

TOC = 24 13%

Not Teaching = 4 1%

Failed = 1 .7%

Supp = 2 .7%

W = 3 1%

Don’t know = 4 3%

Home Studio = 3 2%

Died = 2 1%

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Grad students = 5 (full time masters)

N, Orleans;

S. Francisco, LA, Manitoba)

= 1 (Ph. D. – Ontario)

Grad students = 85 (part time masters)

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TYPE OF SCHOOL:

N/178 %

Public = 110 82%

Private = 34 7%

Catholic = 12 12%

Others = 22 27%

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SCHOOL DISTRICTS:

N/84 %

VSB = 22 26%

Burnaby = 7 8%

Richmond = 2 2%

N. Van = 2 2%

W. Van = 3 4%

Surrey = 7 8%

Langley= 3 4%

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Delta = 4 5%

N. West = 6 7%

Coquitlam = 2 2%

Squamish = 1 1%

Abbotsford = 1 1%

Mission = 1 1%

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Other BC = 11 13%

Alberta = 2 2%

Manitoba = 1 1%

Ontario = 3 4%

USA = 2 2%

Int’l = 5 6%

(Germany, England, Korea, Australia, Singapore)

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Prepare for Interview:

Research school/school district Bring Practicum Binder Talk to referral (if one) Know ‘buzz’ words (education jargon) Prepare a few questions - e.g. Why is

position open? Cultural backgrounds? Funding for music program? Any significant changes? Main objectives?

Know unit plan (some interviews require)

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Suggestions:

Be early Be friendly Be articulate Be honest and sincere Be polite with good manners Show you love kids Show you love teaching Show professional grooming Show good eye contact Show EXCELLENT interpersonal skills Write follow-up letter

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Possible Interview Questions:

Tell me about yourself What is your philosophy of teaching? What are your pedagogical strategies? What are your classroom management

strategies? What are your thoughts on assessment? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why do you want to teach for the VSB? What do you know about the VSB?

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Possible Interview Questions:

Why do you want to be a teacher? What did you learn from your practicum? What are your professional goals as a teacher? Why do you want to be a teacher-on-call? What provides you the greatest pleasure about

teaching music? Would you prefer to try a lot of strategies or

perfect the ones that work for you? Do you like to teach with a plan or let the

process determine the results? Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years? Can you tell me about any breakthrough

moments? What to do with a kid that doesn’t listen?

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Possible Interview Questions:

What is an area you still need work on? How to handle an irate parent that phones you? What is difference between teaching band vs. choir? Band

vs. strings? Band vs. guitar? Why should we hire you over others in your cohort? How to create lesson plan to address diversity? Tell me about your best lesson on practicum Tell me about your worst situation about classroom

management on practicum? If I walked into your classroom and observed you teach

from the back of the room for 15 minutes, what would I be feeling while walking out of your classroom?

What happens if a parent asks why their kid didn't get a line in the musical?"

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Problem Solving Questions:

A student is performing poorly in guitar class. While you talk to her, she says you are the worst music teacher she has ever had. What will you say?

Building an elective music program with Band and Choir is a challenge due to competing electives. What steps will you take to strengthen enrollment in the Band and choir programs?

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Problem Solving Questions:

Tell us how you select repertoire for your junior band/choir versus your senior band/choir students.

A student throws her flute across the room during intermediate band class. What will you do?

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Phone Reference Categories: (show VSB & Rmd Referee forms) International – email forms *(samples)

Classroom Management Written and Verbal Expression Flexibility Enthusiasm Instructional Skills Modeling Appropriate Behavior Commitment to Accomplishment Interpersonal Relationships with Staff/Students Teamwork Cultural Sensitivity Willingness to learn

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Stories:

Student offered 2 teaching positions on same day Student receives phone call about interview the

same afternoon Student is out-of-town on Labor Day weekend

and participates in phone interview for position that begins in 2 days

Student interviewed on cell phone for 30 min Student offered job at end of interview! Student gets a flat tire on the way to interview and

does not have school board’s phone #. She shows up 1 hour late and told they will ‘phone her.’

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Stories (cont’d):

Student returns after vacation to phone message for interview for day before. When she phones, the job has been filled.

Student arrives for interview and her shoe heel breaks off!

Student gets sick the day of interview in May. When rescheduling, they offer her another interview in September.

Student receives verbal job offer in June with condition that she has to wait until they exhaust the Surrey SD before she receives official written offer.

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Interview Stories (cont’d):

At 5pm, student requested for 11 a.m. interview the next day. All his suits are at the cleaners.

Accepts job offer the Friday before labor day weekend with request for choir performance next Wednesday.

Student accepts TOC offer at 10 a.m. At noon, she is offered continuing P/T position in another district.

Student offered position at the end of the interview @ 10:30 a.m. on the 3rd day of school. By noon, he signs contract at the board office and starts teaching choir at 1pm.

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Stories (cont’d):

Competitor informs teacher he’s definitely getting position. But student interviews & receives job offer

Student interviews for .2 position & leaves interview with full-time job offer

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Stories (cont’d):

During your 4pm interview, the Principal from the independent school requests to observe your @7:30 a.m. choir class tomorrow at your practicum school.

Student is offered position in Salmon Arm on Thurs and told they need an answer Monday. Student decides to drive up on Friday to visit the school and community for the weekend & declines position.

A student declines a music position at a private school but they phone back and offer her $10,000 more.

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Approximate SalariesBurnaby School District = $45,000 (first yr)

Richmond School District = $45,000 (first yr)

Masters Degree = approx $50,000 (first yr)

TOC = $200/day

On 4th consecutive day, paid at scale

Eg. $200 for day, 1, 2, 3 = $600

Day 4 = $215/day

i.e., 4th day adds $215 + 45 = $260

TOTAL = $860 for 4 days

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Approximate Salaries

If scale = $58,000

Day 4 = $300/day

i.e., 4th day adds $600

TOTAL = $1200 for 4 days

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Questions??

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Benefits of Teaching

Deanna – high school teacher, San Jose, CA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmQZ8oQym8