May 20, 2014

To whom it may concern:

It is difficult for me to express in writing the excitement and anticipation I feel about beginning
my career as a professional teacher. Having recently completed my Bachelor of Secondary Education at
the University of Alberta, I am now so looking forward to spending my time at the front of a classroom
instead of in a desk. In my IFX I taught grade 8 Language Arts and assisted with grade 7 and 8 Science.
In my AFX I taught grades 7, 8 and 9 Language Arts as well as Grade 7 Science.
I am extremely passionate about youth and helping to guide their success. I feel that all students
are able to learn and be successful; it is up to the educator to facilitate their learning in a manner that
works for them. I believe in challenging students to work hard and be their best, while continually
encouraging, supporting, and guiding them. I will accomplish this through differentiated instruction and
a variety of valid and reliable assessment models.
I think the best way to reach students is to earn their respect, while maintaining my authority.
Through building meaningful relationships with my students I believe I will be able to impact their lives,
and they will in turn be respectful and hardworking members of my classroom. I will use my interests
such as sports, dance, music and the outdoors, to connect and relate to students. I will also incorporate
my students interests into lessons, where appropriate, to foster engagement. These relationships are
what shape my classroom management techniques and abilities. My classroom is a friendly, open, and
safe space where all learners are cared for, supported, respected and encouraged. Students will follow
these guidelines because of their mutual respect for me and their peers, which will come from the
relationships we build from the beginning.
My degree with an English Language Arts major and Biological Sciences minor highlights my
variety of interests, passions, and skills. I feel that this will make me a valuable part of any school staff
as I am able to teach in both the Humanities and the Sciences. My love for both English and Biology
originated from fantastic high school teachers, so I am aware of what an impact a passionate teacher can
have on their students. I hope to help students foster their love for these subjects, as well as a general
love for learning and desire for growth throughout their entire lives.
Outside of the classroom, I have many other passions and interests which I plan to incorporate
into my lessons as much as possible, again to encourage engagement and interest. One of these is travel,
which I have been able to do twice during my education. In my third year I studied abroad for the winter
semester in Cortona, Italy at the University of Albertas campus there. In the spring term before my final
year I spent a month living and teaching in Accra, Ghana. Both of these experiences opened my eyes to
new cultures and perspectives and have helped influence the way I teach and interact with students. I am
also passionate about dance, which I have 10 years of training in as well as experience teaching at a
junior level. I love sports, particularly basketball, which has been a part of my life in one way or another
for almost a decade. I have a heart for students with special needs as a number of my family members
have learning disabilities. I have a particular love for and connection with deaf students, as I took
American Sign Language for all three years of high school as well as one course in University. I am now
May 20, 2014
proficient in ASL and look forward to the opportunity to communicate with deaf students in my school
or classroom.
As I mentioned, I truly cannot express my love and passion for teaching on paper, nor can I
demonstrate my enthusiasm or charisma, but I look forward to having my own classroom and becoming
an active member in a school community soon, and for the rest of my working life.
Thank you,

Allison Zimmerman
alzimmer@ualberta.ca