August 25th, 2018

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Hello, and welcome to my 8th grade US History class! My name is Michael Faust,
and I have the privilege of teaching your student for this upcoming year.

In the spring of 2018, I graduated from Butler University with Bachelors Degrees in
Middle/Secondary Education and History. By working with my peers and professors, I
conducted a significant amount of research on 18th- and 19th-century US History, as well
as worked hundreds of hours of teacher preparation in schools around Indianapolis. In
my final semester, I worked as a student-teacher in a 9th-grade World History classroom
at Pike High School, and an 8th-grade US History classroom at Northview Middle
School.

I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, learning from incredible teachers who
ultimately influenced my decision to be a teacher. History, as well as teaching, has felt
natural to me, as by living in London, England for a brief three-year stint, I have an
incredibly deep appreciation for history and social studies in general. If I had the time
and the money, I would travel frequently back to London and around Western Europe
studying World War II.

I also want you to know that I put an emphasis on critical thinking skills and content
analysis, rather than having students memorize names and dates. While these facts are
often necessary for understanding the content, I stress student thinking and growth,
both of which are displayed more often outside the regurgitation of facts and figures. I
also emphasize application of the content to the modern day, as so often in our lives we
find ways the past connects with the present.

I look forward to meeting you at our upcoming back-to-school night, but if you have
any questions before then, feel free to contact me at: XXX-XXX-XXXX or
mfaust@butler.edu. And if you want to stay up-to-date on what your students are
learning, head over to our class site at <LINK>.

Lastly, I am asking for your help in your students first assignment. 1) please read the
syllabus and sign the last page so that I know theyve discussed my class with you, and
2) help your student find/print a picture of themselves that can fit on a standard 3x5
index card. This will aid them in creating a short about me project tomorrow in our
second class.

Thank you so much, and I am excited to have your student in my class!

Yours in education,

[signature]

Mr. Michael Faust