‭ ian Tang‬

D
‭211 Sawbuck‬
‭Irvine, CA, 92618‬
‭(425)-598-1069‬
‭tangdian200108@gmail.com‬‭OR‬‭diant1@uci.edu‬

‭To whom It May Concern:‬

I‭ am thrilled to be reaching out to you regarding the opening High School Math Teacher role and‬
‭would like to apply. Coming from the University of California, Irvine, as a math major with a‬
‭bachelor set to graduate and a secondary teaching credential in math through the CalTeach‬
‭program, I am more than ready to make a meaningful impact in your esteemed school district.‬
‭My fluency in Mandarin only adds to my qualifications, making me an invaluable resource for‬
‭catering to the diverse linguistic needs of your students.‬
‭During my placement as a student teacher at Northwood High School in Irvine, I was fortunate‬
‭enough to have the opportunity to work alongside the math department chair, who acted as my‬
‭mentor. My fieldwork experience enabled me to acquire and implement diverse teaching‬
‭techniques rooted in the universal design of learning, effectively connecting with students from‬
‭diverse cultural backgrounds while also considering individualized instruction for students with‬
‭special needs. An example of this was designing a curriculum focused on trigonometric ratios‬
‭and their inverses, incorporating a cross-cultural practice of kite flying, perfectly tailored to the‬
‭primarily Asian student population at my placement school site. Throughout this curriculum, I‬
‭included the use of actual kites as realia and tangible learning tools. By immersing students in a‬
‭hands-on, visual experience, I not only fulfilled the requirements of the Common Core standards‬
‭but also accommodated English language learners through translated materials and clear‬
‭bilingual instructions. Through math-based exploration, students were able to analyze various‬
‭elements of a kite, prompting them to investigate questions such as, “How does the angle of the‬
‭kite in relation to the ground, the distance between the kite and the person who is holding it and‬
‭the length of its string impact its height?” I have acquired and effectively utilized diverse‬
‭assessment techniques in order to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their grasp‬
‭of conceptual understanding using various means. This lesson culminated with a collaborative‬
‭project, where students were tasked with creating geometric models of right triangles. By‬
‭calculating the ideal angles, the distance between the person and the kite, and a string length to‬
‭maximize their kite’s height and then experimenting with their model on an actual field, students‬
‭were able to bridge theoretical math concepts to practical applications in real-world situations.‬
‭This hands-on experience solidified my dedication to fostering inclusive and culturally‬
‭responsive learning environments.‬
‭Beyond my student teaching, I actively engage with math department faculty and colleagues‬
‭from various disciplines to form professional learning teams. Together, we set instructional goals‬
‭and explore innovative teaching methods. My bilingual abilities have allowed me to contribute to‬
‭extracurricular endeavors, such as translating assessments and creating bilingual math‬
‭vocabulary lists. These efforts have greatly benefited our ELL students, elevating their learning‬
‭experience within the classroom. Moreover, I have fostered positive relationships with my‬
‭students by forming “language learning groups,” in which ELLs from different classes work‬
t‭ogether to develop their English proficiency skills. This includes creating bilingual index cards‬
‭and using them in practical math problem-solving.‬
‭Having had the opportunity to study abroad and in another state in both China and Seattle before‬
‭beginning my college journey in Irvine, I have gained a unique perspective on diversity. Through‬
‭my time as a tutor at the Upward Bound Study Center of newcomer immigrant students and a‬
‭mentor at UCI Math CEO’s after-school program for underserved Latinx youth, I have sharpened‬
‭my skills in designing motivating curricula that are tailored to students from various‬
‭socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. My international background and hands-on experiences‬
‭have greatly equipped me to engage and support students from diverse backgrounds effectively.‬
‭I am looking forward to having the opportunity to apply my enthusiasm for mathematics‬
‭education, multicultural perspectives, and cooperative approach to your district. I am confident‬
‭that my qualifications make me an ideal candidate, and I eagerly anticipate discussing them with‬
‭you in an interview. Thank you very much for considering my application.‬

‭Sincerely,‬

‭Dian Tang‬