Madison Peters

Sioux Falls, SD 57016

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my interest in and apply for the open teaching position at your school.
I am a May 2024 graduate of South Dakota State University, with a degree and teaching
certification in Early Childhood Education and a certification in Elementary Education from
Dakota State University. I completed my student teaching experience in the Harrisburg
School District, where I have built positive relationships with students and staff. Because of
this and my strong professional and academic background, I am eager to express my interest
in the open teaching position at your school.

Throughout my time at South Dakota State University and Dakota State University, I took
various courses and have gained knowledge in child development, teaching practices and
methods, and educational assessment. I have also learned the importance of creating a safe
and supportive classroom environment and helping learners develop a growth mindset.
Having a growth mindset helps learners to believe in themselves and their abilities. One of
the biggest takeaways from my courses is using a standards-based grading approach when
analysing learners’ knowledge and progress of a particular standard. Using standards-based
grading truly shows what a learner knows, as opposed to traditional grading approaches, like
exams and homework. Standards-based grading can be transformed into a traditional letter
grade, and I feel prepared to do that as needed.

In addition to my educational coursework, I have also had many experiences in the

classroom: assistant teaching in a four- and five-year-old preschool classroom, student
teaching in a toddler preschool classroom, and practicum experiences in third-, fifth-, and
eighth-grade classrooms. Through my first experience as a student teacher in a preschool
classroom, I have learned the importance of building relationships with the learners and their
families and establishing communication between home and school. Additionally, this
student teaching experience has shown me how teacher collaboration plays an important role
in ensuring tasks are done effectively and efficiently and in providing different perspectives
and areas of expertise. My other experiences in the classroom have taught me numerous
things, including preparing lesson plans, meeting students where they are at, managing small
groups, and seeing a variety of teaching styles.

My second student teaching experience at the elementary level has given me yet another
perspective on teaching. Through this experience in particular, I am learning to take what I’ve
already learned and apply it in the classroom as I begin to take over, while also taking in new
understandings about the roles and responsibilities of the classroom teacher. Personalized
learning has also offered me new insight into how we can meet learners where they are in
their learning journey. I feel better equipped to facilitate their learning while offering them
the opportunity to take a personalized approach to their learning.

With my skills, experiences, and passion for teaching and learning, I believe I will be a
wonderful fit for your school district. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing why
I would be a great fit for this position. Please contact me any time after 5:00 p.m. at
(507)460-8762 or anytime by email at Madison.Herrick@icloud.com.
I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Madison Peters