Kayla Howard

1582 Landel Dr, Ottawa, ON K2W1C6| kaylahoward888@gmail.com| 613-850-7629

To Whom It May Concern:

I am currently a student of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa

completing my Bachelor of Education in the Primary/Junior division and I have also obtained
my undergraduate degree in Second Language Teaching at the University of Ottawa. In addition,
this upcoming spring, I will be completing my French as a Second Language Part 1 additional
qualification. I am a passionate teacher candidate who is devoted to student success and
inclusivity in the classroom and I believe I would be a great applicant for this position. Please
accept my application for the available position for the Elementary Occasional Teacher List for
your school board.

During my practicum experiences, they both have allowed me to work with a wide
range of students with diverse skills and needs allowing myself to value the importance of
inclusion in the classroom. I have worked alongside my associate teachers to help the students
reach their full potential to develop accommodations and modifications for differentiation so
that all children in the classroom can equally learn and succeed. For example, I developed
modified math, science, and social studies lessons for small groups of students modified beneath
their grade levels. In addition, as I taught all subjects, I tried to incorporate a variety of
interactive strategies into my lessons to motivate student learning and enable student interest
by using the Backward design model. For example, in science, with the end-goal of exploring
and understanding the human body, I introduced this complicated discussion into a standing
game with movements which allowed the students to have a body break at the same time as
learning the lesson’s key words and concepts. Moreover, as an educator I believe inquiry-based
learning allows children to explore their thoughts and wonders, but to also build on their growth
mindset. Throughout both my practicums, I tried to begin each lesson with an open-ended
question, to create engaging discussions which allowed the students’ investigations and ideas to
play a part in the learning process.

Through experience I believe it is important to create lesson and unit plans that are
differentiated by using the Universal Design for Learning to meet the needs and interests of all
students; this provides them with equal opportunities to learn, helps them feel welcomed into
the classroom, and creates a positive learning environment. As a committed educator who has
wished to become a teacher since a very young age, I believe learning is a continuing process not
only for the students, but for myself as a teacher and individual. Therefore, through my practice,
I strive to improve myself as a teacher, but also encourage the students to seek ways to improve
themselves.

Finally, I believe my experiences, abilities, and qualifications I have shared with you
today will be of value to your board. I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to the
opportunity to discuss the possibility of becoming part of your team.

Kind regards,

Kayla Howard