Teacher assistants play a vital role in the education of young people by supporting teachers in a variety of tasks, including preparing the classroom, taking care of the pupils' emotional needs, and aiding during lessons, along with a range of other responsibilities. An exceptional teacher assistant cover letter is one of the best ways to stand out from other candidates and land a role as a teacher assistant.
The need to be concise while also doing justice to your talents and motivation can sometimes be a challenge when writing a cover letter. For anyone needing some guidance, Resume.io is a great place to start. Our job search resources include dozens of occupation-specific cover letter examples, each paired with a writing guide.
The writing guide you’re reading right now is specifically designed for teacher assistant job applicants. All of the step-by-step advice is supported by adaptable excerpts you are free to modify from a teacher assistant cover letter example. We’ll cover the follow topics:
- The essential paragraphs your cover letter format should contain
- Optimising the impact of each cover letter section, with reference to your key successes to date
- How to avoid making some of the most common cover letter mistakes.
For even more writing inspiration, check out these other cover letter examples and writing guides:
Best format for a teacher assistant cover letter
Planning a teacher assistant cover letter starts with determining the correct format to use. Taking one section at a time will make the writing process much easier. These are the essential cover letter components:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Here is an adaptable cover letter example that you can customise for each teacher assistant position you apply for.
Dear Ms. Naysmith,
As someone whose mild dyslexia remained undiagnosed throughout childhood, I know how it feels to struggle silently. All children have their own individual challenges, and my role as an elementary teacher assistant is to smooth their progress by using my skills and empathy.
Goodson’s track-record of improving outcomes for students with learning differences is exemplary. That’s why I would love to bring my skills to your teacher assistant team. Having spent three years assisting students in grades 3-5, I understand the importance of positive reinforcement and individual engagement in these formative years.
As a student myself pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education on a part-time basis, I aspire to become an elementary teacher in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I relish the one-on-one aspects of the teacher assistant role. The following student-centric achievements might give you a sense of how I would fit in at Goodson:
- Accompanied 25 special needs students during their annual summer camp
- Created a literacy strategy for teaching assistants working with dyslexic students.
- Won a district award for my work around classroom inclusion methods
I speak fluent Spanish and realize that occasionally talking to younger students in the language they speak at home makes a difference in how they feel in the classroom.
I know Goodson values innovation, and I would love an interview opportunity to discuss my beliefs on innovative methods for promoting emotional connection. Feel free to reach me at 0121 657 9000 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Alex Hughes
Cover letter header
The header of your teacher assistant cover letter, at the top of the page or sometimes down one side, is where you will place your name, together with key contact details like your telephone number, email address and LinkedIn or other professional social media accounts.
A distinctive cover letter header design — ideally the same as your CV header for continuity’s sake — helps your cover letter get noticed and makes everything else on the page look more inviting to read.
The aim of the cover letter header: Your cover letter header should attract the hiring manager’s attention and let them know how to reach you.
This is a great time to look for a new job as teacher assistant positions are among those facing the highest shortages in the UK. According to the Hays Education Salary & Recruiting Trends 2022 guide, 75 percent of employers expect shortages of qualified teaching professionals.
Cover letter greeting
The greeting of your teacher assistant cover letter addresses the person who will be reviewing your application — the hiring manager or principal, as the case may be. Since education is a field that carries some degree of formality, it’s best to stick with “Dear “<Mr><Ms.><Dr.> Surname."
If you can’t find that person’s name, you can just use "Dear Hiring Manager" or ‘Dear Teacher Assistant Recruitment Team." This is the next best approach to a greeting that is personalised with someone's name. Avoid addressing your cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern”, which are not only outmoded and stuffy-sounding, but cold and impersonal.
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Create a personal connection and friendly tone by addressing your reader by name.
Cover letter introduction
As a teaching professional, you already know the importance of a positive introduction. You wouldn’t start a new teacher assistant job with the lesson plan; you would introduce yourself to the class first. The teacher assistant cover letter introduction serves the same purpose.
Within just a few opening sentences, you must showcase your motivation and ability to do the job. It is vital that your passion for education shines through in your introduction. Consider the reasons why you are interested in education and the skills/qualifications you have that allow students to engage with you.
The aim of the cover letter introduction: Give the hiring manager an instant understanding of your passion for the profession and the key elements of your background that make you an ideal candidate.
The greeting and introduction from our adaptable cover letter example can give you ideas for writing your own:
Dear Ms. Naysmith,
As someone whose mild dyslexia remained undiagnosed throughout childhood, I know how it feels to struggle silently. All children have their own individual challenges, and my role as an elementary teacher assistant is to smooth their progress by using my skills and empathy.
Cover letter middle part (body)
TThe middle part, or body, is your next teacher assistant cover letter section. It is within these three or for paragraphs that you highlight your most relevant experience, skills and achievements. Remember to show off your passion for learning here as well.
Teacher assistants are expected to be confident in the integral role they play supporting the teacher with lessons. They need a positive attitude and a communication style that students respond to so that their help is accepted. Teaching assistants are not usually motivated to work in this job for the money, as it does not pay particularly well. Therefore, it's vital that your cover letter enthusiastically expresses your desire to work as a teacher assistant who supports both the teacher and the students.
The reader should get a good insight into what you've achieved, emphasising your ability to deal with a demanding group of students and help them make progress. Try to cite specific examples of relevant accomplishments, including facts and figures to quantify the contributions you've made in similar roles, while keeping the body of your cover letter short and to the point
Purpose of the cover letter body: Describe to the hiring manager how a class would be run with your support. How would you ensure the students are happy and motivated?
Take inspiration from our adaptable teacher assistant cover letter sample below.
Goodson’s track-record of improving outcomes for students with learning differences is exemplary. That’s why I would love to bring my skills to your teacher assistant team. Having spent three years assisting students in grades 3-5, I understand the importance of positive reinforcement and individual engagement in these formative years.
As a student myself pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education on a part-time basis, I aspire to become an elementary teacher in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I relish the one-on-one aspects of the teacher assistant role. The following student-centric achievements might give you a sense of how I would fit in at Goodson:
- Accompanied 25 special needs students during their annual summer camp
- Created a literacy strategy for teaching assistants working with dyslexic students.
- Won a district award for my work around classroom inclusion methods
I speak fluent Spanish and realize that occasionally talking to younger students in the language they speak at home makes a difference in how they feel in the classroom.
How to close a teacher assistant cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The best way to close your teacher assistant cover letter is with a call to action that leaves the principal or hiring manager wanting to get in touch. Express your enthusiasm about the position, perhaps weaving in a favourable comment about the school that shows your awareness.
Also indicate the best way to contact you and make sure the principal understands you are eager for an interview.
Finally, sign off with a professional closing like “Sincerely” or “Best Regards.”
Check out the conclusion from our cover letter example below:
I know Goodson values innovation, and I would love an interview opportunity to discuss my beliefs on innovative methods for promoting emotional connection. Feel free to reach me at 0121 657 9000 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Alex Hughes
Purpose of the cover letter conclusion: Reiterate your interest and make it clear that you would like a response of some kind from the hiring manager.
Basic mistakes to avoid in a teacher assistant cover letter
If you are applying for a role as a teacher assistant, it is imperative that your cover letter is error-free. These are some common cover letter mistakes with tips on how to avoid them:
- Spelling and grammar. Spelling and grammatical mistakes are never acceptable in any cover letter, but it’s even more important when you are applying for an educational position. Use spell check and ask a friend to proofread before you submit.
- Overly in-depth. In some cases, candidates will send cover letters that are two or three pages long. This is not what hiring managers want to see, and it is doubtful they’ll finish reading a letter that long. Keep your cover letter to one page.
- Informal. Always ensure your teacher assistant cover letter is conversational but also professional, even as you personalise it to the extent possible.
- Poor formatting: Make sure to keep a balance of white space to text and create a header that is eye-catching and functional. A cover letter template can make this task quick and easy.
Key takeaways
- Personalise the greeting of your cover by addressing the recipient by name if you can. Make every effort to find out.
- Give your cover letter recipient insight into “a day in your life” as a teaching assistant.
- Focus on positive outcomes and how you help students achieve these.
- Describe your own relevant achievements in measurable terms if possible, by impressive facts and figures statistics.
