Early Childhood Teacher Resume Guide
Early childhood teachers work with children from infancy to age five in a variety of settings, including preschools, child care centers, and private homes. They are responsible for planning and implementing activities that promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children. Early childhood teachers typically have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education or a related field.
You have a genuine passion for teaching young children and helping them reach their full potential. But to get your dream job, you’ll need to write a resume that catches the attention of hiring managers.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Early Childhood Teacher Resume Sample
Cole Barrows
Early Childhood Teacher
[email protected]
026-507-6832
linkedin.com/in/cole-barrows
Summary
Skilled early childhood teacher with over 9 years of experience working in a daycare setting. I am passionate about working with young children and providing them with the care and education they need to succeed. I have a proven track record of success in developing relationships with parents and guardians, as well as maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for all children under my care.
Experience
Early Childhood Teacher, Company ABC
St. Paul, Jan 2018 – Present
- Supported up to 20 children aged 3-5 years old with their educational and social development in a classroom setting.
- Represented the school at various community events, such as open days, fundraisers and parent-teacher meetings.
- Streamlined daily operations by creating new routines and procedures for opening/closing the classroom, meal times and nap times.
- Substantially improved behaviour management strategies which resulted in a decrease in the number of disciplinary incidents by 50%.
- Improved communication between parents and teachers by implementing a new online reporting system which generated weekly updates on each child’s progress.
Early Childhood Teacher, Company XYZ
Long Beach, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Facilitated play and learning activities for up to 20 children aged 3-5 years old, promoting physical, mental and emotional development.
- Organized daily schedules of educational games, art & craft projects, outdoor playtime and mealtimes to ensure that all children were engaged and active throughout the day.
- Structured lesson plans around various themes such as animals, colors, shapes and numbers to teach basic academic concepts in a fun and interactive way.
- Assessed each child’s progress on a regular basis through informal observations and one-on-one conversations; created individualized education plans for those struggling in specific areas.
- Accurately documented all incidents involving injuries, accidents or disciplinary problems according to center policy; immediately notified parents/guardians of any serious concerns.
Skills
- Teaching
- Early Childhood Education
- Curriculum Development
- Lesson Planning
- Curriculum Design
- Classroom Management
- Classroom
- Educational Leadership
- Staff Development
Education
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Early Childhood Education Certification
National Association for the Education of Young Children
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary or objective is like a teaser for the rest of your resume – it should give the employer an overview of who you are and why you would excel in the role.
Some things you could mention in your summary include your teaching experience, your certification in early childhood education, and how you create a fun and safe learning environment for all students.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Dependable and nurturing early childhood educator with more than 7 years of experience working with infants and toddlers in a daycare setting. In 2017, earned “Teacher of the Year” award at ABC Daycare for providing an exemplary level of care to children under 2 years old. Seeking to leverage comforting demeanor and organizational skills as the next lead teacher at DEF Early Childhood Learning Center.
Diligent early childhood teacher with 3+ years of experience working in a daycare setting. Skilled in creating a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow. Aided in the development of 20 individualized education plans (IEPs). Implemented an arts and crafts program that increased motor skills development by 25%.
Reliable and nurturing early childhood educator with 3+ years of experience working with children aged 0-5. Seeking to leverage my patient and encouraging nature in a new role as an early childhood teacher at ABC School. In my previous role, implemented a new behavior management system that resulted in a 30% reduction in incidents of disruptive behavior.
Talented early childhood teacher with five years of experience working in both public and private schools. In previous role as an early childhood education specialist at XYZ, successfully designed and implemented three new curriculum programs for children aged 3-5. Looking to leverage my teaching experience and creativity to help ABC schoolchildren develop a love of learning that will stay with them throughout their academic journey.
Determined early childhood teacher with 7+ years of experience developing lesson plans and nurturing the whole child in a safe and stimulating learning environment. Seeking to leverage my experience and love for teaching at ABC School, where I can continue making a positive impact on young lives. In 2019, helped increase average test scores by 12%.
Accomplished early childhood teacher with a proven track record of developing creative and innovative lesson plans that engage young students. I have 7+ years of experience working with children aged 3-5 in both private and public settings. In my previous role as an early childhood educator, I increased student engagement by implementing various hands-on activities into the curriculum.
Proficient early childhood teacher with more than five years of experience teaching in a daycare setting. In 2020, improved class pass rate by 28% via an individualized approach when teaching students of different abilities. Also implemented a new behavior management system that saw 74% fewer disciplinary issues over the course of six months. Seeking to become the next lead early childhood teacher at ABC Daycare.
Passionate early childhood teacher with 6+ years of experience working in a daycare setting. Skilled in creating an engaging and safe learning environment for children aged 0-5. Excited to leverage my knowledge of early childhood development to help ABC Daycare provide the best possible care for its students.
Driven early childhood teacher with 7+ years of experience in early education settings. In 2019, developed and implemented a new curriculum that boosted student engagement by 17%. Seeking to join the team at ABC School where I can continue to make a positive impact on young students’ lives.
2. Experience / Employment
The work history/experience section is next, and it should be written in reverse chronological order. That means your most recent job goes at the top of the section.
It’s best to use bullet points in this section whenever possible; doing so allows the reader to quickly scan and understand what you’re trying to say. When writing each bullet point, include specifics on what you did and any measurable results that were achieved.
For example, instead of saying “Taught a class of 20 students,” you could say, “Designed age-appropriate lesson plans for a class of 20 3-year-olds that encouraged creativity, teamwork, and problem solving.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Taught
- Guided
- Led
- Encouraged
- Assisted
- Supported
- Motivated
- Facilitated
- Developed
- Created
- Implemented
- Managed
- Organized
- Administered
- Evaluated
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Led a class of 20+ students aged 3-5 years old, developing and implementing age-appropriate lesson plans that promoted social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.
- Motivated children to stay engaged in learning activities by using positive reinforcement techniques; saw a 10% increase in student participation rates over the course of the year.
- Successfully managed challenging behavior in individual children and groups through proactive interventions such as redirecting attention and providing choices; experienced a decrease of 30% in disciplinary referrals from parents over 6 months.
- Achieved all teaching objectives within state early childhood education guidelines for the year; received positive feedback from district administrators during annual evaluations.
- Reorganized classroom materials and equipment to create a more efficient learning environment; lowered average set up/clean up time by 15 minutes per day.
- Proficiently prepared daily lesson plans in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework, ensuring that all learning objectives were met.
- Demonstrated excellent classroom management skills, successfully maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for up to 30 students at a time.
- Advised parents on their children’s development progress, offering suggestions on ways to support their learning at home; compiled detailed reports on each student twice per year.
- Assessed each student’s individual needs and created individualized education plans accordingly; monitored progress and made necessary adjustments to ensure that all students reached their full potential.
- Compiled weekly activity sheets detailing what was covered in class for parents who were unable to attend; held regular parent-teacher meetings to discuss concerns or issues in person.
- Created and implemented daily lesson plans for a class of 20+ 3-5 year olds, covering topics such as literacy, numeracy, science, art and physical education.
- Encouraged students to be active learners by participating in hands-on activities, group work and discussions.
- Participated in regular meetings with parents/guardians to discuss student progress and behaviour.
- Coordinated schoolwide events such as sports days and fetes; also organised excursions to local museums, libraries and farms.
- Diligently monitored each student’s development and created individual learning plans where necessary.
- Reduced problem behaviors in children by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures.
- Taught age-appropriate lessons in a variety of subjects such as language, math, science, and social studies.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of new curriculum for the school year.
- Evaluated student progress and performance on a regular basis to ensure that they are meeting developmental milestones.
- Confidently communicated with parents about their child’s progress and provided guidance on ways to support learning at home.
- Formulated and implemented lesson plans that catered to the individual needs of each student, promoting their academic, social and emotional development.
- Expedited the learning process by 20% for students who were struggling with literacy and numeracy skills through one-on-one tutoring sessions outside of class time.
- Revised the curriculum for the Kindergarten program to better suit the interests and abilities of children aged 4-5 years old.
- Resourcefully utilized a limited budget to purchase educational materials and resources that enhanced classroom learning and engagement.
- Optimized teaching methods to accommodate different learner types, resulting in improved test scores across all students in the class.
- Managed a class of 20+ students aged 3-5, developing and executing daily lesson plans that incorporated various educational subjects such as math, science, reading and writing.
- Presented age-appropriate material in an engaging manner that kept young students attentive and motivated to learn; initiated hands-on activities and group work to further promote active learning.
- Guided students through individual and group projects, offering assistance and encouragement as needed while ensuring that all assignments were completed on time.
- Effectively communicated with parents/guardians regarding student progress, academic goals and behavioral issues; held regular conferences to update families on their child’s development both inside & outside the classroom.
- Developed positive relationships with students, providing a supportive environment where they felt comfortable taking risks & exploring new ideas; helped instill a love of learning in each child that would last long after they left my classroom.
- Implemented an age-appropriate curriculum for 3 to 5 year olds that encouraged hands-on learning and promoted social, emotional and cognitive development.
- Introduced a new behavior management system that decreased disciplinary issues by 35% and improved classroom morale.
- Assisted in the development of IEPs for students with special needs and worked closely with parents, guardians and other teachers to ensure their success in the classroom.
- Administered weekly assessments to track student progress and identify areas of improvement; used data to inform instructional decisions.
- Independently managed a class of 20+ students on a daily basis, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment in which to learn and grow.
3. Skills
The skills section of an early childhood teacher resume should highlight the specific abilities and knowledge required to excel in this profession. These might include:
-Classroom management
-Communication with parents/guardians
-Developing age-appropriate lesson plans
-Implementing creative teaching methods
-Leading small groups or individualized instruction
-Motivating young learners
-Observing and assessing student progress
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Child Development
- Childcare
- Classroom
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Design
- Curriculum Development
- Early Childhood Development
- Early Childhood Education
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Technology
- Elementary Education
- Lesson Planning
- Literacy
- Special Education
- Staff Development
- Teacher Training
- Teaching
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Tutoring
4. Education
Mentioning your education on your resume is always a good idea, especially if you are just starting out in your career. In the early childhood teacher role you are applying for, highlight any coursework and subjects related to early childhood development and education. You might also want to include any relevant teaching experience you have had, even if it was not in a formal classroom setting.
Some examples of what you could include are “Courses included Child Psychology, Developmental Milestones and Early Childhood Education Methods” and “Volunteered in an after-school program for elementary school students where I helped with homework and organized activities.”
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications show that you have taken the extra steps to be knowledgeable and proficient in your field. This can give you an edge over other applicants who may not have gone through the process of getting certified.
If you are applying for a position that requires certain certifications, it is essential that you include them in this section of your resume. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected outright.
Early Childhood Education Certification
National Association for the Education of Young Children
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Cole Barrows, this would be Cole-Barrows-resume.pdf or Cole-Barrows-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Cover letters give you the opportunity to elaborate on your qualifications and highlight aspects of your professional experience that may not be apparent from your resume alone.
Since they provide additional information about you as a candidate, cover letters can give you a leg up in the job application process. They also allow you to connect with the hiring manager on a more personal level, which can help boost your chances of being selected for an interview.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Chadd,
I am writing to apply for the Early Childhood Teacher position at Little Learners Childcare Center. As an experienced early childhood educator, I am excited to bring my skills and knowledge to your organization.
In my current role as an Early Childhood Educator at Happy Kids Daycare, I work with children aged 3-5 years old. I develop and implement lesson plans that are both engaging and educational, and I also create a positive and nurturing environment in which children can thrive. In addition, I have experience communicating effectively with parents and guardians to keep them updated on their child’s progress.
I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team, as I have the necessary skills and experience to provide high-quality care for young children. Moreover, I am passionate about working with young children and helping them reach their full potential. If given the opportunity, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the children in your care receive the best possible education and care.
Thank you for taking the time to review my application; please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like additional information about my qualifications or experience level. Thank you for your consideration!
Sincerely,
[Your name]