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How to Write a Compelling Teacher Bio with Samples

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A teacher’s solid online presence is essential, and a well-written bio is a crucial part of that. In this blog, I will guide you through creating a teacher bio that effectively showcases your skills, experience, and unique qualities to potential students and employers.

In today’s digital age, having a solid online presence is crucial for any professional, including teachers. Your teacher bio is often the first impression potential students and parents will have of you. It briefly introduces who you are as a teacher and what you have to offer. 

Understanding Your Audience:

As a teacher, your bio is your chance to introduce yourself to potential students and showcase your unique qualifications and teaching style. But before you start writing, it’s important to consider who will read your bio. Tailoring your bio to your audience can make all the difference in capturing their attention and standing out online.

Who will be reading your bio? Your audience will likely consist of students and parents looking for a teacher to help them achieve their academic goals. They may also include fellow educators and administrators interested in your teaching methods and experience. Knowing your audience will help you understand what they are looking for in a teacher and how you can appeal to their needs and interests.

Tailoring your bio to your audience: 

Once you have identified your audience, it’s time to tailor it to their interests and needs. For example, if you target students, highlight your experience teaching a particular subject or your success in helping students improve their grades. If your audience is parents, you should emphasize your approach to creating a positive and engaging learning environment for their children.

What do they want to know about you?

Your audience will be interested in learning about your qualifications, experience, and teaching style. They may also want to know about any special certifications or awards you have received and your educational background. Additionally, they may be curious about your teaching philosophy and how you approach different learning styles and abilities.

What strategies can be used to address the needs and interests of the individuals?

To make your bio more appealing to your audience, it’s essential to highlight the aspects of your teaching that align with their needs and interests. For example, if you know that your audience values a teacher who is passionate about their subject, you can showcase your enthusiasm for teaching and the topic you specialize in. If your audience is looking for a patient and understanding teacher, mention your experience working with diverse groups of students.

Remember always to keep your audience in mind while writing your bio. By understanding their needs and interests, you can tailor your bio to make a strong connection with them and stand out as a teacher they would want to learn from. This will help you attract potential students and build a positive reputation as an educator in the online community.

Highlighting Your Education and Experience:

Highlighting your education and experience is crucial when crafting a compelling teacher bio. This section of your bio lets you showcase your qualifications and expertise and helps you stand out in a crowded field of educators. Here are some key points to keep in mind when highlighting your education and experience in your teacher bio:

Emphasizing relevant degrees and certifications:

One of the first things potential students or parents will look for in your bio is your educational background. Make sure to highlight any relevant degrees or certifications that you have earned, as they demonstrate your commitment to your field and showcase your knowledge and skills. This includes your teaching degree, advanced degrees, or specialized certifications in a specific subject or teaching method.

Highlighting teaching experience and accomplishments: 

In addition to your education, showcasing your teaching experience and accomplishments is essential. This can include the years you have been teaching, any awards or recognition you have received, and any notable achievements in your teaching career. This not only highlights your expertise but also shows your dedication and passion for teaching.

Including any specialized training or expertise: 

If you have any specialized training or expertise in a particular area, include it in your bio. This could be through workshops, conferences, or courses you have taken to further your knowledge and skills. It’s important to highlight these as they set you apart from other teachers and show your commitment to continuous learning and growth.

Below Are The Some High Quality Teacher Bio Examples :

1. John Smith is a veteran teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience. He holds a master’s degree in education and is passionate about helping students achieve their full potential. John is known for his dynamic teaching style and ability to connect with students on a personal level. His classes are challenging, but also engaging and fun.

2. Sarah Johnson is a dedicated educator with a diverse background in teaching and learning new things. She has taught everything from elementary school to college-level courses. Sarah loves to incorporate technology into her lessons and is constantly seeking new and innovative ways to engage her students. She is known for her patience and her ability to inspire students to achieve their academic and personal goals. She teaches from beginning to advance level with an easy and interesting methods without any bored.

3. Michael Garcia is a passionate and dynamic teacher who has been working in education for over a decade. He holds a PhD in English and is an expert in literature and writing. Michael is committed to helping students develop critical thinking skills and is known for his ability to inspire them to love reading and writing. He is also an advocate for social justice and uses his classroom as a platform to promote diversity and inclusive.

4. Karen Lee is a highly qualified science teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching in both public and private schools. She is a graduate of MIT and is passionate about STEM education. Karen’s classes are hands-on and interactive, with a focus on real-world applications of science. She also encourages students to participate in science competitions and has mentored several award-winning teams.

5. David Kim is a dedicated teacher with a passion for history and social studies. He has taught in both middle and high schools and is committed to helping students understand the world around them. David’s classes are interactive and thought-provoking, and he encourages his students to think critically and develop their own opinions. He also leads a variety of extracurricular activities, including Model United Nations, which has won several awards.

6. John Doe has been teaching history at XYZ High School for over 15 years. He is known for his engaging and interactive lessons that bring the past to life for his students. Additionally, he has served as the department head for the social studies department for the past 5 years.

7. Jane Smith is a certified elementary school teacher with 10 years of experience in the classroom. She is passionate about integrating technology into her lessons and has been recognized for her innovative teaching methods by both her colleagues and superiors.

8. David Brown is a collegiate-level math professor with a PhD in mathematics from Harvard University. He has published several research papers in the field of algebraic geometry and is renowned in academic circles for his expertise.

9. Sarah Lee is a middle school English teacher with a specialization in teaching English as a second language. She has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by non-native speakers and is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all her students.

10. Michael Johnson is a high school music teacher with a Master’s degree in music education from Juilliard School of Music. He has conducted several award-winning school orchestras and is an accomplished pianist and composer.

11. Jennifer Wang is a bilingual Mandarin-English teacher with experience teaching in both the United States and China. She has developed curricula that integrate the cultures and histories of both countries and enjoys introducing her students to new perspectives and ways of thinking.

12. James Green is a special education teacher with extensive experience working with students with a range of learning disabilities. He is also the department head for special education at his school and has developed a comprehensive program that provides individualized support to each student.

13. Fiona Brown is a high school science teacher with a passion for making science accessible and engaging for all her students. She has collaborated on several research projects with her students and has been recognized for her work by several scientific organizations.

14. Sarah Kim is a college counselor with a proven track record of helping students gain admission to top universities across the country. She is dedicated to helping students identify their strengths and develop a compelling narrative to showcase their unique talents and accomplishments.

15. Jameson Lee is a middle school social studies teacher with a focus on preparing his students to become responsible and engaged global citizens. He has developed a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as empathy for diverse perspectives and cultures.

How to Make Your Education and Experience Stand Out In a Crowded Field: 

In a competitive field like education, making your education and experience stand out is essential. One way to do this is by using specific and quantifiable examples in your bio. For example, instead of just mentioning that you have a teaching degree, you could say, “I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education from XYZ University, where I graduated with honors and received the Outstanding Student Teacher Award.” This showcases your education, highlights your achievements, and sets you apart from others.

Another way to make your education and experience stand out is through storytelling. Instead of simply listing your qualifications, share a personal anecdote or experience demonstrating your passion for teaching and how your education and experience have shaped you as an educator.

Showcasing Your Teaching Philosophy and Approach:

As a teacher, your approach to teaching is what sets you apart from others in the field. Your unique style, methods, and beliefs shape how you educate and inspire your students. While your experience and qualifications are essential, showcasing your teaching philosophy and approach in your teacher bio is equally important.

 Why It’s Important to Share Your Teaching Philosophy: 

Sharing your teaching philosophy is essential for building trust and credibility with potential students and their parents. It allows them to understand your values, beliefs, and approach to teaching, giving them a glimpse into what they can expect in your classroom. It also helps them determine if your teaching style aligns with their child’s learning needs and goals.

How to Effectively Communicate Your Approach to Teaching: 

 It’s essential to be clear and concise when sharing your teaching philosophy. Start by explaining your overall teaching approach, whether student-centered, inquiry-based, or project-based. Then, provide specific examples of incorporating this approach into your daily lessons and student interactions.

 Including specific examples and anecdotes: 

One of the best ways to showcase your teaching philosophy is by sharing specific examples and anecdotes from your teaching experience. These could be stories of how you helped a struggling student overcome a challenge or incorporated a hands-on activity to engage and inspire your students. These real-life examples demonstrate your teaching approach and add a personal touch to your bio, making it more relatable and engaging for readers.

Making Your Teaching Style and Methods Clear and Appealing: 

In addition to your philosophy, it’s essential to highlight your teaching style and methods. This could include your technology use, approach to classroom management, or strategies for differentiating instruction. Please explain how your teaching style benefits students and why it makes you stand out as an educator. Use positive and enthusiastic language to make your approach appealing and exciting to potential students and their parents.

Adding Personal Touches and Unique Qualities:

Personal touches in a teacher bio are essential because they humanize you and make you relatable to your audience. Parents and students want to know that their teacher is not just a robot spewing information but a natural person with passions, interests, and experiences that make them well-rounded educators. Including personal touches in your bio can also help build a connection with your audience and make them feel more comfortable and confident in choosing you as their teacher.

Sharing Personal Experiences and Interests That Relate to Teaching: 

When adding personal touches to your bio, it’s essential to focus on experiences and interests related to teaching. This could include your educational journey, any challenges or obstacles you have overcome, or even a teaching method you are passionate about. Sharing these experiences can help potential students and parents understand your teaching approach and how it may benefit their child’s learning.

 Highlighting Unique Qualities and Strengths That Set You Apart: 

What makes you stand out as a teacher? Is it your ability to connect with students on a personal level? Your creativity in lesson planning? What is your passion for a particular subject? Whatever it may be, highlight these unique qualities and strengths in your bio. This will help you differentiate yourself from other teachers and show potential students and parents what makes you unique as an educator.

How to Strike a Balance Between Personal and Professional In Your Bio: 

While personal touches and unique qualities are essential to include in your bio, balancing personal and professional is crucial. Your bio should still maintain a level of professionalism and focus on your qualifications and experience as a teacher. Avoid sharing too much personal information that may be irrelevant or unprofessional. Instead, choose personal touches showcasing your personality and educator strengths.

Tips for Writing a Strong and Engaging Bio:

Your teacher bio is often the first impression potential students and parents will have of you. Making it count is essential to crafting a solid and engaging bio. Here are some tips to help you create a bio that stands out online:

 Keep it concise and focused:

You want to provide enough information to give readers a sense of who you are and what you offer, but you want to ensure they get all the details. Stick to the most relevant and impressive aspects of your education and experience.

Use a friendly and approachable tone: 

Your bio should be inviting and easy to connect with, like a friendly smile and an outstretched hand. This will help readers feel more connected to you and make them more likely to want to learn from you. Avoid using overly formal language or jargon that may be difficult for non-teachers to understand.

Incorporate keywords and buzzwords:

Including keywords and buzzwords in your bio can help it stand out in online searches. Think about the words and phrases your target audience will likely use when searching for a teacher. Use these keywords strategically throughout your bio.

Proofread and edit for clarity and impact:

Before publishing your bio, proofread and edit it for clarity and impact. Check for spelling or grammatical errors, and ensure that your sentences flow well and are easy to understand. You want your bio to be polished and professional.

Use a call to action to encourage further engagement:

A call to action in your bio can encourage readers to take the next step, whether contacting you for more information or booking a lesson. This can be as simple as including a link to your website or social media pages or inviting readers to contact you for more information.

Crafting a compelling teacher bio takes time and effort, but it’s worth it to make a solid first impression on potential students and parents. Following these tips, you can create a bio showcasing your unique qualities and encouraging further engagement. Remember to keep it concise, use a friendly tone, incorporate keywords, proofread for clarity and impact, and include a call to action. With a well-written bio, you can stand out in the competitive world of online teaching.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, crafting a compelling teacher bio is essential in building your online presence as an educator. It allows you to showcase your unique qualities and experiences and effectively communicate your teaching philosophy to potential students and parents. By following the tips outlined in this blog, you can create a bio that stands out and captures your audience’s attention.

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Teacher Bio

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I have a true passion for working with our youngest learners!!  Helping each child progress in all areas of their development—academic, social, language, and motor—is a challenge that I am honored to accept daily.  I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment. 

Personally, I have been married for 22 glorious years and have three fantastic children who are 21,18, and 15 years old and attend Parkway Schools and Mizzou.  We love to watch our kids' sports—tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and swim! I also enjoy reading, cooking, music, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

I look forward to working together with you as partners in your child’s growth and development!!

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How to Write a Professional Teacher Bio

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As a teacher, you are required to introduce yourself to parents and students in a professional way, and what better way to do that than through a teacher bio. A teacher bio can help build trust and credibility with parents and showcase your expertise and experience to potential employers. In this article, we will guide you on how to write a professional teacher bio that stands out and leaves a lasting impression.

Understanding the Purpose of a Teacher Bio

A teacher bio serves as an introduction to who you are as an educator. Its purpose is to give parents and students a brief summary of your background, experience, and qualifications. With a teacher bio, you can communicate your teaching style and philosophy, and highlight your unique qualities that make you a great teacher.

Introducing Yourself to Parents and Students

Your teacher bio should start with a brief introduction of yourself. Include your name, grade level, and subject you teach. You can add a personal touch by mentioning something that sets you apart from other educators, such as a hobby or interest that relates to your teaching.

For example:

Hi, my name is Emily and I teach 4th-grade science at Sunnydale Elementary School. When I'm not in the classroom, you can find me exploring the great outdoors or trying new DIY projects.

Showcasing Your Expertise and Experience

One of the main purposes of a teacher bio is to showcase your expertise and experience. Be sure to mention any relevant degrees, certifications, or accolades that prove you're well-qualified to teach. Include any professional development training you've undergone to show that you're always learning, growing, and improving as an educator.

With over 10 years of experience, I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education and am certified to teach K-6. I have also completed various professional development courses in STEM education, which have allowed me to incorporate real-world problem-solving into my lessons.

Building Trust and Credibility

As an educator, it's important to build trust and credibility with parents and students. Showcasing your human side can go a long way in helping you to achieve this. Be authentic in your teacher bio by sharing a little about who you are, what you believe in, and what motivates you as a teacher.

As a teacher, I am committed to creating a fun, safe, and inclusive learning environment for all students. I believe that every child has the potential to succeed and that as educators, it's our job to help them reach their full potential. My goal as a teacher is to inspire and empower my students to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers.

Essential Elements of a Professional Teacher Bio

Personal background and education.

Your personal background and education are important elements to include in your teacher bio. Mention your academic achievements, formal education, and any other relevant experiences that relate to your teaching field.

I graduated from XYZ College with a Bachelor's Degree in English, and I also hold a Master's Degree in Education. My passion for education started at a young age, and I spent many summers volunteering as a camp counselor, which developed my love for working with children.

Teaching Philosophy and Approach

Your teaching philosophy and approach is crucial in your teacher bio. It shows how you approach teaching, your beliefs, and values. Be clear on how you view your role as an educator and what you hope to achieve through your teaching.

My teaching philosophy is centered around the idea that every student can succeed with the right support and guidance. I believe in creating a collaborative learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring their ideas. As a teacher, I encourage critical thinking and problem-solving, and I aim to provide a variety of learning opportunities to cater to different learning styles.

Relevant Experience and Accomplishments

Don't forget to mention any relevant experience and accomplishments in your teacher bio. This can include volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or any past work experience that showcases your skills and abilities in the field of education.

I have experience working with students in various capacities, including after-school tutoring, summer camps, and teaching overseas. In 2019, I was awarded "Teacher of the Year" by the local school board for my innovative classroom practices and dedication to my students.

Professional Development and Certifications

Include any professional development courses or certifications that you have completed in your teacher bio. This shows that you're committed to continuous learning and growing as an educator.

I am certified to teach K-8 and have completed various professional development courses in literacy and reading instruction. I also have experience with technology integration in the classroom and have completed several courses on using technology to enhance student learning.

Writing Tips for an Engaging Teacher Bio

Use a professional tone.

Your teacher bio should be written in a professional tone, but it doesn't necessarily have to be boring. Use clear and concise language that is easy to understand, and avoid using overly complicated words or phrases.

Be Concise and Clear

Keep your teacher bio concise and clear. Stick to the essential information and avoid including irrelevant details. A well-written teacher bio should be no more than 300-500 words.

Highlight Your Unique Qualities

Showcase what sets you apart from other educators. Highlight your unique qualities, such as your teaching style or any personal interests that relate to your teaching. This will help parents and students remember you and can make you stand out in a sea of teacher bios.

Include a Personal Touch

Include a personal touch in your teacher bio. Show your human side by sharing a little about who you are, what you believe in, and what motivates you as a teacher. This will help build trust and credibility with parents and students.

Formatting Your Teacher Bio for Different Platforms

When formatting your teacher bio, consider the platform you are using. Below are some formatting tips for different platforms:

School Website or Staff Directory

• Keep your bio brief and to-the-point
• Use headings and subheadings to organize your information
• Include a professional headshot

Social Media Profiles

• Keep it short and sweet
• Use bullet points to break up information
• Add some personal touches to showcase your personality

Professional Networking Sites

• Include your professional background and experience
• Showcase your teaching philosophy and approach
• Add any relevant certifications and accomplishments

Personal Website or Blog

• Make it engaging and creative
• Showcase your teaching style and personality
• Include some personal anecdotes or stories

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Teacher Bio

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Please compose a detailed and informative biography that introduces yourself as a teacher, highlighting your educational background, teaching experience, professional accomplishments, and personal interests. Your bio should provide a comprehensive overview of your teaching philosophy, methodology, and approach, as well as your goals and aspirations for your students. Please include any relevant information about your teaching style, classroom management techniques, and strategies for engaging and motivating learners. Additionally, feel free to share any personal anecdotes or experiences that have shaped your perspective as an educator and inspired your passion for teaching.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

A well-written and engaging teacher bio can help you to introduce yourself to parents and students, build trust and credibility, and showcase your expertise and qualifications. Remember to keep it concise, clear, and professional, and add a personal touch to make it memorable. By following the tips and guidelines outlined in this article, you'll be able to write a teacher bio that leaves a lasting impression.

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15 Inspiring Teaching Portfolio Examples (Plus How To Create Your Own)

Show them what you’ve got.

Every teacher, from the newly licensed to those with years of experience, should have a teaching portfolio. It summarizes your career and achievements in ways that go far beyond a resume. But this valuable tool isn’t just for those who are actively job-searching. Here’s why and how to create and maintain your own, plus lots of helpful teaching portfolio examples for inspiration.

What is a teaching portfolio?

A teaching portfolio is a tool that highlights your strengths as an educational professional. It can be a binder of paper-based materials, neatly organized and presented. Or, as is increasingly more popular these days, it can be digital, including videos and other multimedia elements. Most teachers use portfolios when they’re interviewing for a new position as a way to demonstrate their abilities and achievements.

Why should you create a teaching portfolio?

If you’re actively searching for a new job, you probably already have a portfolio on hand. You can take it with you to interviews to show real examples of yourself in action—lesson plans, pictures and video, notes from kids and parents, and more. These can all help potential employers get a more thorough picture of you as a candidate.

But even teachers who aren’t currently job-searching should keep their teaching portfolio up-to-date. By documenting your professional development, you can show you’ve met the criteria for a promotion or other opportunity for advancement. Plus, it pays to be prepared. Creating and updating a teaching portfolio takes time, and it’s much easier to add to yours a little bit at a time than to build a brand-new one from scratch if you’re suddenly facing the job market again.

More than that, though, updating a portfolio gives you a chance to reflect on your achievements and identify opportunities for improvement. You get a chance to look over your entire journey as an educational professional and celebrate your successes. This can be a real benefit during those times when being an educator is a little more challenging than you bargained for.

What does a strong teaching portfolio include?

Source: Sharing Kindergarten and Teach Starter

Every teaching portfolio is different. The goal is to show your experience from many angles, and highlight your achievements. Try to include quality real-life examples to prove the points you want to make about yourself as an educator. Here are some common elements to consider:

Philosophy of Education

Each teacher should give some thought to the question “What is your teaching philosophy?” Include it at the beginning of your portfolio, and ensure the examples you provide throughout support that philosophy. See 30 Philosophy of Education examples here to get you started.

Career Summary

This is similar to a resume but can provide much more detail. This is the place to show the subjects, grades, and ages you’ve taught, with lists of topics and material you covered. Be sure to highlight any courses you built from scratch, plus any significant professional development you’ve completed.

Teaching Samples

Here’s the place to include a few particularly strong lesson plan examples and samples of materials like worksheets you personally created. For digital portfolios, include a few well-chosen videos of you in action in the classroom.

Student Work

While you don’t want to stuff your portfolio full of endless student projects and materials, you should choose some representative samples that you’re particularly proud of. Include some work that shows how you provide feedback to help students improve, such as proposed edits on essay drafts or notes on incorrect answers.

Evaluations and Communications

This section is the place for positive communications like thank-you notes from parents and students, as well as statements from colleagues or supervisors about your achievements. Include student evaluations, as well as any documentation you have showing student progress under your instruction.

Professional Achievements

Have you published articles in a journal or written a textbook? Do you have a thriving TeachersPayTeachers store or a blog with thousands of followers? Show off your influence in this section of your portfolio. Plus, list any awards, honors, speaking engagements, committees, and other ways you’ve been recognized for excellence.

How do I choose materials for my portfolio?

When you start putting together your teaching portfolio, keep in mind that the goal is to provide evidence of your teaching experience from a wide range of sources. As you gather and organize material for your portfolio, you’ll get a better sense of what you want to include. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Be honest: When you’re putting together your teaching portfolio, you don’t want to exaggerate your experience or qualifications. You don’t need to look perfect! Your portfolio should be an accurate and fair representation of your teaching career. Tell the world all about your successes, but don’t omit the losses. Instead, focus on how you’ve learned from negative experiences. 
• Choose wisely: Include materials that show the many aspects of your teaching. Be selective and put some real thought into this. It’s much better to have a strong set of well-chosen materials than a large collection of documents that are unfiltered and overwhelming to the reader.
• Get organized: Your teaching portfolio should have a clear structure that makes it easy for readers to find what they want to review. Include a table of contents and headers to keep everything in order.

Teaching Portfolio Examples

Still not sure how to start, or looking for new ideas? Check out these top-notch teaching portfolio examples from real educators. Each has its own style and reflects the personality of its creator. You’re sure to find some inspiration!

Personal Website Portfolio

This digital portfolio has a clean presentation with simple navigation. The professional appearance really helps to sell this person as a potential hire. With strong examples, lesson plan samples, and videos, this teacher presents herself in the best possible light.

Learn more: Gretchen Seibel

Traditional Teacher Portfolio

If you’re looking for examples of a traditional teaching portfolio, this one is organized in a binder with lots of pictures and samples of work. We love the “A Peek Into My Classroom” section, which shows various areas like learning centers, seating setups, and more.

One caveat: This teacher includes an “About Me” page with information about their religion and family status. We don’t advise including that sort of information in your own portfolio, as this can potentially lead to illegal discrimination in hiring practices. Keep your portfolio focused on your career, and let your personality show through your achievements and examples.

Learn more: Sharing Kindergarten

Google Sites Portfolio

Digital portfolios should be well organized and make it easy for people to learn more about you. Share the link on your resume or cover letter, and bring a tablet or laptop with you to interviews so you can show it off there too. Primary Paradise has tons of great tips for creating a quality portfolio using Google Sites, a free and easy hosting option.

Learn more: Primary Paradise

Free Editable Portfolio

Finding a template that you can customize to your liking can save so much time. This template from Teach Starter is free! It also includes sections on behavior management, parent communication, assessment and tracking, and teacher collaboration. This example has lots of in-depth sections, and you can choose the ones you want to include.

Learn more: Teach Starter

Portfolio Templates for Elementary

This completely customizable template is available for purchase on TpT. Reviewers note that it helped them create and organize their own stand-out portfolios. Just remember to make sure your own personality and achievements really show, regardless of the template.

Learn more: The Lemonade Stand Teacher

Digital Professional Teaching Portfolio

This digital portfolio example includes an array of subjects, helping to show this teacher’s diverse experience. Lots of quality images help illustrate her achievements.

Learn more: Megan Carnaghi

Art Teacher Portfolio

This art teacher portfolio would also work for other “special” teachers, like those who teach music, physical education, and more.

Print Student Teacher Portfolio

In this video, a teacher who was newly hired into her first role shows off the portfolio that landed her the job. If you’re just finishing up your student-teaching experience, this example is for you.

Digital Student-Teacher Portfolio

Check out this example of a digital portfolio for a student teacher looking for their first job. This example highlights a teaching philosophy, student work, classroom management, reference letters, and more.

Learn more: Cassandra Burke Teaching Portfolio

Well-Organized Portfolio

When you’re using your portfolio during an interview to help illustrate a point, you don’t want to be fumbling through the pages to find what you need. The colorful tabs in this binder make it a lot easier to navigate. Be sure you know your portfolio’s contents inside and out, so you can refer to it easily and naturally.

Learn more: Luckey Frog Learning

Substitute Teacher Portfolio

Not looking for a full-time position? Or are you looking to transition from part-time to something more permanent? This teaching portfolio created by Sarah Cheesman might be perfect for you! Not only does it cover substitute teaching work, it highlights other related professional experiences as well.

Learn more: Sarah Cheesman

Hybrid Teaching Portfolio

This traditional-style portfolio has been digitized into a PDF, so it can be accessed from anywhere. It’s extremely comprehensive, with lots of valuable information for potential hiring schools to consider.

Learn more: Holly Factora’s Portfolio

World Language Teacher Portfolio

If you teach a world language or specialty class, this example may be more helpful to you. This Spanish teacher included comments from students and information on engaging class activities.

Learn more: Tyson Hazard, Spanish Instructor

Portfolio Update

In this YouTube video, a third-year teacher reviews what she included in her portfolio when she was searching for her first job. Throughout the video, get tips on revisiting and updating your teaching portfolio.

Experienced Teacher Portfolio

In this video, a teacher with several years of experience shows off her detailed portfolio. An awesome feature in this portfolio is the use of a QR code to link to a digital website or portfolio!

Looking for more? Here’s How To Become a Teacher, From Choosing a College to Landing a Job.

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How to Write a Teacher Biography

Rose mathews, 28 jun 2018.

Sometimes supplying a short biography, rather than a resume, is required for professional purposes. In these cases, it's best to have a thorough yet succinct and compelling profile on hand. The bio can be chronological, starting with earliest influences and reasons for becoming a teacher. Or you can work backwards, describing your current professional duties first and then earlier experiences, including college and student teaching.

Explore this article

• Make Form Follow Function
• Review Your Teaching Highlights
• Connect Teaching Past and Present
• Give It a Personal Touch

1 Make Form Follow Function

Tailor your teacher bio to meet the specific requirements of the application or publication in which it will appear. Eastern Illinois University recommends that student teachers keep their biographies to seven paragraphs. This format is likely intended for a hiring school administrator seeking in-depth understanding of an applicant's teaching philosophy.

Depending on what the biography is used for, however, a professional full-time teacher's bio can be as short as a paragraph. Teacher biographies, for example, may appear on a school website to be read by parents and students. For this reason, teachers should have two biographies on file, a full-length and an abbreviated version.

2 Review Your Teaching Highlights

Spend some time brainstorming about your accomplishments, taking note of career and personal highlights. Start by looking at your resume to jog your memory. Remember, this isn't the time to be humble. Talk with a supportive colleague or friend for suggestions about your most noteworthy achievements and special talents. Read other teachers' bios for ideas about form and content. Then, create an outline that defines the best placement for these assets.

3 Connect Teaching Past and Present

Some essential details for your bio are early academic successes, especially if they're relevant to your current role. For example, if you won your state spelling bee as an elementary student and you now administer the spelling bee program for the school, that's relevant and compelling information that the reader will want to know.

You should include where you went to college and what type of educational training you focused on -- whether you trained to be an advanced placement teacher or a music teacher, for example. Any academic honors should be noted, as well as any significant student-teaching experiences. Make sure to connect these formative experience to your current role at your academic institution -- what classes you teach, teams you coach, or clubs you advise.

4 Give It a Personal Touch

A bio is more than a list of professional accomplishments. It's the story of a person's life, and that story is more compelling when it includes personal information. The story of why teachers enter the profession can be engaging and memorable; telling your most rewarding teaching experience can define you and your values in a positive way, too. You might want to reveal how your family life, hobbies or volunteer work influence your teaching. Stories of education models and favorite teachers are also effective in providing a prospective employer with an idea of what kind of teacher you really are and aspire to be.

• 1 Forbes: What to Do When You Need a Bio Rather Than a Resume
• 2 Scholastic: Write a Biography

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• Teacher of the Year
• Blue Ribbon Schools
• Milken Educator Award Program
• Teachers of Promise

2017 - 2018 Maryland Teachers of the Year Bios

Allegany County – Dr. Matthew Ravenscroft, Mountain Ridge High School, Social Studies, Grades 9–12

Matthew Ravenscroft is a thirteen-year veteran social studies teacher who began teaching at Westmar High. He is currently at Mountain Ridge High, where he teaches AP Government, government, and Historical Research Methods.  Matt is the Government Bridge coordinator and has served as student council adviser and as mentor teacher. Matthew earned a Doctorate of Education from Frostburg State University, and has a Master's Degree and Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. He volunteers in his church and in his daughter's school.  Matt was also honored in 2012 when he was named the Maryland State VFW Teacher of the Year.

Anne Arundel County – Joshua Carroll, South River High School, STEM, Grade 10

Joshua Carroll is committed to student success inside of the classroom and in life.  A 1999 graduate of Boston College, Josh has a BA in English.  Currently a teacher in the STEM department, Josh teaches project-based learning while serving as the interim department chairperson.  He believes that student success is created through meaningful relationships. Josh is a member of the Principal's Leadership Team and chairperson for the Student Recognition Committee.  In addition, he is the head cross country coach and assistant coach for track and field.  Josh serves on the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) cross country, indoor track and student leadership committees.

Baltimore City – Justin Holbrook, Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, Mathematics & Science, Grade 4

Justin Holbrook is a 4 th grade math and science teacher inspired to enhance professional learning through teacher story-telling and classroom experiences.  He holds a Master's Degree from Loyola University Maryland (2017) and a Bachelor's Degree from Goucher College (2010).  Justin is the chair of his community's School Family Council and a member of the School Leadership Team.  He is also a Maryland EGATE Outstanding Educator in Gifted and Talented Education - Teacher as a Leader , as well as a member of the EdCamp Maryland organizing committee, founder of the professional learning network #BmoreEdchat, and part of a national instructional documentary entitled Grey Matters .

Baltimore County – Rebecca Eig, Owings Mills Elementary School, Grade 2

Rebecca Eig's classroom learning environment promotes fun, growth, and a sense of family. Eig was inspired by her first grade teacher to pursue teaching and implements the same welcoming atmosphere in her classroom. Her students know they are important. She tells them every day. In her seventh year of teaching, all at Owings Mills Elementary, she has served as a professional development mentor, presented workshops for new teachers, and taken an active role in the community. Eig has a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Towson University (2010) and a Master's in instructional technology from Towson University (2016).

Calvert County – Kelly M. Raby, Windy Hill Elementary School, ESOL, Grades K–5

Kelly Raby is committed to educating students, colleagues, families, and the community through establishing strong connections.  She holds an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, McDaniel College (2007), a B.S. in Elementary Education (1996), and an A.S. in Early Childhood Education, University of Great Falls, MT. Kelly also has a PreK-12 ESOL endorsement.  She has been an educator in several states, as well as in Japan and Portugal, which has molded her beliefs in equity, celebrating diversity, and developing partnerships. She is active on the Equity, Wellness, Relay for Life, and Girls Gotta Run teams at WHES.  Kelly firmly believes that success in education is about building relationships.

Caroline County – Jennifer L. Gunter, Greensboro Elementary School, Grade 5

Jennifer Gunter is driven to help students overcome barriers that impact their learning.  She has a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College (2005) and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Wesley College (1997).  She has taught in various classroom settings including co-teaching in a special education inclusion classroom as well as co-teaching with an English Language Learning teacher.  Ms. Gunter has served on various school improvement teams and served as a team leader, a STEM coach and a cooperating teacher for future educators.

Carroll County – Dr. Thomas McHugh, Century High School, English, Grades 9–12

Dr. Thomas McHugh is an English Content Area Liaison/Teacher recognized as a passionate, student-centered educator continually seeking to improve learning and school culture. He earned B.A. degrees in Education and English from the University of Maryland, a M.A. in English from the University of Montana, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Maryland.  Dr. McHugh is an expert in curriculum design and construction, presenting at state and national levels on topics including Advanced Placement and College and Career Readiness. He is an AP Scorer and a member of the PARCC Range Finding Team. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and UMBC Outstanding Teacher of the Humanities.

Cecil County – Travon D. Morgan, Perryville Middle School, English Language Arts, Grade 6

Travon D. Morgan is a native of Baltimore City and its Public School System, and a Cecil County resident since 2007, when he began teaching at Perryville Middle School. He is a graduate of Frostburg State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English Literature with a minor in Art History, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (2007). He has dedicated himself to becoming a life-long educator and learner, and he strives to instill a similar desire in all of the students with whom he works. As an educational leader and advocate, Travon volunteers over 800 hours annually, helping families with life skills that are both practical and beneficial in their daily lives.

Charles County – Denise Childers, La Plata High School, English, Grades 9–12

Denise Childers is a 24-year teaching veteran of Charles County Public Schools. She holds two Bachelor's Degrees from the University of Maryland in English and Secondary Education (1992), and is a National Board Certified teacher (2006). Currently the English Department Chairperson, she instructs students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.  Denise is a frequent professional development presenter, a curriculum writer, and a teacher mentor. In 2012, she was a semifinalist for The Washington Post 's Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year award. Denise is also the director of La Plata High School's award winning a cappella group, Unplugged .

Dorchester – Sean Reincke, Cambridge South Dorchester High School, Social Studies, Grades 9–12

Mr. Sean Reincke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Saint Francis University, a social studies certification in Secondary education from Millersville University, and a Masters in education from Salisbury University.  Mr. Reincke has spent all seventeen years in Dorchester County Public Schools teaching at Cambridge South Dorchester High School.  During his tenure, Mr. Reincke helped write the U.S. Perspectives curriculum, assisted in creating a freshman academy, and mentored new teachers.  Mr. Reincke also started the school's cross country program, which has won two conference titles, twenty-three regional titles, and their first ever state title in 2013.

Frederick County – Karima Sharper, Centerville Elementary School, Special Education

Karima Sharper is an educator committed to collaborative learning that engages students, staff, families and the community. She has Bachelor's Degrees in both Special and Elementary Education from High Point University (2001) in North Carolina and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix (2006). Karima is enrolled in the Administrator I Certification Program at McDaniel University in Maryland.  As a special education teacher, she provides inclusive and small-group instruction to elementary students with special needs. Karima is also a member of the administrative leadership team and the special education team leader.

Garrett County – Heather Roth, Broad Ford & Crellin Elementary Schools, Music

"Sing, Say, Dance, Play!" Heather Roth has passionately guided students in active music-making for 13 years. Her child-centered approach was fostered through her certification in Orff-Schulwerk levels I (2003) and II (2004), leading to the inception of two student-driven ensembles: Crellin's Rhythm & Rubbish and Broad Ford's Orff Ensemble. Heather was named Oakland Elk's Lodge 2014 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She also serves on the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival education committee, is an officer in the Garrett Choral Society, and is on the executive board of the Garrett County Education Association. She received both her Bachelor's Degree (2002) and Master's of Music Degree (2005) at West Virginia University.

Harford County - Amy E. Mangold, John Archer School, Special Education, Pre-K and Kindergarten

Amy Mangold has spent the majority of her career teaching preschool students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Amy graduated from Notre Dame of Maryland with a Master's in Teaching (2003) and The Johns Hopkins University with certification in early childhood special education (2010). She serves on the Instructional Leadership and School Improvement teams, presents county professional development, and mentors students from local universities. Outside her classroom, Amy volunteers with Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, St. Baldrick's Foundation and promotes independent living skills for adults with special needs as a Community Support Living Arrangement Worker.

Howard County – Dr. Maddy Halbach, Applications & Research Laboratory, Academy of Finance, Grades 11–12

Dr. Maddy Halbach believes financial literacy will reduce the achievement and socio-economic gaps for students. She was recognized as the 2016 Maryland Financial Literacy Teacher of the Year. Her students are two-time national and four-time state winners of the Personal Finance Challenge. Dr. Halbach has written and taught blended learning programs, co-written an online course for MSDE, and trained teachers nationwide on financial literacy. She is a published author and a National Board Certified Teacher. She has a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from the University of Maryland (2010), and a master's (2000) and bachelor's (1998) from Emmanuel College.

Kent County – Jedina Frazier, Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School, Language Arts, Grade 5

Jedina Frazier recognizes the potential in every child. Jedina has a Master's Degree in Elementary Reading and Math from Walden University (2005) and a Bachelor's Degree from Delaware State University (1988). Believing that learning is lite-long, Jedina has graduate endorsements in Special Education, Early Childhood Advocacy, Curriculum Instruction, Teacher Leadership, and Early Childhood Administration. Currently a 5th grade educator, Jedina advocates active learning by engaging students in Adopting a Soldier and Reading Partnerships . A mentor to prospective educators, Jedina has participated in the Nurturing Program, Parks and Recreation Summer Youth , and the Extended Year Program to help improve student learning.

Montgomery County – Nancy S. Shay, Richard Montgomery High School, English, Grades 9–12

Nancy Shay is dedicated to equity and closing the achievement gap. She has a Master's Degree in English (U.Md. 1996) and English Education (U.Va. 1989) and a Bachelor's Degree in English (Brandeis 1985). Nancy coordinates the Homework/ Supper Club, runs Rich Talk Discussion Forums on culture, prejudice, and equity for the school, leads the English department, and does professional development for the Leadership Team. Nancy was the Montgomery County Christa McAuliffe Fellow and served as the chair of the MCPS Councils on Teaching and Learning in 2002-2003. Nancy has presented papers at academic conferences and published two articles.

Prince George's County – Carolyn Marzke, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Grade 5

Carolyn Marzke, a reading, writing, and social studies teacher, views her mission as helping students to think critically. She holds a master's degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley and a bachelor's degree in human biology from Stanford University. Carolyn guides her students in exploring the importance of the arts, examining how literature and history relate to current events, and writing, staging and performing plays depicting major events in the American Revolution. A school management team member and collaborative planning leader, she strives to promote literacy across the curriculum. She received an Outstanding Employee Award in 2016 for her distinguished work.

Queen Anne's County – Marsha Macneal, Centreville Middle School, Mathematics, Grade 8

Marsha Macneal teaches eighth grade math and algebra at Centreville Middle School in Queen Anne's County.  She graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1997 and earned a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola College in 2005.  In 2015, Marsha earned National Board Certification in Mathematics.  She is a School Improvement Team member, annually presents at her school's parent nights, and has mentored Washington College interns.  For QACPS, she has served on the Teacher Evaluation Task Force, Grading Policy Committee, and has written curriculum.

St. Mary's County – Kristen McIntyre, Greenview Knolls Elementary School, Instructional Resource Teacher

Kristen McIntyre commits herself wholeheartedly to the school community and believes every child can succeed. She holds Masters' Degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Teaching (2004) and Interdisciplinary Studies in Mathematics Leadership (2009), and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from VCU. Currently an Instructional Resource Teacher, she leads professional development, develops the School Improvement Plan, runs collaborative planning meetings, develops MSDE courses, and has been chosen a Master Teacher for Maryland. Kristen serves on the leadership team and as the Teacher in Charge. She facilitates family nights and is the liaison for St. Mary's College Masters of Teaching students.

Somerset County – Sarah Perdue, Princess Anne Elementary School, Art

Sarah Perdue is a distinguished leader in art integration and transdisciplinary teaching. She holds a M.A.T. in Art Education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (2007), B.A. degree in Psychology, and B.F.A. in Graphic Design and Painting from Salisbury University (2004). Sarah facilitates Student Art Club , PAES Wellness Committee , professional development, and, she is involved in a county-wide mindfulness initiative. She co-teaches math and is a MSDE Career Art Educator Award recipient. Sarah leads fundraising for victims of domestic violence and cancer. Her students' artwork was featured on a billboard, statewide equality calendar, and at the Walters Art Museum.

Talbot County – Katie Fox, Tilghman Elementary School, Kindergarten

Katie Fox earned her B.A. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Michigan (2002) and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University (2005).  Katie serves as her school's STEM and Primary Talent Development representative and is a member of the School Improvement Team and Equity Team.  She serves as a director on the board for the Tilghman Area Youth Association (TAYA) and the Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee for Talbot County. Katie received the MSDE Teacher as Leader in Gifted and Talented Education award and strongly believes that instruction must be designed to meet the needs of all students in order to ensure student success.

Washington County – Carolyn Holcomb, Western Heights Middle School,Science, Grades 7–8

To inform, inspire, and to ignite is Carolyn Holcomb's goal as she explores the realm of science with middle school students. Graduating with a Biology degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland, Carolyn worked initially as a scientist.  After obtaining her masters from Frostburg State, Carolyn began to share her love of science with young minds. Carolyn is a recipient of the Honeywell NASA Space Camp scholarship, and was selected as a teacher intern and presenter for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). She has presented at both science conventions and colleges.  Carolyn believes the power of developing meaningful relationships is critical to successful learning.

Wicomico County – Christen J. Tacka, Prince Street Elementary School, Reading, Grades K–5

Christen has taught in Maryland for twenty-two years, specializing in Gifted and Talented education and Reading Intervention.  She earned a Master's Degree in Reading Instruction from Goucher College (2005) and her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Towson University (1991).  Christen was Mardela Middle and High Schools' Teacher of the Year (2011).  She was chair for the Instructional Leadership Team and founded the school's SGA.  Christen is the school-wide coordinator for parent involvement, the chairperson for the Parent Advisory Council and has presented at district and school levels.   Christen has been a mentor for student interns and new teachers.

Worcester Co. – Julia E. Hill, Worcester Technical High School, Mathematics, Grades 10–12

Creativity, compassion, and critical thinking are three of the values that Julia Hill instills in her students every day. Hill earned a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Carson Newman College, a Master's in Mathematics Education from Salisbury University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Boise State University. In her thirteenth year, she teaches mathematics at Worcester Technical High School. Mrs. Hill serves as an advisor for the Worcester Chapter of SkillsUSA, a member of her school improvement team and a math curriculum developer. Outside school, she mentors teenage mothers across her county.

Teacher Biography

My name is Mrs. Ella Frazier. This is my 2 4th year teaching.

I was born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee at the foot of the South Holston Mountains. In 1998 I moved to North Carolina with my family. My husband is a firefighter in Salisbury and I have two sons, Michael and Eli.

I graduated East Tennessee State University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Later I attended Catawba College and earned my master's degree in Elementary Education and as a Reading Specialist. I also earned a certification to teach Gifted Students from High Point University and a School Leadership certification from University of North Carolina Greensboro.

I look forward to many more years of teaching brilliant students everywhere!

How to Write a Biography

Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.

While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.

In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.

While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.

Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.

The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.

Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.

Full Biographies

Teaching unit.

Teach your students everything they need to know about writing an AUTOBIOGRAPHY and a BIOGRAPHY.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ( 26 reviews )

Features of a Biography

Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow

Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.

The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.

Biography structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention

SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.

COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.

CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.

BIOGRAPHY FEATURES

LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.

PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.

DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.

TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.

Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.

Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.

Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.

Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.

A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.

Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.

Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.

Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.

Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography

Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.

There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:

Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.

Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.

Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.

Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?

Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!

While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.

As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.

An effective way to approach the research process is to:

1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life

2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:

•      Physical looks
•      Character traits
•      Values and beliefs

3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:

• Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
• Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
• Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
• Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.

As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.

Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.

Research Skills:

Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:

• Gather relevant information
• Evaluate different information sources
• Select suitable information
• Organize information into a text.

Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).

These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!

COMPLETE TEACHING UNIT ON INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS USING GOOGLE SEARCH

Teach your students ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE INFORMATION ERA to become expert DIGITAL RESEARCHERS.

⭐How to correctly ask questions to search engines on all devices.

⭐ How to filter and refine your results to find exactly what you want every time.

⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.

⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.

⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing

Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.

Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.

One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.

Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing

While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.

The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.

This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.

Biography Examples For Students

• Year 5 Example
• Year 7 Example
• Year 9 Example

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!

Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!

When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!

In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!

Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.

Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.

Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.

Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.

The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.

After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!

Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”

Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.

Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.

At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.

Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS

We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:

This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.

Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.

When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:

• Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
• Which biographies didn’t?
• Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
• Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?

Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.

When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:

This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.

Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.

Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:

This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.

Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.

Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.

They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:

Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.

Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.

This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:

Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.

Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.

The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES

Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .

• Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
• Explore the language and perspective of both.
• Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
• Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
• Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
• A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer

Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

To Conclude

By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.

They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.

Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.

Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.

HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING

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Teaching Biographies To Elementary Students (Grades 1-5) in 2024

Teaching biographies can feel intimidating at first, but once you have a solid understanding of the genre, a roadmap of how to teach it, and teaching resources and activities, it’s easy! This post will equip you with all of that and more! You’ll feel prepared (and maybe even excited) about teaching biographies (especially if you are using this biography project and these biography activities )!

The Benefits Of Students Reading Biographies

There are so many benefits of teaching biographies and autobiographies! Readers are transported into that person’s life. They learn all about the person’s achievements, struggles, culture, life lessons, and personality. Biographies can also teach us about the world through the eyes of the subject while allowing the reader to make connections to them. Most students can find biographies they enjoy when they find people to read about that connect with their likes and dislikes to top it off. 

How To Introduce The Biography Genre To Students

The easiest way to introduce and teach biographies is by gathering as many biographies and autobiographies as possible from your classroom library, school, and public library. Make sure that all the books you collect are around your student’s reading levels. This idea works for any theme.

Then, set out the books you collected on each of your students’ tables and have them explore. Ask them to write down what they notice. What do all the books have in common? Have students write down their findings on chart paper. 

Next, have each table share with the class what they noticed. They should come up with some ideas like: 

• They are all about people.
• The person accomplished something big.
• They all include essential dates or a timeline of the person’s life.
• They included real pictures or illustrations of the person.
• The books all tell factual information, and there are no made-up stories.

Lastly, tell students that books with these characteristics are called biographies or autobiographies. Be sure to tell students the difference between biographies and autobiographies too. Create an anchor chart to hang up for students to reference throughout your biography unit! 

4 Ideas For Biography Mini Lessons

After introducing biographies, try one of these mini-lesson ideas for teaching biographies! 

• Have students pick a person they are interested in learning more about. Then have them find books about the person and complete a research project about that person to present to the class. You could even take it a few steps further and have students share what they learned in costume as the person they researched in a wax museum activity! 
• Have students create a social media page of the person they learned about in their biography
• Have students read about a person of interest, and then write journal entries as that person. 
• You could make it seasonal! Around fall, have students paint a pumpkin like a person they read about and present important events or accomplishments as they share their pumpkin. In spring, students could make biography flowers where the center was a photo of the person, and the petals are important events and accomplishments. 

Strategies For Using Mentor Texts To Model Reading Biographies

Teaching biographies is simple when you use these strategies!

First, pick any biography or autobiography mentor text and read it aloud. Ok, maybe not ANY. Be sure to choose one that will be engaging to your students. Think about the things they enjoy and go from there. I love picture books because students can generally read them in one session. (Make sure you preview the text first and mark with sticky notes to remember to stop and discuss during the read-aloud!)

Stop at important dates, accomplishments, life lessons, or significant life events to discuss. I even stop to discuss any figurative language or text features included. This will help students with both reading and writing! Students generally have TONS of connections to share during biography read alouds that lead to great conversations. 

How To Teach Students To Write Biography Reports

One way to help students learn how to write biographies is to write their first one about themselves! Students can brainstorm what should be included in their biography by creating a timeline that includes important events in their life. Then, they use the timeline to help them write their biography in chronological order. You can model this with a biography about yourself on an anchor chart for students to use if they need help. This is also an excellent way to get to know each other at the beginning of the year! 

When it comes to writing biographies about other people, students need to have read several biographies to get an idea of how authors organize this type of writing. When you read aloud, be sure to point out that authors of biographies generally write the story of the person’s life from beginning to end. So students will need to be familiar with sequential order/chronological order text organization. Have students fill in a timeline when you model during read alouds. Point out that biographies usually focus on a part of the person’s life that taught them a life lesson. This biography project and biography activities are great resources for teaching biographies.

Resources for Teaching Biographies

Here are some resources for teaching biography:

1. Biography Project for Elementary Students

Are you looking to begin using a biography project ? Perhaps you are just looking for something better than you already use. If so, this is the resource you need! It is a great resource for teaching elementary students about biographies.

This is a great project to complement a genre study of biographies, an author study, social studies concepts and more. I’ve recently updated the entire product so that it now includes an option to do the Living Biography Museum where families come into school and the students “perform” in character OR can instead be used simply as an independent research project in class or as a homework assignment.

The twist is that instead of having the students dress in costume (which can be a hassle for the parents since most kids can’t put their own costume together) they make a poster board costume with a space for their head to pop through.

A-DOR-ABLE!!!

In the past I’ve done the living museum and had students prepare a brief speech to recite in character. This year I opted to send it home as a homework project and will instead take their photos with their poster board and display them with the written report.

This download now includes BOTH the original version and my new and improved updated version as well. If you have high achieving students who need enrichment this is a perfect activity for them to do on their own or you can use it with an entire class. It’s ideal for grades 2-5.

This biography project contains everything you need to have your students complete a project of their very own to present in class or at a Living Biography Museum.

What is included in this biography project?

Make teaching biographies fun by incorporating this biography project , which includes the following:

• Grading rubrics / criteria checklist
• Graphic organizer to plan writing
• Graphic organizer to record sources
• Student writing pages
• Poster board visual directions 

5 Reasons Why Teachers Love It

Below are 5 reasons why teachers love using this resource for teaching biographies.

• This comprehensive biography project includes differentiated materials, so all you will be able to meet all of your students’ needs and your they will feel successful.
• The project makes a challenging concept accessible for elementary students.
• This resource facilitates a fun hands-on learning experience that offers opportunities for students to practice important skills without them even realizing it.
• This print and go resource will save you lots of time planning and prepping.
• It is aligned to the Common Core Standards, so it will give you peace of mind knowing your students are practicing important grade level skills.

How to Implement the Project in Your Classroom

You can either do a Living Biography Museum where families come in to school and the students perform in character or it can instead be used simply as an independent research project in class or as a homework assignment.

How I Used the Resources in My Classroom to Teach Biography

We had so much fun making these bio poster boards.

As a bonus, the kids learned a ton.

I started by having them complete oodles of activities from my biography activities packet which acquainted them with a whole bunch of famous folks.

Then I had them work in teams to research Benjamin Franklin. They had discussions about why he was famous. They talked about his accomplishments. Finally, they each wrote about him in the 1st person and performed a monologue as if they were Ben.

To make it oh-so-much-more-fun, I gave them each a poster board to use as a “costume.”

I’m now having them each select their own historical figure of choice to repeat the process as an independent project at home.

I seriously loved this project. The kids did too.

They enjoyed walking around wearing their poster boards and singing, “Who flew a kite in a storm and made history… Ben Franklin Square Pants.”

They also enjoyed having “conversations” with each other while wearing the poster board.

Kid 1: Hey Ben

Kid 2: Yo Ben

Me: **Listening carefully how this conversation is going to go.**

Kid 1: Ben, I really liked how you proved lightning was electricity.

Kid 2: Thanks Ben. You know you’re awesome, right? I mean, you signed the Declaration of Independence and all.

Kid 1: I know dude, right? I totally rock!

And then there was the boy who did a stellar job with his presentation… and then ended it by yelling, “Thank you Philadelphia. Ben Franklin has left the building.”

Third graders make me laugh.

2. Biography Activities for Elementary Students

These biography activities are great resources for teaching biographies to elementary students. It provides teachers with no prep printable biography activities that can be used over and over when studying any person.

This unit was designed to enhance the study of individuals. The activities can be used as part of a genre study or within the content areas. I have also used them with author studies and have had the children complete them as autobiographies about themselves.

What is included in this resource?

This biography activities resource includes 7 activities. Learn about them below!

1. Biography Poster

Students gather information about any individual and use their research to create an 8.5 x 11 inch poster. The poster has spaces to record the person’s name, date of birth, place of birth, interesting facts, reasons of importance and character traits. They then draw a portrait of their individual.

2. My Life in Pictures: A Scrapbook Biography Project

To complete this biography, activity the student will take on the role of the individual they are studying. The student can either draw illustrations or print and attach photos highlighting important parts of the individual’s life. The student then writes captions. This biography report is so much more fun than writing an essay and more pages can be added as enrichment.

3. Top-Down Topic Web

This graphic organizer shows the relationships to the main idea and details. They represent main ideas in a hierarchy. These research-based tools help the students to comprehend what they have read because it organizes ideas in a systematic, visual graph.

4. The Important Book Biography Activity

The Important Book is a great book for teaching students about writing patterns. This activity was modeled after the format of that book and was designed to encourage students to identify key, important facts about the person they are studying. It makes a great bulletin board display.

5. Body Biography

A Body Biography project is a combination of artwork and writing. The packet includes a poster to use as directions or to display with the students’ completed biography projects. They complete sections such as a speech bubble with a quote by the individual, a thought bubble to show what they have thought about, shoes labeled with places the person has been, a heart filled with character traits. They then draw objects in the hands that relate to the person and create a background that tells the viewer more about the historical figure.

6. Timeline Biography Report

Unlike a lengthy written report, this is a creative way to showcase important events in the person’s life. Students identify key moments and tell about them in words and pictures. They are added to a foldable accordion booklet in sequential order.

7. I AM Poem

An I AM Poem is typically completed as an autobiography. I also have my students do one about themselves to learn more about them. The format is also great for showing what they know about a person they have learned about. The students take on the role of that person to write the poem in the first person.

• These biographies activities are high-interest for students, so they’ll be motivated to learn through reading and researching.
• This comprehensive resource includes differentiated materials, so all you will be able to meet all of your students’ needs and your students will feel successful.
• Your principal, colleagues and school librarian will be impressed by the creative methods of sharing learned information and the integrated learning that takes place.
• The resources can be used with an biography study and be used over and over again.

How to Implement it in Your Classroom

It’s part of our social studies curriculum and technically it is a study of Massachusetts Biographies, but we began learning about the genre with a mini-study of Martin Luther King Jr.

I read several picture books and the students buddy read a free printable reader from A to Z.

We created a top-down web listing information that we learned about MLK.

Then I read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown, and the students completed an activity I created for my biography packet that was inspired by the book. They used the same format as Brown’s book to compose their own version, “The important thing about Martin Luther King Jr. is…”

Finally, each of my friends made a portrait of MLK using the directions from TLC. They came out crazy cute. I hung each of them up even though I’ll probably take them down and send them home soon. They were just too adorable not to display.

Today, we did another activity (The I Am Poem) from the biography activities packet and a craftivity to go with it. I really feel like I am able to get to know my students on a completely different level through projects like these. They really open up and share such sweet ideas and insight into who they are.

3. Biography Picture Books

Belo are 4 high-quality biography children’s books for elementary students.

1. Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport

Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport is a nonfiction picture book that teaches children about the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students will learn what life was like for Martin growing up and how he became a leader in the fight for equal rights.

Throughout the book, the author includes actual quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. This book explains how Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged people to use their words to make change and the impact he had on the country. This story follows Martin all the way from childhood through the end of his life.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these Martin’s Big Words activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

2. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

The Story of Ruby Bridges details the struggles that six-year old Ruby Bridges endured when she was chosen to attend an all-white, segregated school as a black girl.

All of the other students’ parents pulled their children out of school because of her, and so she was forced to attend class all alone. She was escorted by U.S. Marshalls every morning, as she had to listen to jeers and insults being thrown at her while she was entering the school.

Despite these hardships, Ruby’s courage through non-violent actions did so much for the civil rights movement, and later that year, two white boys started to attend school with her. This inspirational true story teaches children that, no matter what age you are, anyone can be a trailblazer for change.

I liked this book so much I will be adding it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these The Story of Ruby Bridges activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

3. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

The story The Girl Who Thought in Pictures follows the life of Temple Grandin. The story starts off with Temple being born, and the doctors thinking that she needed to be sent away because she was different. Temple liked to watch things spin, did not like loud noises or crowds, anything that was itchy, or big squeezy hugs. She also did not talk until she was three. Temple got diagnosed with Autism. Her mom said that Temple was “different, not less.”

When Temple goes to school, the children there would tease her relentlessly. One day, Temple’s mom thinks that it would be better for Temple to stay on her aunt’s ranch. There, Temple finally feels comfortable and explores ways to help animals. Temple goes to college and gets three degrees! Now she travels the world giving speeches and spreading hope. She spreads the message that the world needs brains of all kinds.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these The Girl Who Thought in Pictures activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

4. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Denise

The sixth picture book on the list of books that are great for teaching biographies is Planting Stories . It is a biographical picture book about Pura Belpre, who was the first Puerto Rican Librarian in New York City. When she started working the library, she realized that there weren’t any of the stories and folktales that she was familiar with in Puerto Rico. She decides to share her stories during story hour and through puppet shows, and eventually publishes a book.

Pura travels across the country and from classroom to classroom planting her story seeds and educating about her homeland. When she returns to the library, she sees that her story seeds have bloomed and everyone is telling her stories. Students will love learning about Pura and how she shared her stories with children everywhere.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these Planting Stories activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

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Techy ideas for teaching biographies.

Teaching biographies can be an integral part of your ELA instruction. While many of us are having to adjust our planning in order to meet the needs of virtual instruction. So, we are now trying to figure out how to virtually teach biographies. In this blog post, I will be detailing some tips and tricks for teaching biographies virtually. So, if you’re looking for digital biography activities and resource ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

Using Videos to Introduce Historical Figures

First, let’s talk about getting our kiddos ready for virtual biography instruction. When introducing biographies in your classroom, there are many ways to set the stage for engagement. These days, virtual instruction can prove to be repetitive for students. So, I’d recommend starting your lessons with a short attention-grabber. Fortunately, BrainPOP is the perfect place to start for biographies.

Beginning your virtual biography activities with a BrainPOP biography will help focus your students on the topic. They will be engaged, learn about a person, and, most significantly, see what information is important to biographies.

This resource is so easy to use! You have many options. You could open your student activities with a BrainPOP biography video. For example, after your virtual instruction, your students will most likely be completing an independent activity. Try linking a BrainPOP biography video to watch before starting that activity. You can assign your students the quizzes, graphic organizers, or game activities to follow.

Another option is to assign different individual figures to your students. This will allow each student (or group of students) to teach the rest of your class about their figure. Either way, at the end of your virtual biography instruction, your students will have had an opportunity to learn about many different people, and what they should look for when studying, researching, or writing biographies.

Learning About Historical Figures with Virtual Reading Activities

Another great resource is virtual reading activities in Google Slides. These activities incorporate a variety of content skills. Students will be reading, practicing comprehension skills, sorting information, and writing. The digital biography activity in the picture is an easy addition! In fact, they are already made to be used in your virtual learning environments. These sets will include an introduction to biographiess. They also have four additional interactive pages to teach about 16 influential figures.

Link: Biography Unit

Let Students Teach Each Other Virtually

I have recommended FlipGrid for virtual instruction before, and I will recommend it again! This is the perfect platform for your students to create projects and add their own mark to the virtual biography unit.

With this activity, students could all be assigned the same figure. With a rubric or set of focus criteria, students would be able to create a video that highlights the important parts of the person’s life. Another option, would be to assign different figures to each student or sets of students. This would allow your students to watch their peers’ videos, looking for the important points and sets of criteria.

Introduce Virtual Biography Projects With Google Slides

Biographies require some upper-level research and writing skills. So, primary kiddos don’t always have a lot of practice with creating biographies projects. A great virtual way to introduce biography projects and activities to your younger students is to use Google Slides. This allows you to structure the project for them. For example, you can create a Slides presentation. On each page, insert an image and the name of a person you’re studying. Your primary students can list 2-3 facts about each figure! Then, you can increase the complexity of their Google Slides presentation requirements.

Suggested Resource to Make Your Virtual Teaching Easier

Finally, here is an all-in-one resource that can make your virtual biography instruction. If you’re looking for complete Biography resources and activities, I have some resources for you! The new biography no-prep unit comes with passages and activities for biographies, autobiographies, and 16 influential figures.

Click the buttons below to grab the link you need.

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Biography Themed Teaching Resources

Our biographies on famous and historical figures will enhance your lessons and students will enjoy studying them. Included are reading warm-ups, poems, discussion guides, and more. These resources are appropriate for a variety of grade levels, from kindergarten through high school.

Printables for Grades K-5

• Nelson Mandela Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

Helen Keller Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

• Walt Disney Biography: A Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up
• Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Helen Keller

Getting to Know Me

Learn About Susan B. Anthony

• More Popular Biography Printables for Grades K-5

Printables for Grades 6-12

• We Beat the Street Discussion Guide
• Albert Einstein Biography: A Reading Warm-Up
• Albert Einstein, Physicist
• The Peanuts Gang: Charles Schulz
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Fastest Woman in the World: Wilma Rudolph
• More Biography Printables for Grades 6-12

Lesson Plans for Grades K-12

An Autobiographical Poem

• Sunflowers, Van Gogh, and You
• Rachel Carson: The Coming of a Silent Spring
• Martin Luther King Jr, Civil Rights Leader
• Marie Curie's Discovery
• Jackie Robinson and Civil Rights
• The Era of Thomas Jefferson
• More Biography Lesson Plans

Biography Teaching Guides

• Red Scarf Girl Teacher's Guide
• Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Teacher's Guide
• A Long Way Gone Teacher's Guide
• The Henry Books: A Teacher's Guide
• Up Close: Jane Goodall Discussion Guide
• Listening Is an Act of Love Teacher's Guide
• Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy's Day Parade Educator's Guide
• More Biography Teaching Guides

Social Studies Activities

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl Discussion Guide

• Chronology of Conscription in the U.S. -- Colonial Era to 1999
• Benjamin Franklin Little Book
• Abraham Lincoln Biography & Mini-Book
• Ryan White, My Own Story
• Betsy Ross Little Book
• More Biography Activities for Social Studies

Reading & Language Arts Activities

• Babe Ruth Reading Warm-Up: Biography
• Henry Ford Biography: A Reading Warm-Up
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal

Learning About Famous People

• More Biography Activities for Reading & Language Arts

Science Activities

• Learn About Johnny Appleseed
• Science and Social Studies: Benjamin Franklin
• Bio of a Famous Scientist
• Jane Goodall, Ethologist
• The First Man in Space
• Early Astronomers
• More Biography Activities for Science Class

Holidays & Seasonal Resources

• "I Have a Dream" Little Book
• Jackie Robinson Coloring Page
• Rosa Parks Coloring Page
• Learn About Pocahontas
• Nonfiction Reading Warm-Up: Sacagawea Biography
• More Biography Resources for the Holidays

Art & Music Activities

• My Book About Abraham Lincoln
• My Book About George Washington
• George Washington Carver Coloring Page
• My Book About Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Claude Monet Biography: A Reading Warm-Up

I Have a Dream: Drawing Activity

• More Biography Activities for Art & Music

Biographies & Physical Education Connected

• Past Olympic Athletes: Profiles, Biographies, and Activities

Michelle Kwan Reading Warm-Up

• Jesse Owens: Olympic Champion
• Jackie Robinson Mini-Biography
• Jim Thorpe Reading Warm-Up
• Althea Gibson
• More Physical Education Biographies
• Overview of the Presidents: Basic Facts & Figures
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life
• Assassinations and Attempts in U.S. Since 1865
• Just Where Was Columbus?
• President Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. Biography
• President George Washington Biography
• President James Monroe Biography
• More Popular Biography References
• Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz
• Notable African-American Women Quiz
• Martin Luther King Jr. Printable Book (Grades 4-8)
• Popular Presidents' Day Printables

Recommended Biographies Resources

Albert Einstein Biography: A Reading Warm-Up (Grades 5 & 6)

Timeline: Conscription in the United States, 1620-Present

Sense and Sensibility

DAILY WARM-UPS

Clara Barton Reading Warm-Up

Theodor Seuss Geisel Biography

Influencing Others in Our World

Spoonerisms Activity

LESSON PLANS

Birthday Buddies

The Life and Accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.

Harriet Tubman Writing Activity

Carleton Kendrick Ed.M., LCSW

Homesick: My Own Story

The Anne Frank and Miep Gies Connection