Your teaching resume is the opportunity to put your best foot forward. Whether you are applying for a new teaching position, a promotion or a fellowship, use your professional resume (also called a curriculum vitae) to draw attention to the highlights of your career so far. This step-by-step guide to writing a teaching resume will help you identify what those highlights are and how to make them work for you.

Include all teaching experience. On a teaching resume, all teaching experience counts. In addition to the classes you teach in your full-time career, be sure to include classes you've taught at your church or local community center. If you've done any volunteer tutoring, include that too. These all contribute to your experience, even if they are not paid positions. And the fact that you teach even in your personal time is evidence of your passion for what you do.

Describe course topics and objectives. To provide a clear picture of your areas of expertise, describe the actual subjects and grade levels that you teach. Where applicable, mention course titles or topics and objectives, and briefly list some of your best practices for meeting those objectives.

Mention certifications, special recognitions, committees and professional affiliations. What makes you uniquely qualified to do what you do? It's the mix of gifts, skills and connections that you have developed. Be sure to mention any professional certifications that you have earned, special awards and recognitions for service in your field, committees on which you have served, and organizations to which you belong. These are the things that help your resume stand out from the rest.

List relevant presentations and publications. If you have addressed an audience of your colleagues, either at staff meetings, conferences or in the academic community, list these presentations on your teaching resume. Mention the title of your talk, the occasion, location and date. Similarly, list and cite any articles that you've had published in professional journals. If you've contributed to academic texts or curriculum development, be sure to include that information as well.

Finally, it's always a good idea to provide samples of your work. Attach your most impressive lesson plans, syllabi and tests for the courses you describe in the teaching experience portion of your resume. In addition to serving as writing samples, these documents attest to your creativity and teaching style.