4.4.

2016

ToWhomItMayConcern,

MynameisLanceWheatley,andIhadthepleasuretoserveastheMichiganStateUniversitys
fieldinstructorforLauraAllenduringthe2015/2016schoolyear.IamgivingLauraan
enthusiasticrecommendationasaresultofhermarkedintellectualability,professionalism,and
consistentworkethic.Lauraisanoutstandingyoungteacher,andshehasalltheskillsand
promisetomatureintoamasterteacher.

OnewayLaurahasdistinguishedherselfisthroughhersolidgraspofEnglishcontentandan
astutenessatrelayingthisknowledgetoherstudents.Shealwaysdemonstratedathorough
understandingofthematerialshewasteachingthestudents.Whetherorganizingadiscussionof
heroarchetypesintheepicGilgamesh,explaininglinguisticstructureslikeparallelism,or
drawingouteternalthemesofthefallandredemptionfromFaust,Lauraisabletoexpertly
engageherstudentswithcomplexmaterialthroughavarietyofeffectiveactivities.

Someofthelearningactivitiesinherrepertoireincluderoutinestructuredsmallgroupwork,
Think/Pair/Sharetimes,orWalkandTalkdiscussionsessions.Tirelessly,shemovesaround
theclassroom(orthehall)fromstudenttostudentandgrouptogroupconstantlyanswering
questions,clarifying,prompting,andencouraging.Thismindfulnessonherpartcreatesastable
andproductivelearningenvironment.DuringanumberofmyobservationsofherseniorEnglish
classes,sheadeptlyemployedastrategywhichmovedthestudentsoutoftheclassroomandinto
themoreinformalhallwayspace.Thistransitioneffectivelygotthesomewhatlethargicseniors
movingandhelpedwiththeirengagementofthematerial.Asaresultthehalltimediscussions
turnedintofruitfulexperiencesformanyofherstudents.Insomeinstancesstudentsshared
touchingandvulnerableexperiencesintheirownlivesthatrelatedtothemesandeventsinthe
text.

EducationaltechnologywasanothertoolLauraskillfullyleveragedtohelpherstudentslearn.
SheregularlyandinterestinglyusedSmartBoardsforteachingandreviewpurposes.
Chromebookswereusedtoallowstudentstocompleteresearchassignmentstherebycombining
researchandtechnologicalproficiency.LauraalsoconstructededucationalgamesusingQuizlet
andSmartBoardstoinstillacompetitivespiritinherstudentsandgettingthemtolearnthe
materialwhilehavingfun.IamremindedofatimewhenLaurausedtheSmartBoardto
orchestrateareviewgameonthemesinliterature.Shewoulddisplaythemeslikelove
redeems/savesoroverthrowanoppressivegovernmentthatoccurredinthetexttheclasswas
reading,andstudentgroupshadtoconnectthethemetoitsoccurrenceinpopularculture,i.e.,
movies,books,televisionshows,music,etc.Thegroupwhichproducedthegreatestnumberof

connectionswon.Thisactivitywasasuccessonanumberoflevels.Firstsheengagedthe
studentswiththecontentthroughtheliterarythemes.Thenshehelpedstudentsconnectthose
themestotheirexperiencesandinterestsinpopularculture.Finally,thecompetitiveaspect
incentivizedthestudentstopayattentionanddeliverqualityanswerssotheirgroupcouldwin.
Thisisthekindofcreativity,engagement,andfunthatLaurabringstoherclassrooms.

Lauraisalsoateamplayer.Sheworkedwellwithbothofhermentorteachersandmyself.She
wasreadytotakecriticismanduseittoheradvantagebyadaptingherinstructionaland
assessmentmethodstoconformtobestpractices.IhadanumberofotherinternswithwhomI
workedduringthisyearhowever,Laurawasoneofthefewwhowouldtakenotesduringour
debriefings.Thesenotescontributetohergrowingcacheofpedagogicalknowledgesheis
accumulatingtoimproveherpractice.

Insum,Lauraisacandidatewhohasprovenherworthandskillonanumberoffronts.Shewill
haveafarreachingpositiveimpactonanyschoolthatisfortunateenoughtohaveher.Ifyou
wouldliketodiscussthispromisingcandidateanyfurther,pleasedonothesitatetocontactme.

Sincerely,

LanceWheatley
FieldInstructor
Ph.D.Student
Curriculum,Instruction,andTeacherEducationProgram
MichiganStateUniversity
lanceawheatley@gmail.com
5026403121