To Whom It May Concern:

I am very pleased to write a letter of recommendations for Heather Cook. It was my pleasure to have Heather in
my 4th grade classroom for her student teaching experience. She did a great job demonstrating her skill as a class-
room teacher. She was willing to work hard and wanted to excel in the teaching profession.

Heather came to class organized and ready to tackle the day’s tasks. She did an excellent job at planning lessons,
keeping up on grading papers, and analyzing student’s work and figuring out ways to help those students who did-
n’t meet the objective. She communicated well with me, letting me know what her plan for the day was.

Heather taught all subjects and used ideas from other teachers as well as her own lesson plans to effectively teach
students the standards. She found ways to keep all learners actively engaged and excited while learning. She was
aware when students where not with her during a lesson and would implement strategies to reengage them. Dur-
ing one particular unit about the early people of Utah, she worried that one lesson that was simply a lot of reading
and worksheets so she modified the lesson with a PowerPoint that had many visual aides to help the students un-
derstand the textbook more effectively. The lesson was a great success and the students were actively engaged. In
her lessons, she used models, definitions, group work, visuals, and manipulatives in her lessons. The students al-
ways had good questions for her and she answered their questions effectively. When she didn’t know the answer
to their questions, she would educate herself and then follow up with the students later.

Heather was very flexible. She understood our school’s philosophy and followed our language arts and math curric-
ulum. She added her own flare while staying true to the curriculum that our school participates in. She is a quick
learner and was able to teach the curriculum effectively. She is a constant learner and was always asking me ques-
tions if she didn’t understand a particular strategy or rule. She values education and that is evident in her constant
thirst for knowledge.

Heather worked hard to maintain a classroom environment that cultivates a feeling of comfort and safety while still
maintaining a room with minimal distractions to help students learn to the best of their ability. Heather used a
technique with lots of positive reinforcement to help students behave. If the class was not following directions, she
would have the students practice the desired behavior in a calm and kind manner. In other instances, she would
allow the students 1 minute to visit with their neighbors and stretch their legs. This would help students refocus
for the next lesson. It was obvious that Heather loved the students and wanted them to be successful in their class-
room studies.

Heather was a great team player and always took others advise to help better her teaching. She encouraged feed-
back and constantly asked for it. She participated in PLC meetings and had a good rapport with staff members.
I am happy to give my recommendation for Heather to work in a school where she can teach and influence chil-
dren. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.

Sincerely,

Holli Williams
4th Grade Teacher