April 2011 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to recommend Carolyn Hart for a teaching position with BELL Summer.

In the past year I have had the privilege of working with Carolyn as her field instructor as part of Michigan State Universitys rigorous year-long internship program. During this time, I observed Carolyns teaching and engaged with her in one-on-one and group discussions around teaching practice. It is through this capacity that Carolyn has demonstrated to me the skills, knowledge and dispositions that I believe make her an ideal candidate. Carolyn places students at the center of her practice at every level. In a classroom with a wide variety of individual differences and needs, Carolyn worked throughout the year to help develop a classroom community in which all students were respected and supported, not just by the teacher but also by their peers. In Carolyns classroom, students work together to help each other learn and helped each other to make decisions that would positively impact the classroom community. Under Carolyns instruction, students learned not only content, but also how to be respectful citizens in a classroom community. To this end, Carolyn works hard to create a positive classroom environment through the use of positive management strategies that reinforce student behavior that is aligned with the rules and norms of the classroom. She effectively communicates clear expectations and holds students accountable for following through with these expectations. In terms of instruction, Carolyn demonstrated consistent dedication towards scaffolding instruction to engage students in meaningful learning that specifically worked to address their strengths and weaknesses. She resourcefully plans lessons that create interest and engage students in learning content matter as it relates to their own lives. She uses a variety of instructional strategies to ensure that the needs of different types of learners are addressed throughout the instructional day. While Carolyn carefully plans lessons that are tied to objectives for students, she also takes a flexible approach to her teaching and is responsive to teachable moments that arise with her students. Carolyn is a reflective teacher who works to constantly improve her practice. She works well as a member of an instructional team and makes purposeful use of the resources available to her. Carolyn is aware of her strengths and weaknesses and actively seeks feedback around her practice. Not only do these skills make her a more effective teacher, but that also serve Carolyn well in her ability to be a strong, positive role model for the students she teaches: She consistently demonstrates critical thinking, humility, and the ability to be flexible and adapt. I believe that Carolyns approach to individual students and the classroom community, ability to plan and execute effective content instruction, and professional dispositions towards the task of teaching make her a strong candidate to teach in the BELL Summer program. As an urban educator who has taught in various high-needs settings, I believe that Carolyn has the dedication, diligence, and motivation that is needed for teachers who teach in high-needs urban areas. I highly recommend her for a teaching position. Please feel free to contact me at harri710@msu.edu or 503-704-4447 if you have any questions regarding Carolyn. Sincerely, Robin Harris, LAET Field Instructor, Michigan State University
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.

College of Education
Department of Teacher Education
Michigan State University Erickson Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1034 517/353-5091 Fax: 517/432-5092 education.msu.edu/te