ul UNIVERSITY OF UTAH URBAN INSTITUTE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION — Collegeof Education, 1721 Campus Center Deve Rin 2260 Salt Lake Cty, Utah 84112 801.581.7158 FAK 01 581 3609 versie atahedy March 2015 T enthusiastically write this evaluation for Holly Gayler whom I have known for the past year as. her cohort leader in the Elementary Licensure Program at the University of Utah. The program Holly has been involved in is vigorous and the students have to be committed to teaching in order to succeed. Combined with methods instruction and reflection, the program is an intense year-long professional program that spends over a year in the elementary classroom. Along with her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, Holly will also be receiving her ESL endorsement. Holly has worked in a fourth grade classroom at Washington Elementary in the Salt Lake School District. Washington is a title one school in a very diverse community in downtown Salt Lake City, She has not only met expectations, she has become a teacher that has strongly excelled. Holly is professional, she is calm and confident, and was a studious student in my class. She is an asset to have in the teaching profession. Holly has a strong and comprehensive classroom management plan, She practices preventative ‘management strategies. At the beginning of most lessons, Holly clearly explains behavioral expectations, and follows through consistently with rewards and consequences. Holly is consistent, fair and kind to the students, ‘The students know Holly cares for them. Creative lesson planning is an asset to Holly. She teaches age appropriate content and plans lessons that are fun, engaging, and hands-on, Most recently, Holly has her fourth graders creating mini videos where the students acted out their vocabulary words. I was impressed with how ‘engaged the students were! Holly has experimented with several methodologies. She has effectively implemented cooperative learning, she uses direct instruction appropriately, and she often had her students working in pairs or small groups. Holly handles each of these strategies with ease. Having been a computer teacher before student teaching, Holly has a solid grasp on enhancing instruction through technology. I saw lessons that used many Smart Board applications. Holly is a good communicator and she will be an asset to your faculty. If you have any questions, please call anytime at, 801-587-7990 or 801-971-7899 or you can email me at peggy.mecandless@utah.edu Sincerely, Phagy DY lad? Peggy McCandless Elementary Program Coordinator