UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Werklund School of Education De Bonnie hapa Telephore 4a 220-72) nail baapirodueslgan.cs January 6, 2016 ‘To whom it may concer: 1am very pleased to provide this eter of support for Ms. Wendy Adele Smith who is making an application for a teaching position in your school system. Wendy was a student in my Elementary ‘Science Specialist course in the BEd Teacher Education program inthe University of Calgary Werklund ‘School Of Education, in Winter Semester, 2015. T also served as Field Supervisor during her first pracicum experience. During our on-campus class I quickly came to know Ms. Smith asa highly engaged student teacher. She did excellent work acedemically in the course overall. Wendy also demonstrated wonderful personal waits and skills, exemplified in the ways she worked with and collaborated with fellow students in the course. Wendy is an outstanding communicator She approached all of her work with deep interes, wonderful good humor and enthusiasm. She established excellent rapport with fellow students and did not hesitate fo ask important questions in clas that truly benefited everyone, ‘A major component of the course is the development and implementation of a model of planning for teaching Elementary Science. In Winter, 2015, students worked in groups to prepare an active interview experience with 11-12 year old children to understand their ideas about Air, Aerodynamics and Flight, partof the Grade 6 Program of Studies. Following the interview work, Ms, Smith worked with a fellow student to analyze the information collected and to compare findings with information reported inthe resexch literature. “The assignment asked student teachers to then develop a plan to teach a lesson on. the opic based on the needs of students. Working with a fellow student teacher she developed and presented the lesson to the same small group of children that she interviewed. The assignment also required development of a guided reflective essay describing the children's’ reations, achievements and. responses tothe lesson, a reflection on children learning science in schools, children’s ideas about scieace, and a reflection onthe experience of planning for teaching. In addition, Wendy also reflected ‘on the response of teachers in the classroom to our work and her own developing sense of identity asa science teacher. ‘Thal an opportunity to observe Ms. Smith working wit her small group of children during the course ‘assignment and was very impressed withthe creative ways she engaged students in several kinds of ‘activites to explore the nature of air and the application of principles of aerodynamics to consider lying ‘objects. She challenged te students to participate in activites that caused them to question their ideas. 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N INA . woe. ucalgany.ca‘This was one of Wendy’ frst teaching experiences with children inthe program. She was able to spontaneously respond tothe observations, questions and interpretations of students, and was very successful in encouraging them to stay focused on the activity. The hands-on lesson was very engaging forthe students, and her reflection essay on the teaching experience was excellent. In addition tothe course assignment work I vas able to visit and observe Wendy engaging with children and teaching in her first field based experience in the program in the BEd program. Although student teachers are ‘expected to work with small groups in the frst experience, her field colleagues recognized her strengths and ability to plan together to allow Wendy to work with the whole class, Wendy did a wonderful job in this, her frst large clas instruction and her deep and honest reflection on the experience showed ‘outstanding insight into her areas of strength and areas where she wished to grow. Because ofthe excellent academic, planning and student teaching work that I observed, I am pleased to very highly recommend Ms. Wendy Adele Smith for a position asa beginning teacher in your school system. Iam glad to offer further comments on her behalf if needed Sincerely, Bonnie Shapiro Bonnie Shapiro, PhD Professor, Werklund School of Education ‘Telephone: 403-220-7521