Rochester {ferson Flementary School Public Schools 1201 10" Ave NE * Rochester, Minnesota 55906 Chris Lingen, Principal Dana DeWitz, Associate Principal March 21, 2016 ‘To Whom It May Concern: ‘Mr, Benjamin Olson was a student teacher in my second grade class at Jefferson Elementary School in Rochester, MN, for ten ‘weeks from January I1, 2016 to March 18, 2016, Mr. Olson began his teaching experience with an exuberant amount of energy and enthusiasm for being a teacher. This diverse, multicultural, classroom contained a wide range of learners from gifted students to those with learning disabilities. Tt did not contain any students with particularly challenging behaviors. Mr. Olson worked hard {to establish an acceptable decorum of classroom management. He developed his own clapping rhythm and expected children to echo his reply. He did successfully establish a kind and caring rapport with students Throughout his student teaching experience, Mr. Olson was responsible for writing daily lesson plans for every lesson that he intended to teach. His plans reflected both his understanding ofthe subject matter and of his proficiency with teaching methods He was often encouraged to think of questions that would require students to think more deeply and thoroughly about the lesson objectives. He did successfully complete his one week of fulltime teaching, He certainly had the best intentions in every lesson that he taught. His aspiration to become a teacher was always clear and genuine. [As Mr. Olson propares for his future in education, I would recommend that he consider a position which offers him a very prescribed, sequential and didactic curriculum. He does his best teaching when the lessons are well prepared and more limited in scope. One of his greatest strengths is his genuine desire to help children. position that could blend his strengths would be ideal. Mr. Olson demonstrated some good skills as an educator. He maintained a positive attitude throughout his student teaching, maintained some organization to his lesson plans, materials and activities, initiated some collaboration with another teacher at our grade level, and remained committed to professional improvement. Most importantly it was evident that he cared deeply for the ‘well-being of his students. He is a kind and caring educator. Sincerely, pe 4 Leteen Melody (D6 Tiedeman Jefferson Elementary School 1201 10 Ave, NE Rochester, MN. 55906 507-328-3500 (school) '507-289-6776 (home) 507-923-0700 (cell)