m U UNIVERSITY oF UTAH, Uummay INSTITUTE FOR TEACHER DECATION Collegeof Edueation, 1721 Campus Center Drive Rm 2260 Sal ake City, Utah 84112 WO1-SRI7158 FAX 801,51 3609 LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION For: Jimmy Sieng By: Linda Sorensen, Ph.D. Date: March 10, 2017 It is with great pleasure that I write this letter on behalf of Jimmy Sieng. I have interacted with Jimmy over the past year in my role as his secondary cohort leader at the University of Utah’s Urban Institute for Teacher Education (UITE). I have also served as his direct supervisor, which has afforded me the opportunity of observing him as a student teacher in his site classroom periodically over the course of the 2016-17 school year. One of the key teaching skills Jimmy has honed during this school year is the ability to prepare thoroughly for each day’s lesson. Through intensive, regular collaboration with both his site teacher and other teachers in the math department at his school site, he has learned to first utilize the Utah Core Curriculum standards in his planning. These standards serve to provide him with the end goal of the daily lesson, in the context of the larger unit, so he knows exactly what the students need to learn. He displays his daily objectives on the board so students never need to wonder what is expected of them and, only after determining what will constitute acceptable evidence of student learning, he decides the activities and methods he will employ. By following this deliberate, systematic planning regimen, he creates a stimulating learning environment that facilitates individual and collaborative engagement. Another of Jimmy's strong qualities is his dedication to meeting the needs of each individual student in his charge. His nature is to care deeply about those around him, and his students feel this from him. I have bbeen very impressed as I have observed him over the past few months: He has managed to develop an enviable rapport with young people of the age range that many teachers shy away from. He has learned how to appropriately approach students on their level. His positive attitude and enthusiastic demeanor create an interactive, egalitarian classroom atmosphere. Finally, his usage of daily routines—especially for starting each period—have helped his students internalize the daily schedule in an explicit way. Consequently, his students feel secure because they have confidence in their teacher. Finally, the most impressive thing I have observed about Jimmy this year is that he is a person of high character. He is respectful of his fellow students in the cohort and has developed a strong bond with his site teacher, He follows through on assignments and projects undertaken for class, and he demonstrates self awareness in his lesson reflections. I feel confident these behaviors are part of who he is and will continue to be evidenced in his professional setting. As such, I have no qualms about strongly recommending Jimmy Sieng to you as a future educator at your institution. Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information. Thank you. hide, Sousa Secondary Cohort Leader and Associate Instructor Urban Institute for Teacher Education College of Education, University of Utah SAEC 2248; 801-587-1743