Linus PAULING MIDDLE SCHOOL January 30, 2017 ‘To Members ofthe Selection Committe, Itis my pleasure t write aleter of recommendation for Danielle Alexander. Danielle joined Linus Pauling “Midale School this year asa student teacher from Oregon State University in Stephanie Swenson’s classes. She is responsible for one section of Algebra for 7* and 8* graders. Additionally, she will often teach many ‘of Ms, Swenson's other classes. She is a valuable resource and will each Ms, Swenson’s other classes when there is a guest teccher. Danielle is master at connestng the real world with the concepts taught inher math class. She engages the students in the learning by providing meaningful reasons of why they need these skills. Her elasstoom activites provide students practice using these skills on challenges that they care about Danielle utilizes ‘many different strategies for checking for understanding individually forall of he students, She will quickly ‘adjust her instruction based on these ongoing formative assessments, Danielle has created a leaming environment where the students are consistently using math vocabulary. She has created this ervironment by having students tench to other students in class either in small groupsorin front ofthe whole class. Students feel safe working out problems in front of their peers as well as receiving, and providing feedback. Students in her class are excited to soe what other students are passionate about and how they solved ther challenges. Her students have benefited from leaming tht they ate not alone in these challenges and they are iavested in helping their peers succeed, Danielle has ereated very positive relationships with her students, She is patient, flexible and caring when working with her students. Her classroom management is excellent likely a a result of the students being, engaged and knov in her class. It is impressive, that as a new teacher, she has balanced professionalism and relationship building with her students a if she were a veteran teacher. {highly recommend Dan elle ‘Alexander for any middle or high schoo! math position. Please contact me if can provide any addtional information at 54) 766-4851 of email at sawn, mek cris 12 acs “Aaron MeKee