UIC COLLEGE OF swesroaensd LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES Deparment of English (MC 162) 2027 University Hall {601 South Morgan Street is 60607. Be Chicago i To Whom It May Concer: Thad the pleasure of serving as Helen Munoz’s instructor for both a methods course and the student teaching seminar, and I recommend her for an English teaching position. At the beginning of every semester, | and my colleagues meet to decide which student teachers we will each supervise, This divvying is determined mostly by schools” locations, but we also make sure that each of us gets dibs on the student with whom we are most excited to work. For the spring 2021 semester, my student of choice was Helen. She had been in my Teaching of Reading and Literature course the year before, and I was eager to ‘work with her again, In that methods course, I was impressed by the sophistication and creativity of Helen's lesson planning. For ‘example, when she designed a Kite Runner lesson to teach her peers, she put the core text in conversation with short supplementary texts, such as William Blake’s poem “The Lamb,” to draw out readers’ thinking on a motif in the novel. Especially noteworthy was how she was able to build students’ insights through artful scaffolding: she started by activating students” prior knowledge of motifs, gave students time to re-read passages to “notice what ‘they notice” in relation to the motif in question, engaged students in self-reflection on their growing understanding, and locked in learning with an Exit Slip. Very few students design such a thoughtful lesson—one making such thorough use of course readings and experiences—in thei frst methods course! ‘Also noteworthy was Helen's demeanor when working with her peers. Whether their teacher for an activity like the one described above or their collaborator on a group project, Helen was unfailingly warm, curious, and calm, She is that rare person who is both a great listener and contributor. Her peers clearly enjoyed working with her, and she could always be counted on to pull her weight, During Helen’s student teaching, I unexpectedly had to go on medical leave six weeks into the semester. While | \was so sad not to get to see Helen in action with students of her own, before my leave I did get to read her weekly stories of teaching and meet with her and her cooperating teacher to discuss her progress, and from the very fist it ‘was clear that Helen brought to the high sehool classroom the same integrity and warmth she had brought to my classroom. Her care for students drew many out ofthe shells to which they'd retreated during remote leaning, and her respect for them made many ask for and/or accept her help. Helen knows how to build strong, relationships with students so they can grow as scholars and people in theit time with her have no doubt that Helen will do right by her future students and make a valuable contribution to your school Sincerely. ate cS Lecturer and Associate Director of English Education Phone (312)-413-2200 + Fax 312) 413-1005 + www.uiceduldeps/eng!