April 10, 2007

Dear PEOPLE Program selection committee:

            I am writing on behalf of Noah Cohen who is applying to the PEOPLE Program.  There are several reasons why I believe that Noah would be an excellent choice for the PEOPLE Program.  Let me take this opportunity to share them with you.
            First, he has strong leadership qualities.  When he puts his mind to it, he has the ability to convince other students to treat each other with the dignity and respect that they all deserve.  Noah also has a strong sense of justice and equality.  He often comes to the defense of students who he believes have been wronged.  In this way, he is a very loyal friend to a number of his classmates.
            I have witnessed Noah reading material during D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) time which has indicated his interest in literature and concepts that are highly developed for a sixth grader.  His reading comprehension is quite proficient and he is able to make meaningful connections between things he reads and his own life.
            I started student teaching in Noah’s class in late January.  Since that time I’ve gotten to know him fairly well.  I have seen his commitment to his team shine forth.  He has shone a willingness to talk about the difficult things as well as celebrate the positive.  On a number of occasions Noah has come to talk about a problem either he was experiencing or he noticed between other students.  This leads me to believe that he is interested in improving his educational environment and will work towards that goal.
            These are a few of the reasons I’m enthusiastically recommending Noah for admittance in the PEOPLE Program.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Echnaton Vedder
Student Teacher
Sherman Middle School
608-669-8683

 

 

 

 

Letter of Recommendation for PEOPLE Program

Completed April 12, 2007 during my student teaching. 

I wrote a letter of recommendation for one of my students who is interested in admittance into the PEOPLE Program.  The PEOPLE Program was established in 1998 to help minority and low-income students develop the needed skills to apply and be accepted at the UW-Madison.  The student is a low-income African-American male.  This shows my commitment to the student’s learning and well being through high school and beyond.

Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment

The primary alignment that this artifact has is with standard #10; The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well-being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.

A student approached me and asked if I would write him a letter of recommendation for the PEOPLE Program.  His mother also contacted me about the letter several times.  Before writing the letter, I brainstormed with my team on ideas to include.  They had known the student longer than myself, and, therefore, would have more insight into important components to include. 

On the national level, statistics continue to show that a disproportionately low number of students of color and low-income students enroll in and graduate from college.  Dr. Jay P. Green, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, has conducted much research into graduation statistics for public schools.  He found that in 1998, 74% of all high school seniors in the U.S. graduated.  In the same year the study found that only 56% of African-American students and 54% of Latino seniors graduated.  The study further demonstrates that “7 states and 16 of the 50 largest school districts were unable to graduate more than half of their African-American students, while 9 states and 21 of the 50 largest districts were unable to do so for Latino students.”  The Education Trust asserts that it is still possible for education that “takes place in the same building” to be “still separate … (and) still unequal.”  It is also important to notice that urban districts are disproportionately minority and poor.

According to the PEOPLE Program webpage, “Numerous studies have demonstrated enrollment and graduation rates can be increased by pre-college programs that (a) encourage students to aspire to opportunities available through higher education and (b) assist students in developing critical academic skills.”

UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignment

KSD4.f.  Shows professionalism:  I took it upon myself to write the letter of recommendation in the hopes that the student would be admitted into the program.  He will have a much better chance of graduating from high school and attending college if given the opportunity to enroll in the program.  

 

What I learned about teaching

It is important to have a strong connection between all of the parts of the learning community:  teachers, students, parents, and the community at large.  I must work hard to foster the various relationships that exist and develop new relationships that could prove to help improve the learning environment of my students.  The UW-Madison is an amazing resource to tap into for educational purposes.  Not only can schools obtain many motivated volunteers from the university, there are also opportunities to have the students connect with various parts of the university multiple times throughout there secondary education.  This will help them realize that the university is not off limits, that it is indeed in reach and has interesting things to offer.

It is important to have culturally appropriate teaching and learning experiences. 
The PEOPLE Program offers a tutoring and mentoring program which is geared to the particular needs of low-income and minority students.  The program offers a great way for the students to work towards realizing some of the goals that they have, both academic and personal.  The program gives a sense of pride and accomplishment which is vital for producing and/or maintaining motivation in a learning environment.  It is important to have an adequate amount of motivation.  Motivation can come from having partnerships within the academic setting.  The PEOPLE Program offers such a partnership with other students who have similar goals and aspirations.

 

What I learned about myself

I want to develop and keep as many useful connections as possible—ranging from other teachers, students, parents, community members, university professors, business owners, environmentalists, social justice activists, etc.  I want to engage with all of these important players who, if primed in the appropriate ways, can help students succeed.

I thrive in environments in which I need to make contact with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.  Having this as a part of my teaching environment will not only help improve the learning experience for the students, but will also invigorate and inspire me.