Cummings Elementary

4261 Schoolcraft SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49534
Phone (616 254 6!41
"a# (616 254$6!43
May 2014
To Whom it May Concern:
James Telman completed his yearlong teacher assisting and student teaching placement in the
fourth grade at Cummings Elementary in Grandille !u"lic #chools$ %e had full responsi"ility
for all su"&ect areas and some of our 'T( "enchmar) group lessons$ %e has "een in charge of
planning* management* and e+ecution of lessons$ ,uring his placement* ( hae -itnessed a lot
of gro-th in James.s teaching$
'ight from the start* James -as eager to dig in and "ecome inoled in the classroom$ James is
a caring teacher$ %e deeloped rapport -ith the students and learned classroom procedures$ %e
-as open to learning ne- things and made an effort during the school day to "e engaged -ith
students $ /er the course of the year* James has seen the impact that thorough planning can
ma)e$ %e has had to reie- the material* practice ho- to e+plain it* and learn ho- to se0uence
the instruction in a -ay that -ill ma)e sense for the students$ %e has as)ed me 0uestions a"out
the "est -ay to present concepts* and has reflected on the success of his lessons$ 1lthough eery
lesson doesn.t al-ays go as planned* he has discoered -ays to re-or) his ideas for future
lessons$
James has not only dealt -ith the "asic day to day actiities* "ut has also gone deeper into some
specialty units that he deeloped$ ( hae "een especially appreciatie of his strong )no-ledge of
online actiities as students incorporate use of computers more than eer "efore$ %e has
deeloped interesting and meaningful lessons* particularly in science and social studies$ %is
enthusiasm for social studies is especially noticea"le$ %e has learned to use formatie testing
methods to guide small group remediation* gauge the direction and pace of his instruction* and
e+tend -heneer possi"le$ James continued to sho- more confidence in his teaching each day$
James helps maintain a tas)2oriented learning enironment and is not afraid to handle "ehaior
issues as they come up$ %e understands the need for effectie management* and his techni0ues
hae "een successful -hen he uses them consistently$ %e is still e+perimenting -ith different
-ays to )eep students motiated and engaged$ %e has had to oercome some hurdles coneying
certain information to the students* "ut he is al-ays ready to learn and as) 0uestions as he goes$
Continued attention to &uggling the lesson content* classroom management* and "ehind the
scenes planning -ill "e important for him as he "egins his career$
James.s professionalism as a teacher is his "iggest strength$ %is character is outstanding$ %e has
proen to "e honest* hard-or)ing* and a team player$ %e has taught the students the importance
of integrity and displays it in his o-n life$ James has "een open to receiing feed"ac) on those
areas recommended for continued professional gro-th$ %e reflects on his achieements and
struggles and can self2assess accurately$ %e interacts and colla"orates -ith other mem"ers of
our 4
th
grade team* participates in staff meetings* puts in e+tra time at home* ma)es a point of
getting inoled in school eents* and has "uilt a rapport -ith the students and staff in our
"uilding$
James is on the road to an e+cellent career as a teacher$ ( -ish him the "est of luc) as he sets out
to esta"lish a classroom of his o-n$
Teresa #noap