Quality Education

Love of Leaming
Sand Lake
,4
ELEMENTARY
\
Safe, Caring Environment
Dedieated
b Excelleflce
Friday, March 30,2012
To Whom lt May Concern:
Ms. Phanat Lor was a student teacher in our second grade classroom during the third quarter of the 2011-2012
school year. Our classroom consisted of twenty-two students with a wide range of abilities and needs.
Thirteen students were reading at or above grade level, four students had lEPs, three students were speaking
English as a Second Language, and six were considered academically "at-risk."
Ms. Lor came into the classroom with an open mind and a willingness to try new strategies. She worked to
tweak her lesson plans so they included her personal touch. Due to the current philosophies
stressed in the
School District of Holmen, Phanat learned, prepared, and taught lessons using: Math Trailblazers, Four Block
(Cunningham, Hall and Sigmon), and Scott Foresman's Reading Street.
Phanat planned weekly with our second grade team and daily with me. We shared our lesson ideas and
classroom management and then reflected about lessons and daily events.
One of Phanat's most improved areas is behavior management. She developed her own style and
management system to coincide with our classroom's/school's PBIS approach. Her system included "at-risk"
students monitoring their own behavior throughout the day as well as acknowledging those students who were
exhibiting and following our school's expectations.
Ms. Lor is bilingual and speaks both Hmong and English proficiently.
Our class loved learning how to say the
colors, numbers, and types of weather in Hmong! Phanat also taught us about the Hmong culture and the
special significance of traditional Hmong clothing. Her knowledge and expertise greatly deepened our respect
for the Hmong and Vietnamese cultures represented in our classroom.
Ms. Lor realizes that the school day continues beyond the dismissal bell. She attended staff and committee
meetings and participated as a team member during Elementary Support Team meetings as well as parent-
teacher conferences. One of Phanat's strengths is reflection. She continually reflects about her teaching and
how to improve lessons, but she also always seeks to differentiate lessons and activities for the wide variety of
learners in the class.
lf Ms. Lor saw that students were struggling with a concept or activity, she took the time to work with them in a
small group or one-on-one until the concept was mastered or the activity was complete.
Ms. Phanat Lor is a strong teacher candidate and will be a great educator. lt has been an honor to work with
her and help her grow professionally. I highly recommend her for any teaching position.
Please feel free to contact me, here, at Sand Lake Elementary or on my cell phone (715-299-1763) for any
further questions.
3600 SAND LAKE ROAD
HOLMEN Wt 54636-8125
(vorcE 781-0974)
(FAX 781-2809)
www.!olmen.kl?.wi.us
Mr. Brion Oberweiser, Principol
obebri@holmen. k1 2.wi.us
The mission of Sond Loke Elementary is to empower life)ong lesrners who sfrive for excellenceand respect in o student-centeredlearning community.