Elizabeth A.

Davis Professor, Science Education

Educational Studies

March 2, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a reference letter in strong support of Stephanie Mackey. I have every confidence in her
abilities as an elementary or middle school teacher. Stephanie was a student in my Elementary
Science Methods course, during the Fall 2015 semester, here at the University of Michigan
School of Education. Through this experience, I came to be impressed with Stephanie's
propensity to engage in teaching practice, think through important issues in teaching, and
deport herself professionally.
For the science methods course, Stephanie taught two science lessons in her fourth grade
student teaching classroom, and I observed both of these via her video recordings. For
example, Stephanie's second lesson focused on separating mixtures by using the properties of
the parts. Stephanie did very nice work in using the lesson plan she received from her mentor
teacher and really making it her own, ensuring that students would have the opportunity to
genuinely investigate and make sense of their findings. I remember meeting with Stephanie
during office hours to discuss this lesson, and she was really working to put to work what she'd
learned in our class in the context of her own classroom, where she knew the children and the
norms very well. Stephanie interacted well with the students in her classroom, and then
reflected effectively on her own teaching. She drew on the videorecording that she had collected
of her teaching, and used specific examples to point to areas of strength in her teaching as well
as areas where she needed to keep working. When I asked her recently about this lesson, she
said that teaching this lesson helped her improve her confidence in science teaching, because
she could see that she was able to effectively support the students in their sensemaking.
Stephanie also participated well as a student in my class. She was engaged and interested in
the class discussions, gave good feedback to her peers, and supported her groupmates by
challenging their thinking in respectful ways. Stephanie was a great student, but what is
especially memorable is the way in which Stephanie worked, in every class session, to make
connections to her own teaching.
When I asked Stephanie about her student teaching, she described that she started teaching a
science unit ("The Watery Earth") at the start of the new year, and has been the lead teacher for
the unit all the way through. She clearly has ownership of the unit; she discussed how she
started to become comfortable with adapting the lessons to become more coherent and to work
effectively in her classroom context. Stephanie has a clear emphasis on the importance of
student sensemaking. She told me about her appreciation, now, for how different techniques in
science teaching (for example, framing lessons or units around investigation questions) promote
not just student engagement but also provide opportunities for rich sensemaking.

610 East University Avenue, Room 4107

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

betsyd@umich.edu

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Stephanie also told me that she is connecting her "lead" unit, in language arts, to the science
unit she taught. As a science educator I love hearing that my students are able to see the value
in connecting literacy and science. She also shared with me that she is working systematically
on her classroom management skills, and that she feels much more effective as a result.
Stephanie is a teacher who will continue to grow as she gains experience, because she reflects
on her specific experiences and builds on them moving forward.
Whenever I write a letter like this, I think about whether I would want, or would have wanted, the
individual teaching my daughter (currently in eighth grade). I can say that in Stephanie's case, I
would have absolutely no hesitation at all. Stephanie is already a great teacher
knowledgeable, effective, caring, and reflectiveand will only get better as she gains
experience. I would be thrilled to have her in my school.
In sum, Stephanie Mackey will be a great teacher. Her enthusiasm for teaching, growing
understanding of the issues surrounding this difficult job, and positive attitude will help her be an
effective teacher. She will make a great contribution to her school, through her dedication,
insight, and collegiality. I wholeheartedly recommend her to you. Please do not hesitate to
contact me for more information.

Best regards,

Elizabeth A. Davis
Professor, Science Education

610 East University Avenue, Room 4107

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

T: 734.647.0594
betsyd@umich.edu