December, 2016

Amanda Jonker has been a teacher candidate in my Grade 5/6 classroom since September,
2016. She planned and taught several units during her block in the last 5 weeks before winter
holiday break, from November 21 to Thursday, December 22, 2016.
She is an energetic, clever teacher who is eternally optimistic and cheerful, in and out of class.
She is a real stand out with whom I have the distinct pleasure to work. She plans her units to
include activators, adequate lessons for acquiring knowledge and finally, applying knowledge.
Amandas strength is her ability to foresee what resources may be required, what challenges
may arise, and what needs the students may have during and after the lesson. Thinking ahead
means that Amanda is always ready and preparedthe sign of a strong teacher.
Amanda asks me many questions to gain from my experience so that she may grow and
improve. She is not shy about asking how she might add or delete items from her unit
planand she always consults with her CT well in advance to have ample time to reflect,
research and make necessary changes. Amanda sets the bar high for herself- she takes her job
very seriously and is always very professional in her demeanor, dress and conversation. She
teaches enthusiastically, but is not overly hard on herself when she realizes it is time to change
course. She is very flexible in this way.
Amanda is gifted in the arts and she thankfully brought her passion into the classroom. At the
end of the two-week photography unit, students had learned and applied terminology and
techniques used by professional photographers. Amanda invested extra time to create a
slideshow so that students and parents could see the classs hard work. The viewing allowed
students to celebrate their work and take pride in their individual contribution to it.
Amanda was very receptive to her CTs suggestions. She listened with an open mind and
considered carefully the advice of her CT. She focused on creating scaffolded lessons -beginning with the end in mind and planning carefully with a calendar to stay within time lines.
Another focus was honing her classroom management skills with an emphasis on limiting
teacher-talk and creating talk-filled introductions that incorporated students thoughts and ideas,
instead of just those of the teacher.
I know that Amanda is on her way to a very satisfying career and that she will undoubtedly be a
master teacher someday. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and I wish her the very best of
luck in her final year in the Faculty of Education.

Lisa Dutchak
Teacher, Darwin School
Louis Riel School Division