To Whom it May Concern:

I had the privilege of having Courtney Hoover as a student

teacher in my 3rd grade classroom for the past eight weeks. The
classroom is comprised of 27 students and is located in a high
performing school within an upper middle class neighborhood. The
school is a neighborhood school and there is no bussing available. Most
of the students within the classroom come from a two-parent
household and many of the students within the classroom have a stay
at home parent. All content subjects are taught within the classroom
curriculum on a daily basis. Students are taught reading, writing,
mathematics, science, and social studies. All of these content areas are
taught using an integrated method with a big idea as the main focus.
Teachers are responsible for not only teaching the content standards
based on the Colorado State Standards for 3rd grade but also the World
Class Outcomes, 21st Century Skills, and 4 Cs as outlined by the
Douglas County School District. Students are expected to meet
standardized test results for 3rd grade by the end of May 2016.
Teachers are responsible for following the content standards when
planning and implementing all lessons as they align to the World Class
Outcomes, 21st Century Skills, and 4 Cs.
Miss Hoovers passion for student learning and work ethic made
her well prepared for this opportunity. She was extremely organized
and motivated when preparing the lessons that she was responsible for
planning. Miss Hoover was creative and thoughtful in her lesson
preparation. Her lessons were always engaging and inspired deeper
critical thinking on the part of the students. Her understanding of
where students were in their learning and her ability to take that
knowledge to plan lessons that were purposeful and differentiated
mirrored that of an experienced teacher. She recognized individual
learning differences and was able to adapt her lessons and teaching
style to meet the needs of each of the students within the classroom.
Miss Hoover was dependable and a positive role model within the
classroom. She had an innate ability to connect with and to establish
relationships not only with the students in my classroom but in the
other 3rd grade classrooms as well. She volunteered to participate in
school wide committees, was an active participant in 3rd grade team
planning meetings, and connected with all of the staff at Saddle Ranch
Elementary. Miss Hoovers work ethic, level of responsibility, and
ability to self evaluate made her an exceptional student teacher.
My classroom is located in a small mobile and it is a challenge to
keep 27 students focused and engaged in a tight fitting environment.
The students in the class are social and active. They enjoy each others
company and many have been neighbors and friends since birth.

Classroom management under these circumstances is important to the

climate and culture of the classroom as well as the learning
opportunities. Miss Hoover was able to plan lessons with this in mind.
She was able to develop close relationships with the students based on
respect and was able to show them she cared about them as an
individual while maintaining an understanding that she was the
teacher and was responsible for maintaining a learning environment
that respected all learners. Students knew what her