REFEREE REPORT Applicant's Name: My Name: My Position: Association with Applicant: Length of Association:

Sophia Erni
Marj Cosgrove Classroom Teacher & Pod Leader, Wanaka Primary School Tutor Teacher Two years 2012 and 2013

It gives me pleasure to be a referee for Sophia. I have been her Tutor Teacher/ Mentor since she joined our staff at Wanaka Primary in January 2012. Over the time I have worked with Sophia I have seen her blossom into a confident effective teacher. She has a warm, calm and enthusiastic manner. Sophia creates a warm learning environment where students feel safe and valued. She has natural ability in developing positive relationships with all students in her classrooms, showing a genuine interest in them. Mutual care and respect is always apparent. Sophia demonstrates a high level of commitment to teaching. She is always organised and well planned for lessons and her effective time management skills ensure classroom routines are secure. Sophia endeavours to provide learning opportunities for all children relative to their needs, abilities and stages of development. Learning intentions and success criteria are shared with her students. She continually reflects and evaluates her teaching practice and gives consideration to assessment information to inform her future teaching, setting next learning steps and suitable activities. Sophia takes time to give specific feedback and feedforward to her students. She confidently uses ICT daily in her classroom to share and promote learning as well as locate and prepare resources. Sophia develops and manages classroom resources very well. She pays a lot of attention to getting the detail right for the delivery of her lessons and the preparation of resources. Sophia uses a range of classroom management strategies to provide a classroom environment conducive to learning:- specific positive praise, a roving eye and close proximity, teacher look, seating plans, etc . Children know their responsibilities because Sophia has taken the time to set clear expectations for behaviour and learning from the outset. Sophia is very keen to keep abreast of teaching and educational developments. She seeks out opportunities to attend teacher development programmes. Sophia has demonstrated that she is able to handle and solve problems on the run in the teaching situation. Where necessary she seeks advice from her colleagues and superiors. I know that Sophia will be an outstanding asset to any school and I would encourage any principal to strongly consider employing her. She has a bright future in teaching. I am happy to be contacted for further comment on 03 443 5466 or 027 214 0110. Marj Cosgrove