Analy High School

DEPT. OF ENGLISH
6950 ANALY AVE.
SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472

April 4, 2018

Recommendation for: Aaron Berner

Aaron Berner has been teaching one of my 9​th​ grade English classes since January, but I have known
him for almost two years because he worked with some of my students as an instructional aide here
from 2016 until last December. What stands out most about him is his intellectual acumen and
insightfulness, talents that allow him to elicit an intellectual discussion about a novel or world affairs
in his classroom. He is also a good writer himself, which is a real asset when teaching the subject.

In the range of the many student teachers I have had over the years, Aaron belongs in the top for
several reasons: first, he has proved to be one of the fastest learners when it comes to classroom
management and lesson planning; second, he clearly shows both his passion for writing and literature
as well as his compassion for the students as learners; and third, although he has an exceptionally calm
presence, he projects confidence as well.

Aaron learned very quickly how to use one of his greatest assets, his voice, to his advantage; he knows
how to use a commanding tone to bring the class back from group work or break time and recognizes
how important it is to set the tone for the class. In addition, his organizational skills and focus are
assets that help keep the class engaged and on task. He keeps activities and discussions moving and
works hard to maintain control of the room at all times. He has also learned to balance reading,
writing, and more kinesthetic (i.e., diagramming, drawing, graphic organizing) activities to help his
students stay focused in our 95-minute block periods.

When I asked Aaron which unit he learned the most from, he actually touched on several for different
reasons. He said the ​Farewell to Manzanar​ unit taught him pacing and how to select just a few literary
elements and themes, i.e., go deep instead of wide. The letters to senior citizens taught him the value of
creating real-world, engaging assignments. Finally, the ​To Kill a Mockingbird​ unit showed him how to
prepare students for a unit by having them research background information and explore their own
opinions and assumptions about key themes.

Overall, I highly recommend Aaron for a position in your school. He will make a great addition.

Sincerely,

Susan Blackmer
sblackmer.ahs@wscuhsd.k12.ca.us