MAED4

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 * MAED 4**
 * Name and job title: Laura Angyal, Grade 3/4 Classroom teacher, St. Paul Public Schools
 * Graduation Date or Anticipated Graduation Date: May, 2006
 * Name of Course(s) for which I was your teacher:GED 8023 Capstone Practicum and Capstone Advisor
 * Title of Capstone: Exploring parent involvement strategies for students with low oral language and literacy skills

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a letter of high recommendation for Vivian Johnson, who is seeking tenure. Ms. Johnson led my Capstone class and while I had an idea for a topic, struggled with how to narrow the topic. Through her supportive teaching manner and our interactions during the class, I felt Ms. Johnson would be an effective Capstone advisor.

As the educational leader of this class, Ms. Johnson provided a scoffolding approach to the capstone. Her organizational skills supported the curriculum of this capstone class and facilitated my positive outcome. As students, we received information on how to organize our materials, how to research, and how to break the project into manageable parts, which provided me with a more successful experience and better sense of the outcome expectations. Ms. Johnson had the ability to quickly determine support needed thereby encouraging us and challenging us appropriately to reflect on our chosen topics. We were encouraged to reflect on what we were learning, what more did we need and finally how would this information affect our practice.

In class as she facilitated our discussions we gleaned much information from our classmates as they shared their topics and research. Her moderation of these discussions clarified expectations of the capstone project, encouraged reflection on learning and synthesis, and built confidence as a researcher and educator. Her feedback was notably respectful, positive and encouraging while challenging our thinking and performance.

As my advisor, Ms. Johnson had the skill and dedication to help me process my thoughts and hone in on the core topic of my interest. She encouraged my progress as I worked through the frustration of leaving less important ideas behind to focus clearly on the most important aspect of my interest. When we discussed the importance of specific ideas and I was determining whether to include them in my research, Ms. Johnson was thoroughly engaged in the conversation. I felt that she was truely an advocate for me and the students I served. Her interest was not only that I complete the Capstone project successfully, but that my capstone would benefit my practice.

I appreciated Ms. Johnson's ability to listen to and respect my ideas, to engage fully in my topic, and to guide me through this process to a successful outcome. My success reflects Ms. Johnson's teaching, leading and advising abilities. She reflects Hamline University's history of placing highly qualified and dedicated faculty in the classroom, and awarding tenure to such faculty. I recommend Vivian Johnson be given tenure, an asset to Hamline University and its students.

Sincerely, Laura Angyal MAEd, 2006