May 11, 2017

To Whom It May Concern:

Hallie Utter completed her 80-hour field experience in my third grade classroom. She
was a part of classroom with 26 students, two of whom have learning disabilities. Hallie
was responsible for teaching four lessons: two in Language Arts, one in Math, and one
in Social Studies.

Ms. Utter had the experience of observing and teaching lessons covering topics like
equivalent fractions, reading in other cultures, Michigan history, various vocabulary
terms, and much more over the course of eight weeks. During this time she planned and
implemented her own personal lessons, graded papers, worked with small groups of
students, worked with individual students, and prepared materials for the class. Hallie
has successfully demonstrated her awareness of different learning styles and has
adequately adjusted assignments to meet the varied needs of students. Her lessons
were thoroughly prepared and implemented. She was successful in monitoring and
adjusting to various schedule changes in order to complete it during her time of
teaching.

Hallies experience in Language Arts included teaching a lesson on Reading Around the
World: Germany. This involved teaching some German expressions, reading a German
fairytale, exposing students to visuals, and teaching them a German game. She
completed this lesson using materials we had here at Mecosta Elementary, as well as
bringing in her own materials she gathered specifically for the lesson. Hallie went out of
her way to ensure the students felt completely immersed in German culture during their
forty-five minute lesson.

Ms. Utter also spent a great deal of time outside of class preparing for the Math lesson
she taught on equivalent fractions. Hallie set up centers and students rotated through
each one, working with manipulatives and small groups to really understand how and
why equivalent fractions are a crucial part of third grade math instruction.

Hallie possesses a positive and enthusiastic personality. She has a great rapport with
the students she has worked with. She is well dressed, articulate, and always ready with
a smile and a kind word. I have found that other team members have accepted her as a
strong working member of our team and she has had a positive working relationship
with each one of them, as well as with other staff members.

I am confident that Ms. Utter will be an asset to any staff that she works with. She is
confident, knowledgeable, and has the skills of a seasoned teacher. I believe that she
will continue to grow and become even more effective as a teacher with further
opportunities. Please feel free to contact me for more information at Mecosta
Elementary School, (231) 972-7477, or asimon2@chsd.us.

Sincerely,

Amber L. Simon
Mrs. Amber Simon