April 22, 2016

To whom it may concern:

It is with pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation on behalf of my student teacher Ellen Bruegger.
Ellen worked with me from January to May of this current year. Each day I observe this Drake University
student bring out the best in my students using a variety of techniques.
Within the first week of Ellens placement she had memorized all of the students names, thus enabling her to
quickly develop a rapport with several of the students on an individual level. Over the course of the semester,
Ellen familiarized herself with the various learning styles of the students and modified lesson plans accordingly.
She would often employ the Socratic Method and was adept in framing questions which forced the students to
respond using the higher order of Blooms taxonomy. She constantly used the why question in order to nudge
the students to reflect on their responses and further justify and strengthen their understanding of the content.
Ellens lessons gave the students opportunities to learn utilizing their strengths. For example, she would often
present new content using a variety of methods including active learning and technology integration. During
our unit entitled, Crisis and Conflict, Ms. Bruegger had the students take the role of the United States and
then determine how we should respond to various scenarios around the world. The students would then move
around the room depending on how they would respond to the given crisis. This allowed for substantive
dialogue with the class, and motivated many to research further modern day crisis and U.S. involvement.
Differentiated opportunities were incorporated as a matter of routine for Ms. Bruegger.
Beyond the classroom, Ellen became an integral part of her professional learning community (PLC) and the
school itself. She was an active participant in our Data Team and often suggested ways we should modify the
lessons based on the students data. Furthermore, she attended after school programs allowing her to meet the
parents of many our students. She conducted the student teacher conferences with great professionalism and
competence. Ms. Bruegger always displayed her willingness to do whatever necessary to help the school, her
colleagues, and of course, the students.
In summary, Ellen Bruegger was a diligent and involved student teacher. Ellens character reflected the six
pillars of Character Counts. She was very approachable and positive with the students. Ms. Bruegger came to
work each day with vigor and diligence, and I have every reason to believe she will continue to exhibit these
traits for years to come. As a result, she will prove to be a valuable asset to any institution fortunate enough to
hire her. If I may be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (515) 242-4660.

Sincerely,

Timothy J. Dowler
20th Century Social Studies
Roosevelt High School