TEACHING, LEARNING AND

SOCIOCULTURAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT
Education Building
1430 E. Second Street
P.O. Box 210069
Tucson, AZ 85721-0069
Ofc: 520-621-2928
Fax: 520-621-1853

11 March 2020

To Whom It May Concern:

I am delighted to write a letter of recommendation for Taylor Yazzie. Taylor was my student in TLS 322: Teaching
Language Arts and Communication in Elementary School during the fall semester of 2019. A review of Tylor’s
resume demonstrates her many skills as a teacher. What I would like to speak to here is what one cannot see in
reading that resume.

I have taught this course seven times over the past eight—approximately 150 students in all— and can honestly
say that Taylor is one of the top three or four students I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She completed all her
assignments—from reflections to comments on readings to her case study project—with great care, actually
exceeding the possible total points. In fact, she chose to do an extra credit project, even though she was at no
risk of achieving anything but an A for the course. None of my students has ever done this, demonstrating
Taylor’s curiosity and initiative.

Three areas of work in particular stood out:

• Taylor was tasked to complete a case study of a child who was struggling in some way. In addition to
analyzing the child’s writing, she observed and interviewed him and then designed a lesson intended to
meet his needs. The lesson was outstanding and much enjoyed by the child.
• Taylor also designed a group writing lesson focusing on what children would name themselves if they
had the chance. Taylor’s lesson was the best I have ever seen, with every detail of the lesson planned
for. In her reflection, she noted the struggles faced by one child in the class. She listened and talked to
him privately and the child was able to productively re-engage with the lesson. Of greater importance,
Taylor acknowledged his creativity and he felt supported emotionally.
• Finally, Taylor is a gifted writer. Some of our class time involves participating in a writing workshop. I do
this so that students can experience a form of writing instruction they are unlikely to see within the
classrooms in which they are placed. Taylor shared a beautiful poem with the class during our Author’s
Chair time and her personal narrative about experiences as a basketball player was well-crafted and
delightful.

What I most want to convey here is that, if you have the opportunity to hire Taylor for a teaching position, you
should not let her walk out of your office without a job offer! She will be a wonderful addition to your faculty.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions you might have.

Dr. Elizabeth L. Jaeger

Associate professor, Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies
elizabethjaeger@email.arizona.edu