Letter+2

====I want to take this time to thank-you for allowing me to enter into your classroom this past semester. I am a firm believer that the best way to learn is to jump right on in, get your feet wet, and start teaching. Thanks to the generosity of both you and your students, I had the chance to do just that this semester. I had the chance to teach two full lessons, work one on one with a student conducting several literacy assessments, assist with several Mathematics and Social Studies lessons, spend time with the students as I walked them to and from Specials, and so much more. The experiences that I have gained from this semester have made me confident that I can go into student teaching next semester fully prepared to face the excitements and challenges that lie ahead. I simply cannot put into words how grateful I am for all of your support. ==== ==== We were told to mention one thing that truly affected us in some way this semester; and, I must admit, I had a hard time only choosing one. I have gained so many skills and witnessed so many great practices; however, the stand out for me was definitely being able to see //literature circles// being used. In our physical class this semester, we spent a great deal of time looking a literature circles through both //Guiding Readers and Writers // by Fountas and Pinnell and //The Book Whisperer// by Donalyn Miller. Both of these texts stressed the importance of allowing students the ability to choose text, converse about text, and present text to one another. I was able to witness two rounds of literature circles being done in your class – watching students work together to create board games, skits, raps, and more. One of the highlights for me was being able to sit down and discuss the book //The Tale of Despereaux// by Kate DiCamillo with that particular group. It just so happened that in my education class we were participating in literature circles of our own, and my book of choice was //The Tale of Despereaux// too. It was great fun having the chance to compare my note with the student’s notes. “Did we think a like? Did we see that twist in the book coming? Who were our favorite characters? Did we like the ending?” having this experience truly allowed me to learn how some students think while also allowing me to connect on a more personal level with the students. They were excited to hear that their student intern was reading a book that they were reading too. It made them even more excited to talk, write, and think about literature – which is what any teacher truly wants. ==== ==== I want to once again thank you and your students for opening your door for me. The experiences that I had have definitely made a huge impact on me. I am excited to move into student teaching next semester with all of the new knowledge and experience that I have gained from this opportunity. Thank you so very much, and have a great end of the school year and a wonderful summer! ====