4401 University Drive W. Phone 403.329.2251 www.uleth.

ca
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Fax 403.329.2372

October 8, 2014

To Whom it May Concern,

Re: Letter of Reference for Geordan Olson

It is my pleasure to provide this letter of reference and support on behalf of one of my former student teachers,
Mrs. Geordan Olson. In my capacity as Professor of Education at the University of Lethbridgea position I
have had for 20 years, I worked with Geordan in two senior-level Education courses in her Professional
Semester I in the fall of 2013 and another senior elective in the spring of 2014. These courses focused primarily
on a general introduction to teaching and on language and literacy learning throughout the grades.

In these courses, Geordan clearly distinguished herself as a caring, enthusiastic, mature, and thoughtful teaching
professional. Geordan was often looked to as a leader in our classes and played an important role with her peers-
as advisor, guide, and mentor. In particular, I appreciated Geordans interest in learning about literacy and its
importance for helping children develop academically, emotionally, and socially. She contributed effectively to
discussions related to language learning and thoughtfully shared observations from her practicum experiences
and own experiences as a parent to illustrate key aspects of language and literacy learning.

In these literacy courses, Geordan demonstrated a superior understanding of the way oral language develops,
key ideas around beginning reading and writing, and teaching strategies to support literacy learning. As part of
one of these courses, Geordan and her peers planned a morning of literacy activities for grade one students while
their teachers observed and provided feedback. Geordans work with these young students showed very
thorough planning, understanding of the developmental levels of the students, and a genuine and caring response
to their participation and work. It was a pleasure observing her work with children and it should be noted that
the grade one teachers observing her indicated that she would be a wonderful addition to their grade level team!

Moreover, Geordans enthusiasm and her zest for learning and for life was clearly evident and contagious in
everything she did on campus! Her very positive attitude is a characteristic that sets Geordan apart from others.
She demonstrated a strong work ethic in our courses that I found admirable-and always exceeded expectations,
showing that she set the bar high for herself and those around her.

Geordan has an impressive history and knowledge in dance and drama and often sought to link her background
in these areas with literacy learning. By doing so, she became very aware of the ways in which aspects of
physical movement can be used to support literacy development and shared this understanding with both me and
her peers. I found her commitment to learning, to hard work, and to doing her very best in everything to be
remarkable and uplifting.

It is, therefore, my pleasure to highly recommend Geordan for a teaching positionshe will definitely be an
asset to any school community and make a difference in the lives of her students, their families, and her
colleagues. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or questions regarding my
assessment of Geordan as a beginning teacher. I can be reached at 403-329-2443 or at brightr@uleth.ca.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Robin M. Bright, Ph. D
Professor of Education