Keverne Cenac-Lopes

43 Millwood Road
Toronto, ONTARIO
M4S 1J6
9 December 2016
To Whom It May Concern
It is my pleasure to write a letter of reference for Ms. Valerie Wilson. Valerie came into our
classroom as a teacher candidate. I was her associate teacher. I observed her in the classroom
weekly as she took on teaching all subjects. She began by teaching one subject but then was
willing to and capable of taking on the whole day of classroom instruction.
Valerie handled the class in an efficient and effective manner. She has very good classroom
management skills, using many different means to get students attention. She recognizes and
rewards positive behavior and deals appropriately with negative behavior. She used positive
reinforcement during her placement especially for those students who had already been identified
as having behavioral or academic needs. From the beginning of her placement, Valerie
followed our classroom routine and was able to maintain an effective classroom routine.
Valeries lesson plans were consistently presented in advance with details as to how she expected
the lesson to run. She ensured that the plans included all students. She spent time with different
groups and was very conscious of differentiating her teaching style and the assignments given to
the students. As she got to know the students, she geared her plans and vocabulary to their level
of learning. Valeries lessons also met curriculum expectations in the strand being taught. She
did rubrics and made appropriate comments about student progress. She ensured she had group
work, individual work, inquiry and discovery based work. At each time, she found a way to
conference with individuals or groups about their progress.
Students felt safe in the classroom with her and comfortable enough to share their thoughts and
feelings. She demonstrated an awareness of school safety procedures and created a secure
classroom most conducive to student learning. She promoted fairness and justice in adopting
anti-discriminatory practice in regards to gender, race and disability at all times in the classroom.
Valerie established mutual trust and respect with the students in the classroom. She established a
proper student teacher relationship with the students in the class, reading buddies and out on the
playground. Her program delivery kept the students engaged and motivated. Valerie spent time
speaking to students at recess, at lunch, inside and outside of the classroom. She was always very
respectful of them and them of her. She ensured that they knew she was the teacher, however
there was a level of comfort that students had in her presence. She was very professional with
parents and stayed within the boundaries of a professional working relationship. All staff

members developed positive relationships with Valerie. She treated other teachers with respect
eager to receive any advice they had to give to help her improve her plans, teaching style, etc.
Valeries behavior definitely represents some of the high standards expected of a teacher in the
province of Ontario. Her love for what she does is evident in the classroom. Valerie participated
in all activities related to the role of teacher. I would recommend her for a position within any
school board and I think she would be able to learn within any environment whilst bringing all
her knowledge attained to her teaching career.

Sincerely

Keverne Cenac-Lopes
416-816-7770
kevernecenac@gmail.com