December 4, 2017

Phyllis Shapiro Award Committee

Internships and Student Affairs Office
McGill University

Dear Award Committee,

RE: Giovanna Casale, BEd TESL, recommendation for the Phyllis Shapiro Award

If one word can describe a dedicated and responsible educator, achiever would describe cole
Sainte-Claire student teacher, Giovanna Casale. Even before the summer holidays were over,
Giovanna had contacted her co-operating teacher, Belinda Di Gioachhino. We can only surmise
how motivated Giovanna was to prepare for her internship. This set the pace for the next three
months of learning, sharing, and teaching.

According to her CT, Giovanna started the year ready to assume responsibility for her classes.
From re-organizing the English office, discovering resources/Dr Seuss dictionaries for her
classes, creating long-term units to working with students and helping them to learn English,
Giovanna has made her mark.

Sainte-Claire principal, colleagues and CT were unanimous in their praise of this student
teacher. Giovanna established herself in the school community. Les lves aiment Ms Giovanna.

During each assessment, Giovannas behaviour remained poised and considerate of all her
students. One particular visit was in her grade 1 class, a 30-minute period. Keeping little ones
engaged was an easy feat for Giovanna. Students received handouts and directed to place them
in their duo-tangs and they did. They participated in multiple activities the Old Macdonald
song became a sing along as the children cut and pasted animals on their handout, and wrote
the animals name. With Giovannas gentle urging students completed this task. The power
point she prepared was appropriate; students responded in unison and individually. At one
point, they anticipated her next line. She smiled and pride in her students was unmistakable.
Giovanna realized that students learned what she had taught them. It was a pleasure to see her
speak kindly and genuinely interested to hear what students wanted to tell her. At the end of
class, Giovanna dimmed the class lights, and one little girl came up to me and silently told me
that Ms Giovanna closes the lights so they listen to her and they did.

Planning fun lessons to teach a grammar concept, letting students use the interactive board,
and encouraging them, voluntarily, to speak English, typify a teacher. Moreover, Giovannas
approachable temperament reflects her ability to deal with diverse learners and, as her CT
agrees, this will do her well in any classroom.

Giovanna Casale, Phyllis Shapiro Award recommendation M. Eva Page 1

During another assessment, Giovanna prepared differentiated activities for a split class.
Students were so involved in the activity, that when dismissed for recess, few rushed to leave
the ESL class. They remained to speak with their teacher.

My passion for learning, my knowledge, open mindedness, my creativity and my values make
me believe that teaching is not only a passion of mine but an extension of who I am meant to be
- Taken from Giovannas e-portfolio.

I sincerely support Giovanna Casales nomination for the Phyllis Shapiro Award.

Thank you

Mary Eva
Supervisor, FE 3 TESL
mary.eva@mcgill.ca
Tel. 514 426 2184

Giovanna Casale, Phyllis Shapiro Award recommendation M. Eva Page 2