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Letters
of Recommendation for Teachers
Teacher
Letters of Recommendation: tips for writing them and getting them written
for you; examples
Teacher letters
of recommendation is a confusing term; it can refer to...
- Letters
of recommendation written by teachers for their students to help them
do things like get jobs or get accepted into some school or another
- Letters
of recommendation written by someone - typically a former student or
colleague - about a teacher to help them do things like find a teacher
position or receive some sort of recognition or reward.
Since teacher
letters of recommendation written for students is covered elsewhere on this
site (see student recommendation
letters ), we will focus on teacher letters of recommendation for -
not by - teachers here.
The world of
education is not always an easy or fair place. Teachers are notoriously
underpaid, and often the best teachers go completely unrecognized for their
efforts - except, of course, by their students. Teacher letters of recommendation
is one way we can change all that.
The best teacher
letters of recommendation are usually written for - surprise, surprise -
the very best teachers. In fact, the savviest administrators have long known
that the single best way to measure the worth of a teacher applying for
a position is not their...
- Resume
- Education
- Degrees,
or
- Resume.
The best
way to determine the worth of a teacher applicant is by reviewing the
honest assessment of their former students. Nothing sells like the words
of satisfied customers!
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If you are ever
approached to write teacher letters of recommendation, then you owe it to
the teachers, to all their future students, and - for that matter - to everyone
else in our society to do the very best job you can.
As a matter
of fact, most teachers are quite hesitant about asking this kind of favor
from someone. If you know a teacher who truly deserves a pat on the back,
you should seriously consider taking the initiative and offering to write
a teacher letter of recommendation without waiting to be solicited. You'll
make her whole year!
Here are some
tips to keep in mind if you are writing a teacher letter of recommendation
for someone else:
- Your writing,
grammar, and spelling will all reflect most directly on your teacher
- especially if he taught you English composition. Make sure your letter
is proofed thoroughly. Allow the teacher to review the letter (hopefully
you won't be given a grade) before issuing a final draft.
- If possible,
print the letter on some kind of letterhead. Recent graduates are unlikely
to be in a prestigious position, so most will have to use just blank
paper. However, if you are one of the few who can use letterhead will
clout, do so! It will make your letter stand out in the crowd. Some
examples:
- Letterhead
of the company you work for (even as an intern). This shows that
the teacher's tutelage has lead you to gainful employment.
- Stationery
with your university's emblem on it. Chances are you can find a
pack in the school bookstore. For example, anyone can buy Harvard
stationery at the Coop (bookstore) in Harvard Square; the same is
probably true of just about any university. Obviously, you shouldn't
use stationery from a school you don't attend.
- Letterhead
from a sorority / fraternity
- Letterhead
from an honor-based society (e.g. Phi Beta Kappa) or academic club
/ activity (e.g. Mu Alpha Theta). (Anything with lost of Greek letters
is probably good!)
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- Be wary
of accepting the honor of writing a teacher letter of recommendation
for someone whom you still have as an instructor. This opens the door
to accusations of extortion and all that since the teacher can potentially
threaten you with a poor grade if you don't write something nice. Of
course, few teachers would do such a thing, but the people receiving
your letter might still be suspicious.
- Focus
your letter on the kinds of things that are important to decision makers.
The fact that a teacher is popular is important with administrative
types, but only to a point. Being able to maintain discipline in the
classroom is one trait that most will appreciate that most students
will overlook. Also important are the abilities to keep a brisk, steady
pace through materials; interact effectively with parents and administrators;
provide assistance and guidance for other teachers when appropriate;
and maintain a record of consistent attendance.
Here are some
tips to keep in mind if you need a teacher letter of recommendation for
yourself:
- Don't
hesitate to provide a draft. Most people are very receptive to using
a "rough draft" to get them started in the writing process. Moreover,
many students are unfamiliar with the issues that are most important
to cover. Your draft can provide welcome guidance.
- Only approach
students that are at the one of the extremes of their classes. Very
good students tend to enjoy school (and your class), so they are likely
to write enthusiastic letters. They also are likely to have received
good grades from you, so they will have some gratitude toward you and
empathy toward your situation. Finally, they are more likely to be able
to write well.
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- That being
said, teacher letters of recommendation from very poor students can
also be quite effective for you. Since most letters are from only the
most excellent students, they will all tend to sound alike. By being
different, your letter will make a splash. Also, poor students are in
a better position to comment on some aspects of your teaching, such
as patience and determination. If the student states up front in his
letter that he is a poor student, then it is best to leave spelling
and grammatical error in place (if the letter is too professional, the
reviewers might think he wasn't such a bad student after all).
- As mentioned
above, approaching a student for a teacher letter of recommendation
can be quite controversial. If you have no alternative, pick only the
most excellent students for whom top grades are already essentially
ensured.
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