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Teachers and school-age parents come in!

goofyteachergoofyteacher member
in Parenting

I was asked to write a letter of recommendation for one of my third-grade students.  The parents would like her to take this TAG camp at the university this summer and she needs her test scores (which we won't have for a while) or a teacher recommendation letter.  The problem is, I don't see her as a TAG student.  She's a bright, good student but that's the extent of it IMO.

What do I say in the letter?

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PCOS and Hypothyroidism- Successful IUI's- May 2012 and October 2014.  Miscarriage @ 6w3d in December 2009.
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Re: Teachers and school-age parents come in!

  • juniper19juniper19 member
    It isn't really your job to decide whether she is worthy of this program.  That is for the admissions people.  You just give them the information they need to make that decision.  So I would just write a letter documenting what you see as her strengths and provide some specific supporting examples. (ETA: The admissions people can decide on their own whether these examples are impressive compared to the other applicants).  If you think she has some glaring academic weaknesses you could include those too, but then I would tell the family.  They should know about those weaknesses anyway...
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  • LadyXaverianLadyXaverian member

    imagejuniper19:
    It isn't really your job to decide whether she is worthy of this program.  That is for the admissions people.  You just give them the information they need to make that decision.  So I would just write a letter documenting what you see as her strengths and provide some specific supporting examples. (ETA: The admissions people can decide on their own whether these examples are impressive compared to the other applicants).  If you think she has some glaring academic weaknesses you could include those too, but then I would tell the family.  They should know about those weaknesses anyway...

    I agree-- list her strengths and let them decide. Is she inquistive? Does she love to read? etc..

    I hate writing recommendation letters. I always 2nd guess myself when I write them!

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  • goofyteachergoofyteacher member
    imageSarahL77:

    imagejuniper19:
    It isn't really your job to decide whether she is worthy of this program.  That is for the admissions people.  You just give them the information they need to make that decision.  So I would just write a letter documenting what you see as her strengths and provide some specific supporting examples. (ETA: The admissions people can decide on their own whether these examples are impressive compared to the other applicants).  If you think she has some glaring academic weaknesses you could include those too, but then I would tell the family.  They should know about those weaknesses anyway...

    I agree-- list her strengths and let them decide. Is she inquistive? Does she love to read? etc..

    I hate writing recommendation letters. I always 2nd guess myself when I write them!

    I understand it's their decision and I'm glad it's not mine.  In answer to your questions, she does not really go above and beyond on any assignments.  She does a nice job and meets expectations.  She's not a fan of reading.  Very rote in her learning, for example she knows her multiplication facts but problem-solving is not a strength.  I guess that's why I'm struggling.  She's a great little girl, I'm just having a hard time thinking of strengths that single her out from the rest of my third-graders.

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    PCOS and Hypothyroidism- Successful IUI's- May 2012 and October 2014.  Miscarriage @ 6w3d in December 2009.
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  • Lisa102304Lisa102304

    I'd approach it like you are writing a long report card comment.

     

    For example .... Sally is a sweet girl who loves school and always has a smile on her face. She is a very responsible student who does what is asked of her. Sally is an excellent writer, I love reading her stories. She develops the characters nicely, and is able to sequence the events in a story really well. Sally is reading on grade level and is able to correctly identify all story elements when asked. She is able to perform at higher level thinking activities, but only when prompted. Blah blah blah blah

     

    Does that make sense? :) 

    ~Lisa~
    Mommy to Rachel 1.15.06 and Ashley 5.17.11
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