Professional, Reflective Feedback 

"I observed Kate teaching in a ninth grade classroom with over 35 students, some with special needs. Her confident and caring demeanor is a treasure to any student in her classroom, to any department or any school where she might be teaching. Her clear posture as a continuous learner along with her students is another most noteworthy competency. To be such a strong teacher with quiet humility is a rare find."

"One of the most impressive things that I experienced with Kate as her supervisor was her willingness to solicit, accept and incorporate feedback. This is an indication of a continuous learner and a teacher who will grow and grow. Her confidence and ease in the classroom are also notable. Kate's compassion and care for her students is noteworthy also. I am so proud of Kate as a resident teacher and would celebrate my child if assigned to her classroom. Kate's ability to connect the students' world with the learning/lesson is evident. She strives to do so in order to readily engage them. Congratulations Kate and congratulations to any school that would bring Kate on as a member of their teaching staff."

"My name is Chloe and I am a student in Ms. Solway's Honors English 9 class. I just wanted to write a little bit about Ms. Solway because I feel as though I need to. My most challenging class is English and this class I focus most of my time on. Ms. Solway has been teaching us for about 2 weeks and we just took a test. This was the first test that I felt 100% ready to take. She has been a great teacher, explaining and helping us understand concepts well, and clarifying any questions I have. I have understood this unit more than any other ones I have done and she has been a great teacher. Not only is she a great teacher but she is the nicest person and kind and patient when it comes to learning. I wanted to emphasize how great she has been and how lucky kids will be to have her as a teacher."

"Kate consistently draws on students' knowledge, experiences and world to connect them to the lesson. She does this particularly well when introducing any unit or theme. When appropriate she plays music that is familiar to them as a background. She uses films and books as examples to connect new learning with what students may be familiar with."

"One of Kate's strengths is her compassion and caring about her students as demonstrated through her thoughtful and sincere interactions with students and her choices."

"Kate has been consistently open to and receptive of feedback regarding her teaching. She seeks it. She readily makes changes in her instruction/planning based upon feedback. I am impressed with Kate's open reflections about her teaching."

"With Kate's thirst for feedback I know that she will continuously improve her craft of teaching and surround herself with colleagues and professionals that will nurture her professional growth."

"As Kate began to know students better, I have observed her create and assign collaborative groups for particular lessons. Students readily accepted these assignments demonstrating that they are familiar with the routine off changing groups."

"I observed Kate teaching a lesson in which students were put in two debate groups. Each group was given specific instruction about how to engage in this debate and one step was to consider the perspective of the other group's opposing position. Students were highly engaged in this activity and spent valuable time consulting within their debate team regarding what the other team might present in their position."

"Kate's lesson planning consistently identified standards and themes for the lesson. She consistently connected her lessons with the larger unit plan. I was particularly impressed when I observed Kate introduce her unit for Night. Her use of the poem "Wagon of Shoes' was very moving and helped students envision how victims of the Holocaust were stripped of all possessions. She shared about her visit to the Holocaust Museum with her grandmother and what she felt as a result."

"I'm so grateful you got to come help out and further your education in our class this year. You have made a big impact on many students in this class, including me.

With all your help you have given me over these few months, I have become a more confident writer, and you have made me love English class so much more. You're an amazing teacher, and all the students you have in your future will be so incredibly lucky to have you. (I sure wish I could have you again.) 

One moment that stood out to me this year is when you brought in the brownies. Not the joke ones, the real ones. When you gave me a second brownie out in the hallway, it meant so much to much, not just because I was hungry. To me, it resembled how you always took that second step with many students to make sure they not only understood assignments but also found the creativity and fun within them. It made me realize how much it truly meant to have a student teacher as amazing as you. 

I wish you the best with your future endeavors and truly hope you understand how grateful I am that you got to be our student teacher this year."