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Tips for Writing Letters of Recommendation

• Do your homework. Research the districts you plan to apply to.  Are there specific programs that they implement that you have been trained in?  Is there a particular teaching philosophy that is adhered to that you also follow? These are things that can be mentioned in your letter of interest AND in your letter of recommendation.
• Provide a list of traits and skills that you would like highlighted in your letter. Discuss this with your letter writer to make sure you are both on the same page. 
• Give your letter writers at least two weeks notice to write a letter for you.
• Provide a deadline for your writers to have the letter done. Ask them if you can be of assistance in any way to write it.
• Provide your letter writers with addressed/stamped envelopes to mail the letter to the proper location.

Writers:

• Keep them short and to the point. Include all important and necessary information with examples, but stick to one page.
• Keep a copy of the letter and WSPA form readily available. This will help you be consistent when filling out the forms and answering questions during reference calls.
• Include the "buzzwords" in education today if it reflects your MIT: differentiation, student centered assessment strategies, classroom management, culturally responsive teaching, etc.
• Proofread your letter to make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors.