Whom/How to ask for a college recommendation letter?

How do I apologize and ask for a letter recommendation?

• I graduated last year in December. I'm looking for a teaching position but I need a letter of recommendation from my student teaching supervisor who I'm kind of scared to ask. I had two teachers when I did my student teaching and when I had to switch to the second one I avoided contacting her bc I had no control in that classroom for one class and that is the one she kept wanting to see. When I did contact her I could tell she was peeved and, like I thought, it did not go well. I thought we parted on good terms at the end of the semester. She gave me an A and I asked for a letter of recommendation but never heard from her. It's been almost a year but I'm still considered a new teacher and need a letter of recommendation from her. Please read the letter I want to send her and tell me what you think. I'm trying to beat my fear of confrontation with those in authority over me. Dear Mrs. -------, I hope all is going well with you. Have you had any other MSU students since that other student and me? After graduation I substituted for the Spring semester and am currently the Course Recovery Teacher at Van-Far and an Adult Education teacher at the women’s prison. I like the area and the school district, but I've decided to move back home to South Carolina. I want to start grad school in the Fall at College of Charleston. I'm writing you in regards to a letter of recommendation. I asked you about one that last meeting we had, but when I didn't hear from I thought maybe you didn't want to give me one because I didn't get in contact with you for those few weeks when I needed to schedule another meeting for an evaluation. I want you to know I am very ashamed that I behaved in such an unprofessional manner. I didn’t feel as if I had much of any control in the Sociology class and was terrified you seeing how poorly I did in that class. I haven't contacted you about my teaching experiences or recommendation since graduation because I feel so embarrassed by my behavior when you were supposed to start observing me for -----------'s classes. I feel like I was so unprofessional that there isn't anyway you could or would ever recommend me for a teaching position. I then realized I was falling in the same trap I did before of not contacting you when I feel extremely uncomfortable and unsure. This is a weakness I have been confronting and even if you say no I need confirmation of your decision and to face my fear of confrontation after making mistakes. Since student teaching I feel the practice I’ve gotten substituting and working at the prison and as the course recovery teacher has exponentially improved my classroom management skills. I now feel much more confident and able. I await your response. Sincerely,

• Answer:

  OK, overall its a great letter but I think you should change a few things. I edited this a bit more than I planned but I was trying to change the tone especially at the end to make it more about apologizing to her than explaining your weakness. If she already doesn't like you then she probably doesn't want to hear all about your mistakes but rather how you have overcome them. And I edited some other random things involving grammar and for the sake of fluidity. I hope I didn't go overboard. Hope that helps though. Dear Mrs. -------, I hope all is going well with you. Have you had any other MSU students since that other student and me? After graduation I substituted for the Spring semester and am currently the Course Recovery Teacher at Van-Far and an Adult Education teacher at the women’s prison. I like the area and the school district, but I've decided to move back home to South Carolina. I want to start graduate school in the Fall at College of Charleston. I'm actually writing you in regards to a letter of recommendation. I asked you about one during our last meeting, but when I didn't hear from you I thought maybe you didn't want to write me one because I didn't get in contact with you for those few weeks when I needed to schedule another meeting for an evaluation. I want you to know I am very ashamed that I behaved in such an unprofessional manner. Honestly I didn’t feel as if I had much control of the classroom in my Sociology class and was terrified of you seeing how poorly I managed that class. I haven't contacted you about my teaching experiences or recommendation since graduation because I felt so embarrassed by my behavior when you were supposed to start observing me for -----------'s classes. I feel like I was very unprofessional that there isn't anyway you could or would ever recommend me for a teaching position. I then realized I was falling in the same trap I did before of not contacting you when I feel extremely uncomfortable and unsure. I want you to know that I recognize this huge mistake I made and I apologize profusely for doing that to you. Since beginning to substitute and work at the prison and as the Course Recovery Teacher, I feel that this practice I have gained has exponentially improved my classroom management skills. I now feel much more confident and capable in the classroom than I did when student teaching. I hope that after reading this you feel okay about writing me a letter of recommendation and if you don't I completely understand. I would appreciate you letting me know either way though. Once again I apologize for my behavior and I wish you the best. Sincerely,