Good question.
Our kids fill out a survey that goes to the teachers writing their letters. The hardest letters to write are those for the kids who don’t take that assignment seriously, who answer the questions in 2 or 3 words. The easiest are the ones who give me anecdotes… And the kids who are regulars at extra help-- that one on one time give me the chance to really get to know them better.
The letter I worked hardest on this year was for one of the boys who really does NOT like math. But he has been at extra help all year, determined to do well in my class. He’s a B average kid, and is not going to major in anything STEM related. But he worked and worked and worked, and earned my respect. That was the letter I saved for last, as a treat to myself… and I said so in the letter.