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Letters February 2007
Our readers speak out
A poetic exchange
The following letter was sent to "A Poetry Workshop in Print" columnist Lee Bennett Hopkins.
Dear Mr. Hopkins,
I am a first-grade teacher in Holland, NY. I have used your idea for the "Poet of the Month" bulletin board ("A Poetic Year Ahead," November/December 2005) and it's been so valuable in my classroom. We started out with Jack Prelutsky, moved on to Kristine O'Connell George and now are into Georgia Heard. I think studying one poet for a month (though I am always sneaking in others, too) really helps even the first graders to notice patterns and styles and gain appreciation for poetry. We keep a list of what we notice so the students can use that when they write poetry.
I'm writing to you because you are my featured poet for December. If you wrote a quick e-mail to my students I think they would be absolutely thrilled. Just imagine...a real, live poet writing to us!
Susan Kellner
Glenwood, NY
To all in Ms. Kellner's class:
I am SO proud to be your Poet of the Month for December. I am happy you are finding poetry so much fun. Poetry is something you can keep with you your entire lives. Read as much of it as you can. Learn to love it. There is nothing like it.
Happy Poetry-ing,
Lee Bennett Hopkins
Teacher of the year
It was the most exciting thing ever to see my article, "The Power of Peer Pressure," in the November/December 2006 issue. I shared it with my students and they loved it, especially the class about whom the article was written, of course! When I wrote the article last summer, it was just something I wanted to do; I had no other motivation. I recently learned that my principal nominated me for the Teacher of the Year award in my diocese. On the same day the article came out, she told me I had won. She also asked me to complete an application for Teacher of the Year at the national level. I wouldn't stand a chance at this level without having something published. I may not win, but it's nice to know that I have met the criteria that makes me eligible for such an award.
Jane Wingle
Albany, NY
Lucky Subscriber thanks
It was both a surprise and a blessing to receive the abundant supply of free teaching materials (Key Education Publishing, "Teaching Talks," August/September 2006). All of the games, flash cards and resource books will be so useful in my classroom. I really appreciate you thinking of your subscribers and giving us the opportunity to receive materials like this.
La-Neka Brown
Richmond, VA
Thank you for the book Technology Through Literature (Teacher Ideas Press, 2003) ("Teaching with Your Librarian," October 2006). Reading and writing are my favorite subjects and I am always looking for ways to incorporate technology into daily activities.
Angela Cabrera
Abilene, TX
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February, 2007, Vol.37, No.5
