letters to my class

Dear Readers,

I just picked up Katherine Applegate’s latest book, Crenshaw. She’s the author of The One and Only Ivan, which is one of our class’s all-time favorites. From what I’ve read so far, Crenshaw is great in similar ways. It tells a real story but uses fantastical elements (like talking animals) to give the story a deeper meaning. And, like most great books, the book is about the power of stories.

I’ll have the book in the bin at the front of the room if you’d like to read it. I’m planning to read it aloud as soon as we finish reading about those Weird Watsons, but reading great books more than once is a great use of time.

Sincerely,

Mr. H

Dear Historians,

Yesterday we talked about the First Americans traveling across the land bridge between Asia and the Americas and spreading out across the Americas. Today we’ll talk about one of the greatest discoveries in human history: agriculture.

Think about the advantanges that agriculture allows. Now people could stay in one place rather than always chasing after game. With agriculture, fewer people would have to find food and others could learn new trades. Eventually, humans learned new methods for improving agricultural production beyond what hunters and gatherers ever thought possible.

Sometimes when I’m in the grocery store, I like to imagine that I’m a prehistoric, pre-agricultural human seeing this incredible bounty of fruits and vegetables–all made possible by agriculture.

Dear Dreamers,

On Monday, Yogi Berra died. He grew up with four brothers and sisters and Italian immigrant parents in St. Louis. His father was a construction worker. Yogi left school after eighth grade to help the family, but he kept playing baseball and eventually signed a contract to join the minor leagues.

Nobody probably expected Yogi to become much of a baseball player–he was short, he was small, he was round, and he was sort of funny-looking. But he was also smart, hardworking, and he never took himself too seriously. He combined these traits into becoming the greatest catcher who ever played the game.

No matter what you want to be successful at, the ingredients for success are the same: hardwork, passion, and humility. Yogi Berra used these traits to become one of the greatest (and most memorable) players who ever lived. What will you become?

Sincerely,

Mr. H

Dear Writers,

We’re in the middle of drafting personal narratives, and I am impressed by what you’ve come up with so far. This is your opportunity to tell a story that only you can tell, and you want to tell it in the most beautiful and entertaining way possible.

We’ve read a ton of personal narratives, so we know what good ones look and sound like it. And when we’re reading a really good personal narrative (or any type of good writing) we feel like the author is speaking directly to us. That’s your job as a writer–make each of your readers feel as though you’re speaking directly to them. No matter how different your life experience may be, if you tell your story in an engagng way, your reader will feel like you’re speaking directly to them.

Sincerely,

Mr. H

Dear Geographers,

To better understand a large landmass like the Americas, it’s useful to break it up into parts. We call these parts regions, and geographers have found many, many ways to make regions in the United States. These regions can be based on landforms, location, what people do, climate, culture, language, and beliefs.

Where we are in Colorado is part of many, many regions. We could call ourselves Front Range of Colorado, the Intermountain West, the Rocky Mountains, the Middle, or the Great Plains. Other parts of Colorado are located in Tornado Alley, the Jello-O Belt, and the Four Corners region.

No matter where you are, you are in a place that has many characteristics and a rich history. Being a part of a community means trying to understand the place you are.

Sincerely,

Mr. H