I want to take this time to thank you so much for visiting Isaac E. Young Middle School. Your readings and discussion about ethnic stereotyping really seemed to prompt the students here to discuss and debate the issue.

Middle schoolers are a challenging group, but you were able to engage them and encourage serious discussion. We hope you had an enlightening experience with our students and we look forward to your visiting us again to continue this debate!

Thanks again,

Connie Macchia
School Library Media Specialist
Isaac E. Young Middle School
New Rochelle, NY

High School Course Adoption and Author Visit

Dear Paola,

We really appreciate your visit to our school, North Rockland High School, on April 9, 2008. Our students truly enjoyed reading your stories and were so intrigued by your use of magic. Once they accepted the idea of “suspension of disbelief,” they become thoroughly involved in the stories.

Each student read the title story and then chose several stories individually. There was a surprising variety. Their assignment was to create a précis for each story read using a literary essay formula we devised for survival on the New York State Regents Exam. They then added three or four detail sentences explaining the précis.

The student completed the assignment with several questions to ask you when you came. We were all quite excited as it’s a rare opportunity to actually ask the author what was meant exactly.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Sincerely,
Marla Pruden
English Department
North Rockland High School
 

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