posted
I'm actually johnsonweed's wife. I teach 8th grade science and literature in a low income district that is primarily hispanic students. I was looking for a high interest science fiction short story for my class to read. I used the shrot story Ender's Game. My kids loved it...before we finished reading the short story I had two boys buy the books, the library at school ran out of copies of your books and all of the copies I had in the class have been borrowed. Out of 20 students, 17 boys, about 12 are currently reading your books on their own. I have shared your web site with them and during free time I see them on it. I used Ender's Game as a way to teach characterization and asked them to write essays about Ender. I was blown away with the thoughtful, detailed work I have received. We had great classroom discussion about if they thought childhood was a right and how children who have to begin working early are as adults. Many of my students can relate to working at a young age...great stuff. Thank you for writing something that has sparked the interest of students who will tell you they hate to read...I would love it if you would write a message to my students for me to share when we get back from break.
Posts: 514 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
You've made my day. It sounds like these kids have a great teacher who welcomes thoughtful discussion; I'm glad you used my story as a catalyst in the process.
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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Thanks for responding so quickly to my wife's note. She had struggled to find an appropriate piece for he kids to read and was surprised to find out the Ender's Game was a short story as well. She came home and told me about the enthusiasm that her students had for the story. When she ran out of copies of the novel for check out, she confiscated mine and took it to school! A lot of folks like to credit JK Rowling with getting kids to read again, but at least at Freedom Middle School in Berwyn, IL Harry Potter has a rival!
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