Just got this great email from a teacher Peter and I met at the Massachusetts State House event a few weeks ago launching the “Making Our Mark: The Big Dot” initiative (where kids helping Peter create the world’s biggest dot):

I’m a 5th grade english teacher at the Groton Dunstable Middle school. A member of my parent committee, Lori Basnett,
contacted you a few days ago about a possible visit from you with our after school club called Bookmakers and Dreamers for Peace. I am following up on that email to ask further questions.  Both Lori and I met you and Peter at the State House ‘Make Your Mark’ event recently. I’d like to share a quick story before I get to my main point; our kids were very impressed with your talk and one child, Cathy Batliner, was especially moved by a comment made by either you or Peter, about her ‘mark/dot’ she had decorated, on which she had printed in very small lettering in a corner at the bottom that she wanted to be a fashion designer. In big lettering she had said she wanted to help create peace, because we were there with our club of course. Peter combined the two ideas and suggested she think about fashion design for peace! This kid has been on fire with all kinds of peace designed tee shirts and accessories ever since and has inspired several other kids in the club to help her. It is a wonderful thing to watch this shy little kid come alive with this one comment.

This is the power of noticing the unique gifts of a learner - and offering a small comment to help inspire a journey.   This is the kind of strategy that doesn’t take huge amounts of money or administrative programming to implement … It just takes a few moments and a mindful eye and heart.

I am writing a book about North Star experiences - and would love to get other stories that show the power of connecting to a learner’s strengths/gifts in a creative way that helped spark his/her potential.  — Paul Reynolds

I am home now in Boston after a wonderful tip to California Computer Using Educators conference. I gave three talks where I shared the mission, my stories and an invivation to be braver, to be more creative, to be more playful, to be better listeners, and to be “grown up children.”

My three hour book signing event left my hand sore, but my heart warm and my soul recharged. Each book signed comes with a story. I love hearing each person tell me how they connected to my stories, and who they will be giving the books to - and what they hope the message will do.

I love imagining the journey my books embark upon. I feel a piece of me being taken with each copy and travelling to meet the reader. It is as though I will be able to have a conversation with that person - one on one.

That is a wonderful feeling.

I’m just back from the 2007 California CUE Conference where we met so many long-time fans of THE NORTH STAR, including folks like fellow North Star Community Co-Researchers, Christine Lorenz, Kevin McGroary, Hoppy Chandler, and Dr. Cynthia Chandler (congrats on the doc Cynthia!)  This year I heard many stories about THE NORTH STAR being used with older students - Kevin, for example, is using the story/themes with his ninth graders.  I want to hear more about that - how it’s being adapted for later grades … when it seems that so many young people are struggling on the journey …  Peter got this lovely letter while at the conference from a 12 year old student whose teacher gave him THE NORTH STAR book ….

 <<For the past couple of months I have been taking anti-depressants which have not helped. I was in a state of confusion, stress, and strain. I felt hopeless with nothing helping me. To combat that I treid to find a new cure, that is when Mrs. Lorenz found me. She acted as if I were her own son, and in doing so she restored a part of me I never knew. One day she said she had a little present for me. I never thought that present would change my life forever, but it did. When she handed me your book and I opened it up to your note I was astonished. By the time I read the book and closed the back cover my life changed from stressed and confused to completely light hearted. Your book have me the power to move on and make my own path in life. Now instead of taking anti depressants I read your book and realize life is a wonderful journey. I cannot even come close to thanking you enough for the way you changed my life. Once again, thank you.>>  

  Wow.  That note really touched us all.  This kind of feeback is enouragement to expand resources to reach more people in age-appropriate ways.  I’d love to hear more about how people are using THE NORTH STAR across the curriculum.