The North Star - Reaching Older Students
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.
