On Jan 5, 2014, at 10:08 AM, pakafetzi@sch.gr wrote:
Julie Kafetzi sent a message using the contact form at http://www.kristinbutcher.com/contact. Dear Mrs Butcher I would first like to wish you a Happy New Creative Year! As you can guess by my email address, I'm from Greece and I teach Literature in 4th grade in 17th Elementary School of Kalamaria (Thessaloniki). I'm also the headmaster of the school and as my master is in teaching Language, I teach Literature in four classes with one of which I have been reading your book for about a month before Christmas. Children have made scketches of Andersonvil, the Macendair villa, we have discussed phrases of your book such as the one Luther states about leaving your problems behind. We have upload all the work which has been done up till now and can be found in the following addresses: http://online.flipbuilder.com/gwzg/hukm/ http://online.flipbuilder.com/gwzg/kuzr/ . Unfortunatelly, as it is in greek language I don't think you could understand the wide range of children's thoughts brought out by your wonderful book. It has given us the opportunity to discuss many topics quite "hot" right now in greek society, such as people who have recently become poor or homeless because of crisis our country faces, ways of constructing social identities (through Nick's research for homeless and the contradiction between outfit and the reall personality of a person), and last but not least, the most difficult topic for me to handle (as our ethics slightly differ) the relationship of Nick's mother with Khol. Anyway, we keep discussing all the topics which pop up in almost every sentence of your text and children are eager to get to know more about you and many details about your book and how you were inspired to write it. (I have read the dedication to your pupils to them). So, I'm addressing to you to ask if you could be kind enough to answer to some questions children will address to you through email (we could arrange an online meeting through skype as well if you'd like). I believe it would be quite a surprise for them and for sure it would encourage them to dive deeper in your meanings). Thank you for your time and the wonderful experiences you gave us the chance to live, Best Regards Julie Kafetzi Hi, Julie, Firstly, let me apologize for not replying more promptly. I was thrilled to receive your email and so happy to know that 17 years after The Runaways was first published, it is still reaching people around the world. Thank you so much for using the book with your students, and also for writing to let me know. I would be happy to entertain email questions from your students, and perhaps we might even do a Skype session, if you can wait on that until after February 15th. I have a writing deadline I am rushing to meet. A new book was contracted just before Christmas, but I still have to write it. Feb. 15th is the day the first draft is due, so as you can imagine I am quite busy. In addition, I shall be away for a week at the end of January, which makes for even more pressure. But if you can be patient and wait for me to get through this work, I would be happy to connect with you. Happy reading! Kristin
Kristin Butcher www.kristinbutcher.com
Dear Mrs Butcher Thank you so much for answering to my message. Due to a severe flu which kept me for some days at hospital, I have just seen your mail. My students will be so happy when I will announce them your answer!!! I, personally, am very happy with your mail! Your book has given us so many topics to talk about. In fact it was only last Friday when reading the chapter in which Nick is trying to persuade his mother to let him talk to homeless in order to enlarge the aspects of his essay, we talked for about two hours about family conflicts and it was an amazing conversation that revealed so many things about childrens thoughts and beliefs. Your book scaffold my aim to have a spontaneous and sencere conversation in the reading community of my class in the most excellent way. So, of course we will be waiting anxiously for any convenient time for you after 15th of February- I think we will be still reading your book-. I hope that by then we will be ready to show you quite a variety of text production and projects we are working on right now as well as the questions we would like to pose to you. Thank you so much for your conduct (and most of all your book)!!!!! Best regards Julie Kafetzi