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The Art of Letter-Writing Not a Lost Skill in Monrovia
Monrovia Weekly Nov 11, 2015
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The Pen Is Mightier Than the Click of a Mouse
By Courtney Blackburn
Last month, I volunteered for Monrovia’s biannual “Read Across Monrovia.” On October 1, I ventured with some trepidation to Monroe School on 402 W. Colorado Blvd., ending up in Señora Cardenal’s bilingual second grade class. Would my humble efforts to promote literacy and share in the educational community be worthwhile? Would the kids like me?
As it turns out, my fears were unfounded.
Sra. Cardenal’s students – all adorable, by the way – were welcoming, bright, friendly and smart. They enjoyed hearing the story I chose to read out loud, and especially the silly voices I made. How do I know? Because I recently received a fat manila envelope containing 28 hand-written thank you notes from each and every student in the class. The art of letter-writing, and the graciousness of a thank-you note, are not lost skills in Monrovia this Thanksgiving!
Here’s all 28 of the wonderful letters.
“Oct. 1, 2015
“Dear Courtny,
“Thank you for redeang a book to us. We relly liked it. It was relly funny. I liked the picturs. I liked the little prairi dog that touched the ball first. But at the end it was the funniest part of all. It was when the dog came back with a red ball. I think it will go all over again.
“Your friend Amy Crissey.”
“Dear Cortney,
“Thank you for reading to us. I liked the book! Are you the librarian or not? How do you change your voice like that? My favorite character is Pipsqueak. Can you read the book again? I am a girl!
“Your friend Evelyn Lockerbie (Girl).”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for coming and reading to our class. I liked how you changed your voice. The book was funny. I also liked Pipsqueak.
“Your new friend Randall K. Hobbs.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for everything you’ve done which isn’t much but it’s enough. That book make fuzz sound like gold! I should expect better from animals covered with fuzz like furr. Haven’t they looked at their bodies? Anyway the point of this note I’m writing you is two thank you so I think I speak for the class when I say thank you Courtney.
“From, Logan.”
“Deare Courtney,
“Thanck you for coming to our class. I loved the book you shared. I liked the part wher the dog drapped the ball on the prairie dog dog hole. I also liked the part where pipe said, ‘Is it alive?’
“From your friend Bella Bormacoff.”
“Dear Courtny,
Thank you for reading to us. I liked how you changed your voice. I loved the pichers. I liked Pip Squeak. I also liked Big Bark and his grumpy atatad. I liked how you tried to make it entertaing.
“Your friend Bethany.”
“Dear Cortny,
“Thank you for the book. We loved it so much. I like when there was a fluff. I like when you change your voise. It was so funny. The grown hog fur wus fierd.
“Your friend Cruz Miranda.”
“Dear Courtney:
“Thank you for the book. Thank you, I liked it. I liked the story becuase it was funny. The pririe dogs were running because the tennis ball was coming at them. At the end the bald eagle had hair.
“Your friend Damien.”
“Dear Cortney,
“I liked when you changed your vice. The book was funny. I liked when they did the fuzz war. It was funny when they were doing the parade and a lot of that stuff.
“Your dear friend Diego.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you. I liked how you changed your voices. I liked the book too. The pictures were funny. I liked when the eagle took the boss. I was nervous when the boss took the fuzz stuff.
“Your friend Ellis.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for bringing the book. I liked the book because it was funny. It was a little bit weird at the end. I’m glad that you could make it. You are very generous.
“Love Georgie.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading to us. I liked Pipsqueak so much. I lied when you changed your voice. It was so much fun!”
“Your friend Hailey.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you Courtney for reading to us the book Great Fuzzy Frenzi. I really liked the book. I was funny.
“From Isaac.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading the book. At the end, the dog got a red ball. I like when the prairie dogs said, ‘Is it alive?’ The whole book is funny. I like when the eagle had hair. I wish you can read that book again so so much.
“Your friend Isaiah.”
“Dear Coutney,
“Thank you for reading the book. I liked it because it was funy. The story was awesome. I liked the part when all of the prairie dogs were coverd head to toe with fuzz.
“From, Jewel.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for the funny pictures in the book. Courtney, you read beautifully. I was surprised at the end. I loved the way you changed your voice. I like you Courtney. You are cuter then a friend Courtney. You are beautiful Courtney. The story is a funny book.
“Your friend, Kaelyn Jones.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for coming. I like how you read. The book was funny. I like the illustrations. I like the part when the dog put the green ball and everybody was scared. I even like the part when they were fighting and when the dog put again the red ball.
“Your friend Michelle H.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reding the Great Fuzz Frenzy to us. I really liked the part when they were playing with the fuzz. The Great Fuzz Frenzy is very funny. I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you so much for reading us that great book.
“Your friend Michelle Ryan.”
“Dear Courtney:
“Thank you for coming to Monroe. We liked the book that you read to us. The book is very cool. We liked the book because the book is very funney. We liked the pictures in the book. We liked all of the drawings of all the animals in the book. The book is funny because the eagle and the boss was covered in fluff.
“You friend, Presley Jones.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading to us. We really enjoyed the book and hope you will come again.
“Your friend, Roman.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reding to us Courtney. The book was funny Courtney. I really liked it. Thank you for reding to us. That part where theres another ball is funny. I really liked it. I liked the book Courtney.
“Your friend, Troy.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for coming to read the book to us. I liked the pictures and the part when the ball is pure white. When they are sleeping and the other steals the fluff.
“Sincerely, Ximena.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading the book. I like how you do the voices. The book iss so funny. The book is great.
“Juan.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading for us. I liked how you read. You are a great reader. I liked when you did Pipsqueak and I liked when you did everyone’s voice in the book.
“Your friend, Grace.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading to us. I liked the book because it was so funny. It also had weird pictures. It had fuzz, then there was no fuzz til they were fighting. I hope you come back again.
“Sincerely, Angel.”
“Dear Cortney,
“Thank you for reading to us. The book was entertaning. I liked when the dog put the ball in the holl. My favorit character was Pipsqueak. I have that book at home. I liked when you read it because it more funny.
“Your friend Jazlene.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you I liked the voice that you made and the book was really funny too I liked the book because it was crazy with the fuzz.
“Your friend Rylei.”
“Dear Courtney,
“Thank you for reading the Great Fuzz Frenzy. It was a funy book. On Wild Kratz I saw prairie dogs on my TV. It wus interesting too.
“Tu amigo Padraic #25.”
“Thank you so much for coming in to read to the class. They really got a kick out of how well you read! We certainly hope you come back again in the spring.
“Thanks again, Sra. Cardenal.”
If you want to Read Across Monrovia this coming March, please visit www.monroviareads.org or call (626) 303-6600; and trust me when I say it’s a worthy and unforgettable experience! Thank you, Sra. Cardenal and class for having me!
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