The Year of Miss Agnes
by Kirkpatrick Hill
From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. From the author of Winter Camp (1993) comes
another moving novel about Athabascan life. But instead of a wilderness survival
tale, this story is an uplifting portrait of a dedicated teacher, set mostly in
a cozy village classroom in 1948. Fred, a ten-year-old girl, describes the year
Miss Agnes takes over the one-room school. Unlike the school's other teachers,
none of whom have lasted, Miss Agnes encourages the children to explore art,
literature, and their own potential. She also teaches basic subjects in relevant
ways and shows sensitivity to the rhythms of village life and to each child. The
students are devastated when it's time for Miss Agnes to leave, but the story
ends with a happy surprise. Readers longing for action may resist the simple,
subdued story. But Fred's plain, direct voice, sprinkled with regionalisms, will
connect readers with the well-integrated cultural particulars, the poignant
scenes of home life, and the joy Fred feels learning in the snug classroom, the
snow falling outside. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
General Information
http://www.state.ak.us/ Welcome to the state of Alaska online!
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/student.htm More general info about Alaska.
http://www.rebeccacaudill.org/2003/Hill/Hillcurr.htm This book is also a nominee for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. Lots of good ideas for this book can be found at this site.
Specific Topics
**Native Americans**
Within the following website, click on any link that says the tribe name "Athapascan" to see photos depicting what Frederika's culture would have been like.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/wauhtml/aipnSubjects2.html
While some sites say Athapascan, others refer to these people as Athabascans. It appears to me that they are the same tribe of people.
http://www.explorenorth.com/library/aktravel/bl-atha.htm
**Climate**
In Chapter 13, pp.87-88, Miss Agnes is describing her homeland(England) in comparison with Alaska. Frederika mentioned that it seemed funny that at that exact moment England was experiencing Spring with beautiful flowers on the trees. Frederika said "we were surprised, because it was still Winter here. Forty below zero at night sometimes" with lots of snow! Find out more about Alaska's very different climate from ours here in the Southeastern region of the United States by checking out the following website: http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/climatology/ak_climate/climate_map2.html
http://www.anchorage.net/8.cfm
**Deafness**
In Chapter 3, on page 15, we are introduced to Frederika's sister, Bokko. Bokko is deaf. Later, in Chapter 8, Miss Agnes learns that Bokko hasn't been in school because of this deafness. Miss Agnes begins to teach Bokko Sign Language. You can learn more about this special language for the Deaf at the following websites: http://disserv3.stu.umn.edu/AltForm/asl-guide.html
http://dww.deafworldweb.org/asl/
http://where.com/scott.net/asl/
**Braille**
In Chapter 8, once the students' interest in Sign Language rose, Miss Agnes introduced Braille to them as well. You can find out more about this communication method used by the Blind at the following websites:
http://disserv3.stu.umn.edu/AltForm/brail-guide.html
http://www.hotbraille.com/l_a2j.asp
http://www.afb.org/braillebug/default.asp
**Tuberculosis**
In Chapter 4, on pages 8 & 9, Frederika tells us that her father died of TB. What is this disease? This website will help you understand the illness a little better: http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungtb.html
**Map Skills**
In Chapter 3, p. 16, Fredericka talks about the "big, big map" that Miss Agnes put up on the classroom wall. She went on to say "I couldn't keep my eyes off that map, it was so wonderful." Use these websites to sharpen you map skills just like the students in Miss Agnes's class! http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html?id=140
http://www.explorenorth.com/library/maps/n-bjonesmap6.htm
http://www.explorenorth.com/library/maps/n-bjonesmap6.htm
**England/Cambridge**
In Chapter 2, pg. 9, Miss Agnes tells Frederika that she is from England and shows her where that is in relation to Alaska. Also, in Chapter 12, Miss Agnes tells her students about her own father who taught classes at Cambridge and the childhood memories she has of the famous King's Choir that would "sing in a big, big church made of stone, so their voices would echo like when we yell down at the bluff." Investigate these websites to learn more about this famous campus and choir. http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/ , http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel
**Greek Myths**
Also in Chapter 12, p. 80, Miss Agnes began reading Greek Myths aloud to her students. Frederika was amazed at "all the mischief those old-time people could get up to." Greek Mythlogy is an interesting topic to learn more about. These websites will help you do just that!
http://www.cultures.com/greek_resources/greek_encyclopedia/greek_encyclopedia_home.html
http://www.messagenet.com/myths/
**Microscopes**
In Chapter 11, pp. 75-76, Miss Agnes ordered a little microscope for the students. Frederika said "we could look down inside it and see things that lived in the water. That was a thing you could look in forever, even if it made your eyes feel sore and tired." Click on these interactive websites to see what this microscopic fun is all about!
http://www.norweco.com/html/lab/Microscope.htm#
http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/flash/smz1500/index.html