Rationale for <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em>
<p>Robin Scallon writes a rationale for using <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em> in the classroom. Sections of the document include: Grade Level and Audience; Plot Summary; Theoretical Support and Redeeming Values; Literary Value and Summary of Reviews; Objectives, Teaching Methods, and Assignments; Possible Objections; Why <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em> Should Not Be Banned; Literary Qualities; Alternative Books; References; Reviews; Awards Earned by Robert Cormier; and Books by Robert Cormier. Scallon defends the use of <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em> by citing cognitive theorists on the egocentrism of young adults and the belief that morality is learned. The 11-year-old protagonist, Henry, is developing personal ideologies and emotional independence, which makes him a good model for young readers to explore their own development. Scallon also defends the book against censorship, saying that the book helps students come to a personal understanding of the world and of a period in history students aren't familiar with. Studying literature increases empathy and awareness of social justice. She considers the plot, theme, characterization, and dialogue as unified and purposeful as well as appropriate to young adult reader abilities.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robin+M.+Scallon">Robin M. Scallon</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Rationale+for+Senior+High+School+Use">Rationale for Senior High School Use</a>
Robert Cormier's response to Alyssa
Robert Cormier wrote a rather long, two-page letter in response to Alyssa O'Brien's letter to him. He encouraged her in her quest to be a writer and mentioned that he found her writing to be very clear. He was touched that she had read so many of his books, unusual for someone so young.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
13 May 1985
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/98" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alyssa O'Brien's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 onion skin paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's response to Amanda Goetz
In this brief, but appreciative letter, Robert Cormier thanks Amanda for writing, expresses satisfaction that she has transformed herself into a reader, and offers an explanation for the title <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em>, about which she inquired in her letter to him.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
3 February 1996
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/54" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amanda Goetz's letter to Robert Cormier</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Raymond Wynter's letter to Robert Cormier
<p>Raymond Wynter, a sophomore in high school, writes to Robert Cormier with a number of questions. Specifically, he asks about Cormier's influences, Cormier's teenage readers, and Cormier's favorite authors.</p>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Raymond+Wynter">Raymond Wynter</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo, Katy Covino
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's draft response to Raymond Wynter</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Jamie Argento letter to Robert Cormier
Jamie mentions specifics of the newspaper project Mrs. Anti assigned on <em>After the First Death</em> and asks Robert Cormier about the motive for writing a book on terrorism for children and how he melded those seemingly contradictory elements.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Jamie+Argento">Jamie Argento</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/56" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Mrs. Anti</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/106">Robert Cormier's response to Mrs. Anti's class</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/70" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mrs. Anti's Class Project "Hallowell Highlights"</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/128" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Belinda Lothrop letter to Robert Cormier 25 October 1988</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Key letter to Robert Cormier </a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/130" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denise Concheri letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/132" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kimberly Dawes letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kristi Kozak letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/134" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kristin Doton letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/135" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Ryan letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/136" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mrs. Barbara Anti letter to Robert Cormier </a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/137" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pamela Carpenter letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/138" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rachel Flynn letter to Robert Cormier</a></p>
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/139" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephanie Synder letter to Robert Cormier</a>
TIF, 8.5 x 11 letterhead paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Betsy Larsen's letter to Robert Cormier
In this short, well-written typed letter dated January 4, 1996, Betsy Larsen, a high school senior, from Ottawa, Kansas, shares her enthusiasm for <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em> with Robert Cormier. She expressed that she enjoyed its depth, brevity, and fast pace. She asked how he came up with his ideas for writing and thanked him for taking the time to read her letter.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Betsy+Larsen">Betsy Larsen</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
4 January 1996
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/60" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's reply to Betsy Larsen</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Amanda Goetz's letter to Robert Cormier
Amanda Goetz, when she wrote this typewritten letter to Robert Cormier, was a freshman in high school. In this honest and well-written piece of correspondence, she attributes Cormier's novels as the factor that brought her back to reading. She related that, prior to reading his books, she had only read two books, period. She questions where the title came from for <em>Tunes for Bears to Dance To</em>.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Amanda+Goetz">Amanda Goetz</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
3 January 1996
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/55" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's response to Amanda Goetz</a>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Alyssa O'Brien's letter to Robert Cormier
In this three-page, handwritten letter by 12-year-old Alyssa O'Brien, the reader is introduced to a thoughtful young woman who has read several of Cormier's books twice or more in the interest of better understanding a book as time goes by. That she has a well-developed and agentive literate life is evident in her introduction where she identifies not only as a reader but as a writer. Furthermore, she carefully outlined a plan to introduce her friend, Chrissy, to Cormier's books. Her intent is to build Chrissy's readerly strength by prescribing an order - <em>8+1</em>, and on finally ending with <em>After The First Death</em> at the very end.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Alyssa+O%27Brien">Alyssa O'Brien</a>
Robert Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
13 April 1985
Elise Takehana, Anna Consalvo
<p><a href="https://terrorandbullies.omeka.net/items/show/57" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's response to Alyssa</a></p>
JPG, 8.5 x 11 lined paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>