Thank you to all the kind teachers below who gave their permission to reprint their special letters about their experiences with the Rocket Boys story in their classrooms.
• For more of inspiring letters to the “Rocket Boy of Ocober Sky” from all over the world, see our FAN MAIL section on Homer's Web site and the EDUCATOR's button for lots more of their letters, classroom material and more.
Math teacher uses Rocket Boys story to inspire
Dear Mr. Hickam,
I just wanted to email you to thank you for the inspiration your story has provided. I teach Advanced Physics in a small town in North Central Pa. After reading your book, and then watching October Sky, I was compelled to share it with my Advanced Physics class.
At the end of the movie there was not a dry eye in the room. Your story was an inspiration to 12 of Jersey Shore's best and brightest. Because of this, I have been able to use model rocketry as a part of my class this year. Model rockets have enabled my students to safely study the effects of air resistance on fast moving objects. This is something that is nearly impossible to do safely in a high school Physics class. The calculations are also extremely difficult for high school students to peform. However, after my students viewed “October Sky”, they very willingly dove into the 3-4 pages worth of calculations that were necessary to determine things such as maximum altitude, speed and stability for a single rocket flight. I was quite astounded by diligence displayed by these kids, and I feel that I have you and your great story to thank for this. We recently launched the rockets that the kids designed and built. Some were hobby rocket kits, but others were rockets that were designed by the kids themselves. Without any prior notice to other members of the school, a crowd of close to 30 students and teachers showed up to watch. A great time was had by all, and more importantly A LOT of learning took place. Thank you.
“I won’t”
Dear Mr. Hickam,
No reply is necessary. I only want to tell you about what happened in my classroom yesterday. I teach 8th grade at a low-income, Title I, middle school in the south. Our students come from both the surrounding rural areas and an old, impoverished black community. Despite their differences, our student population is wonderfully tolerant and gets along quite well.
So much of what I teach is not Language Arts. I try desperately to arm my kids with the emotional self-defenses they will need not just to succeed in the future, but to survive in the future. We spend a lot of time on self-esteem and cultural diversity. We talk often about ways they can make their lives different from their parents' lives.
As we approached the last week of school, I decided to show October Sky in one last attempt to share the message that we do not have to be what other people have decided we should be. The student response was overwhelming. We started the first half yesterday and will finish the movie today and by fourth period, my first period students were wandering into my room to ask if they could stay after school to watch the end of the movie.
After yesterday's showing, I asked the kids a question that will appear on their test: How is your life like Homer Hickam's? The responses were overwhelming and powerful. They said things like, "Sometimes my house feels like that coal mine. I might never get out of there" or "My Dad is just like his (or just like Roy Lee's...)" One girl, a student who rarely participates, raised her hand, and said shyly, "I know exactly how he feels. My grandma always tells me I'll have a baby by the time I'm fifteen. I won't." After the bell rang, each class seemed unwilling to move (very unusual for 8th graders) and seemed to want to continue talking.
Your story has given my students words to describe their own lives. Better yet, it has given them a glimpse into a future they can claim as their own. I have read a few excerpts from your book, Rocket Boys, to them and they hung on every word. So thank you very much not just for sharing your story but for having the courage to change your life. I can only hope you've changed my students lives as well.
At- Risk Kids
Mr Hickam,
I am a teacher working with at-risk 10 to 17 year olds who are either in the juvenile justice system or identified at-risk because of their family background. In classes of twelve at-a-time I work with these children on communication skills, anger management, goal setting and action plans, and resisting negative peer pressure. My students are either at the local juvenile detention center, a home for abandoned/neglected/abused children, or an alternative school for behavioral problems.
Several months ago after renting October Sky I immediately recognized the value your story would have on these children, many of whom our society has decided are "headed for trouble." This Saturday was the fifth class to whom I've shown your film. I thought you might like to know the impact your story makes on these young people.
Most of my students have not seen October Sky. I use the film after I have taught two lessons on goal setting and anger management. They are riveted to the story. The discussions afterward are lively, animated, and on-target for the themes I am trying to emphasize through your story. Several of my students offer excellent insights into the complicated nature of your father (as he was portrayed in the film) and on the impact of having responsible mentors in one's life. Each time I show the film I am convinced that your story will have an impact on most of their lives.
This week I'm going to begin reading the books you've written. I plan on approaching some of our funding sponsors to secure copies to hand out to my students who would like one. I have a hunch many of them will benefit enormously. Given that many of these children will either leave the detention center and go back into less-than-desirable family situations, or be placed outside of their homes, it is essential that these children learn how to be their own best advocate, and how to find mentors to whom they can count on. Thanks for sharing your life story in such a way as to convince my students that they CAN succeed.
Planting a seed of hope
Dear Mr. Hickam--
I just want to thank you for recording your example of determination and intestinal fortitude that is exemplified in October Sky and in your books. I am a special education teacher for kids who have behavior problems. For the majority of these kids if they are not "reached" by planting a seed of hope for a successful future in them by the time they are 15, we can "kiss them good-bye" as far as their being productive members of our society. I have several of this kind of student in my ED (Emotionally Disturbed) classroom. I keep telling myself, if only they could catch a vision. . .and perhaps their lives could be turned around from failure to having a dream and following that dream.
I saw your movie over the Christmas break and had the opportunity to show your movie to my students. At first they weren't interested because they thought it was made in the "olden days," but when they heard the conversation between you 4 boys, they took notice and they were "hooked." They had to leave my classroom before the movie was over, but the boy that I labored over mentally this year (He's an intelligent kid, but thinks that it's cool to get failing grades and goof off in class. Right now he has straight F's and doesn't care if he flunks his grade because he is going to quit next year and go to Job Corps. He was kicked out of school this year for bringing drug paraphernalia to school), came before the day was over and wanted to see the finish of the movie. I hope a seed of hope was planted for him. We never know. . .
Another Math Teacher assigns book
Dear Mr. Hickam,
Having seen the movie and read the book, as a high school math teacher in suburban Atlanta, I became inspired to share your dream with my students. I teach trig to a group of very bright youngsters and as an assignment this spring, the library has purchased a classroom set of your book Rocket Boys/October Sky which we shall read together. This is the first time in my teaching experience that a book has been assigned to the whole math class. Perhaps a trend is started. It is important for them to realize that those who have achieved their ambitions once sat in the same desk as they.
By the end of the year, three of my trigonometry classes had read the book and watched the movie. The applications, character development, career choices and inspiration were motivating to so many students and faculty alike. I sent the letters they had written to you at the end of the year thanking you for your story’s impact on them.
In the spring Ihad asked a parent of a former student if he could help solicit funds for more books. After he watched the movie, he said he would do whatever he could to help and promptly found a local businessman to donate $500 for books. The school board here was impressed enough with our efforts to add another $500. We thought it would be nice to include other schools and identified a predominantly minority school with which to split the funds. There will a ceremony in November at the board meeting to make the donation official and public with Superintendent and even the Governor there. All this is nice but all I really wanted was more books to inspire more young people based upon your incredible story.
We eagerly wait for more of the Rocket Boys in your new book “The Coalwood Way!”
"Dare To Dream"
Each year I direct a leadership camp called "Dare To Dream" for about 250 students (grades 1-8). The purpose of the camp is prepare the students to "aim high" and be leaders in their schools. This will be our fourth camp and each year I use a movie as the core of my camp. Past movies include; Hoosiers, Apollo 13, Places in the Heart and Rudy. Our themes have varied with each movie. For example when we used the movie Places in the Heart, our theme was "Breaking Down Barriers".
This year we will be using the movie, October Sky and our theme is "Shoot For The Stars". My staff for the camp is made up of outstanding high school students. Each counselor has a group of 8, and they watch a 10-15 minute segment of the movie. Then they break down in groups and discuss a specific leadership topic that I have pulled from that segment. The topics I have pulled out of October Sky are: "Open Your Eyes and Dream", "Setting A Goal", "Moving Toward The Goal", "Encouraging Others To Reach Their Dreams", "Overcoming Obstacles", "The Fun of Teamwork", "The Power of Encouragement", "Dealing With Family Struggles", "Sacrificing For Those You Love", "The Life Changing Impact of a Teacher", and "Changing The World With Your Dream".
I have ordered 250 books to be given out to the campers at graduation. October Sky is changing the lives of thousands of kids across the country. We are simply trying to maximize the effectiveness of this great story.
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