Dear Sandra

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Dear Sandra is a novel written to guide and supplement a secondary level study of the Holocaust.  The story gradually uncovers, through memories, letters, a diary and other writings, the past lives of three elderly people living in a seaside New England town in 1976. It is a mix of mystery and horror which uncannily parallels the past and invites students to relate key ethical issues to their own lives.  The historical accuracy of the novel and its astute sequencing supports a teaching strategy that calls upon cooperative group based student research and reporting to establish factual background. As the class discovers more and more about the past lives of the characters, and at the same time learns more and more about the roots of the historic Holocaust, opportunities for ethical growth abound.  A teacher led Socratic seminar strategy is used to encourage students to grapple with universal ethical issues. Dear Sandra is a powerful novel and is not appropriate for younger students. Teacher discretion is advised.

 

 

 

Begin by reading: Teaching The Holocaust: Some Lessons Learned which is a short essay outlining some important conclusions from over 30 years of Holocaust teaching practice that includes extensive remarks from high school juniors who completed the unit.

Dear Sandra Teacher's Guide

 

Dear Sandra: Free Teacher’s Examination Copy

Individual copies of Dear Sandra are available from Amazon.com at $21.95, plus shipping and handling.

 

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