Students write stories based on Izzy books

The Izzy’s Adventure books, published by Mona Forney and Janet Watkins, have become a staple in Tompkins County (tinyurl.com/2jddzqab).

This holds true for Kristen Prugh, a second-grade teacher at Freeville Elementary School for the past 11 years. For a few years now, Prugh has assigned an end-of-school year writing project for her students that’s inspired by the Izzy books.

The project consisted of books about Freeville- and Dryden-themed adventures that revolve around a cat named Ozzy.

The main character, Ozzy, which Prugh said can be a boy or a girl, can take adventures within the Dryden Municipal District.

“The rubric was Ozzy doesn’t live in, for example, a public library. Ozzy lives in Room 4, which is my classroom at Freeville Elementary,” she said. “I told them, ‘That’s where the story needs to start.’”

The classroom, Prugh said, is Ozzy’s home, noting he can either start by eating breakfast, sleeping or other. From the beginning, she added, Ozzy can take adventures to two local places.

When Prugh started the project a few years ago, which was shortly after the Izzy’s Adventures books were published, she originally had students choose three places to venture to in the area.

“Some students fed on that; others struggled with it,” Prugh said, noting that choices in places have now been whittled down to two. “You [now] have a clear direction in your story.”

Prugh noted some of the local places her students have picked in the past included Toads Too Ice Cream in Freeville, the fire halls and post offices in each municipality, Carrozza Pizza Company in Dryden and more.

“They have to tell me how Ozzy got [to these places],” Prugh said. “It’s fiction, so Ozzy can walk, take the bus, fly in an airplane or whatever they want. [Transportation] can be the same way or completely different.”

Prugh mentioned that the students have to describe what Ozzy is doing at each place and then break down how Ozzy gets back to the classroom.

“Different from some of our other required pieces or other fun-writing pieces, this is one we actually turn into a book that they can illustrate along the way,” Prugh said, noting that each student can choose their own title and photo and also put their name on the book.

Prugh was excited to bring back the project after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“The kids had a blast. The creativity that comes out of them, it cracks me up. They just go to town,” she said. “They’re making a book about where they’re from, so it’s a lot of fun. [The students] have an incredible time.”

Prugh uses this as a spring project to see how much students have learned throughout the school year. The practice, she added, is to “try and take what you can say and what you have in your brain” and “get it down on paper.”

More importantly, it’s the students’ story, Prugh noted.

“Some imaginations and creativity run wild — and it’s a matter of them putting it on paper,” Prugh said. “The kids have really extended their writing through understanding details, adjectives and all those kinds of things. I always tell them that ‘if you can tell me this story in detail, all you have to do is take your words and put it on paper. Don’t worry about spelling. Get it down on paper, and we’ll worry about fixing it later.’”

The class project, Prugh said, is an opportunity to help the students dream big for the future, no matter how big or small the area you live in.

An example Prugh used was Amy Dickinson, author of the book “The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Story of Surprising Second Chances” and the “Ask Amy” advice columnist.

Dickinson, born and raised in Freeville, made a surprise visit to Freeville Elementary School this past school year and spoke about her journey in life.

“Even though you grow up in a small place, you’re capable of doing these same things,” noted Prugh to her students, based on Dickinson’s journey and success in life. “It’s an inspiration for them as well.”

Prugh plans to do the project again this upcoming school year and hopes to bring in Forney and/or Watkins to read one of their Izzy’s Adventure Books to the class.

Dryden Dispatch appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Homer Town Court closed Oct. 17-19

The Town of Dryden announced that the town court is closed between Oct. 17 and 19. No proceedings will take place that week.

Hunting licenses on sale at Dryden Town Office

Hunting licenses are on sale and available at the Dryden Town Office at 93 E. Main St.

The first round of deer management permits are available until Oct. 1. Leftover permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and available until Nov. 1.

For more information, go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html.