Dear Teacher.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the unthinkable happened. As American citizens on the East Coast started their workday, two symbols of America--the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon--were attacked by terrorists. Thousands of innocent civilians and emergency workers were the victims of this terror. Americans across the country gathered around TVs and radios to try to understand the scope of this tragedy. All of your students are aware that something terrible happened.

In this issue of Junior Scholastic, we are providing you with materials to assist you as you cope with this tragedy in your classrooms, homes, and communities. In the student edition, you will find an age-appropriate explanation of the events. In this Teacher's Edition, you will find tips to guide you through discussions on this topic. These tips were written by Dr. Bruce Perry, a nationally recognized expert on children and trauma.

Please note that we are providing two different sections in this Teacher's Edition, each aimed at a different audience. On page 2, you will find tips for teachers. On page 3, you will find a letter for parents that you may wish to copy and distribute for your students to take home to their families. Tips for students appear in the student issue.

The Scholastic editorial offices are located 17 blocks north of where the World Trade Towers once stood. We know many people who are directly affected by this tragedy, including Scholastic staff members. At the same time, we embrace the importance of our mission to help you and your students understand and cope effectively and productively with this tragedy. We hope these materials assist you and your students as you struggle to deal with the emotions and thoughts that arise from this situation.

David Goddy

Editor-in-Chief