I always do this because some parents might not want their child to correspond with someone they don't know. Written permission should be obtained from the parents. They do not write their last name and may not disclose personal information. My students are made aware of the type of conversations they are allowed to have, and I always read their letters. It's always a good idea to read the letters that are sent to your students. They write at least two paragraphs, one talking about themselves, and the other asking any questions they may have for their pen pal. I always require my students to begin with a letter of introduction. The great part is that, although we are writing letters, we will still use Skype as a form of communication. I posted that I was interested in being pen pals with a fifth grade class outside of the United States, and chose from the responses I received. Once connected, you can set up your own Skype lesson and connect with teachers around the world. Skype in the Classroom makes it so easy to connect, although it does require a Skype account.
SNAIL MAIL PEN PALS FOR STUDENTS FULL
My students are full of questions about college, basketball, etc., and these young ladies, who are great role models, willingly answer them in their letters. The students and basketball players write each other once a month, the ladies bring them goodies on the holidays, and one day in the year, we stay after school in order to attend one of their games. I am currently in the third year of my partnership with the Wilmington University women's basketball team. Over 100 teachers signed up, and it is still presently open.Īfter reading an article about a class that had connected with a local university, I decided to do the same with my students. I wanted to share my enthusiasm for pen pals by providing a forum where teachers could connect their classes. In 2011, I created a Pen Pal group on Edmodo named Pen Pals Who WRITE. Not only did our students connect, but this teacher and I connected as well, and even met in person at an ISTE conference. We also connected our classes via Edmodo, but the most important connection was through letters. A teacher answered me, and our kids wrote each other at least once a month. When I joined Edmodo in 2010, I used it as an opportunity for reaching out to teachers who would be interested in connecting with my class. The possibilities are endless! Making Connections Students can share narratives about their lives, and then compare and contrast with the lives of their pen pals. For example, classes that are connected via the Global Read Aloud project can write letters to each other about their reaction to the same book. However, it is very easy to create projects that classes can share through letters.
Many states have implemented Common Core, and letter writing is not a part of the Common Core standards. As the year progresses, there is always a vast improvement in their writing. This encourages students to write with meaning, to write with a sense of purpose. My students know that not only is someone actually going to read their letter, but also respond to it. Pen pal letters also provide an avenue to create better writers via an authentic audience. So far, we have exchanged letters and videos, and plan on much more collaboration throughout the school year, including a Skype session. This year, I took advantage of Skype in the Classroom and connected with a class in Spain. My classes have connected with other classes as close as Georgia and as far away as Russia.
It gives your students a chance to see a world outside of their walls. Whether the class you connect with is in another state or another country, it serves the same purpose. Pen pal letters provide the opportunity to break down classroom walls.
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