I always do a summer writing project with my students. I send home a stamped envelope and have students address the envelope to my home address. I put a letter inside letting parents know that students are encourage to write to me over the summer and I will write them back. I also include some blank stationary in the envelope. I usually only get about 25% of students who will actually send a letter- and after 2 or 3 back and forth letters- the writing project stops. This year, I was talking to my class about this activity and one of my kindergarten students asked, "Can we just have your email? It would be easier!" I told him that this activity was to practice their letter writing skills and I wanted them to practice their printing and spelling as well.
Now, a day later, I don't know if I need to update this activity or not. I really do want them to practice the paper and pencil writing - but I would probably get more responses from more students if I changed this to an email. I was looking at one of the optional tools and saw a kidblog. I'm wondering if setting up something like that would allow all of the students in the class to keep up with each other in addition to just me? What do you think?
Is writing a letter and sending it through the mail with a stamp not a good idea? Is using technology an improvement for this activity? Writing so others can read is am important part of early literacy. I can't decide what would be better. Any thoughts?
Good question!! If the objective is that they practice their writing skills, then I would expect email to definitely get more response...thus more practice. In reality, it is possible that some of them will never send a letter by mail. On the flip side, those that do will need to know how. I was behind a college student at the post office the other day who had to be told that he had put his return address in the recipient's address spot. Maybe next year you could make letter writing a station in your classroom, then over the summer, give them the option. 50% of them writing to you through email is better than 25 sending a letter.
ReplyDelete