Our new Pen-Pals in Michigan
720 miles and 12 hours away
sent us cards.
They arrived today!
Included was a wonderful letter to the Aqua Roomers.
We learned they are the MAC class – Multi Age Class (very cool.)
There were Eric Carle cut-outs for children.
We are VERY excited, and making a Pen-Pal wall.
There’s more to this…. writing cards and letters is becoming a thing of the past. While technology is taking that over, children are still the same as they have always been, generation after generation. They need hands-on, from touching and exploring everything in nature, to writing and drawing for new friends. Hands-on experiences are the most meaningful for children. Learning ‘clicks’ and the heart swells. Win-Win.
Thank you, Beth@I didn’t have my glasses on….
You understand. You ‘get it’, and I’m so glad our students have connected.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Great activity, Jennie. You rekindled the memory of my first pen pal in elementary school. I even remember his name and country – but I can;t remember how to spell his last name.
Thank you, Frank. I’m glad it brought back that memory. It was terrific for the children.
Thanks so much for inviting us to be your pen pals. I’m so glad that we share a love of handwritten letters and understand the value of these treasures. Like you,I believe it is so important to pass this on to the children in our care.
My pleasure, Beth. I feel exactly the same way! Hear, hear.
What fun! The children must have been thrilled.
They were ecstatic! So much fun.
😀
I loved having a pen pal when I was a kid, well done all!
I dearly wish this tradition was thriving today. Thanks, FR!
What a great idea. I had a pen pal in Australia and I loved getting letters from her. I also enjoyed writing to her as well. The kids must have been delighted. What a great thing to do with Beth and her class.
The children loved it! I honestly think anyone who had a pen-pal has lasting memories. Beth and I had fun. There’s one more teacher we connected with, across the ocean. More to come. 🙂
Great idea to have your students connect in this way!
Thanks so much, Becky.
Such an exciting day for the children and who knows what will open up in the future for them because they made pen pal today. Lovely Jennie!
You hit the nail on the head! Thank you, Sandra.
I love this so much!!! I’m so glad you and Beth share a love for communication and kids. You two are amazing! 💛🤗🙌🏻
Thanks so much, K.L. 😀
You’re welcome, Jennie! 💛
What a wonderful activity for the children, Jennie. I think adults could benefit from writing a letter now and then, too.
I think you’re right, adults certainly could benefit. Thanks, Dan. It was wonderful.
How exciting! I hope their new pen-pal wall fills up with new cards and letters. This first batch is wonderful! 🤗
Thank you, Deborah. It is exciting!
😀
How fun! I know these kids will remember this exchange for a long time. New friends are everywhere.
Thanks, Ally. This is just what kids need.
Our species does so well at making connections. It is something special for a child to make a connection with a stranger. And that is how strangers become friends.
You are the wise one, Pam. Yes, that’s how it happens.
How wonderful! This is as special to hear about as I imagine it is to experience.
Thank you, Annette. You are right! I wish you could have been a fly on the wall when we opened all the cards. Oh my!
I remain a big fan of handwritten correspondence — birthday cards, thank you cards, get well cards, remember-to-vote cards and much more!!! I love our postal service. Hurrah to give your students a taste of this valuable human experience!
Handwritten correspondence has so many benefits, especially for children. I will always make it part of my curriculum in school. I like your words ‘valuable human experience’, it’s so true! Best to you, Will.
So pleased to hear that Pen-Pals is still a thing. When I was 11, I had one in Japan, and one in France. Their letters arriving was always so exciting!
Best wishes, Pete.
I dearly wish Pen-Pals were thriving today as much as they were in our day. How exciting to get letters from Japan and France! Best to you, Pete.
You are so right…children do need hands-on! I remember the fun of having a pen pal; the mystery and excitement of discovering someone who lived far-away captivated my imagination.
Yes, and yes! It is exciting for children. Many thanks.
How cool!
Ours went to the mailing office in school today 😍😍
Hooray! Thanks so much, Ritu. The children will be so excited! 😀
As are we, to hear their reactions!
YES!! 😍
What an exciting time, Jennie.
It is, John. More is on the way as well.
😊
How exciting! 💞 Oh, the love and the learning go on… Thanks for sharing, Jennie!
Thank you, Bette!
So cool Jennie and you pen pal’ed with my home state. Thank you for doing this. I write letters to friends and some write me back, most do not. Hand written letters has become an odd concept for many.
I wish it was a more common practice. Everyone loves getting Christmas cards, so why not correspond in this way more often?
Exactly!!!
🙂
Pen Pals forever! I’m still in touch with the Pen Pal I met at age 15. Although, I confess, we connect via Facebook these days.
Yes! How wonderful that you still stay in touch with your old Pen-Pal (I confess to FB, too.) Handwritten gives correspondence a closer connection, and it is fun- especially for children. Best to you, Mitch.
You too, Jennie.
🙂
How lovely I used to have a pen pal and so wish we had kept in touch sadly life took over but I have happy memories of the letters we wrote to each other… it’s lovely that you and Beth are creating that for your classes…I still love receiving and sending letters 🙂 x
Hi Carol. You had a Pen Pal, and now you have the memories- that’s what counts. It has been wonderful for the children, and we have more cards on the way from another new Pen Pal. So exciting!
Absolutely Jennie and memories last …I hope your children are left with memories 🙂 x
Yes! And I hope they have memories.
There’s just nothing like getting something in the snail mail – penpals reveal much through their choice of paper, pencils, STAMPS, surpises tucked in between the stationary..oh and then of course in what they actually write about!
🙂
I had two penpals in France one since 5th grade, the other since 7th grade – we all kept up with each other through college but after that, too many address changes etc. Really, really fantastic friendship memories though we never met face-to-face!
ps-back then, French was begun in 4th grade public school curriculum in the Chicago area!!!! I took it through ‘French IV’ in HS in Colorado, I remember reading L’Annapurna in French and understanding it on a very visceral level since I was by then in Boulder. Penpals are very enriching to one’s world view in such a natural way IMHO.
Great idea 💡
Thank you.
This is fabulous. Congratulations, Jennie and Beth, on this wonderful life/learning opportunity for your students.
Thank you, Norah!
You are welcome, Jennie.
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Thank you, Michael!
Congratulations, Jennie! Aww, there must have been a celebration with the children. These cards reminds me on the similar happiness, getting these so called ham radio response cards. Best wishes, Michael
Yes, there was! We now have a Pen-Pal wall with all the cards posted.
Aww Jennie, I love this! I had a pen pal when I was a young kid! I loved receiving letters from her, hearing about her stories and writing back to her! I totally forgot about this! How awesome!! 😀 The kids must love it having a little pal of their own!
Thanks so much, Jen! How wonderful that you have fond memories of a pen pal. I’m glad this post reminded you of that. We wrote to another school outside of London, and their cards are on the way!! So exciting!
Nothing like handwritten notes. So many missing the joy these days. And let’s not even talk about not teaching cursive anymore. ❤
I hear you loud and clear, and I’m totally in your corner!