Date: November 21, 1999

Grade Level(s): 5, 6, 7, 8

Subject(s):

• Language Arts/Writing (composition)

Description: Students will engage in a continuing pen-pal project within the school. This project is a collaborative effort between teachers within the school and shall continue throughout the entire school year or for an agreed amount of time (i.e.; for 1 quarter only).

Students will be instructed that they are to create a ‘secret code name' for themselves. Then they will write a letter to their secret pen-pal. The teacher will conference with that child to revise and making corrections as necessary. Effort will be made to maintain the integrity of the students' responses; creative expression will be encouraged. Corrections should remain focused on structure and on proper writing conventions.

As each student receives a response they will file it away in date order into a portfolio provided by the teacher. These portfolios will be used for the evaluation.

The student will be advised that there will be ‘something special' for them if they can successfully conceal their identity from their pen-pal. Likewise, there will be a reward if they can identify their pen-pal. When the project ends all participants will finally meet in a small celebration (soda and chips optional).

Goals: Students will:

• communicate their feelings through a written letter to their friends.
• share a personal experience through a written project.
• produce a narrative account.
• demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language in written work.
• analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.
• write for social interaction.

Materials: None specified.

Procedure:

1)Students will select secret code names for themselves.

2)Students will compose a letter to their secret pen-pal.

3)Students will meet with their teacher to edit and revise their letter.

4)Students will re-copy their letter, seal and address it.

5)Upon receipt of a pen-pal letter student will read and prepare a written response to it.

6)Go to #3 above and continue to repeat until the project ends. Upon expiration go to #7.

7)Introduce participants to one another.