| Please remember
that it is necessary to implement and enforce guidelines for one simple
reason: we want pen pals to have an equal and safe opportunity to communicate
with their college buddies. Therefore, we use these certain standards
to ensure that this process is efficient, secure, and fair for all participants.
All letters should follow the format and content guidelines below.
My
first letter:
- The first letter you write
will be general, such as "Dear Elementary School student…".
You can ask questions and talk about yourself. Be sure you know the
classroom that you are writing to! (In case you forget any of this
information, you can find it on the website at www.umich.edu/~smile)
- After you receive your
first letter, you will write to your own personal pen pal! (The teacher
will pair you up with a specific little kid when they receive the
letter you wrote)
Format:
- Limit letters to one side
of an 8 ˝ x 11 sheet of paper. Please do NOT exceed one page or use
odd-size stationery!
- Print letters legibly
(no cursive).
- Sign the letter using
only your first name and last initial.
- Tri-fold your letters
and write on the outside:
1. Your pen pal's first name and last initial
2. The teacher's name
3. The school's name
- Please do not place your
letter in an envelope.
Content:
Please use your best judgment
about what is appropriate. We proofread the letters, but things can
be missed, and we don't want K-grams to negatively influence any little
pen pal. If you can't think of anything to write about, contact your
Swing Kid and brainstorm ideas with him/her!
DO:
- Decorate your letter with
markers, stickers, glitter, drawings, and much more!
- Ask questions for your
little kid to answer about pets, siblings, common interests, school,
favorites, etc....
- Answer any questions that
your little kid asked
- Be mindful of your language
(i.e. check your spelling/grammar and do not use obscenities) and
the reading/writing capabilities of your pen pal
- Report to a Swing Kid
immediately if your pen pal shares something personal that is
cause for concern.
DO NOT:
- Give your full name, email
address, phone number, or home address. This is very important!
- Directly mention holidays,
unless your pen pal mentions them to you first
- Include intimate details
of your life. Teachers have asked us not to mention anything about
parents, deeper relationship issues, parties, etc.
- Send personal gifts or
pictures with your letter unless each little kid receives one from
his/her pen pal (contact your swing kid if interested in this)
Letters are DUE on MONDAY night at 8pm
in your hall community learning center/library. Be sure to place your
letter in the box with your teacher's name on it!
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