Teacher Idea Factory

Teacher Idea Factory

PEN PAL PAIR UP 2013 – NEED A PARTNER??

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With the summer quickly winding down (I can only whisper such a phrase even in late July), I figured I better start getting serious around here.  My posts have been way too fluffy lately.  So, how about if I hit you with something FREE that could provide you with a steady stream of friendly letter writing and geography lessons/activities next year?  I bring you the great Pen Pal Pair Up 2013!

Thank you Scrappin’ Doodles, LD, and Miss Tiina Fonts!

I hosted this little event last year and I received multiple emails this summer asking me to please bring it back (teachers moved grade levels and such). Well, we aim to please around here, so here I be.  If you are unfamiliar with the Pair Up, let me back up and explain a bit  (I seem to be doing lots of backing up lately . . . It seems that I like to get ahead of myself).  

I don’t know about you, but I always wanted to start up pen pals in my classroom.  However, I never quite knew where to start.  Finding a partner always seemed so difficult.  Well, that all changed for me last year when my friend Nicole approached me.  She made things SO easy and my kids loved getting letters from their DC pals.  I wanted others to have this same no-brainer opportunity, so I started the Pair Up.  


With this said, if you are interested in becoming a committed pen pal for the upcoming school year, simply click on the Pair Up button below and fill out the Google Doc form before Sunday, July 28th ASAP (see note below). 

Once the submission deadline passes, I will do my very best to provide you with the best possible pen pal pair up!  I will contact you directly with your pen pal’s info as soon as I have the list compiled.

CLICK ON THE BUTTON ABOVE AND I’LL FIND YOU A PEN PAL!


THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED . . . SORRY 🙁
REMEMBER!!  This event is open to all teachers – you do not have to have a blog to participate!  So, what are you waiting for . . . go on . . . sign up! I’d love to help ya find a partner.
If you are still wondering how you are going to manage this whole pen pal deal in your classroom, I did make a Pen Pal Packet for my partner and I to use last year.  It contains everything you need to start and maintain a long distance classroom connection. 
**If you have additional questions about The Perfect Pen Pal Pair Up 2013, feel free to contact me (kelleydolling@gmail.com).


***NOTE: The response has been overwhelming today and I will be closing this very soon (probably tomorrow – Monday).  So, if you want in, get in now!!!  I’m going to cap it around 650 – 700 entries and we are oh so close to hitting this range.  Don’t get me wrong my dear friends . . . I am delighted to help, but I have to get ready for my new class headed my way on August 19th (ready or not here they come).  

Comments

  16. MC says

    This is a great idea–!! To those who have done this before, how often do you generally write back & forth? Once a month?

    Considering it, but up here in Canada postage is a bit brutal!

    🙂

  17. Melanie Morgan says

    Yay! I am so grateful! I had signed up with two through Teachers.net and they never panned out. Thank you for giving your time to match us up and organize this. I appreciate it!

    I posted it on my FB wall, tweeted about it, and posted it on my blog. I know my BTF already signed up so hopefully you have a great turn out!

    Thanks again for doing this!
    Melanie
    melaniemorgan.edd@gmail.com
    Posh Primary

  18. Rebecca says

    I am so excited to do this! Thank you so much for this opportunity. I can't wait, I know my kiddos will love this 🙂

  21. Papoosue says

    I would love to do this with my new class (they are Primary 5, which I think is the equivalent of grade 3 in the US – I am in Scotland!). However, this is my first year teaching after University, so it's probably a bit too much to take on right now, but perhaps next year if you want to have pen pals from overseas! Great blog by the way – I'm loving finding all these resources and lots of advice from fellow teachers 🙂 x

  22. Lori says

    What a great idea…thank you for generously taking the time to pair us with a wonderful pen pal! I appreciate it. 🙂

  25. AshDNae says

    I would love to have a pin pal for my sweet third graders, and I clicked the Pin It button above but all it did was pin it to my pinterest board…am I doing something wrong.. I don't want to miss it! Please email me at vieyraa@usd308.com OR if you would like PLEASE add me to the list. Ashleigh Vieyra, 3rd grade, Hutchinson Kansas. Let me know if there is anything else I can do! Thanks so much!

    Ashleigh Vieyra
    vieyraa@usd308.com

  27. Mikaela says

    Kelley, Thank you so much for doing this again! This was SO much fun last year and really gave the kids a purpose for writing. Your packet was a ton of fun too. We did the recipe exchange around the holidays and exchanged our favorite holiday treat.

    • teacherideafactory says

      Patti . . . quick . . . get in!! I'll be closing it by noon (PDT) today. Click on the button and fill out the form. Make sure you don't click on the P . . . or you will just go to Pinterest 🙂

    • Unknown says

      I am learning how to use my new I phone and how to do this Blog so I am not sure if I will be getting a class to be pen pals with. My school email is beachjj@pwcs.edu please let me know. Thanks
      Jan Beach

  41. Kim says

    Anybody want a 3rd grade penpal from California? I have 24 students and we are a "Leader in Me" school. 🙂

  43. Katherine says

    Kelley,
    I'm so sad I missed out on this! I did it last year and had a terrible match up (she never responded when I e-mailed her about how to send the letters). I was watching this year but was out of town when you posted it. I am teaching 3rd grade this year and already have your packet. Is there any chance that you have an extra 3rd grade teacher you could match me up with? I'd love to be able to use your amazing product this year! My e-mail is katherineschaffer@hotmail.com I understand if you can't but please let me know either way.

    Thank you!
    Katherine

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