Teacher Idea Factory

Teacher Idea Factory

PEN PAL PAIR UP 2015 — TODAY IS THE DAY!

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Alright my friends . . . the time is RIGHT NOW!  Sign ups for the 4th Annual Pen Pal Pair Up have officially begun and is now over :(.  We are full at this time. Thank you so much for your interest.  I will be hosting again next year – please try me again in 2016!

You may have seen random notes popping up on Insta, FB, and my blog throughout the past few weeks and thought . . . “What in the word is she blabbing on and on about. (I wouldn’t blame you as I am quite the talker and I have been a bit vague.)  With this said, let me shed a little light on the subject and let you in on the details of a fun event that I host every year.  

For years I wanted to start up pen pals in my classroom.  Not only is it the most authentic friendly letter writing practice possible, but it opens the door to so many different content areas!  Well, I didn’t know where to begin and finding a partner always seemed so daunting.  Well, that changed for me when a friend approached ME about pairing up our classrooms.  She made things SO easy and my kids loved getting letters from their cool MD pals.  After experiencing this, I just had to pay it forward . . . I started the Pair Up that same year.  

Now that you have a little better picture of what I am offering up, you can make the choice to keep reading or bail now 🙂  However, if you are ready to jump in and become a COMMITTED pen pal for the upcoming school year, simply click on the Pair Up link below and fill out the Google Doc form ASAP.

Once the submission deadline passes, I will work hard to provide you with the best possible pen pal pair up (it takes me a few weeks to get through the list).  I will contact you directly with your pen pal’s info as soon as I have most of the list compiled. One quick disclaimer here . . . unfortunately, I cannot make the teacher that I paired you up with follow through.  (((SIGH))) I would guess that about 5-10% of the matches end up imploding due to lack of interest. This makes me sad as I spend HOURS on this and the other teacher is counting on follow through. However, I will be crossing my fingers and toes that I made a lucky match when I reached your name!  

CLICK HERE TO GET 
YO-SELF SIGNED UP!

On that note, what are you waiting for?  Go on . . . sign up already!  I’d love to help you find a partner.  

Before I jet, I have had a few questions over the years.  Here are a few that come to mind as I am typing.  Figured I might as well toss ’em out and save you the step of having to email me.  

  • How does it work with Kinders?  I suggest doing this shared writing style. Write letters as a class on large chart paper and send them this way.  You can switch to individual letters later in the year if your babes are up for the challenge.   
  • Which grades do you pair?  I mostly pair grades K-5.  However, I have paired up some middle school classes in the past.  My thought here is sign up.  I am not promising anything outside of 5th grade, but I sure as heck will try for you 🙂
  • Do you pair overseas classrooms?  Yes. If you want an overseas pen pal, there is a place to note this on the Google Form. 
  • Do you pair special education classes?  Yes.  I always get a handful of SPED classes and it usually works out.  No promises here either, but these pairing have great odds.  
  • When will we get our match?  I have to match everyone and that takes me at least a couple of 4-5 hour sessions.  I will start rolling out the match emails within a week or so and will be done by August 19th (my first day of school . . . GULP).
  • I have multiple classrooms . . . what do I do?  Just note this on the form in the final question.  I don’t always get all of your classes matched, but I will try my best.
  • Do you match duel language classes?  Yes.  These are tricky though . . . I won’t lie here.  I have about a 50% success rate on these.  However, what does it hurt to toss your name in there? Sign up, note it in the last question and I will see what I can do for you.  
If you are wondering how you will fit in pen pals and manage it all, I did make a Pen Pal Packet for my partner and I to use.  It makes things easy as it contains everything you need to start and maintain a successful long distance classroom connection.  This collection received a MUCH NEEDED facelift last summer.  If you purchased it in the past, be sure to pop on over and snag the new copy — it’s SO much cuter 🙂  

Thanks for your interest my friends.  Continue to check this page to see when I shut down the event.  I also will occasionally post updates on when to expect your pairing . . . a progress report if you well.  
**If you have additional questions about the Pen Pal Pair Up 2015, please feel free to contact me (kelleydolling@gmail.com).  
**NOTE: The response these past few years has been OVERWHELMING.  I received over 800 entries within a few hours last year.  So, if you want in, get in right now!  I am going to place the cap at 500 this year.  As many of you know (I think I may have stated earlier, but I can’t remember this far down in a post cuz I’m old), I am in the middle of a classroom move.  I may be nuts taking this on right now as I had my first back to school stress ugly cry this week, but I’m committing. Don’t get me wrong my friends.  I am DELIGHTED to help and wish I could match everyone.  However, compiling the list and emailing each pairing takes hours and I just don’t have the time right now.  I will do my best to crank these emails out as quickly as possible . . . PROMISE.  I see some really quality late night TV in my near future 🙂

Here’s a picture of my process.
It’s probably not the most efficient system, but it works for me.
I cut the spreadsheet apart and group by grade and sort by class size.
Numbers that are semi close and in different states get connected 🙂

Comments

  1. Karen Kent says

    Just signed up and I am so grateful that you are doing this. Thank you! I have put you on my prayer list for peace and comfort right now! I, too, am moving classrooms after 9 years in my old one (ack!) and it is stressful. Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your summer!

  2. Tracy says

    Thank you for taking this on, especially in the middle of a classroom move! My class will be so excited to have a pen pal!

  7. Emily Levine says

    Just signed up!!! Are letters allowed to be emailed as well? Our photocopier at work has the capability of scanning things in and then emailing them……This would work especially well with an oversees pen pal……Thanks,
    Emily
    scheinbere@hotmail.com

    • teacherideafactory says

      That is a super idea – I will put that in a post coming up! Great call. As for if it's allowed . . . there is no right or wrong way to do this . . . whatever you and your partner decide 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

  15. Ashley Hoffman says

    I was out at dinner and didn't get signed up on time! Did anyone else not get in that would want to be pen pals with me?!? I teach 3rd grade in Illinois!

  16. spetkovsek says

    I can't remember if I signed up or not. I remember I was looking for it to open. I teach photojournalism to 7th and 8th grade in a semester elective course in Huntsville, Texas. Approx 75 students per semester. I would want to be partnered with someone who is outside of Texas and who would be open to letters and photos. Possibly adding Google Hangouts for live sharing and meeting for the students.

  20. lrc1207 says

    Is it at all possible to get in? I wasn't near a computer yesterday. 🙁 I teach all day Kindergarten. Thanks for considering!

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