Friday, July 12, 2013

Anyone Up for a Classroom Postcard Exchange?

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**UPDATE 8/19/13**Thanks so much for your interest in the Postcard Pals 2013 Classroom Postcard Exchange! The sign up for this year's exchange is now closed. For those who signed up using the Google Doc form, I'll be in touch with instructions and mailing addresses sometime in September. 

The next step I'd like to take is to organize participating classrooms into groups with as many different states as possible in each. At this point, I think that I'm looking at between 30-40 classrooms per group, depending on how many states are represented. I am also working on instructions and a sample postcard message that I will send to each participating teacher in addition to the classroom mailing addresses for each group.

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One of the activities my social studies classes really got into was participating in a classroom postcard exchange with classrooms around the USA and its territories. We received such a variety from around the country (and world). Many of my students had never traveled more than a state or two away; some had never left Ohio. I loved to watch students who were heading down the hall--mine as well as those from other grade levels--stop and read the postcards that were pinned to our USA map on the bulletin board outside of my classroom.

My students felt a real sense of accomplishment doing the hard work of preparing to send our own cards, then enjoying the postcards they received as a result of the efforts. I mean, with all the junk mail out there, who doesn't love to get genuine correspondence from another human being? We had a lot of good conversation, too. Some students shared their own experiences visiting the places on the postcards or the states from which they came. Others had reactions like, "I didn't know that was there!"

Within the first few weeks, the postcards started rolling in!
The basic set-up for this exchange was that classrooms were assigned to groups with different states in them. Each group had a mix of grade levels, as well. There were about 35 classrooms in our group. Not all states had representation. We sent one postcard with the same information to each of the other classrooms on the group list. The expenses involved were purchasing postcards and postage. (By the way, this would be a really great idea for a grant proposal!) Super simple.

The prep work for this activity was really easy, too. The sponsor of the exchange sent an Excel file of the teachers' names, schools, and addresses. She also gave us some possible ideas for what to include on our postcards. I prepared a research document for my social studies students to complete with information about our state, including its capital; geography; and cultural, historical, and natural sites. I asked and got a donation of postcards from a company who printed the state postcards you find in Cracker Barrel restaurants and the like. I typed up a little paragraph based on the students' research, printed the address labels, slapped 'em on, and sent them out. Within a few weeks, we started to receive postcards from other classrooms.

So my question to you is...anyone up for a classroom postcard exchange? Since I'm out of the classroom presently, I'm happy to coordinate it. I can collect all the names and addresses, then send out a document with what to include in the postcards as well as to whom to send them.

Right now, I want to get an idea of who has interest, so I created a form to fill out for those who want more information. No commitment! All information will be used only for the purposes of the exchange. If this is something you might want your class to participate in, please fill out the form in the beginning of the post, and I'll get in touch with you.

I envision this exchange being open to all grades PK-12. Depending on who is interested, it could just be only USA or it could be worldwide. I anticipate having the exchange in place by the end of September. What a great way to connect with other classrooms, learn some new information, and maybe even make some new friends.

Looking forward to hearing from you!



41 comments:

  1. Count me in! I am a teacher in California.

    Martha
    2 Smart Wenches

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    Replies
    1. Fantastic! Make sure you fill out the form by clicking on the link in the blog post so I can stay in touch.

      Kristen

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  2. I would love to. I teach a 4th grade class in Idaho

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    1. I don't have an Idaho yet--great! Make sure you fill out the form by clicking on the link in the post.

      Kristen

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  3. I think that would be fun! I teach 5th grade in Wyoming. My teaching partner does SS and I do Science, but I'm sure she'd love this idea. I think the kids would love to see postcards from different places. We also have a house in South Dakota, so you could mark me down for getting Postcards from there too. :o)My new blog address bournesbloggingbabble.blogspot.com

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    1. Tammy, I'm going to go to your blog and leave you a comment, but if you see this first, click on the "here" link in my post and fill in your contact info so I can get in touch. Thank you so much for your interest!

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    2. Thanks I filled out the form!

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  4. Count me in. I teach in Seattle, Washington but I live on Vashon Island, in Puget sound, so I can send postcards from there, too.

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    1. Thanks! I imagine that is beautiful country there. I've always wanted to go there to watch orcas!

      Kristen

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  5. I love a postcard exchange! We have organized a group on Twitter that do penpals during the school year, but a postcard exchange would be fun! I teach in GA. Also, I've nominated you for a Liebster award :) Check it out!

    Dallas
    http://www.nerdynerdynerdy.com/2013/07/11-questions.html

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    1. I'm so glad you want to be a part of the exchange! If you haven't already, please fill out the form by clicking on the "here" link in the post so I have your contact info. Thank you for the nomination, too! :)

      Kristen

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  6. I would love to do this. I tried to participate last year, but I only received 18 postcards. I had my students bring in a postcard so I only had to buy 12. I tried to file out the form but it wasn't a link.

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  7. Hi, Donna! If you click on the word "here" in the last sentence of the post, it should take you to the form. If you're not able to access it, contact me through the Contact tab above and I can send you the direct link. I'm so happy that you have interest in taking part!

    Kristen

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  8. I would love to participate. I teach 6th-grade math in North Carolina but could see this working really well as part of our grade-wide advisory program. Thanks for coordinating!!

    Leslie J

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    1. Hi, Leslie, Sounds great! It'd be fun to have middle schoolers participate in this. Thanks for your interest!

      Kristen

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  9. I am going to go fill out the form right now!!
    I am your newest follower :) Come stop by if you get a chance - I'd love to hear from you!

    Lauren
    The Sweetest Thing
    Follow me on Bloglovin'!

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    Replies
    1. Wonderful! Glad to have you on board for the exchange. Thanks for visiting and for becoming a follower of my blog. :)

      Kristen

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  10. I would love to participate, I teach 2nd in Arizona! How cool!

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    1. I'm so glad to have another western state teacher join up! Thanks for your interest!

      Kristen

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  11. Hi!

    I would also love to participate. I teach 4th grade in Massachusetts. I will fill out the form right now. Looking forward to it.

    Thanks!
    Kerry

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    Replies
    1. Great! So glad you found the blog and added your info, Kerry. I'll be in touch soon.

      Kristen

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  12. The postcard exchange sounds like a lot of fun! :) So exciting to meet another OHIO blogger!!! :)

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  13. I'm interested! I teach 4th grade in Florida. I filled out your form above. Thanks so much!

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  14. We would love to be part of the exchange! I teach middle school Life Skills Spec. Ed. in PA. We have done it before and the kids LOVED it!

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  15. My fifth grade class would love something like this~ I am in!! I teach in Monmouth County (Jersey Shore), New Jersey.
    Thank you!

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  16. Hi Kristen! You donated an item for my giveaway which just ended, but you didn't supply your email address; can you email me at carlson.amber@gmail.com ? Thanks!

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  17. Thanks so much Kerry, Maria, Jenny, Renee, and Patricia for wanting to be part of the postcard exchange! How fantastic that you all represent different states, too.

    I'll be in touch soon with more information.

    Kristen

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  18. Is it too late to participate in your postcard exchange? I am very interested in doing this with my 4th grade classroom. I am from Michigan. Thank you :)

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  19. Hi, Heidi--You're right on time! There's a link to the form in the first part of the blog post. Welcome!

    Kristen

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  20. Hi Kristen! I filled out a form last week and can't wait to do this with my kids! Is there another form we have to fill out to proceed? Just want to make sure I don't miss out.

    Karen

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  21. Nope! You're all set. I'll be getting the lists organized starting next week. Glad to have you be a part of the exchange.

    Kristen

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  22. Hi! I just saw this today! I hope I'm not too late!! I completed the form above using the link.

    I'm from New York.

    -Heather

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  23. Hi,

    I just signed up my class and filled out the form right now, and it's August 17th! So I made the Aug. 18th deadline, yey! Thank you for coordinating this. I teach a 4th and 5th combo class and this will be an awesome learning opportunity for them to experience.

    Chris from CA

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  24. I also coordinate an exchange. Since your deadline has arrived, I hope it is okay to mention my exchange in case others are interested. My exchange is for elementary grades (K-6, but if you are teaching older or younger students, I'm sure that would be fine too). You can find info at http://postcardswap.wikispaces.com/

    We are striving for one from each state, and are looking for just 16 to be filled.

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  25. When will we hear from you about the exchange...My kids are excited!
    ~Kelly

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    Replies
    1. I'm working on the groupings now, so look for info to come in September. Thanks!

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  26. I teach ELA Sixth grade in Belgium! We would love to be included in the postcard exchange. To make it even better....I have 50+ students ready to start! many of our students are from many other countries such as Poland, Spain, Slovakia, etc as well as from around the USA. We can split our class into 2 or 3 groups so we can pen pal with a few different schools.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your interest! Can you send me an e-mail through the Contact form here on my blog, and I can give you some more info about the exchange?

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  27. Just received a post card but never an email.....Is their a list of who I'm sending to? Please let me know!
    ~ Mendonsa Red Bluff, California

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    1. Yes! I did send the e-mail list and instructions in September. There were some issues with firewall so you may want to check your spam folder. If you still cannot find the e-mail, please send me a note at aspiretoinspirestore@gmail.com, and I will re-send. Thanks for getting in touch!

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  28. You doing the post card exchange again? 2015-2016?

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