I went to these considerable lengths because I wanted to see if: (a) he would take the bait and pass on the letter of kindness, and (b) if this would reinforce his positive behavior and help him to continue to make good choices.
I made sure to write in chicken scratch, misspell a few words, and of course wrinkle it a bit to display a certain level of middle school authenticity. Another student didn’t actually write it, I did. If someone else in the room does something today that helps you learn or is nice to you, please write them a letter like I did for you and pass it on. When you were working, I was able to concentrate. But I just wanted to say thank you for coming in and doing your work yesterday. You probably don’t know my name, or anything about me. As he tore through the envelope, with paper shreds flying like glossy wrapping paper on Christmas morning, he found a note that read:Īlthough we are in the same class, we have never spoken. With the most baffled look ever (masking my own amusement), I shrugged my shoulders and continued to welcome in the other class members.
He immediately held it up and screeched, What’s this, miss?!?! This was to be the goal with our chain letter “change mail” as well: to help our class members become aware of how they impact others within our own community.Ī few weeks ago, one of my students walked into the classroom to find a letter sitting on his desk with his name penned on it in giant bubble letters. All the messages are connected in that they help the receivers to perceive something positive about themselves that they could not see otherwise.
#Create letter chain driver#
In the novel, an average cab driver receives clues on playing cards and has to solve riddles to figure out the addresses of random people, to whom he delivers a compassionate message. So building off of that concept and inspired by a YA literature book I recently read – I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak – I decided to experiment with a strategy that I call “Chain Mail of Compassion.” As a kid (before the viral internet age) a sealed envelope with a handwritten letter from a student in another state was about the most exciting thing you could ever receive in the mail (aside from birthday cards filled with money, of course). That feeling of being connected to other people can be so powerful.
Also see her post on bullyproofing your classroom.Ĭhain letters have been around as long as I can remember, and I recall the sheer joy of receiving one as a child. Inner-city middle school teacher Mackenzie Grate writes for MiddleWeb about building a positive classroom culture (and other interesting topics).
0 kommentar(er)
