Sample Letter:
June 17, 2016
Dear Mr. Savelson 2017,
I hope that you are having a strong learning year filled with as much excitement and energy as you had this year. In Room 221 last year, your 2016 students reminded you how important fun is in the learning process. You were slow to realize and respond to this lesson, but in the end they made sure you learned it. I wonder what your students taught you this year? I hope you listened carefully?
Do you remember exhausting yourselves at Storm King? Or how proud you were of your students at Norman Rockwell with their analytic skills and patience with the museum workers? Do you remember the historic volleyball tournament when two fifth grade teams combined in the championship game? How about the roach babies and the chicks that Manny’s mom brought in? Peanut and Duck (the chick), Azazel, Nora and Tiger Lilly. They were so cute and everyone was so excited and caring with them. I hope you found homes for some of the baby roaches.
A year ago, you were a big fan of My Morning Jacket, and Wilco and of course you still loved Bob Marley and Elvis. Beyonce had just come out with her Lemonade album and Dede was such a big fan- you must have heard the songs 100 times. Other important events were the presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump were in the news everyday any your students were pretty well informed about the political scene. A number of your students were dancers, gymnasts, actors, climbers, baseball and soccer players and fans. Other students were football, basketball and softball players, and excellent artists and readers.
Do you remember how proud you were of your students writing? And how much everyone had improved in their reading? So many of your students were dedicated readers and so quiet and respectful of each other as they read. A number of students had some strong technology skills too, which was a big help for any projects the class did.
Speaking of projects, I wonder if your class made state quarter projects or wrote Wild Thing stories, or learned about the Sioux or the Aztecs? Did you read Tuck Everlasting, or Morning Girl? Langston Hughes poems?
There were some strong poets this year. Some went clean through the heart door, thoughtful and expressive poems that impressed the whole class. Others played with language creating powerful images or were just plain silly.
Here are some of your hopes for this coming year . . .
Love your faithful and biggest admirer,
Me
Graphic Organizer for pre-writing & brainstorming:
Things you want to remember and capture . . .
Highlights from this year (in school and out) / Important hobbies, activities, people in your life-Favorite or popular books, music, movies, games- / Hopes you have for yourself and others
(hopes and dreams . . .)