Starting a multi-state intergenerational pen pal buddy program
Abstract
An intergenerational pen pal buddy program is a great way for students to increase their literacy skills and build lasting friendships. In Riley County, Kansas, 15 RSVP volunteers were ready to team up with 15 fourth grade students to participate in a multi-state program. The Riley County RSVP Coordinator sent an e-mail to the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in January 2003 requesting participation from other states. This effective practice outlines how to create a similar program with RSVP volunteers.
Issue
There are several steps in setting up a multi-state intergenerational pen pal buddy program, including finding volunteers and inter-state pen pals.
Action
According to the Riley County RSVP project director, effective practices for setting up a multi-state intergenerational pen pal buddy project included:- Each Manhattan, Kansas student is paired with a Riley County RSVP volunteer and both work as a team to correspond with a fourth grade class from another state.
- The student and RSVP volunteer team:
- Write letters to their out-of-state-pen pal class
- Compile an information packet that will include souvenirs and information about Kansas State University, the city of Manhattan, and the state of Kansas.
- Out-of-state classrooms are sent a life-sized replica of their pen pal buddies, for display in their classroom.
- The out-of-state classroom is expected to send a map of their state that will be displayed in the classroom, an information packet and written correspondence. Educators, students, and volunteers are encouraged to get creative with their maps, perhaps including pictures of the students at the locations where they live.
- The project's aim is to send (and receive) two letters a month.
- Riley County RSVP will select one RSVP program from each of the 15 states to partner with them.
- RSVP programs that are selected will be responsible for:
- Making the connection with the participating school
- Selecting volunteers to ensure that letters and the information packet are being sent.
- Riley RSVP has 15 volunteers and 15 fourth grade students selected to take part in the program. Each student will pair up with one Riley County RSVP volunteer to make a team.
- Of the 15 Kansas teams, each team will be assigned to one out-of-state fourth grade class, student or student/volunteer team.
- The Riley RSVP program is aiming to involve 15 states so that each team will have a different state to correspond with. Other suggestions for states that are organizing the pen pal project include:
- A class could work together to produce one letter, map and care package (or)
- Split the class into small groups so that two or three of the groups could each write a letter, while one group makes a map, and another assembles a care package.
- Some volunteers could serve as members of any of the groups (or)
- Select some volunteers that already tutor students one-on-one and have them be a team that could correspond with the Kansas team.
- The Riley County RSVP volunteers are looking for one pen pal from each fourth grade class, but more students could be picked as "back-up" pen pals (in the event they do not get 15 interested states).
- Riley County RSVP has not developed specific criteria for picking pen pals. This could be worked out in individual classrooms on a merit or extra credit basis.
Context
Manhattan is located in the heart of northeast Kansas' scenic Flint Hills, 125 miles west of Kansas City. Known as the "Little Apple," it is home to Kansas State University (22,000 students) and Fort Riley (12,000 soldiers). The Manhattan community encompasses approximately 11 square miles and as of 2003 has an estimated population of 44,800.
Outcome
This project provides all participants with intergenerational interaction and the opportunity to build life-long friends. The students improve their writing skills, their geographical knowledge, and their ability to interact with others.
Posted On
April 28, 2003For More Information
Resources
NSSCTalk is an e-mail discussion group, created primarily for the participants in the National Senior Service Corps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Anyone with related concerns, however, is invited to join in.To subscribe by e-mail, send a blank message to join-nssctalk@lists.etr.org
Or subscribe via the Lyris Listmanager web page at http://lists.etr.org/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=nssctalk/.
