Teachers, Try This: A Pen Pal Exchange to Improve Student Writing and Build Empathy

Minnesota teacher Sarah Coffing initially hesitated taking on a pen pal exchange with the neighborhood retirement home, where a group of teachers had created a “Retired Teachers Club.” But now in the second year of the exchange, she’s glad she did.
The monthly letter swap allows students to work on their writing skills while building relationships with people they likely wouldn’t have met otherwise, and to build empathy for their retired pals who sometimes have limitations that make it challenging for them to write.
Here, she explains how it all works, and the benefits she’s seen in her students.