Using Pen Pal Writing to Improve Writing Skills and Classroom Behavior

By

Patricia Mason, Ed.D.

Introduction

Students whose behavior interfere with their learning and interpersonal interactions had an opportunity to harness their strengths and demonstrate their knowledge as they developed written communication skills.  A letter writing project turned the climate of the class around as students eagerly wrote as their behavioral difficulties decreased and their written expression skills expanded. Writing pen pal letters allowed students to share their personal interests and recollections as they built  relationships with their pen pals. Graduate students enrolled in Special Education Master course agreed to become  pen pal to these youngsters.  Both student groups were fortunate to have exchanged letters of the course of one semester. 

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