Can you remember the last time you got a letter in the mail? How about for your child, other than on their birthday?

Growing up, my Grannie (who is now fabulously living out her 90s!) and I would write letters back and forth. I strongly believe this is one of the reasons we have remained close over the years, despite hundreds of miles between us. Just last week I received a letter from her, just a week after I visited, and seeing that letter brought out the biggest smile I had!

I went to my classroom yesterday to catch up on summer work, and found the best surprise in my mailbox...a rainbow colored letter mailed to me from a student! That letter was such a surprise, which made it even more joyful!

Letter writing really has become a lost art, but your child can experience the delight of writing and receiving a letter that can be cherished for years to come. Let's look at some letter writing relationships that are just waiting to begin...

• relatives that live far away
• friends who have moved
• adults that have been leaders to them...camp counselors, dance teachers, karate instructors
• friends in town...who says they wouldn't love a snail mail surprise??
• former neighbors (especially think of older neighbors who would just LOVE to be thought of, and will happily write back)

How about starting a new friendship with someone you don't know? Join the Flat Stanley community at www.flatstanley.com or www.flatstanleyproject.com. This is based on the book Flat Stanley about a boy who gets flattened when a bulletin board falls on him and has adventures only someone flat could have! Last summer I reached out to an exchange class in England, and they even mailed pictures and souvenirs from the Olympics with their paper Stanley.

There is also a pen pal program through Amazing Kids http://amazing-kids.org/get-involved/amazing-kids-penpals-program/, however there is a small fee of $10. Another fee-based program is The Student Letter Exchange at pen-pal.com.

These letters will come to mean so much down the road! Just reading them will take your child back to a relationship that meant so much to your child, or will transport them to the excitement they felt with the adventure of making a friend in another country! Your child may one day realize the gift in giving a letter to someone they don't know, such as a service member or a role model they admire.

Now, let's get out the letter writing supplies, it's snail mail time!

As I look ahead to starting my summer in ONE WEEK (!) I can't wait to add all kinds of reading FUN to Literacy Journeys! It was hard to say "good-bye" to my kiddos...5th grade is a really special year! They are leaving their school home, which for many has been their home for the past 6 years, and going out into the big world of *middle school*. Just by the amount of tears and hugs from my ladies AND my fellas(!), I know our time together was really special. A year full of reading, reading, reading...sharing, learning, and growing in my students and in ME!

Coming up in the Literacy Journeys blog this summer...a look at reading and writing stages, tips, book reviews, summer fun, and interviews with local children's book authors.

What would you like me to include in a summer post? I'd be happy to answer any questions and solve a puzzle for you!