I wrote a thank you note the other day and was horrified at my penmanship. I tore it up, redid it, and asked my husband to read it. It did not go well.
And kids don't learn to write in cursive these days either. So even writing is a lost art.
I know! Whenever my history students need to learn from historical documents written in cursive we have to go over it as a class. Only about 1/2 of my high school students can read it.
I just bought The Correspondent for my wife yesterday. I’m taking this as a good sign that I made the right choice!
I love organizing pen pals with my students! Writing letters is a lost art. I want my students to feel the excitement of receiving a letter in the mail from far away. Well done, you, for doing this with students!
I enjoyed this. I love teaching my class how to write and send letters but like you, am always amazed by their lack of experience is simple things like folding the letter to fit etc. Having a penpal always provided me with a real love of letter writing and I try to pass this on to my 3 year old by posting letters to his nan and gran. I loved hearing about your experiences.
Love this! You make my Sunday mornings shine. First, The Correspondent is the best, and one of our book club's pick for this year's reading adventure. The quote you picked hit my sweet spot, too. Second, my middle schoolers made similar comments—and were similarly befuddled—about mailing letters when we wrote and mailed gratitude missives. (I counter my "What?!" with the realization of the abilities they DO have that I lack considering technology lessons they have taught me.) Third, I have to thank you 100% for recommending Maggie Stiefvater's brilliant, and absolutely edifying novel, The Listeners. What a journey. Keep those terrific recommendations coming. Have a great long weekend, Jenna.
Oh thank you so much Patricia! You are the best :) I'd love to hear what else your book club is reading.
I loved The Correspondent so much! Sybil's ultimately full and adventurous life reminded me of all the old ladies I saw in Switzerland, happily zipping around the country with their hiking poles and garb for swimming in lakes. Oh, how I hope to be one of them in a few decades.
And yes, we can't really blame our students for not knowing these "outdated" things like letter mailing. All the more reason to keep teaching them!
I wrote a thank you note the other day and was horrified at my penmanship. I tore it up, redid it, and asked my husband to read it. It did not go well.
And kids don't learn to write in cursive these days either. So even writing is a lost art.
I know! Whenever my history students need to learn from historical documents written in cursive we have to go over it as a class. Only about 1/2 of my high school students can read it.
Loved this Jenna. My teenage daughter has been selling stuff online recently and it has been my job to take a lot of stuff to the UPS store for her.
A few weeks ago she had one labeled USPS. She asked me to take it to the USPS store for her. I was like, uh, you mean the post office? 🤣🤣
I hope your post office was just as cute as the one pictured :)
Nope! 😆
I just bought The Correspondent for my wife yesterday. I’m taking this as a good sign that I made the right choice!
I love organizing pen pals with my students! Writing letters is a lost art. I want my students to feel the excitement of receiving a letter in the mail from far away. Well done, you, for doing this with students!
I hope your wife loves it! I just gave my copy to my mom :)
I LOVE epistolary novels and cannot wait to get this off the holds list at the library!
IF you like this, you might like The Stone Diaries by Carol Shield, btw! Really interesting novel that plays with form from the 90s.
I was number #147 in line at the library, but my mom gave me the book for Christmas. I hope your library wait isn't that long!
I'll check out The Stone Diaries!
Adding to my list!
I enjoyed this. I love teaching my class how to write and send letters but like you, am always amazed by their lack of experience is simple things like folding the letter to fit etc. Having a penpal always provided me with a real love of letter writing and I try to pass this on to my 3 year old by posting letters to his nan and gran. I loved hearing about your experiences.
Once I teach them to folding and envelope stuffing, that's their favorite part!
Love this! You make my Sunday mornings shine. First, The Correspondent is the best, and one of our book club's pick for this year's reading adventure. The quote you picked hit my sweet spot, too. Second, my middle schoolers made similar comments—and were similarly befuddled—about mailing letters when we wrote and mailed gratitude missives. (I counter my "What?!" with the realization of the abilities they DO have that I lack considering technology lessons they have taught me.) Third, I have to thank you 100% for recommending Maggie Stiefvater's brilliant, and absolutely edifying novel, The Listeners. What a journey. Keep those terrific recommendations coming. Have a great long weekend, Jenna.
Oh thank you so much Patricia! You are the best :) I'd love to hear what else your book club is reading.
I loved The Correspondent so much! Sybil's ultimately full and adventurous life reminded me of all the old ladies I saw in Switzerland, happily zipping around the country with their hiking poles and garb for swimming in lakes. Oh, how I hope to be one of them in a few decades.
And yes, we can't really blame our students for not knowing these "outdated" things like letter mailing. All the more reason to keep teaching them!