When I was in elementary school (about 4-6 grade) we got a pen pal every year. Usually it was a student from another country who was learning English. We had assignments every few weeks to write our pen pal and the letters were delivered in "bundles" to and from our class. At the end of the year, if we wanted, we could exchange personal addresses with our pen pal and continue writing over the summer. The last pen pal I had was Christophe from France. We wrote off and on through my high school years. I ended up taking French as a second language...how convenient! I learned a lot about the language and culture through writing.
Because of that experience, I wanted to find something similar for my kids when we started homeschooling, but never had any success. Letter writing is almost a lost art, but can teach so many valuable lessons. It gives kids a reason to construct complete sentences, thoughtful paragraphs, use good grammar and penmanship because someone besides you will see it.
The Homeschool Association for Military Families has a literacy-based, traditional letter writing pen pal program, available to military and civilian homeschooled children ages 5-17 worldwide. The program is free.
From their website:
Cildren love it:
•It helps them foster new (and possibly life-long) friendships
•It allows them to practice the traditional form of letter writing and correspondence
•They love getting letters in the mail from their pen pal!
Parents love it:
•One of the few remaining choices for finding a safe and trusted traditional letter-writing pen pal program for their child or children
•Many parents remember having a pen pal when they were children and want to give their child the same positive, fun learning experience
•Parents love helping their child find new friends their own age and gender
•Reinforces communication and literacy skills
•Opens their child’s eyes to a larger world, and other cultures and traditions outside their own
•Teaches interpersonal skills, self-confidence, empathy and understanding for someone outside of themselves… and much more!
For more information, visit: HSAMA Pen Pal Program