Madison-Monroe Pen Pals Meet after Year-Long Correspondence

Throughout the 2015-16 school year, 2nd graders from Madison School and Monroe School wrote letters to one another as part of a pen-pal project to strengthen students' writing skills. The pairs met for the first time in June at the Hinsdale Public Library. Students ate a picnic lunch together and enjoyed guided conversations, then participated in a variety of activity stations organized by library staff. After writing to one another seven times during the year, teachers commented that the students seemed to build strong connections to each other, and after getting parent permission many students said they plan to continue writing their pen pal at home. Teachers emphasized their thanks to the Hinsdale Public Library staff for their support in leading the day's activities, including Lego building, story time, and creation of hand-drawn pocket albums.