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July, 2001
I'm leaving the postcard project page up, even though the event is long over.
I thought it might be helpful to someone else who might want to try
hosting a postcard project.
I'm no longer teaching, so I won't be setting up a project for 2001-2002.
To all the participants of the 2000-2001 project: I hope you had a great
experience!
I apologize to anyone who has tried to email me over the past few months.
I lost my ISP rather suddenly, and then forgot to update this page
once I gained a new one!
llawhon@kscable.com
This project is open to ALL grades--but it's hosted by a SECOND grade class!
(Last year I joined a group
that was mostly kindergartners and it was great! However, I think
my students will enjoy hearing from students near their age!)
CAUTION!
Please look over these rules before joining!
You might want to bookmark this page and come back later.
:->
I've set up this page to help our group avoid some of the problems
that can occur in a postcard exchange. Feel free to email me if
you have ideas to add!
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COMMIT!
I've seen MANY letters from unhappy teachers who joined projects,
sent out cards, and only received less than half that number in
return. I don't think teachers set out to "cheat" each other. But
when we don't come through on a promise, it hurts the integrity of
the whole project. Yes, postage costs money. Not all schools will
provide the money for the project. Check first! Feelings get hurt
when teachers post letters complaining about the non-participants,
but I think we all want to try to be fair to each other! Please
regard your signing up as a commitment. (yes, we all encounter emergencies
and yes, the other participants are always understanding, especially if
you are considerate and let others KNOW your situation.)
Some teachers on the mailring have written to say that
you MAY be able to get free postcards from a city or state chamber of commerce,
a tourism center, city or state representatives, or even a postcard company!
Check around!
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KNOW THY PROJECT
Sometimes we get mixed up in WHICH postcard project we've joined.
For lack of a better name, this is the L2K Postcard Project!
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BOOKMARK
Sometimes we lose the list of participants. I think it will help if the participants will agree
to have their names and addresses posted on a webpage.
This is a "freebie" site, so you have to allow for ads and
slow-loading and occassional problems of that sort, but it should
help everyone keep track of each other!)I will send you the URL for
the participants list when you join!
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MAIL to the NEXT 50!
Participants agree to mail to the next 50 names on the list. That way,
we can keep the project open to as many participants as possible. As
duplicate states arrive, I will try to separate them on the list, but
it's doubtful that we will get exactly 50 different states!
(I've seen 100 cards by the 100th day projects AND 50 states
projects, but I've decided that this 50-card project is the most
managable for my first attempt. I think the cost is reasonable, and
I really like to have the project extend beyond the 100th day anyway!)
QUESTION: "...I can't help wondering, if we all send to
50 names that appear after our own, who will send to you? Since you are #1
on list, you won't appear after anyone. Also, those with #s less than 50
will get fewer cards.
ANSWER: Actually, the numbers will have to "loop" back around
to number one! Of course I want to receive cards, too! :->
(Here's an example of how the "looping" works (say we get 80 participants....)
#1 mails to 2-51
#20 mails to 21-70
#50 mails to 51-80 plus 1-20
#70 mails to 71-80 plus 1-40
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DEADLINE for SIGNING UP: AUGUST 15, 2000.
If you'd like to join, please email me:
Name under which you'd like to recieve mail (i.e. Ms. Lawhon's Room 101)
Address
Dates school is in session
(OPTIONAL) email address if you want it published.
My email is:
llawhon@kscable.com
Remember, I will publish your name and address on a webpage.
I WON'T publish the URL to anyone but the participants of the project,
but it will still be relatively public!
HINTS FOR MAKING THE JOB EASIER:
- Bookmark the site. Make a hard copy of the list AFTER August 15.
- Early in the year, brainstorm with your class. Come up with one
message that you will be putting on ALL the cards. Some ideas to include:
your school name, mascot if applicable, details of where you live, grade/age
of students, student favorites, projects you are doing.
- Once you have your message, either print it on large labels OR
just print it and glue it to the postcard with a gluestick.
- If you really want to do a lot of typing, you can use labels for
the addresses, but it worked just fine for me last year to print them, cut
them out, and tape them down with wide clear packaging tape.
- Yes, I know it SOUNDS good to let the kids write and address the
cards, but few of my second graders could write small enough to fit
on the postcards. (BELIEVE ME...I always learn my lessons the HARD
way!)
- Mail out your cards in sets of 20 if you have 20 in your class (so
each student gets to apply a message for one card. I think it's easiest
to let the teacher handle the address part, since packaging tape can
be ornery....)
- ENJOY fifty postcards coming back in. WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Postcard Exchange Ideas from
Kim's Korner
P.S. If you want an ELECTRONIC POSTCARD,
Roberta Gray's class did one during the 1999-2000 schoolyear. She
is going to do TWO sessions this year. She has given me permission
to place her email address on this site. PLEASE don't email her
until she is ready for registration:
from an email letter:
Last year I did an Internet Project called Electronic Postcards. I am
hoping to do it again this year. Last year I did one session from October
until May. I am thinking of doing it in two sessions this year - one from
September 18, 2000 until December 18, 2000 (registration from July 12 -
September 12) and another session from February 19, 2001 until May 19, 2001
(registration from December 12 - February 12).There were 219 schools
registered in the project last year. If you would like to see how it worked
you can visit the pages we posted on our Electronic Postcards Project on our
classroom web site at this url:
Electronic Postcard.
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/9900/internet/electronic/in
dex.htm
TO JOIN THE ELECTRONIC POSTCARD PROJECT:
EMAIL July 12-Sept 12 or Dec. 12-Feb 12
rgray7@alltel.net
HERE's the electronic postcard that my second graders sent:
Room 104
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