Arizona PencilPALS a big hit during the 2011-12 School Year

PencilPALS makes reading and writing a first-person experience for elementary and middle school children. Each child has an opportunity to write and illustrate his or her own letters and stories. The letters are then mailed to a PencilPAL, a Performing Artist for Literacy in Schools: volunteer performers from the BookPALS program with whom the children can share their thoughts about favorite books and school happenings. PencilPALS write response letters to the children, and before long, intergenerational relationships prosper!

Children learn the value of reading and writing, but they also learn the importance of their own stories. They can’t wait to finish a task to be allowed to write to their PencilPAL. They may write letters, cards, poems, and stories. As a result, writing and spelling skills are greatly improved, and test scores increase. Reading skills are also strengthened, because children are eager to read letters from their PencilPALS to one another and to the class.

This past year PencilPALS programs were implemented in Mountain View Elementary School and Desert Cove Elementary School.

Thank you to all our PencilPALS teachers who taught letter writing skills and helped make this a great letter-writing year for all. Mountain View School teachers: Karen O’Keefe, Diane Distler, Jenna Mott Desert Cove teacher: Diana Flores.

Thank you to all our loyal and devoted volunteers who made this program possible. Many write through the summer as well.

Listen to Jenna Mott, fourth grade teacher, explain the importance of PencilPALS to her students….