I sure hope you are having a wonderful summer and had a fantastic 4th of July too (if you're in the US). We spent the holiday at my brother-in-law's enjoying the company, BBQ, and fireworks.
Now that I'm back home I wanted to get the Alphabet Letter Exchange up and running. It was so much fun last year! This project started as the Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom Alphabet Letter Exchange (I just shortened the name this year.). As a first grade teacher I just love this book as a way to review letters at the start of the year and this project fits wonderfully with it.
This year things will run almost the same way. One change I did make was
to the way you sign up. Instead of signing up in the comments below,
I'm trying out Google forms. My husband tested it out and it worked so I
hope it does when you try it too. I've never used it before so hang in
there with me...
Here's how it works:
1.
Your class will be assigned a letter of the alphabet and put into a
group with 25 other teachers. Each teacher would have their class
decorate 26 of that letter. A template like the letter below will be
provided. You'll print it on cardstock and have your class decorate it.
Decorate it however you like, just have fun and get creative!
2.
You'll need to mail 25 of the letters to the members of your group and
you'll keep one. Each teacher is responsible for their own postage
charges. At the end of the project you should have a complete, unique,
student-made alphabet!
3. You could also include a short letter about your class, school, and where you live. This is optional.
The project will run from about September 1st-30th to give everyone time to get back to school, decorate, and mail their letters.
I'd love to have you participate! Just a little favor, though, please sign up only if you really intend to follow through with the project. It is heartbreaking to kids and teachers alike to end up with an incomplete alphabet. If you do want to participate, just click on the button below and fill out the form!
Just a couple more little things:
I'm planning to stop sign-ups about August 1st so I can get the lists out. Also, I'll be in touch via email to give you any updates and send out the templates.
As of late on July 26, the exchange is full. If you'd like to be on a waiting list, please go ahead and send me an email. Thanks!
Just a couple more little things:
I'm planning to stop sign-ups about August 1st so I can get the lists out. Also, I'll be in touch via email to give you any updates and send out the templates.
As of late on July 26, the exchange is full. If you'd like to be on a waiting list, please go ahead and send me an email. Thanks!
I've also made this button if you want to share about this exchange on your blog. The more, the merrier! I'm so happy to have you along on the wonderful bloggy adventure!
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Had fun doing this project last year. Can't wait to do it again this year. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had fun and are back this year!
DeleteYeah! My class and I loved this. I can't wait to participate again this year. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I'm so glad you're back!
DeleteI am so excited! I loved this last year and so did my kids. Every time I would walk in with a large manila envelope my kids were in panic tring to guess what letter we got!! I;m all signed up. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out!!!
ReplyDeleteJessica
How funny... my class would watch me come down the hallway after lunch just to see if I had a manilla envelope in my hand. Then When I did they ran off to tell other kids. I'm so glad you're back this year!
DeleteThis looks like it would be lots of fun! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSherry
You are so welcome. I hope you enjoy being part of it!
DeleteI'm SO excited to participating again this year! My children loved it! Let me know if you need help. I'm happy to help.
ReplyDeleteJoan
Thanks for the offer. I do have a question for you so I'll email you. Glad to have you in the project again!
DeleteWe would love to participate this year! We can not wait!
ReplyDelete~Amber
Our K Crew Rocks
Great! Glad to have you and your K crew!
DeleteLOVE LOVE it!! Thanks sooooo much for hosting this again!! We had so much fun waiting for the mail last year!
ReplyDeleteSarah
shetrick@gmail.com
You're welcome. My class was so happy whenever mail came!
DeleteThis sounds like so much fun
ReplyDeleteTerri
thefirstgradeprincess.blogspot.com
I was hoping you'd participate! Thanks for signing up.
DeleteYay!! I'm so excited!!
ReplyDeleteAli
Me too!
DeleteI was just thinking about this exchange and hoping it was coming back. :-) My class loved it last year. The google form worked great. I *might* be teaching two sessions of Kindergarten next year but I won't know for sure until last August. Would it be possible for me to add another class then? Or fill-in if someone can't do it?
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if I could put your second class on a list of classes that could fill-in if needed. Could you please send me an email with your name and email address so I can get back to you later? My email is firstgradefoundme@gmail.com
DeleteThanks!
I am so glad you are doing this again. We hung our letters out in the hallway last year along with a map. All of the classes pass by my room and everyone enjoyed looking at them and figuring out where they came from. So excited to do it again.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Thanks for coming back!
Delete--Chrissy
This looks like so much fun! I just signed my class up to participate this year! :)
ReplyDeleteMary
Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives
Glad to have you on board!
DeleteI meant to also say that I love your blog! I've been a follower for a while. You have so many great ideas. Thanks for sharing them.
Delete--Chrissy
I am excited to do this with my class! This is my first year in first and it will be a great way to review letters and get them interested. Thank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to first grade!
Delete--Chrissy
I wish I was still teaching Kindergarten ... I will miss the fun! Hey if you do a number one ... I could join in. I am Math/Science 2nd Grade.
ReplyDeleteKaren
All Smiles in 2nd Grade
http://allsmilesin2ndgrade.blogspot.com/
That's an interesting idea, Karen. Hmmmm....
Delete--Chrissy
My classes have had so much fun in previous years doing various letter exchanges. I'm sure my upcoming class will enjoy this tremendously. Thanks for hosting this!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this and am looking forward to sharing this with my students.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Adams' Kinders
Just making sure u got my form to participate???? Don't want to miss out on this fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren vena
Laurenkerry77@hotmail.com
YAY!! Happy to be a part of this! I was in one once a few years ago and got the letter Xx...UGH!! Hope I have better luck with this one! (Not that there's anything wrong with the letter Xx, just ready to let someone else have it!! LOL!! =-)
ReplyDeleteAww wish I could participate. I just found your blog and this looks awesome. In Minnesota, we don't start school until Sept. 3rd though!
ReplyDeleteKelly
Kindergarten Kel
I just signed up and am so excited to start! Thanks for organizing this.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Teaching in Blue Jeans
This sounds like SOOO much fun! I'm starting in a new school and have no idea what the fall curriculum is just yet. Hopefully I can get more info from my new school before August 1st and maybe even sign up to join in the fun! :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie
MaMa Goose’s Kindergarten
I have participated in many postcard exchanges only to be disapointed in not receiving them all. I am hoping this is as awesomeas it could be. I am going back to first grade after 8 years in 2nd. This sounds like an awesome way to get back into the swing of things. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePeggy
I just signed up my PreK for this very cool project! Do you have any suggestions for decorating the letters? I'd like to make the letters special but not go overboard with the postage!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to have found this! We are from D.C. and I think we will decorate with things that represent our area. Not sure what yet but I am excited.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited! I have never participated before but can't wait to join in the fun. Can you post some previous ideas, of how the letters were decorated? Approximately what is the cost of postage? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAlma
This sounds like terrific fun! I've never participated in an exchange like this...am super excited and I know my littles will be as well! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to have found your blog and alphabet exchange! It sounds like SO much fun. I signed up and also signed up as a follower. :)
ReplyDeletePreschool Wonders
Just filled out the form. Very excited to be joining in. Thanks for doing all the work to make it happen!
ReplyDeleteMaria
First Grade Carousel
I just signed up. This will be a great project for my little learners. Thanks for making it happen! Carolyn
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to join the Alphabet Letter Exchange!
ReplyDeleteWe had so much fun and loved doing this last year. I was so hoping you would put it together again:)
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
Heather
The Busy Busy Hive
I just filled out the form - I am so excited to join! My scholars always enjoy exchanges. I LOVE them making a connection to the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this together
Kim
Frogtastic Friends
Just signed up my class! This sounds like fun and something my special needs students can do! I'm not a blogger so I hope that's ok.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I hope you and your students enjoy it.
Delete---Chrissy
I am soooo excited to do this project. I missed out last year because it was too full so I hope my students can participate this year. We are planning to track where each letter comes from on a large map for a Social Studies project.
ReplyDeleteI am sooo excited! Like a couple of others posted, I would love to see samples...Do we decorate with things that start with that letter, just decorative, or like Sophiamom suggested, things that represent your area? PreK in September can be quite interesting and this sounds so GREAT for an introduction to the alphabet!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy class participated last year and it was a JOY to check the mail every day! The mapping skills were awesome as we labeled ours. Fun Days Ahead! becky.peitz@usd363.com
ReplyDeleteHey!!! I want to sign up but I wanted to make sure that I don't have to teach 1st grade. I teach Kindergarten! Also, if possible, could you please email me? I need to ask you another question! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteJessica_2004_15@hotmail.com
Chrissy, I just wanted to double check to make sure that I signed up... I keep thinking that I did but I just wonder if I am thinking I did just because I blogged about it. If you can let me know that would be fabulous, teecher4life@gmail.com, thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteKinders on the Block
Hi, Chrissy I also want to check to see if I am signed up. If I have incorrectly put my information in please give me a quick e-mail. I don't want to miss out on this. levittaguy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to make sure my information was also signed up. I did it on one of the first days but am concerned something didn't work and I don't want to miss uout. We LOVED it last year. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteheatherbryden@yahoo.com
Hi Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteI filled out the form to participate on July 7th. I wanted to make sure you had my information. Is it possible to let me know? I don't want to fill out the form again if you already have my information.I am really looking forward to participating!
Thanks!
Sandy Mangan (smangan@snet.net)
Hi
ReplyDeleteLike English, Thai language has alphabet. It was created by King Ramkhamhaeng in Sukhothai period.Do you know what one of the biggest fears is for people a new language of Learn Thai or Learn Thai alphabet? The best way to get to that level of experience is to have an easy to use, workable system. One that is guaranteed to help you achieve your language goals as like Speak Thai, Read Thaiand Write Thai language.
Chrissy I am glad to hear from you again, your ideas are always innovative and creative. I am surely going to participate in this alphabet exchange program. Hope everything goes on fine, and then we all will have amazing alphabets. Thanks for this post and related information.
ReplyDeleteDecorative Alphabet Letters