LABELS!!!

Labels have been sent!

Here is the link.  I will be editing the link out of this post by Wednesday.

Please make sure your address is correct.  I've already had a couple frantic emails stating their address was incorrect.  I copy/pasted 98% of the label addresses directly from registration emails, so hopefully all is well.

If you downloaded your labels earlier today, could you take a second or two to double check if all is the same.  Changes I have made are in bold.

Hopefully you all have already created your postcards and are simply waiting to put the address labels on and will get them in the mail this week.  It'd be great if we all were able to receive the cards before Thanksgiving break (or sooner!)

I'm grateful for some of the sweet notes of encouragement.  This first quarter has, indeed, been a Murphy's Law quarter for me!  

Let me know if you have any questions.

~Rebecca 

Truth Can Be Stranger Than Fiction

Truth can be strange than fiction.  Here's proof:

I swear I'm not making this stuff up.  The Internet at school was down for several days and finally fixed Tuesday - the. day. I came down with the FLU! 

Between my iPhone and the google docs app i just downloaded on my iPad I *HOPE* to be able to finish the last 10 labels and get the google links to you today ....in between naps and trips to the (ahem).

Registration Emails Sent!

Did you get your registration email?  Labels should be ready in the next few days.  Have you made your postcards yet?

I will be sending you the addresses for the classrooms in all three groups in case you want to send out more postcards than is in your group.  (Sending more could mean receiving more!)

Please note that you don't have to send extra postcards to the other groups unless you really want to!

Thank you all for understanding about the registration deadline - or at least for not sending me nasty emails!  :-)

I hope your students are as excited as mine are!

~Rebecca, who is finally getting settled in the new classroom

edit:  OOPS!  I almost forgot to tell you!  I'm using Avery Labels that utilize template number 5160.

Registration extended!

To help students who don't do well with change we have a Surprise!/Change section on the white board to help keep them in the know.  Someone forgot to make one for me!  I am moving my classroom to another school in our district and I start - Monday! 

I need a few days to get settled and learn my new students and routines.  I am going to try to get to my emails (your registration requests) this weekend and then have label sheets ready by the 15.

Which means I'll keep registration open until the 15th.

Good things come from collaboration!

If you are in Group 1 or Group 2 and you don't see your state represented in any of the other groups (check the side bar on the right hand side of the screen), please feel free to share our project with other teachers in your building, or at other schools in your state.

Do you want to send and receive more than 50 postcards?  I can put your information in all three groups.  This is a big commitment, so think carefully before sending the email.

~Rebecca, who is extra excited about the 1st day of school tomorrow!

2013-2014 School Year Project Registration OPEN!

Let's get started with a postcard exchange for the coming school year!   Anyone is allowed - from Elementary, to Homeschool, to High School!  I'll organize up to three separate groups of  classrooms.  Please look to the sidebar to see if your state is already represented before you register.  I may only have time to send registration confirmation letters.

Each teacher should be prepared to purchase or create up to 50 postcards and postage.  You should also set aside time for creating and addressing your postcards.

Below are the particulars.  Check out the new optional activity we are adding to this year's project!

Registration:
Please send the following information to littlere@hickoryschools.net

Teacher's Name

Grade Level

School Name

School Mailing Address

Project Coordinator:

Mrs. Rebecca Little, NBCT
Exceptional Children's Teacher
Southwest Elementary School
1580 32nd Street, SW
Hickory, NC 28601

Goal:
The main goal of this project is that participants receive a postcard from a classroom in as many of the 50 states as possible. As each postcard arrives, the class can discuss each states major industry, fascinating historical events, and unique facts. 

Participants:
This project is open to only one Elementary, Middle or High School classroom per state *per group*.  Hopefully we'll get as many states as possible.  As classrooms sign up, once there are at least 3 states represented in each of the major US regions, duplicate states will be placed in another group. 

This is a "first come gets put in the largest group" sign up, so don't delay!

Check the side bar and website often and encourage teachers you know in other states to participate. Please feel free to mention the project on facebook, or twitter!  The more, the merrier!   

Committment:
1. Each teacher should plan to purchase or create up to 50 postcards that represent your state and the postage it costs to mail them. If you are able to do a hallway display that will benefit more than just your own classroom, you may be able to ask your PTA or administration for funding for the cards and/or postage. You never know until you ask!

2. Postcards should be mailed during the month of October, as soon as possible after you've received your labels.

3. Plan for classroom time to decide what you will put on your postcards, and time for students to print (or paste) the information on the cards. This could take as much as 2 class periods.

4. (optional - extension activity) post occasionally to the blog sharing what your students are working on, or about events in your part of the world

Postcard Information:
Share major facts about your state such as -
* your state symbols (flower, bird, insect, tree, etc.)
* your state's nickname (ex. Florida is known as the Sunshine State)
* important people who have lived in your state (Presidents, inventors, authors, etc.)
* a major historical event that happened in your state
* your state's major industry or resource
* natural resources and famous landmarks

My committments to you:
1. I will electronically send out a mailing label page to each of the participating schools by October 1st. You can use the Microsoft Word document to divide among your class so that students can copy the addresses themselves; or you can print the information on Avery Labels. I will let you know the template number (as soon as I purchase my labels!) :)

2. I will provide and manage this blog so that we can share ideas as to how you are using this project in your classroom and keep in touch. Let me know in your email if you would like access to the blog so I can send you an invitation.  Users are encouraged to post to the blog

Registration is open until September 30th. But don't wait to register! Groups will be formed "1st come, largest group"!

2012-2013 School Year

Since I have the same students this school year, we will be doing other activities for our Geography awareness. (like www.flatstanley.com). Check back in the Spring or early Summer for updates if you'd like to participate in next year's exchange.

Labels Coming Soon!

I'm currently working on making labels to send out on Monday. The template I have downloaded from Avery is template number 5160. According to Avery, this template is compatible with many of their products. Alternatively you can simply print the labels on plain paper, cut them apart and use a glue stick to adhere to your postcard.


Hopefully this will be an easy process. I am using a Microsoft Word file. If you are unable to open it, or do not have access to a computer with Word, please let me know so I can figure out an alternative.

Postcards should be mailed during the month of October. Preferably with a week or two of receiving your labels.

Please share major facts about your state such as:
* your state symbols (flower, bird, insect, tree, etc.)
* your state's nickname (ex. Florida is known as the Sunshine State)
* important people who have lived in your state (Presidents, inventors, authors, etc.)
* a major historical event that happenend in your state
* your state's major industry or resourse
* or any other interesting tidbit of information!

My students are so excited about this project and can't wait to share it with you all!

*NEW* Website!

I've updated my webpage that accompanies this project. Check it out @ http://www.mrslittlespage.com/USPostcard2011.html

There are new links on the left hand side - including some amazing interactive games. Don't you just love it when you can make learning FUN for your students?!?

ENJOY!

Up And Running Again - Phew!

Technical Difficulties are not my favorite...most likely your's either. Hopefully everyone who has sent their registration email since the 1st of August has heard from me. It was one of those freak situations where my home PC's motherboard died, at the same time that we were having difficulties with our computers at school. All is running smoothly now.

If you have not heard from me as of Friday evening, you are most likely the 4th, 5th (or even 10th!) classroom to request to join from your state. I regret that our building wasn't open long enough for me to send those emails. I don't see us opening more than 3 groups at this time. If you are in Group 1 and you don't see your state represented in Groups 2 or 3, please consider encouraging another teacher at your school, or in your district to join our project. (I promise to be more timely with emails!)

~Rebecca Little, project coordinator

Non-Fiction Literature Connection

While looking through the Kindle free books, I found this: Moon USA Travel Planner.

At first glance, there are amazing pictures and descriptions of different parts of the US. I downloaded the book (FREE today @ Amazon.com) and am tentatively planning on reading parts of it using the Kindle application for computers (also FREE). I think if I hook up the projector to my laptop, the whole class can enjoy the images. Does this book inspire you? Share! Feel free to comment or send your ideas to my email address.

~Rebecca Little, project coordinator

PS We still need several more states. If you are in Group 1 and you notice that your state isn't represented in Groups 2 or 3, encourage a teacher friend to sign up!

Postcard Exchange 2011-2012

Project Coordinator:

Mrs. Rebecca Little, NBCT
Exceptional Children's Teacher
Southwest Elementary School
1580 32nd Street, SW
Hickory, NC 28601

Goal:
The main goal of this project is that participants receive a postcard from a classroom in as many of the 50 states as possible. As each postcard arrives, the class can discuss each states major industry, fascinating historical events, and unique facts. As classrooms sign up, if there are duplicate states, once there are at least 2 classrooms from each major US region, I will add on additional groups.

Participants:
This project is open to only one Elementary, Middle or High School classroom per state *per group*. In years past, I had to turn away many classrooms because states were already represented. The last time I did this project, I had as many as 5 groups and still turned away classrooms. Granted, groups 4 and 5 had fewer state postcards, but each region was represented with at least 3 states (if I remember correctly!) Hopefully we'll get as many states as possible.
This is a first come largest group sign up, so don't delay!

Check the side bar and website often and encourage teacher you know in other states to participate. Please feel free to mention the project on facebook, and to any email groups or message boards you belong to.

Committment:
1. Each teacher should plan to purchase or create up to 50 postcards that represent your state and the postage it costs to mail them. If you are able to do a hallway display that will benefit more than just your own classroom, you may be able to ask your administration for funding for the cards and/or postage. You never know until you ask!

2. Postcards should be mailed during the month of October, shortly once you've received your labels.

3. Plan for classroom time to decide what you will put on your postcards, and time for students to print (or paste) the information on the cards. This could take as much as 2 class periods.

Postcard Information:
Share major facts about your state such as -
* your state symbols (flower, bird, insect, tree, etc.)
* your state's nickname (ex. Florida is known as the Sunshine State)
* important people who have lived in your state (Presidents, inventors, authors, etc.)
* a major historical event that happened in your state
* your state's major industry or resource

My committments to you:
1. I will electronically send out a mailing label page to each of the participating scools by October 1st. You can use the Microsoft Word document to divide among your class so that students can copy the addresses themselves; or you can print the information on Aver Labels. I will let you know the template number (as soon as I purchase my labels!) :)

2. I will provide this blog and a webpage for us to share ideas on how you are using this project in your classroom. Let me know in your email if you would like access to the blog so I can send you an invitation.

Registration:

Please send the following information to littlere@hickoryschools.net

Teacher's Name

Grade Level

School Name

School Mailing Address

Registration is open until September 30th. But don't wait to register! Groups will be formed "1st come, largest group"!

Postcards from Buster

Postcards from Buster is a great site for kids. It has games, songs, recipes, video clips, and more. Click on "My Blog" then use the pull-down menu to visit any number of cities and states in the U.S.

A Great Find!

Hi to all,

I am making a webpage about the project and came upon a GREAT FIND that I wanted to share! You can VERY easily create a map of where you've sent postcards, received postcards, etc. These can be used on webpages, OR, if you do not have a webpage, simply printed out. Check it out! http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/

The page I'm creating is here:

http://geocities.com/ljacoby_2000/postex.html

Lanise

How are you using the project in your classroom?

The project is underway - despite the hurdles this year! My students are super psyched about the project. We'll be doing our postcards this week - I'm psyched because I found a postcard that showed a special gem found only in our county - which happens to be the state Gem! Because my students have fine motor difficulties our postcards will be purchased and the material that we write as a class will be printed on labels that the students will affix to the postcard.

Here is an idea sent to me from a Kindergarten Teacher in SC:

I'm not sure what exactly you want in terms of writing ideas, but I'll share what I did to get the cards started. We discussed the state bird, flower and flag. Then I gave them a 4X6 index card and they were to choose one of those symbols to draw on the blank side of the card.
We will take a few shared writing opportunities to make a list of SC information that we would like to share. I'll then print them up on labels to affix to the postcard. (My young kindy students would have great difficult printing that small! :))
Judy (SC)

And another from a teacher in NY who needed more postcards so that each of her students could do their own:

Hi, from Long Island, NY.I had the same problem. I hope my suggestion is OK.My students are going to send 2 postcards to each class. One on state symbols and one about our local environment which is so different than what others think of when they hear New York. First lesson is thismorning.Art teacher gave me supplies to do a water color wash. I expect to mailthem on Monday. Bridget (NY)

Do you have ideas to add? If you asked to be a part of the blog, you should have your invitation and you can post pictures and ideas. If blogs are a new thing and you prefer not to attempt, send me the information by email and I'll post it for you.

~Rebecca (NC)

Postcard Exchange 2007-2008!

What a fun way to learn about the United States incorporating math, geography, map skills, language arts and history!

Project Coordinator: Mrs. Rebecca Little, Exceptional Children's Teacher, East Alexander Middle School, 1285 White Plains Road Hiddenite, NC 28636 rebecca_little@alexander.k12.nc.us or verystillwater@hotmail.com

Goal: The main goal of this project is that participants receive a postcard from a classroom in as many of the 50 states as possible. As each postcard arrives, the class can discuss each state's major industry, fascinating historical events, and unique facts.

Participants: This project is open to only one Elementary, Middle or High School classroom per state *per group*. I turned away many people last year because our two groups already had a state represented. I'll do as many as 5 groups this year. Hopefully we'll get as many states as possible. Check the side bar often and encourage people you know in other states to participate. Mention the project on any email groups or message boards you belong to. :)

Committment:

1. Each teacher should plan to purchase or create up to 50 postcards that represent your state and 50 postcard stamps. My principal was kind enough to provide postage for our cards. You never know until you ask.

2. Postcards should be mailed during the month of October, shortly after you've received your labels.

My committments to you:

1. I will send out a mailing label page to each of the participating schools at the end of September. You can use the Microsoft Word document to divide among your class so that they can copy the addresses themselves; or you can print the information on Avery Laser Labels (5160).

2. I will provide this blog for us to share with each other how you are using this project in your class.

Postcard Information: *edited* Share major facts about your state. Some things you can include:

*your state symbols (flower, bird, insect, tree, etc.) (**see note below)

*your state's nickname (ex. Florida is known as the Sunshine State)

*important people who have lived in your state (Presidents, inventors, authors)

*a historical event that happened in your state

*your state's major industry or resource

(**note) I am preparing some graphing worksheets for state insect, bird and flower so that we can compare and contrast them. I'll post them on the website. The worksheets will be at the K-2 level, if any upper grade teachers would like to contribute some more challenging questions I would be happy to include them.

Plan for classroom time to decide what you will put on your postcards, and time for students to print the information on the cards. This could take as much as 2 class periods.

Registration: Please send the following information to

rebecca_little@alexander.k12.nc.us or verystillwater@hotmail.com (I will check both addresses often)

Teacher's Name
Grade Level
School Name
School Mailing Address

Registration open from June 18, 2007 until September 18, 2007. We look forward to having you in our project!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi all! I wanted to share with you all how our project has been going the last few weeks.

My children are so excited every time we get a postcard in the mail. During Circle Time we read and discuss the postcard and then 1 student is chosen to be the one to find it on our map.

Once it is found, we color in that state on our poster.

Here is what our map looks like as of Friday 11/18. We made our state rainbow colored so we could learn what it looks like.

Later, I take the postcard and put it on the wall around our quilt map connecting it to the state it came from.

I hope this finds you doing well and ready to celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving. Many of your students might be traveling to other states this holiday season. This would be a good time to send out your postcards if you haven't done so already.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Rebecca

Hello! Today we received our second postcard in the mail from Skyline Elementary School in Stillwater, Oklahoma. :) :) :) We learned that their state flower is the Indian Blanket and their state rock is the Rose Rock. We also found it interesting that the first Sonic Drive -In was in your hometown. We dont have Sonics where we live. We do see the yummy commericals on the televsion though. Happy Monday everybody!

Hello! Today we were so excited to have received our very first postcard in the mail all the way from Montana, Winans School. :) :) :) We were surpised to hear that they already had their first snow storm of the season already. Thank you so much for our first postcard. We are looking forward to receiving many more. :) :) :) Have a great rest of your day everybody!

Postcards From #1

1st Photo Finalist - Detroit, MichiganDetroit (a.k.a. Motor City or Motown) was founded in 1701 byFrench fur traders, who named it after the river, "Riviere duDetroit" (pronounced Dehtwa) meaning "River of the Strait,"where the river connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.

http://www.postcardsfrom.com/h/finalist.html