During the summer of 2003, I met two teachers from Endicott, an upstate New York community. Both of them, Ms. DeLuca and Ms. Eckert, teach sixth grade students and are instructors in the NYSUT Effective Teaching Program.

We all decided that it would be a great experience for our classes to become pen pals this year. Our students could learn about Long Island and Endicott. We could find out what we all have in common and how our lives are different in each area of our state.

We wrote to the students throughout the school year. Below are our letters. The students got a lot of practice this year expressing themselves through letter writing.