One consideration in matching classrooms is how the teachers structure the use of computers so that e-mail is returned promptly. The adult e-mail buddies were identified primarily through our partnership with the Pac Bell Foundation. Internet permission slips from parents were obtained. Most of the teacher preparation was involved in the initial set up. The activity is self-perpetuating in that student interest keeps it going.
Students work in pairs to compose and refine their messages.
Students may check their messages throughout most of the day. They are therefore able to respond to their messages promptly even with only one computer in the class that has Internet access. Even at first grade, students messages to adults are very different than the messages they write to their friends in other classes. When writing to adults, they are very careful to write in whole sentences with correct spelling. They tend to be less formal in their messages to their peers.