What is the Welcome Letter?
The Welcome Letter is a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) practice that supports building a trusting relationship with students at the beginning of a new school year.
How it works:
1. During the first few weeks of school, the teacher writes a three to four paragraph friendly letter describing their likes, hobbies, experience in education, and expectations for students for the overall school year.
2. The letter is sent home with students for them to read with their parents. Together, the parent and student composes a similar letter back to the teacher describing the student’s hobbies, experiences in education, and goals for the school year.
3. The teacher asks the students to take a week to complete and return the letter. The teacher can read the letter and reply as needed, but a teacher who saves these letters in a Beginning of the Year folder can refer back to them throughout the year to serve as a reminder of what is important to the student.
SEL Competencies practiced:
Self Awareness, Relationship Skills, Social Awareness
Benefits:
- Builds trust
- Includes the family in the relationship
- Provides insight into the child’s world
- Can serve as an informal Beginning of Year writing sample
- Models friendly letter writing skills
- Sample Teacher Letter
- Sample Student Response
