Annual Postcard Exchange




The annual postcard exchange has arrived.  I’m beyond excited!!  I opened the exchange to teachers I collaborate with through Facebook first. I know this will make some teachers sad because a few states are closed.  

Please read carefully to ensure you wish to participate.  If you have any reservations, please pass on signing up! 

I’m accepting two entries from each state.  I will host one and assist the second exchange.  To make it easy, I have a sign up form in Google Docs.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to give minute by minute updates.  I will post the last name and state from the entry forms.  This exchange will be first come, first serve.

Supplies Needed... 49 postcards.  I know what you're thinking... you are the 50th state.  49 stamps.  AND labels!  You will receive 49 postcards in exchange.

Here’s the deal...  We all have the crazy years where you’d like to be anywhere but stuck between four walls with a particular class because, to put it simply, they're nuts.  I know you spend a penny or two in your classrooms each year and then realize you were in more than you thought… we cannot allow these things to impact our commitment to the exchange!

Purchase or create your postcards once you have confirmed your name/state was selected for the exchange.  This exchange DOES cost money. Expect to pay 30 dollars for postcards, postage, and labels.  

I will prepare the labels with each participants' name and address.  You just need to print them out and allow the kids to stick them on the cards!  =D

Allow students to have ownership of the exchange by creating a message with the class, it will be more meaningful when they receive the cards.  I usually list a few state, city, and class facts on my card.    

I will create a chit-chat chart (thanks Deanna) and have the kids glue in a piece of clipart.  This will complete the sentences for my message, and I have control over the message being written. I will have this message prepared on labels.  The kiddos will go back to their seats and add the address and message sticky labels to the postcards.  

All cards must be mailed by October 31st.  I know we have different start times.  I’m also aware of how challenging life is at the beginning of the year.  This deadline should be enough time to get the cards out after the first quarter. You have no further commitments and will receive a card from each state in exchange. 

In past exchanges, I've seen teachers that read their cards when they are received and this is all they commit too.  That is fine! Others will create lessons and share cards on specific day.  Erica has a magnificent Letter Writing Unit she uses at the end of the year and saves the cards for the time that suits her classroom needs.

I created a FREE state notebook to use when introducing states.  The majority of this file is cut and paste for young learners.  I take the kids on a webquest to look at all the images in advance (links provided).

 Want to blow their little minds?  Google Earth the address on the card.  When they see the playground at the school with kids on it… They really think they’re seeing the kiddos that sent the cards.  It’s sooooo cute!

THIS SECTION HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED!!


For the bad news… Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are NO LONGER AVAILABLE.  Sorry!!!!!

ONE EXCHANGE IS FULL but the second needs....1 from Montana, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

All entries are date stamped into a spreadsheet.  I took the first name submitted until spots were filled.  Click here to look for state and last name.  Once all spots are filled, I will send an email confirmation.  You will need to reply, confirming your participation in the exchange.  If a response is not received, I will take the next name on the list.  I have to be firm!  Link here for exchange participants! 


 Links available to freebie and unit in message above!



I just got my hands on this little gym tonight.
Click image for link to Kelley's Store!

50 comments:

Katie said...

What a great idea!!! I've always wanted to do one of these but Florida is always snatched up fast :/ One day!

Katie
Dirty Hands and Lesson Plans

Lyndsey (A Year of Many Firsts) said...

LOVE! Just signed up for Maryland. This is awesome, Cheryl.

Lyndsey

A Year of Many Firsts

Mrs. McHaffie said...

Well if you didn't live in FL! :)
Next go round keep me in mind. Would love to have the chance to participate. Second year in a row I've been "denied!!" :(

Love the letter writing and state units. Both great products.

Kelly
Beg, Borrow, Steal

Mrs. Saoud said...

I added a second exchange this year because I was from Florida and wanted to allow someone else to sign up from the Sunshine State. So sorry!!! =(

Cheryl

Megan said...

I hope I got accepted for Ohio!! :-)

Mrs. Scoma said...

Can't wait to find out if I was fast enough for KS :-)
~Laura

Unknown said...

I must have missed this last year! I hope I can get that last TN spot!

Laura
tattlingto the teacher

Jay Pea said...

I realize Texas is closed.....but filled out form anyway....just in case!! Wanted to participate sooooo bad! :(
Jana
Jprowell11@gmail.com

Jenna Frederick said...

When I try clicking the postcard exchange link to see if I was accepted it says the page no longer exists. Am I doing something wrong?

Miss Nguyen's Class said...

Can I join? I teaching in Washington State.

sn.nguyen19@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am a new follower from Iowa and I hope I get a spot!

mel said...

I gather it's limited to the USA?

Mrs. Saoud said...

Yes. Mel... This is a US State Postcard Exchange.

Lovetwoteach...Your information has been added to the list.

Miss Ngyugen...You need to enter your contact information in the Google Link provided in the post.

Unknown said...

Hoping I grabbed that second Colorado spot!! :)

❤ -Stephanie
Falling Into First

Allyce said...

I just submitted my info for WA! I am so excited about this! Definitely something that I have always wanted to do. So excited to show my first graders other parts of the country. Our school is literally 5 walking blocks (3 blocks as the bird flies) from the beach.
Can't wait to hear back!

Anonymous said...

Waiting to hear from Maine. In the past I have had friends and families send post cards but we never complete all the states. This looks like a great way to get more participation.

Unknown said...

Sounds like so much fun! I added my information for Virginia. Hope I make the cut!

Erica said...

So I don't know if I'm the crazy one here, but I felt like the instructions for what this is aren't very clear. They seem like they are for people who are familiar with the postcard exchange, and I am not. What exactly are we doing with this? Would we be sending postcards to another class? Several classes? I assume we'll be getting some back, but I am really not clear on the directions. It might be fun, but I don't want to sign up and commit to something I don't fully understand. I clicked on the link on the side of your blog, but it had an error message.

Mrs. Saoud said...

You will purchase 49 postcards and stamps. You won't need a card for your state unless you want one.

With your students, you will create a message explaining who you are, where your are from, etc... We are a class of ____ students from ________. Our school mascot is...

Once you have your message, you'll need to have the kids write the message on the cards (older grades) or type the message on labels and allow the kids to stick the label on the postcard.

There is no other commitment. The deadline for mailing out postcards will be October 31st.

You will receive postcards in exchange from each of the states you mailed. I start receiving the cards within a few weeks of school... all the way to the November.

I've seen teachers do many different things. Hold on to the cards for lessons later. Read the cards as they are received and pin the location on the map.

I read the cards, one/two a week. The kids and I take a quick webquest to view the images provided in my free states notebook.

Many teachers have committed in the past, then realized they don't want to spend the money to buy the postcards and stamps.

Hope this helps...

Erica said...

It does. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I have done a postcard exchange when I taught 3rd. I think it might be fun for my Kinders to see that there is a world beyond Elko. I am assuming this is just mailing out postcards to different states and then doing what we want with them in our classrooms. I love getting postcards from all over!! I signed up...Nevada. If you need another from Nevada (sometimes hard to get), I have friends. Just let me know.

Terri Izatt
KinderKapers

Michelle Traynum said...

This is a great idea! I just signed up. I hope I make from SC!

Michelle Traynum

Kim said...

Wish we could particpate! I work on Air Force Base in South Korea. Any chance you will ever do a world wide?

Mrs. Saoud said...

Let me get the state one established. I will probably have all slots filled by mid week. Then I'll put together a global exchange. I set up a global exchange with you and a couple others that emailed me. =D

Cheryl

Terri Paulson-Sasaki said...

Hi Cheryl, I filled out the doc yesterday. How will I know if I am in. Yesterday, California was open and now I see it is filled. Thanks for all your help. This is a great idea

Terri Paulson-Sasaki
thefirstgradeprincess.blogspot.com

Brittany said...

This happens to me too. I filled out the Google doc. But can't opEn the sidebar list...

Mrs. Saoud said...

I've sent an email to a friend about the link in the sidebar. I posted current participants in the post above instead!

Pint Size Learners said...

Hi!
Great idea! I would also be interested in a global exchange when you eventually (hopefully!) do one.
Ireland here ☺

Wendy
Teacher's Toolkit

Mrs. Saoud said...

I last uploaded a revision of participants on Wednesday Night at 8:30pm.

Angela said...

I am SO excited to be a part of this exchange! I did not think I'd be quick enough to grab one of the Michigan slots. Thanks for hosting this and for all your hard work!

Better Than a Milk Mustache

Mrs. Saoud said...

More slots are filled. Participants names have been updated as of 10:45am on July 25th!

wyo99 said...

I signed up for one of your Wyoming slots! I was able to participate in a postcard exchange a few years ago and they kids loved it!

Megan

Ms. Moriconi said...

Too bad the Michigan slot
has been taken. This sounds
like so much fun!
I hope there will be another exchange next year! What a great idea!

Jeannine
First Grade Gallery~Lessons for Little Learners

Anonymous said...

Hi! I just signed up for the 2nd slot for Wyoming! I hope I get it! Also, Wyoming is spelled Whyoming on the google document.. not sure if that matters! Thanks, Brittney

Miss Evans said...

I hope I was able to fill the second spot for Nebraska! This sounds like a fun project for my class to be involved in. Thanks for hosting and getting this started.

Jodi
Kinderspot-Jodi.blogspot.com

Mrs. Saoud said...

Thanks Brittney. The spelling of Wyoming matters! Unfortunately, I will be unable to change the google docs.

I just uploaded a revision at 6:00pm on Wednesday July 25th.

We are in need of two spots for Alaska, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Montana! Call on your blog buddies and Facebook friends. I want to send out confirmations soon!!!

Anonymous said...

LOVE LOVE this idea! I wish Florida wasn't already taken either :( I was thinking about starting another post card exchange with the people that weren't able to make the cut. Let me know if anyone would be interested in starting another one! I would be willing to organize the details like Mrs.Saoud is doing.

marys said...

I would love to participate in this... sad Indiana is already taken!
MBM3543@aol.com

Mrs. Saoud said...

You can find the list of participants embedded in the post above. I've been updating the list over the past few days.

Jenny Molloy said...

Montana Kindergarten teacher here - hoping those two MT spots are still open!! I filled out the document and I'm going to spread the word to some friends! Thanks for organizing!
Jenny

Kim said...

Thanks for Cheryl for looking into a Global exchange and all your hard work!

Mrs. Saoud said...

A revision has been made at 9:30am. We are currently looking for 1 Montana, 2 New Hampshire, and 2 Vermont.

KeAndra said...

Please consider a third group! This sounds awesome!!!! I'm from Texas.
Ke'Andra

Unknown said...

I am interested if you still need someone from NH.

my2kkgirls@gmail.com

Mrs. Saoud said...

Lisa, we do still need someone for NH. The google docs form is highlighted pink. It's where you will sign up with name, school address, and email.

Cheryl

Melys said...

It looks like I am your second slot for Wyoming! I just wanted to make sure there is actually another Condos in South Dakota. I was hoping I didn't do something wrong when I signed up. Looking forward to the exchange!

Melys said...

It looks like I am your second slot for Wyoming! I just wanted to make sure there is actually another Condos in South Dakota. I was hoping I didn't do something wrong when I signed up. Looking forward to the exchange!

Unknown said...

Hi! I would love to join from Illinois if anyone else does this. I teach Jr. Kinder. If anyone else would like to do this but doesn't want to start it, I would volunteer but I would need some instruction on how to begin and what to do throughout the process.

Thanks!
Jessica from www.jrkindergartenteacher.blogspot.com

Katie said...

This is such a wonderful idea. If anyone else is doing this, please let me know. Thanks! I was bummed to see that Michigan was full already.

~Katie
katie.lindhurst@yahoo.com
caterpillarsandcrayons.blogspot.com

Katie said...

misswhiddenssweetseconds.blogspot.com/

Miss Whidden has set about doing another one for those interested... she needs many more states, so check out her blog and let her know! :)