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Curriculum: Letter to My Father for Middle School: Grades 6/7/8

This program uses creative writing and behavior association to encourage positive classroom
performances. Teachers will introduce experiential writing into literary projects to help children
discover how their choices are related to their social experiences. Armed with this knowledge, students
come to understand and associate their negative and positive performances to their lifestyle outside
and inside of school. The curriculum includes projects which cover six skill areas: research, reading,
creative writing, media arts, group dynamics and creative thinking. Not all of these need be incorporated
into the lesson plan, and teachers will have freedom and flexibility in deciding which of these areas are
appropriate for their classrooms and grade levels. The curriculum was written for grades 6/7/8, split into
three segments, and should be completed consecutively (over three or four class periods) in the
following order: Classroom Discussion; Letter Writing; and Teacher and Peer Feedback. This project
relies heavily on classroom/teacher trust, and at least two classroom projects should be completed
prior to attempting the writing section of the workshop to help to establish an effective environment
beforehand. It is absolutely necessary for the School Guidance Counselor to be included in the
curriculum. Teachers should work with the guidance counselor to see where they will be most effective
with the curriculum.

Curriculum for Grades 6/7/8

Classroom Discussion

Introducing letter writing in the classroom

Classroom discussion before actually letter writing is an essential part of this curriculum. Discussions
between the students, their peers, teacher, and guidance counselor will produce genuine written results
based on a measured level of trust and respect. The Guidance Counselor must be included in this first
discussion and the students should be told that they will join the class again for the last feedback
discussion.

Discuss the history, purpose, and power of letter writing:

Questions –

• How did we communicate before cellphones, computers and tablets?
• How important do you think the “letter” was to communicating?
• Can you think of any famous letters?
• Have you ever received a handwritten letter in the mail?
• Have you ever handwritten a letter to someone? If so, how did it make you feel? What was the

receiver’s reaction?
• Social media is extremely prominent today: Explain how letters are still important today.

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