The write stuff

After eight weeks of writing letters back and forth, faces were
finally revealed yesterday when a class of second graders met their
UCLA pen pals for the first time.

UCLA students interested in becoming elementary school teachers
have been exchanging weekly letters with the children to experience
first-hand how kids write, said Writing Lecturer Shelby Popham.

Excited insistence from both the kids and her own students
prompted Popham to organize a field trip for the students from
Westport Heights Elementary, so that they could finally meet their
UCLA correspondents.

For some, the trip could signify more than just two groups of
students meeting each other for the first time.

“I’m not sure how much college is part of the
experience of the kids,” Popham said. “If they had a
chance to be on campus, that might help a few of them continue
their education past high school.”

The two groups first got together in a classroom in Bunche Hall
where the second graders met their assigned pen pals. The second
graders waited both nervously and excitedly as they listened for
their name to be called and were directed to their pen pal.

One UCLA student had the opportunity to correspond with Vicki
Eggers, the second graders’ teacher. Thi-thoa Ton, a
third-year sociology student minoring in education, said she liked
the opportunity to learn from an experienced teacher.

Eggers, a UCLA alumna, gave Ton some helpful advice for being a
teacher.

“Have a lot of energy, be flexible, and if at first you
don’t succeed, try again,” she said Monday during the
meeting.

After the pen pals paired up, the room filled with numerous
voices as UCLA students introduced themselves and shared small
gifts of candy and knick-knacks with the second graders.

Many UCLA students commented on how nice it was to finally put a
face to the many letters they had received over the eight-week
span.

When asked how each person felt about the meeting, both UCLA
students and the second graders said that at first they felt
nervous but then began to feel happy and excited as they talked
about their letters.

Second grader De’zhane Bush said, “having a pen pal
is great because I have a friend.”

After everyone became acquainted, UCLA students had the chance
to read aloud stories they had written for the children.

Dena Webb, a graduating sociology student, shared her original
story titled “When I Grow Up.” Dena said the pen pal
experience has reaffirmed her decision to become a teacher.

After the initial introductions, the group proceeded to the
Sculpture Garden where each pair had the chance to interact on a
more personal level. Pen pals scattered on the grass sharing
stories or playing games.

Sheila Bush, a mother of a second grader, said she liked that
the pen pal experience has improved her daughter’s writing.
She also said she enjoyed how it gave her daughter a chance to
interact with college students and is making her daughter look
forward to attending college.

Popham, whose English composition students participated in the
letter exchange, said the experience has been educational for both
the second graders and her students.

“It’s been very helpful for my students to see how
little kids spell,” Popham said. “For the kids,
they’ve been taught letter format … here’s an
opportunity to really use those skills.”

English Composition 130A is a component of the Diversified
Liberal Arts Program, a menu of classes that students can fulfill
to be exempted from the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers
exam.

Each week, Popham visited the class of 18 second graders for an
hour to help them write their letters.

The content of those letters can range from serious and
heartwarming to second graders’ requests for candy and
pictures, Popham said.

“They’ve been learning things about etiquette
too,” she added.

As for the future, both participating teachers of the program
anticipate another year of letter-writing correspondence.

“Not only is it exciting for the kids … it’s a
real opportunity for writing,” Popham said.