FORT MCMURRAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Authentic Writing Opportunities at Thickwood Heights Public School

In response to the educational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Thickwood Heights Public School launched the Pen Pal Program in 2023 to enhance students' writing skills through meaningful, real-world interactions. Initiated by dedicated parents Amanda Dafoe and Dr. Ryan Cox, the program was designed to address the writing difficulties their son and his peers faced. By connecting with a friend teaching English in Japan, Amanda facilitated a unique international exchange that has since flourished into a thriving educational initiative.

"My son and his friends were struggling with their writing skills, and I wanted to find a way to help them," Amanda recalls. "A friend who teaches English in Japan reached out about providing her students with real-world writing experiences, and the Pen Pal Program was born."

Since then, the program has grown and flourished. Last year, students exchanged letters with their Japanese pen pals three times, leading to noticeable improvements in their literacy and social skills.

The success of the Pen Pal Program is a collaborative effort involving teachers, parents, and students. Dr. Ryan Cox, a Keyano College professor with a specialization in creative writing and avant-garde poetics, brings his expertise to the program. "In my role at Keyano College, I focus on de-mystifying writing and encouraging students to explore how language works," Dr. Cox explains. "This approach has been incredibly effective at Thickwood Heights, where students are excited and eager to put words on pages."

Amanda and Dr. Cox work closely with teachers to incorporate the Pen Pal Program into the curriculum. This year, they have integrated the program with the students' ongoing poetry lesson plans, allowing students to explore and apply their creative writing skills in a meaningful context.

One of the highlights of the Pen Pal Program is the creation of "zines," which are small, self-published magazines. Amanda and Dr. Cox visit the grade five class bi-weekly to work on these zines, encouraging students to showcase their writing and artistic talents. "We want every student to feel confident in their writing abilities," Amanda says. Creating zines allows them to approach writing actively and creatively rather than feeling constrained by traditional methods.

The impact of the Pen Pal Program has been profound. "When we started, some students struggled to write even one sentence," Dr. Cox notes. "Now, their writing is highly complex and varied. The growth we've seen is incredible."

In addition to the Japanese Pen Pal Program, Thickwood grade four and six classes include writing to pen pals in Sweden. This extension of the program further enriches students' cultural understanding and provides additional opportunities for authentic writing experiences.

Principal Tifanie Book details ways Thickwood Heights further improves student literacy by utilizing real-world experiences and citizenship.

"One of our school goals at Thickwood is to improve student literacy, focusing on writing continuously. Working with our Parent Council, our school has been working on "authentic" literacy opportunities that excite the students about writing. Students have written postcards to Canadian veterans and created holiday cards for Fort McMurray seniors, in addition to writing to students from other parts of the world. These experiences improve writing skills and focus on citizenship at different levels and connecting with the local and global community."

By fostering real-world writing experiences and cultural exchanges, Thickwood Heights Public School is helping students build essential literacy skills while connecting with peers around the globe. The school looks forward to continuing this enriching program and witnessing its students' incredible growth and creativity.