There are many ways to describe tweenage banter. One constant, however, is that it is very loud. Most adults are taken aback by the din of a passing period or full cafeteria. Oftentimes, they find it overwhelming or offensive. I, however, find comfort in it.
Now my days are quieter. Instead of shouts and hollers, an endless series of pings, beeps, and vibrations stream at me. These noises were intended to help me be more efficient, productive, and aware. But these bits of sound rattle me.
And so when I have finished with the GoogleMeets and Whatsapp chats for the day, I write letters to my students. I sit down, turn off my computer, and write very goofy letters to them. I write song lyrics and recipe ideas. I ask questions and doodle in the margins. I write to them as I write to my friends: playfully and earnestly.
In each letter, I include a self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope with a piece of paper inside. And while fewer letters come in than I send out, some do come in.
When the post arrives, and I open the letter, I imagine the student walking into class with something to share. I have learned that Sophia was named after her grandmother and that Isabella has mastered baking chocolate cake. I have learned that Jose tends to garden boxes on the fire escape and that Martin is quarantining in Pennsylvania. I now know that Stephany makes smoothies, and Mohamed is researching the human body.
Letters carry more than the words they hold. They carry the surprise of receiving mail and the joy of opening a letter. They offer a physical reminder of a relationship in a time when most forms of contact have been deemed dangerous. Letters allow me to connect with my students in a way that is neither efficient nor immediate. It is, however, loving and genuine.
When I open an envelope, I forget about the beeps and pings of online learning. I remember the students, and I smile. When a student reads my letter, I can only hope that they hear my voice, and they, too, smile.
Alexandra Belliveau
ENL Teacher
Thomas J. McCann Intermediate School
I.S. 125Q