‘Letter to your future self’ is an inspiring activity, perfect for the first day of school. It allows your students to reflect on their hopes, goals, and aspirations for the upcoming year. A simple yet powerful way to kickstart your academic adventure.
Procedures:
- Introduction: Begin by explaining the purpose of the activity. Tell your students that they will be writing a letter to their future selves to express their expectations, goals, and hopes for the upcoming school year. Emphasize that these letters will be collected and returned at the end of the year for reflection.
- Setting the scene: Create a positive and reflective atmosphere in the classroom. Encourage students to think about their aspirations and what they hope to achieve during the school year.
- Prompt: Provide a prompt or a series of questions to guide their letter-writing. Some suggested questions might include:
- What are your academic goals for this school year?
- What extracurricular activities do you hope to participate in?
- Are there any personal challenges you’d like to overcome?
- What are your expectations for your teachers and classmates?
- How do you envision yourself growing and learning this year?
- Writing Time: Allow sufficient time for students to compose their letters. Ensure they understand that this is a personal reflection, and there are no right or wrong answers.
- Privacy: Assure students that these letters are private, and they will be sealed in envelopes. No one else will read them until they are returned at the end of the year.
- Sealing the Letters: Once students have completed their letters, instruct them to seal them in envelopes. They should write their name and the date on the front of the envelope.
- Collection: Collect all the sealed envelopes from your students. You may choose to keep them in a designated and secure place until the end of the year.
- End of Year Reflection: At the end of the school year, return the sealed letters to your students. This is the time for them to reflect on their initial hopes and goals and see how much they’ve grown and achieved over the year.
- Discussion and Sharing: Consider having a class discussion or sharing session where students can read their letters aloud if they are comfortable doing so. This can be a powerful way for them to reflect on their personal growth and achievements.
- Celebration: Celebrate the progress and accomplishments made by your students throughout the year. Use this activity as a tool for personal growth and self-awareness.
- Optional Extension: For added impact, you can encourage students to write a new letter to their future selves at the end of the school year, setting goals and expectations for the upcoming year. This can create a continuous cycle of self-reflection and growth.
