Big Buddies to Writing Coaches

Our 6th grade class partnered up with their kindergarten buddies to help them write letters to their families in preparation for our upcoming parent/teacher conferences. The goal was to support our youngest learners as they reflect on what they’ve been learning and share it in their own words.

Watching my sixth graders step into the role of mentors was nothing short of inspiring. They were patient, encouraging, and full of thoughtful questions:

“What’s something you’re proud of?”
“What do you love doing in class?”
“What’s something you’re getting better at?”

They helped their buddies sound out words, structure their thoughts, and even reminded them about capital letters and punctuation. Many letters were finished off with a drawing they want to share with their parent. I’m so proud of how my students stepped up with kindness, maturity, and confidence. They didn’t just help their buddies write letters—they built relationships, modeled empathy, and showed what it means to be part of a learning community!