Teach students to take responsibility of their negative actions with a sorry letter.
Letter writing seems to be a lost art with the introduction of phones, email, text messaging, and instant chat. However, it is important to bring back the art of letter writing to the classroom. Text messages, instant chats, and emails are quickly deleted for space, but a letter is kept and treasured.
Students will make many mistakes in their lives where an apology is required. An apology allows the student to take responsibility for his action and to validate the recipient’s hurt in the situation. As well, students who apologize for their mistakes, will be able to release their guilt and shame because they understand poor choices are a part of life. Too often students are sorry for their inappropriate actions but as time passes their shame becomes overwhelming and fear keeps them from saying sorry.
Apology Letters Lesson Plan
1st Activity: Have an open discussion on how students have been hurt by someone and how it made them feel. As well, ask them how they felt better or what would make them feel better in specific situations. Discuss about the overuse of the word I’m sorry and how many students do not value the statement when given by others.
Often I hear a student say sorry for a hurt they have caused and the recipient says they are not sorry if though it has been said. A well written apology letter illustrates that the person who caused pain does feel bad about the situation and wants to make an amends.
2nd Activity: Tell the class they are to write an apology letter to someone they hurt and that it will be sent. The letter can be written to a sibling, brother, friend, or someone in the community. If a student has a difficult time with remembering a situation, prompt her with situations from home such as name calling a sibling or yelling at a parent.
3rd Activity: As a class, write an apology letter to a real or imaginary person. It is important for the students to stand in the other person’s shoes to understand the hurt they may have caused. Students may not feel name calling is a big issue but to the recipient it takes away a part of their self esteem if they believe them.
Sample of Informal Apology Letter
Date:
Informal Salutation: Dear Mom
Body of Paragraph: What you are apologizing for and how it will not happen in the future? How you feel about your action? Also, include any information if you are to make retributions for the situation.
Informal Closing: Love Thomas
Write the sorry letter on chart paper and put up at the front of the class, as a reference for the students. Students will write a letter to say I’m sorry to someone they know.
Classroom Suggestion
Students write personal apology letters to fellow classmates or the teacher when they have violated any of the classroom rules. A student who accidentally steps on a person’s foot should not be writing an apology letter. An apology letter is to be written when a student is aware of the appropriate action in a situation but chooses to ignore it.
