Program Requirements

To participate in Books as Bridges, international teachers are expected to:

• be able to check and respond to emails from their US partners in a timely manner


• send at least 2 packages/envelopes of letters, and 2 “culture packages” that depict life in your students’ community on the dates provided


• participate in both the mid-year and end-of-year Books as Bridges questionnaire


• send thank-you letters and pictures upon receipt of your shipment of books


• use any financial assistance in a way that benefits the students involved in Books as Bridges

To Get the Most Out of Your Experience

• Allow your students to use email to correspond with your pen-pals if it is available to your partner organization’s students.


• Share as much of your culture as possible!

To Begin Your Culture Exchange

1. Sign up using our online form, or sending an email to the Books as Bridges Coordinator, by August 1.


2. Contact your partner in Kentucky.


3. Begin writing letters according to the schedule given to you.


4. You should receive a return letter from your partner organization within 6 weeks. When you receive the package, you should then send your first culture package consisting of pictures, letters, drawings, and other items depicting life in your students’ community. The pen-pal relationship should then be underway!


5. Please stay in contact with the Books as Bridges Coordinator throughout the school year. Work with her/him to incorporate multicultural lesson plans into the curriculum, keep her/him updated on progress, and notify of any difficulties or frustrations along the way.


6. Check out the online resources for our international teachers! You’ll find fun and games for the students and lesson plan ideas for the teachers.

` Thank you for your interest in building pen-pal friendships!