"Dear Mr. Robertson" Letter

***This is an important post and there is a link back to it on the sidebar for easy reference.***

Each week the students of room 8 will be told to write a "Dear Mr. Robertson" letter. This is a short letter they write to me which I read and, time permitting, respond to on a weekly basis. The purpose of the letter is for me to understand how the students are feeling about their time in school for the week. It is a safe way for them to tell me things they may not be comfortable raising their hands in class with or approaching me with.
The letter needs to include the following:

• What they learned during the week. (This can be anything from any subject.)
• What they liked during the week.
• What they disliked during the week.
• How their behavior in school was during the week.
• What book or books did the student read that week.
• Anything else
• This is an optional part of the letter where the students can tell me things they think I should know or they want me to know but that don't fit in to the other parts. 

Normally, the students will be given some time in class to work on the letter on Friday, or whatever the last instructional day of the week is, and if it is not finished in that time it becomes homework due on Monday. The letter is not part of their Writing grade, but failure to turn in the letter will impact their effort grade as it shows a lack of responsibility.