Dear Colleague,

The International Classroom Virtual Visit (Virtual School) project is  
beginning its ninth year, linking classrooms across the world to  
enable students to meet each other virtually, share
information about their cultures, their classrooms, and their  
communities, and to build cultural understanding. Classes can include  
English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL/ESL), Adult Basic  
Education (ABE, GED),  elementary or secondary education, or family  
literacy.  Students can be from age seven to adult.

As in past years, we hope classes will engage in lively written  
discussion, and possibly choose a film, book or current event to  
discuss. We have a free wiki, so classes don't have to create their  
own web pages, and we will help teachers to use free Internet  
telephony so their classes can talk to each other if they can find a  
time that works to do that.

If you would like to participate in this year's project,

1. Sign up on the I.C.V.V. e-list  by going to:

        http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/icvv

        Scroll down the page to choose an ID and password.  That's  
it, easy and free.

2. Once you receive confirmation that you are on the I.C.V.V. e-list,  
send an e-mail to:

          icvv at lists.literacytent.org

indicating your interest in participating this year.  Be sure to  
describe your class, when it will begin, and what age group or  
nationality you would prefer to partner with.

If you would like to look at classroom virtual visit projects from  
previous years go to:

http://www.otan.us/webfarm/emailproject/school.htm

and then, for example,  choose

http://www.otan.us/webfarm/emailproject/school2003.htm

or

http://beginning2.blogspot.com/

We look forward to your joining the project.  Let one of us know if  
you have questions.

All the best,


David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net

Susan Gaer
sgaer at yahoo.com