Halfway through the year
Glow and grow letters for every student in your class.
A glow and grow letter tells a student one thing they do well (the glow) and one next step (the grow), in warm, plain words. Add a quick glow and grow for each student, and a letter to each student in your voice is ready for you to review, change and approve, with a certificate that celebrates their glow.
A class of 24, letter and certificate: $192 ($8 each)
Updated
What to write in a glow and grow letter
One glow, one grow, and a real moment for each. Students remember the moment far longer than the label.
- Glow: something they do well, in a sentence.
- A real moment that shows it.
- Grow: one next step, framed as something they're ready for.
- A word of belief: you know they can do it.
- Keep it about this one student. A letter never compares them with classmates.
Two real examples
From a few notes to a letter they'll keep.
Two real letters written halfway through the year: Ms. Lee's notes for Maya in Room 12, and Ms. Lee's notes for Jonah in her reading group, each with a glow and a next step. Shown exactly as written. The names are made up.
A letter to Maya, from Ms. Lee
What Ms. Lee said
“Maya reads every animal book she can find in our class library, and she just started writing her own book about sea turtles. She is the first to help anyone who is stuck in math. Working on slowing down to check her work.”
The letter that came back
Dear Maya,
We are halfway through the year, and I have loved watching you learn and grow every single day.
You have read every animal book in our class library, and I mean every one. The way you dive into those books tells me how much you love learning about animals. And now you are writing your own book about sea turtles! That is such a big step, Maya. Going from reading books to creating your own shows how much you have learned and how much you have to share.
In math, you are the first person to help anyone who is stuck. You notice when someone needs a hand, and you are right there. That kindness makes our whole class feel like a place where everyone belongs, and I am so grateful for that.
One thing to keep working on is slowing down to check your work. I know you can do it, and taking that extra moment will help you catch the little things before you move on.
I cannot wait to see what you do in the second half of the year, Maya. Keep reading, keep writing, and keep being the wonderful person you are.
Ms. Lee
The certificate
The Animal Book Expert Award
You have read every single animal book in our class library, and your love for learning about animals shines through every day. Now you are writing your own book about sea turtles, which is such an amazing step. You are taking everything you have learned and creating something new to share with others. In math, you are always the first to help anyone who is stuck, and that kindness makes our classroom a better place for everyone. You are a reader, a writer, a helper, and a friend. Keep going, Maya!
A letter to Jonah, from Ms. Lee
What Ms. Lee said
“Jonah used to guess at long words, and now he breaks them into chunks on his own. Last week he read a whole page of his chapter book out loud without stopping and grinned at the end. Next goal: reading with expression, like he is telling the story.”
The letter that came back
Dear Jonah,
I have loved watching you become a stronger reader this term. The way you tackle words now is completely different from where you started, and I am so proud of how far you have come.
Remember when long words used to trip you up? You would take a quick guess and hope for the best. Now you stop, break them into chunks, and figure them out on your own. That is real reading work, Jonah. You are using the tools we practiced, and it is paying off.
Last week you read a whole page of your chapter book out loud without stopping. A whole page! And when you finished, you grinned. I could tell you felt it too, how much smoother the reading is getting. Moments like that remind me why I love teaching.
Your next goal is to read with expression, like you are telling the story instead of just saying the words. I know you can do it. You have already shown me how much you can grow when you put your mind to something.
I cannot wait to see where your reading takes you in the rest of the term. Keep going, Jonah. You are doing amazing work.
Ms. Lee
The certificate
The Word-Chunk Champion Award
Congratulations on becoming such a strong, thoughtful reader this term. You used to guess at long words, but now you stop and break them into chunks all on your own. Last week you read a whole page of your chapter book out loud without stopping, and you grinned at the end. You have worked hard, and it shows in every page you read. Keep practicing reading with expression, like you are telling the story, and watch how much more fun reading becomes. I am so proud of the reader you are becoming, Jonah.
Award title ideas
Awards that celebrate each person's own strengths.
The certificate celebrates the glow. A few come from the examples on this page; the rest are ideas in the same spirit.
- The Animal Book Expert Award
- The Word-Chunk Champion Award
- The Careful Scientist Award
- The Welcomes Everyone Award
- The Big Ideas Award
How it works
About a minute per person.
We use AI to draft each letter from only the notes you give us. Nothing is final until you approve it.
- 1
Pick the occasion and a design
Thanksgiving, the holidays, the end of the season, a thank you or just because. Choose a letter design, a certificate design and your group's colors.
- 2
Type or say a few notes about each person
A moment you noticed, how they grew, what you'll remember. A sentence or two is plenty, and short and messy is fine.
- 3
Review, change anything, print
Review each one, change anything you like and approve it. Then download print ready PDFs and print at home.
Ready halfway through the year
Questions
Last names are optional, stay on your device and are never saved. Everything is deleted 30 days after your order is finished, or 60 days after an order is started and never finished.
Who writes the letters?
You do, with help. We use AI to draft each letter from only the notes you give us. Each one is written in your voice, about that one person. You review each one and change anything you like before you download, and nothing is final until you approve it.
Do the letters compare kids with each other?
No. Each letter is about one person and never compares them with anyone else. Award titles celebrate that person's own strengths and growth.
What should I leave out of my notes?
Grades, health details and anything private. A letter is a keepsake, so kind, true moments are all it needs.
What paper should I use?
Letters look best on 32 lb bright white paper, which is a little thicker than copy paper and works in any home printer. Certificates look best on 65 to 80 lb matte cardstock, fed one sheet at a time.
What do you keep, and for how long?
Only what we need to make your letters. Last names are optional, stay on your device and are never saved. Everything is deleted 30 days after your order is finished, or 60 days after an order is started and never finished. Read the privacy policy.
Give every student a glow and a grow.
Start with first names and a quick glow and grow for each student. You'll have a letter and a certificate for each one, ready to print.
Letters from $6 each for groups of 16 or more.