Dacian Dolean
SMS Decoding

I found that students like playing "detectives" and decode secret messages. I often use decoding activities as a strategy to encourage students to write.

Since all high school students are crazy about texting messages on the phone, I've asked my 9th graders to write about the presents they would like to get for Christmas (3 paragraphs) in SMS format, then exchange papers with their peers, and have them decode it (use "English" this time).

I got to trick my students to write 3 paragraphs with NO complains!

Dacian Dolean
Midland Valley High School
Aiken County, S.C.