This afternoon, I encouraged Mercer to write a thank you note to the author (Sarah Trulaske) who visited the school today and read her book, "Nellie meets Charlie the Crab." Although initially resistant to the activity, Mercer came around and we brainstormed how to organize and prioritize our thoughts. He learned about proper formatting, what is meant by a salutation, provided with a basic letter structure, and encouraged to add his unique voice and word choices. Although a bit cynical, Mercer was prompted and encouraged to express gratitude in the note. We typed it, Mercer signed it, and I will show him how to properly address, stamp and mail the envelope tomorrow. I find that Mercer will often question the purpose or value of an activity or lesson, but he has so much to offer when he complies with the task. I also found it quite humorous when he insisted he was not going to say 'Love Mercer" at the end, which provided the perfect opportunity to discuss different ways to close a thank-you letter. We ended up enjoying a productive and valuable lesson.