Please make sure you are not using our custom header option and enabled theme builder setting. See here for more information: https://help.diviengine.com/article/155-using-divi-mobile-in-the-theme-builder
Home » Blog » Writing & Language » Writing Instruction » How to Teach Friendly Letter Writing

How to Teach Friendly Letter Writing

Literacy, Writing & Language, Writing Instruction

Written by: Katie Palmer

Friendly letter writing can be a fun and engaging topic for young writers. There are many resources and strategies that will help students become confident and skilled letter writers! Check out the list below for just some of the ways to help your class become the best letter writers they can be!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.


Make teaching friendly letter writing a breeze—equip yourself and your students with the tools for success! RSVP now to be notified when our Lucky to Learn Writing friendly letter unit is released!


Start With the Basics

Many students are eager to write and “send” their first letter, but they need to get the basics of penmanship mastered first so other people can read their letters! (Not just the teacher who is used to decoding early elementary writing!)

Practice Handwriting

Here is a free handwriting worksheet maker! Teachers can add any words they want their students to practice. (Maybe a whole sheet of those dreaded b's and d's!)

create your own custom handwriting worksheets

Here are some tips for how to practice handwriting and letter formation with older students.

Learn Sentence Skills

It is also important to teach/review punctuation and capital letters with students. Try this song for sentence structure review!

And, take a look at these tips and tricks from other teachers: Tips for Teaching Sentence Writing Skills: Advice from Teachers.

Try Sentence Fixers & Scrambles

Lucky Little Learners has a couple of resources already created for you to help students learn those capital letters and end marks.

  • Sentence Fixers: Students will understand sentence editing in no time! Head to All Access and download Sentence Fixers right away!

Get these on All Access

toothy task kits

Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.

  • Sentence Scrambles can help students pay attention to see if their sentences make sense. This is important to introduce before letter writing! When they start writing their letters, they will notice if their sentences make sense. The teacher just has to say, “Are your letters scrambled or do they make sense?” Learn more about Sentence Scrambles here: Practicing Writing Sentences with Sentence Scrambles.

Get this on All Access

toothy task kits

Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.

Resources to Make Letter Writing Engaging

Alright, now that students have worked on the basics, it is time to introduce writing a friendly letter. Here are the next steps to get the letter writing unit off to a great start!

Read & Sing All About It!

A very engaging way to to kickoff any new unit is by using a picture book. Read on for a few teacher-recommended books to help teach letter writing.

Can I be Your Dog?

This cute story is told from the point of view of a stray dog. The pictures show examples of friendly letters.

Dear Mr. Blueberry

This story features imaginative friendly letters written from a student to a teacher. Kids love her tall tales!

Songs

  1. This first song is karaoke style video only having lyrics but has a familiar tune that is easy to follow along with!

2. Another familiar tune that students will love singing and clapping along with!

Anchor Chart

Create a parts of a letter anchor chart with students to keep displayed in the classroom! Look at this amazing example from Erin Waters.

Center Activities

  1. Delivering the Mail Writing Center: this center gets students thinking about the parts of a letter while composing their own letters. This is a highly engaging activity because students LOVE writing letters to others! Bonus: the get to spin a paperclip spinner! (What student doesn't love that?!) Learn more about this and other writing centers available: Writing Centers for 2nd Grade.
use literacy centers to practice friendly letter writing skills

DOWNLOAD What You Need

sound wall and phonics posters

2nd Grade Writing Centers

2. Early Finisher Letter Writing Practice Sheets: these sheets are great to stick in students' early finisher packets, especially when you are teaching a letter writing unit! These sheets are included in LLL's Early Finisher packs! Learn more here: Introducing Our New Early Finisher Packs.

3. Friendly Letter: Use this friendly letter template to write a letter to a classroom helper or volunteer. You can download a Friendly Letter Template on All Access below!

2 Ways to Get This Resource

Join All Access to download everything we've ever made.

sound wall and phonics posters

Or... Purchase the bundle in our shop.

sound wall and phonics posters

Classroom Mailbox Kit

Keep the letter writing going with a classroom mailbox center! Stock it with fun papers and envelopes and students will love sending and receiving letters! Here is an example of a classroom mailbox below!


Hopefully these resources get your friendly letter unit off to a great start! Happy teaching!


Make teaching friendly letter writing a breeze—equip yourself and your students with the tools for success! RSVP now to be notified when our Lucky to Learn Writing friendly letter unit is released!


how to teach friendly letter writing

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey there!  I’m Angie, owner of Lucky Little Learners. Our #1 goal is to support K-2 teachers.  We provide unlimited access to over 20,000 printables that are aligned to your standards.