Why Write Letters?
Teachers have been instructing students in letter-writing skills for countless years. They do this for a few reasons - writing letters is a hands-on way to practice simple writing skills, such as sentence formation and thought cohesion. Letter writing also is a skill we all need to have as adults, both professionally and personally. Finally, teachers can be creative with their letter-writing prompts, diving deeper into content and pushing students to think critically about concepts. Take a look.
Friendly Letter Prompts
Writing what is called the 'friendly letter' is a simple correspondence between two people in a light-hearted way. Students can write friendly letters for a variety of purposes and across the curriculum. Here are some prompts:
- Write a letter to your favorite sport/literary/celebrity person. Tell them about yourself and what you love about their profession. Ask at least three questions.
- Write a letter to a relative that doesn't live nearby or that you haven't seen for a while. Tell about yourself since you last saw them. Ask at least five questions, and discuss when you may visit again.
- Write a letter to a student in another grade. Tell them what things are like in your grade and ask them about their school work. Share your likes and dislikes and inquire about theirs.
- Write a letter to a past teacher. Tell about what you liked about the class and give suggestions for improvement. Support your thinking with examples of your time in that grade.
- Write a letter to your grandparents asking them about what school was like for them when they went. Tell them about what you're doing and ask how they did it when they were in your grade. Choose at least three specific learning activities. (Find foster grandparents for students without them at the local retirement home or senior center.)