By Angela Baez
We often nudge our student writers to keep their readers in mind. Whether it is writing with greater clarity or or stronger conventions, the most meaningful reason to do so–far beyond satisfying school expectations–is to communicate a message. Letter-writing is a distinctly special format in that way. A letter is a piece of writing that is intended for someone else out in the world. It has an automatic, built-in audience, and it wears its purpose right on its sleeve– its envelope. First and foremost, we write letters to connect with others. And before you worry that letter-writing is a lost art, think about all the ways letters show up in our world. From letters of recommendation to emails between friends to direct messages with strangers on social media platforms, strengthening written communication and letter writing practices is beneficial and relevant, perhaps now more than ever.
Setting the Stage for Letter Writing
Encouraging a culture of letter-writing in the classroom doesn’t have to mean a letter writing unit of study focused solely on the format. A thriving writing community provides opportunities and materials to make writing as needed, and the option of letter-writing is a perfect standing invitation. Equip your writing center with supplies like envelopes, note paper, and sticky notes, and show kids how they might use in-between times to write to others. Consider creating a classroom mailbox where students can post their letters. You might even add mail delivery as a classroom job, recruiting a student to deliver students’ letters, as well as any letters the class receives from the community.
Many teachers write quick daily personal letters to their class, or frequent emails home to caregivers. Point these out to kids and highlight how you use writing to talk to others.
For beginning writers, a love note can be an approachable kind of letter to send to a caregiver or family member. These friendly letters may even spark a response, which can set off a chain of continuous note-writing! Be sure to encourage these informal pen-pal relationships as you see them.
Letter-writing can also support conflict resolution, especially when it is self-directed.
Dedicated Instruction to Support Letter-Writing Conventions
As writers grow more experienced, you’ll also want to support them with the conventions and skills of letter-writing.
Several units in the updated Writing Units of Study spotlight letter-writing. In the forthcoming 3-5 Writing Units of Study, the grammar curriculum features letter-writing to connect, to persuade, and to inform. Students learn about typical letter formats, and lesson plans guide teachers as they support students in moving through the writing process as they plan, draft, and revise letters. Across the grades, kids get opportunities to write friendly letters, persuasive letters, and even more formal letters.
Likewise, in the new kindergarten unit Persuasive Writing of All Kinds: Using Words to Make a Change, students are channeled to write letters to solve problems. The writing lessons teach children to be convincing, to speak out, and to use writing to improve the world around them–while also teaching them the parts of a letter.
The new second grade unit, Finding Awesome Everywhere: Celebrating Through Opinion Writing supports students to write letters to express gratitude. In the unit, students write letters to favorite authors, so in addition to practicing the art of saying thanks, writers also get valuable practice with stating a claim and using text evidence to back it up. Learners move through the writing process repeatedly, drafting multiple letters and strengthening their letter writing skills.
Whether formal or informal, letters are a purpose-driven way to entice children to write. And a trip to the corner mailbox (or even one inside the classroom)--let alone the anticipation of receiving a response–can be added motivation! We wish you many hastily ripped-open envelopes, crinkled-from-rereading-sticky notes, and kind and convincing sentiments in your classroom, all year long.
