As you introduce the parts of a friendly letter for the first time for early elementary writers, use color to assist students in focusing on the separate, required components of the letter. Give students one large sheet of construction paper and various sizes and colors of rectangular colored paper. Cut paper of suitable sizes for students to model each part of a friendly letter. For example, cut various colors and sizes of paper to allow students to copy as you model the date, greeting, body, closing and signature. As you model, have each student copy or create his own letter body parts using your examples. Once all parts are created on colored paper, have him glue the parts onto the large paper in the correct friendly letter format.
Participate in a literature connected practice. Read a picture book aloud to students. After reading it, have a discussion with students about the characters and plot development of the story. Ask students what the characters are feeling at the end of the story. Instruct students to practice friendly letter writing skills by writing a friendly letter as one of the characters in the book to another character in the book, discussing what has happened in the story. Remind students to keep the tone of the letter friendly and include interesting details. Adapt to any level of student writing skill by adjusting the amount of detail required and assistance given.
Create a class postal system to encourage friendly letter writing practice among students with any age or skill level writers. Use class cubbies or shoe boxes as personal mail boxes for students. Acquire a large appliance box to use as a mail drop-off location and decorate it as if a real mail box. Assign the class job of postmaster to students on a rotating basis and allow students to sort and deliver the mail. Build time into your schedule for friendly letter writing by using it as morning arrival work or as a center.
Reflecting on the day's learning helps students to retain knowledge and be able to share learning with parents. Give each student a journal such as a composition book to use for writing a reflective friendly letter at the end of each day to parents. Instruct students to share with parents what she has learned at school that day in the letter. Send a letter home requesting that parents participate in the journal by writing a brief, friendly letter back to the student, commenting on what the student has shared.