Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing: First Grade
First graders write many times a day to express their interests - they are writing with a purpose through stories, letters, and lists. In this section, you'll find writing assessment resources, writing strategies, and additional tip...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: A Genre Study of Letter With the Jolly Postman
In this lesson outline based on The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, students learn about parts of a letter, the different genres of mail, and letter attributes by studying the letters included in the book.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Letter of Introduction Writing as a Diagnostic Tool
At the beginning of the school year, young scholars respond to a teacher-generated questionnaire in personal letter format. As a diagnostic tool, letter writing can reveal strengths and weaknesses in composition skills, organization,...
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Sales Letters: Four Point Action Closing
A good resource for effective sales writing skills. Describes a four-point system of attracting and convincing customers to order the product.
J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Museum: Writing About Art: Comparing Portraits
Students will compare and contrast an academic and an Impressionist portrait through a writing exercise and discussion. Each student will then write a formal commission letter to one of the artists, requesting a portrait. Adaptations for...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Literature Through Letter Writing Groups
This lesson plan enables students to participate in a letter exchange designed to promote discussion on literature-based topics. Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Researching Mark Twain's Early Life and Experiences
This lesson requires students to use the Internet to research the early life of Mark Twain and the influence of his childhood experiences on his writing. The lesson includes letter writing, reading, role playing, and working in a group...
Other
Design a Study: How to Teach Handwriting
Very specific advice on teaching the skill of handwriting to young children. Making correct letters, making letters the same size, and the slant of the letters are all stressed.
International Reading Association
Lesson Plan: Making and Writing Words
A detailed and thorough lesson/unit plan designed to lead students into a greater understanding of word building through intense study and activities. Students learn spelling structure, word recognition, and phonics. Great resource!
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: By Car, Train, or Bus! The Sounds of Language on the Go
Come and check out this awesome pre-reading resource. This site offers examples of simple word games you can play with kids to increase their ability to recognize and use letters and sounds. Try these games the next time you're in the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Marian Anderson Classroom Activity
A brief discussion of the relevance and importance of Marian Anderson to American history, as well as a lesson plan based on her contribution. Provides lessons, web links, and a bibliography, and includes a scanned version of Eleanor...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Exploring Audience in Persuasive Letter Writing
Effective communication skills are critical for the present century. This unit plan stresses clear, persuasive communication that is meant to be shared with an audience beyond the classroom.
Other
Lumen Learning: Memorandums
This site discusses the purpose and format of a memo and helps understand effective strategies for business memos.
National Geographic
National Geographic: The Impact of the Bay of Pigs Invasion on Fidel Castro
This lesson focuses on how the Bay of Pigs invasion influenced the attitude of Fidel Castro towards Kennedy and the United States. Includes role play, discussion, and research. Students then write a letter from Nikita Krushchev to Fidel...
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Sherwood Anderson
This site, compiled by a public library in Finland, contains a brief biography of Anderson and a discussion of his major works. It also has a chronological list of his works.
Teachnology
Teachnology: English Language Arts Lesson Plans
Great lesson plans spanning a wide-range of language arts-related subjects.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Pollution Solutions
To develop an understanding of modern industrial technologies that clean up and prevent air pollution, young scholars build and observe a variety of simple models of engineering pollutant recovery methods: scrubber, electrostatic...