Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: The Basic Business Letter
This lesson from Purdue's online writing lab details both the parts of a business letter and the various formats for one, including block, modified block, and semi-block. Great resource for getting started writing a professional letter.
Other
Letter From Birminghham Jail [Pdf]
This letter shares Martin Luther King's reflections about his involvement in peaceful demonstrations. The letter provides historical information about the plight of African Americans throughout history and why he and others are so...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Letter From Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
While in jail, King responded in a letter written on the margins of a newspaper, because it was the only paper available. King gave the letter to his lawyers, who published what is now known as the famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail."...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Persuasive Letter Example
This persuasive letter example is three pages long and includes points on the left hand column. Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations...
Auburn University
Auburn University: Teaching Letter Recognition
How can you teach your students letter recognition? This site offers insight into this necessary pre-reading skill set. Come and explore this informative resource.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Soldier's Letter [Pdf]
"Soldier's Letter" is a one page, fictional, letter from a young soldier at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary explaining how hard conditions are there. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the...
Free Reading
Free Reading: Book Letters Free Reading
Expand your reading activity by having students write a letter to a character in the book.
PBS
Pbs: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Something Special for Dad
This e-book is based on the PBS Kids' series, Daniel's Neighborhood. Students will read aloud a story about Daniel's special gift, a letter for his dad.
Other
Apostles.com: Thomas More's Last Letter
Text of Thomas More's last letter written to his daughter Margaret on the day before he was executed. Cited from "St. Thomas More: Selected Letters" by Elizabeth Frances Rogers.
The English Teacher
The English Teacher: Teaching the Scarlet Letter
This lesson plan-tutorial focuses on teaching vocabulary with literature through the book "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Teaching Concepts of Letter and Word
A great resource for teachers introducing the concepts of "letters" and "words" to early elementary students. Uses the names of the students themselves as a starting place in learning these concepts. Great site.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Writing a Persuasive Letter
This lesson plan uses "Emily's Runaway Imagination" by Beverly Cleary in conjunction with writing a persuasive letter. Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Promoting Authentic Letter Writing
This lesson plan teaches letter-writing format by using literature and shared writing. Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: E Pals Around the World
Contains plans for three lessons that teach about writing friendly letters and parts of e-mails by asking students to write to pen-pals around the world. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Beginning Writers Compare E Mail With Letter Writing
Contains plans for three lessons that teach younger students the differences between letter writing and e-mail writing. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Mail Time! An Integrated Postcard and Geography Study
Contains plans for five cross-curricular lessons that teach about geography, reading, and writing by having students send postcards to relatives and asking them to send postcards back. In addition to objectives and standards, this...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: What Is a Measure?
For this lesson, Rolf Myller's book entitled How Big is a Foot? is used as a mentor text. Students will answer the question, "What does it mean to be big?"The mathematical concepts of area, attributes, and fractions are introduced....
Daily Teaching Tools
Daily Teaching Tools: Author Study Letter Rubric
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides a rubric. Each student will write a letter to an author of choice, and afterword, this rubric may be used to assess each letter.
TES Global
Tes: Holes by Louis Sachar: Writing Tasks
[Free Registration/Login Required] This PowerPoint contains 16 various writing tasks connected to Louis Sachar's young adult novel, the book Holes. Students will write multi-paragraph essays, diary entries, personal letters, and more.
Read Works
Read Works: Dear Mr. President
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the water cycle and children who have written letters to the President. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in cause and effect.
Read Works
Read Works: Letter From Camp
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text in which a boy named Alex writes a letter to his family to tell them about his experiences at summer camp. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading...
Phonics Guide
Papa Jan: What Is Phonics?
How can you define phonics? Take this opportunity to learn a little more about phonics and its relationship to letters and sounds.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Love Letter
A learning module that begins with "Love Letter" by Jack London, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Letter to Thomas Jefferson
A learning module that begins with "A Letter to Thomas Jefferson" by John Adams, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...