Letter Generator
Targeted Standards:
W.K.6 – With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
W.1.6 - With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
W.2.6 - With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
ReadWriteThink’s letter generator guide is a useful digital tool for students to learn the parts of a business or friendly letter and then compose and print letters for both styles of correspondence. Students can use this platform to write an entire letter and then print, save, or email the final product.
Procedure:
  1. Model for students how to write a letter and explicitly teach the parts of a friendly and/or business letter.
  2. Show students the Letter Generator . Together as a class complete a business or friendly letter. Once students are familiar with the tool, allow them to work in a small group to construct and share their letter.
Variations:
Teachers can target a specific type of writing (standards 1-3) when modeling or assigning letter writing. For example:
  • Students working with Standard #1 (opinion writing) can use the platform to write an entire letter and then print, save or email the final product. For example students can write an opinion letter when stating they feel recess is too short.
  • Students working with Standard #2 (informative/explanatory) can create a letter as a culminating project after the class has completed a unit of study on a particular topic. For example, after the class has completed a unit on animals, students might write letters to the local zoo, praising them for the ways that they care for animals or making suggestions for changes.
  • Students working with Standard #3 (narrative) can use the letter to tell a story or personal account of their birthday party to someone.

Attachment/Resources:
Arthur’s Letter Writer Helper (letters, emails, greeting cards, postcards and e-cards)

Comparing E-Mail to Letter Writing

Brainstorm Topics for Writing Opinion Letters

Reference/Research:
Wollman-Bonilla, J. E. (2003). "E-mail as Genre: A Beginning Writer Learns the Conventions."Language Arts, (81),26-134.

ISBE ELA Content Specialists – Writing Strategies