You can help your child practice his writing skills by helping him write a friendly letter or a request letter. Won't your child be excited when he receives a response in the mail?

What You'll Need

• Word-processing program such as Microsoft Word
• Computer
• Printer
• Paper
• Envelope
• Stapler
• Stamp

Here's How To Do It Brainstorm with your child ideas of what he can write in a letter to a family member, senior citizen or a friend. Remember to think of questions to ask the other person. He can also write a letter requesting tourism information from a state.

Then using a word-processing program, have your child type his letter. You may want to help with the formatting. You can have your child add digital photos or graphics to make the letter even more interesting. Print the letter. Have your child address the envelope and mail it.

Gayle Berthiaume was an award-winning first-grade teacher at Becker Primary School in Minnesota and taught K-2, Title 1 and gifted students for 35 years. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. She currently trains teachers around the nation on ways to integrate technology into instruction. To learn more about her, visit Gayle Berthiaume Consulting.

Updated January 2008