Weekly homework to build community and

reinforce writing skills throughout the year!

 Ready to start weekly letter writing? Don’t miss 12 months of pre-written
editable letters, student response templates and a digital version!
I have used weekly letter writing with my students for years to encourage a tight-knit classroom and
promote writing all year long. While I was student teaching, my co-teacher introduced this idea to me,
and it has evolved over the years. I write students a letter on Monday (see samples on pages 7-9) and
they respond to me by Thursday (see rubric and expectations on pages 3 and 4). I have included
monthly topics and ideas to get you started (pages 5-6). Have fun!

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WEEKLY
LETTER
WRITING
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 Each week, you will receive a letter from your teacher. Included in the
letter will be one or more topics that you will respond to, also in letter
format! Your letter back will be due on _______________ each week.

WHY DO WE WRITE LETTERS EACH WEEK?

• To get to know each other better. I’ll learn more about you through
your letters, and you will learn more about me by reading mine!
• To practice our writing skills in a fun and interesting way. Throughout
the year, we will practice many writing styles through our letter writing!
• To reflect on what is going on in our world and in our classroom.

HOW TO DO YOUR VERY BEST LETTER WRITING

✓ Always read through my letter several times before beginning your
response. You can even jot notes on my letter so that you can
brainstorm how you want to respond!

✓ Include all 5 parts of a letter in your response and indent the first line
of each new paragraph. The 5 parts include the heading, the greeting,
the body, the closing, and the signature.

✓ Be sure to respond to all of my questions or topics. Consider

highlighting all of the different questions or topics in my letter so that
you are sure to respond to them all!

✓ Use excellent word choice and let your voice shine through your
letters! Ask yourself, “Will my teacher be able to make a mental
picture of what I’m talking about?” or “Will she know this is MY letter?”

✓ Proofread your final letter at least once before turning it in.

✓ Neatness counts! You may either hand write your letter or type and
print it at home.
 LETTER WRITING RUBRIC AUTHOR:______________________
EXCEEDS MEETS PROGRESSING BELOW
Heading, Greeting, Body,
LETTER Closing, and Signature One or two letter parts Three or more of the
CONVENTIONS Included. First line are missing. six parts are missing.
indented.
All topics are covered All topics from the The letter responds to The letter does not
TOPIC & IDEAS and additional ideas or original teacher letter some of the original respond to the original
topics are included. have a response. teacher topics. teacher topics.
Excellent word choice is
used and the voice of Some vivid words are Vivid words are not
Vivid words are used
VOICE & WORD the writer shines
and the writer’s voice is
used. The writer’s voice used. The writer’s voice
CHOICE through. The writing
apparent in the letter.
shines through in some is not apparent in the
creates vivid images for parts of the letter. letter.
the reader!
GRAMMAR & No mistakes in grammar 1 or 2 mistakes in 3 to 4 mistakes in 5 or more grammar or
SPELLING or spelling. grammar or spelling. grammar or spelling. spelling mistakes.
Letter is typed or Some parts are difficult The entire letter is
NEATNESS written legibly. to read. difficult to read.

LETTER WRITING RUBRIC AUTHOR:______________________

EXCEEDS MEETS PROGRESSING BELOW
Heading, Greeting, Body,
LETTER Closing, and Signature One or two letter parts Three or more of the
CONVENTIONS Included. First line are missing. six parts are missing.
indented.
All topics are covered All topics from the The letter responds to The letter does not
TOPIC & IDEAS and additional ideas or original teacher letter some of the original respond to the original
topics are included. have a response. teacher topics. teacher topics.
Excellent word choice is
used and the voice of Some vivid words are Vivid words are not
Vivid words are used
VOICE & WORD the writer shines
and the writer’s voice is
used. The writer’s voice used. The writer’s voice
CHOICE through. The writing
apparent in the letter.
shines through in some is not apparent in the
creates vivid images for parts of the letter. letter.
the reader!
GRAMMAR & No mistakes in grammar 1 or 2 mistakes in 3 to 4 mistakes in 5 or more grammar or
SPELLING or spelling. grammar or spelling. grammar or spelling. spelling mistakes.
Letter is typed or Some parts are difficult The entire letter is
NEATNESS written legibly. to read. difficult to read.
 WEEKLY LETTER WRITING TOPICS AND IDEAS
For Teacher Reference
AuGuST SePtEmBeR
Back to School Labor Day
Summer Fun Star Spangled Banner(1814)
National Picnic Month First Day of Fall (23rd)
National Inventor Month First Toy Store Opened
Dollar Invented (1786) Grandparent’s Day (1st Sun.)
Apple Week (2nd Week) Good Neighbor Day (28th)
Friendship Week (3rd Week) National Breakfast Month

OcToBEr NoVemBer
Halloween Thanksgiving & Good Food
Columbus Day Football
Fall Colors & Festivals Veteran’s Day
Pumpkins Black Friday
Dictionary Day (16th) Daylight Saving’s Time
Family History Month Family Literacy Day (1st)
National Pizza Month Game Week (3rd Week)
Magic Week (4th Week) World Peace Day (17th)

DeCEMbEr JanUaRy
Holidays New Year
Winter Clothes Resolutions & Goals
Travel Winter Weather
Parties MLK Jr. Day
Gifts & Shopping First Traffic Rules (1900)
Letter Writing Month Backwards Day (31st)
Walt Disney’s Birthday (5th) National Hobby Month
Chocolate Day (28th)
© Teaching With a Mountain View
 WEEKLY LETTER WRITING TOPICS AND IDEAS
For Teacher Reference
FeBruArY MarCh
Valentine’s Day Spring Break
President’s Day St. Patrick’s Day
Black History Month Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Super Bowl Read Across America
Leap Day Pi Day
Winter Olympics Daylight Savings Time
Fairy Tale Day (26th) Music in Our Schools Month
American Heart Month Bubblegum Week (2nd Week)

AprIl MaY
April Fool’s Day Mother’s Day
April Showers/Spring Memorial Day
Easter Cinco De Mayo
Earth Day Teacher Appreciation
Sinking of the Titanic Clean Your Room Day (10th)
National Poetry Month National Bike Month
Astronomy Week (1st Week)
Honesty Day (30th)

JUnE Types of Writing

End of the Year Memories Persuasive
Donut Day (1st Friday) Informative/Expository
First Day of Summer (21st) Descriptive
Father’s Day Narrative
Helen Keller Born (27, 1880)
Camping Week (4th Week)

© Teaching With a Mountain View