Learn to Read - P.S. I Love You

Something important happens when children receive and write letters. They realize that the printed word has a purpose.

What You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil, crayon, or marker

What To Do

1. Send your child little notes (by putting them in a pocket or lunch box, for example). When your child shows you the note, read it out loud with expression. Some children will read the notes on their own.
2. When your child expresses a feeling or thought that's related to a person, have your child write a letter. Have your child dictate the words to you if your child doesn't write yet.

   For example:
   

   Dear Grandma,       I like it when you make ice cream. It's better than the kind we buy at the store. Your grandson, Darryl P.S. I love you.

3. Ask the people who receive these notes to respond. An oral response is fine--a written response is even better.
4. Explain the writing process to your child: "We think of ideas and put them into words; we put the words on paper; people read the words; and people respond."

Language is speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each elements supports and enriches the other. Sending letters will help children become writers, and writing will make them better readers.

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Courtesy of Education Publications Center

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