DEAR TEACHERS,

These letters are designed to help support you with

communicating with parents/guardians regarding
how they can help their child at home.

Whether schools are closed or students will be out

for a time, parents may need work for their child to
do during their absence. I hope these letters help
make these transitions more manageable for you.

What you’ll find in this pack:

• Tips for helping children when writing
• Tips for helping children when reading
• Letters to go with some of my resources,
including an activity for each and a picture sample.

I also included a few resources you can include in

your home packet:
• an ABC chart
• letters to cut out and build words with
• an Activity Bingo sheet
• a motivating goal board for kids to color in while
they complete tasks

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE THE

FULL RESOURCE ON TPT.
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 TIPS for Reading Activities
The pages enclosed are great for practicing
reading skills. In addition, reading books daily
will be of great benefit to your child.

Here are some suggestions when reading:

• BEFORE READING
• Discuss the topic. What does your child already know?
What questions do they have?
• Make a prediction. What do they think will happen?
What words do they think they will encounter?
• DURING READING
• Instead of telling them what a word says, point out
features they’ve learned in that word. “Remember ‘th’
says (sound),” that ‘ee’ will say (sound).”
• Remind them of strategies they can use when they
get stuck on a word.
• Stop to ask questions that ensure comprehension.
• Make predictions about what the characters will do or
what will happen next.
• AFTER READING
• Help your child summarize the book. Ask questions.
• Discuss what they liked/ didn’t like.
• Do an extension activity, if you’d like: act out the
story, make finger puppets for retelling, think of an
alternate ending.
• Reread! Tell your child that each time they read a
book, they may catch something new they didn’t see
before, whether in the pictures or text. They also
read “smoother” or more fluently.

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 TIPS for Writing Activities
The pages enclosed are great for practicing
writing and fine-motor skills. You’ll need
scissors, glue, crayons, and a pencil
for some of the activities.

Here are some suggestions when helping your child:

• Ask your child to think about the topic and plan their
writing before starting.
• Encourage correct letter formation (start at the top of
each letter).
• Encourage your child to reread as he/she writes. Often,
children will leave out or repeat words, or even forget
what they were going to write! Rereading will help them
with editing and remembering their story.

SPELLING

It’s ok if not every word is spelled accurately as your child

learns to spell! Encourage them to use these strategies
when spelling new words:
• say the word slowly and write any sounds they hear,
• remember phonics rules they’ve learned,
• look at the word bank (if available),
• think of a similar word they can spell,
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• use the ABC chart enclosed

When done with any writing, ask your child to go back and
make sure each sentence starts with a capital and ends
with a punctuation mark.
 The Alphabet Aa Bb
To practice, say the letter name, picture,
and sound.
Ex: “A, apple, (make short a sound)”
Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg

Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll

Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq

Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv

Ww Xx Yy Zz

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 Activity Bingo
This sheet has ideas for activities to do at home. Do as many as you'd
like and have your child color in the boxes when completed.
How many Bingo lines can they get? 
Act out a Count a Go outside Write Make words
familiar handful of and find someone a using the
story dimes by 10 signs of the letter or letters in
season email. CREATES
Use scraps Watch a Say all Make a list Draw a
of paper to show about doubles of words picture and
make real animals. facts to 20 that rhyme label it
something Discuss. (1+1, 2+2, etc) with SENT
Make a list Make words FREE SPACE Give Find all the
someone
of words using the Remember directions to ways to
that rhyme letters in to read make a make the
sandwich
with CAKE SHARING every day! number 12
Give Pick 5 things Make a list Count a Pick a topic
someone in your of words handful of and write 3
directions to
make a house to that rhyme pennies things about
sandwich measure with BOOK it
Find all the Find text Roll & Add: Draw a Make a list
ways to features in a picture and of words
Take turns
non-fiction rolling 2 dice
make the book (captions, and adding
label it that rhyme
number 10 diagrams, etc) the dots. with PARK
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Color a space for each activity you do at home.
 Instructions for Labeling Pages

These pages are great for helping your child practice stretching
out words when writing, as well as sentence-writing.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Pick a page or let your child pick one.

2. Ask them to describe the picture and talk about it.
3. Ask them to label the pictures. This means to write the
word next to the pictures.
4. Help them label one picture at a time, saying just the first
sound and writing it, then starting at the beginning and
saying the next sound, etc.
5. *If your child is ready, have them also write a sentence
about the picture on the lines.

*TIPS*
These words don’t have to be spelled accurately! Help them
remember any sounds/phonics rules they’ve learned and
accept mistakes for sounds and phonics rules they haven’t
learned. Here is a sample of what it may look like, depending
on your child’s writing stage.
www.BrendaTejeda.com

You can use the enclosed ABC

chart to help with spelling! If
your child forgets the letter
that makes a sound, have them
find the picture that starts
with that sound.
 Instructions for Labeling Pages

These pages are great for helping your child practice stretching out
words when writing, as well as sentence-writing.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Pick a page or let your child pick one.

2. Ask them to describe the picture and talk about it.
3. Ask them to label the pictures. This means to write the word
next to the pictures.
4. Help them label one picture at a time, saying just the first sound
and writing it, then starting at the beginning and saying the next
sound, etc.
5. *If your child is ready, have them also write a sentence about the
picture on the lines.
*TIPS*
These words don’t have to be spelled accurately! Help them
remember any sounds/phonics rules they’ve learned and accept
mistakes for sounds and phonics rules they haven’t learned.
Here are samples of what these may look like,
depending on your child’s writing stage.

You can use the enclosed ABC chart to help

with spelling! If your child forgets the letter
that makes a sound, have them find the
picture that starts with that sound.
www.BrendaTejeda.com

For pages that have phonics patterns, remind

your child that they can use one word to help
them spell another! For example, if they know
how to spell cat, they can spell hat by
changing the first letter only.
 Instructions for Read and Build Pages

These pages are great for reading and demonstrating

comprehension. You’ll need scissors, glue, and crayons.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. If using the picture-supported version (pictured below),

review the pictures and labels with your child.
2. Have your child read the entire passage once, checking the
pictures for support when necessary.
3. Have your child reread the passage one sentence at a
time and color in the pieces he/she will need to complete
the scene.
4. Reread a third time, while gluing the pieces to build the
scene! Color all.

*TIPS*
You may want to discuss the topic before reading.
For example, with this passage, talk about Earth Day.
What does your child know about recycling?
How can they help the Earth?
Play I Spy Phonics!
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Ask your child to find a word

that starts with a specific
letter, that has a ‘th,’ that
rhymes with ‘say,’ etc.
They can highlight or circle
these words!
 Instructions for Build and Write Pages

These pages are great for practicing writing and fine-motor

skills. You’ll need scissors, glue, crayons, and a pencil.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Have your child pick a writing page.

2. Ask them to think about the topic and plan a picture.
3. Have them cut and paste the pieces they need. *They can
draw more details as well!
4. Have them write about their picture or the topic, using
the word bank to help with spelling.

*TIPS*
It’s ok if not every word is spelled accurately as your child
learns to spell! Encourage them to use these strategies
when spelling new words:
• say the word slowly and write any sounds they hear,
• remember phonics rules they’ve learned,
• look at the word bank,
• think of a similar word they can spell,
• use the ABC chart (enclosed) www.BrendaTejeda.com

Do have them reread when

done and check to make sure
they have a capital letter and
punctuation mark. 
 Instructions for Sight Word PracticePages

These pages are great for practicing sight words.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Read the sight word for your child. Have them repeat and
read the word at the top.
2. Have your child use their finger to trace each letter,
starting at each dot.
3. Repeat using a crayon (can trace with different colored
crayons, too).
4. Have your child read the sentence and color in a star
after every time.
5. Write the word in the boxes, then on the lines.
6. Cut apart the letters, then glue to complete the sentence.
7. Draw a picture that goes with the sentence.

*TIPS*
Have your child come up with his/her
own additional sentence for the word.

For the ‘Read it’ section, encourage

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your child to reread smoother each

time.

For the ‘Find it’ section, ask them to

identify what the mistakes are in each
incorrectly spelled word.
Name _________
Read it 3 times:

The dog is on the bed.

______________ ______________
Write it: __________ _________
______________ ______________

Find it:
the teh het the
th eth het the te
the hte he tet
Build it: Draw it:

dog is

on bed.
Created by Brenda Tejeda ©2014 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Tejeda

ehT he t
 Instructions for Reading Hunt

This book hunt is great for motivating your child to read lots
of different kinds of books! You will need to have books that
match each category (or access to a website that you can
help your child find books on, like Raz-kids).

Here are some steps to use it:

1. Go through all of the boxes describing different types of

books.
2. Start the hunt in a fun way by taking a race stance and
setting off a bell!
3. Have your child look through your books and find one that
matches a box, read it, then color in that box.
4. Continue until all boxes are filled, or you may want to get a
“bingo” with one row.

*TIPS*
Encourage your child to enjoy each book! It’s not a race to
read and you can work on this hunt together over the
course of a week.

Discuss each book and ask your child

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questions about it to make sure

they have good comprehension.

If you’d like to make your own

categories, use the blank hunt
and write them in!
Read Across America
Scavenger Hunt
A silly animal A character A book with
story learns a facts
lesson

A story with A book about A different

a surprise a real person version of a
ending story you know

A book about A book with A book with

different no words rhyming
cultures words
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Read Across America
Scavenger Hunt
A book about A book with A book about
animals people sports

A book with A book about A funny book

real facts outer space

A book about A book with A fantasy

plants no words book
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 Instructions for Sequence and Write

These pages are great for practicing writing and fine-motor

skills. You’ll need scissors, glue, crayons, and a pencil.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Have your child pick a page.

2. Ask them to think about the topic and plan the steps.
3. Have them cut and paste the pictures in order.
4. Have them write about each step, emphasizing the
transition words: first, next, then, last, etc.
*TIPS*
If they need help, have them pretend to do the actions and
act it out.

More ideas to practice sequencing:

• Have your child give you steps for drawing a face! Be silly
and follow exactly what they say! If they say “first, draw
a circle. Then, draw eyes,” draw the eyes on top of the
circle! This will help them see that they need to be very
specific in their steps (and will give you both a good laugh)!

• Have your child give you steps

while you make a sandwich,
feed a pet, wash your hands,
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etc.

• Together, write a recipe for a

favorite snack!
 Instructions for Word Sorts

These are great for helping your child practice phonics skills.

Here are some steps to use it:

1. Cut apart the phonics headings and glue to a notebook (or

a blank piece of paper if you don’t have a notebook).
2. Review the target sounds and explain to your child that
they will sort the pictures under the corresponding sound.
3. Cut apart 1 picture at a time. Have your child say the word
slowly, identify the phonics skill, and write in the letters.
4. Glue in the correct column. When all are glued, color in!

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 r-controlled

ar or

c _ _ d ac _ _ n sh _ _ ts h _ _ p

j__ h _ _ se y _ _ n f__k

th _ _ n st _ _ h _ _ n sh _ _ k
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 Instructions for Spin-a-Story

This is great for writing practice, while encouraging creativity!

Here are some steps to use it:

1. Make a spinner by placing a paper clip onto the middle of

the circle. Use a pencil to hold it in place and flick the clip
with your finger.
2. Have your child spin to choose a writing prompt, color in
the prompt, and draw a story.
3. Have your child write a few sentences to tell the story.
*TIPS*
Encourage your child to reread as he/she writes. Often,
children will leave out or repeat words, or even forget what
they were going to write! Rereading will help them with editing
and remembering their story.

It’s ok if not every word is spelled accurately as your child

learns to spell! Encourage them to use these strategies
when spelling new words:
• say the word slowly and write any sounds they hear,
• remember phonics rules they’ve learned,
• look at the word bank,
• think of a similar word they can spell,
www.BrendaTejeda.com

• use the ABC chart (enclosed)

When done, ask them to go back and

make sure each sentence starts with a
capital and ends with a punctuation
mark.
Name _________________
Spin each spinner, and color the spaces you
land on. Then write a story!

got lost
in a garden

got planted a
stuck in giant
a beanstalk
beehive
found
magic
seeds
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________
 Instructions for Guided Reading Warm-ups

These pages are great for reviewing reading skills!

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Each section of the warm-ups has directions for

you to read. Simply read the directions to your child
and have them practice the skill. No writing
necessary, but they can color or highlight, if they’d
like!
2. These can be used alone or before reading a book
together. Remind students of these skills when they
are reading their books. 

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 Guided Reading Warm-Up Level C
Press each dot and say the sound. Then, blend to read. Which picture matches each word?

l e g t e n

f i x l o g

Read the sight words as fast as you can.

on a see a

. see I on see
Read the sentence. Reread fluently. Which words rhyme?

I see a frog on a log.

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 Guided Reading Warm-Up Level D
Press each dot and say the sound. Then, blend to read. Which picture matches each word?

ma t t u b

b o x b e d

Read each word, then reread smoothly. Use your finger to scoop the phrase.

on a mat in the bin

in a tub on the bed

.

Read the sentence. Reread smoothly while scooping.

The fox is in the box.

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 Instructions for Alphabet Mini-books

These pages are great for practicing letters and their sounds.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Fold each booklet so that your child’s name is on the

front.
2. Simply read the directions for each page and have your
child practice.

*TIPS*
You may want to keep these books in a shoebox, pencil box, or
plastic baggie for your child to reread and practice!

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 Instructions for Sight Word Mini-books

These pages are great for practicing sight words.

Here are some steps to use them:

1. Fold each booklet so that your child’s name is on the

front.
2. Have your child read the sentences for each word.
3. Simply read the directions for each remaining page and
have your child do the activity.

*TIPS*
You may want to keep these books in a shoebox, pencil box, or
plastic baggie for your child to reread and practice!

You can make a spinner by placing a paper clip on the middle

of the circle and holding a pencil through the opening to keep
the clip in place. Use your finger to flick the clip.

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 ©2013 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Tejeda

yellow to gray and

green of brown the

and the
and

of
and
to

color to match.
Find the words and

Highlight the words in the story, then illustrate.

Name ______________
a and to the of
My dog Sam and I
I see a flower.
went to the park. Sam
saw a cat and ran I see a dog and a cat.
out of the park!
The dog is on the desk.

We go to the zoo.

I see a lot of books.

 Click images to
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