Get Ready to Read!
Early Literacy Activity of the Month
August 2007

Send a Message

Send a Message is an activity that you can do with one child or a group of children to help them practice using written language and drawings to communicate a message.

This activity is a ready to read activity, for children who have mastered many of the skills needed to learn to read and write. 

This activity is an emergent writing activity. Emergent writing refers to a child's beginning attempts to use print in a meaningful way.

Where can I find this activity? (The links below are PDF files that will open in a new window.)

Send a Message for one adult with one child, in English

Send a Message for one adult with a group of children, in English

Send a Message for one adult with one child, in Spanish

Send a Message for one adult with a group of children, in Spanish

My child is having trouble with this activity. How can I help?
If a child is having trouble with this activity, encourage the child to draw his or her message.  Then, ask the child to dictate the message to you as you write it near the drawing.   As you write, talk through the letters and sounds that you are writing, “thinking” out loud about what letter goes with the beginning and ending sounds of some of the words.  This will model the process of writing for the child.  As the child gains confidence and skill with letters and sounds, encourage him to try to write some of the words independently.