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Letter Writing Preparation

English • 40 • 24 students • Created with AI following Aligned with the NCCA Primary Curriculum, Junior Cycle & Senior Cycle (Leaving Cert) specifications

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English
40
24 students
21 April 2025

Teaching Instructions

Lesson 4: Strand(s): Oral Language, Reading, Writing Element(s): Exploring and Using: Guided Writing using a template First draft Walt (Plan and write a letter first draft ) follow in from this plan done day before - reminding them of key features of letter writting / writting checklist -full stops capital letters commas etc/ i do will be shown by teacher (sample letter written to my buddy )/ teacher will give posters to children done yesterday in group so they can look at phrases etc. /we do will be ruling writting in the title and todays date you do will be at to use today our writting the draft letter copy books together and this draft will be completed in their copy ruled dated once this is finished and corrected teacher will give children an envoplope to write the childs name on for tommorow writting the letter. Conclusion two stars and a wish with partners letter share feedback in class. ST Name: Aoife Masterson ST Number: 40023275 Class Level: First Class Date: 30 /04/25

Subject: English Time: 1.20-2.00 Duration of Lesson: 40 mins No of Pupils: 24

Strand(s): Oral Language, Writing, Reading,

Element(s): Exploring and Using Language, Communication Understanding

Learning Outcome(s): • LO7 (R) Experience and respond to the aesthetic, creative and imaginative aspects of texts and a wider range of genres justifying preferences and opinions. • LOL9 (OL) Listen and respond to the aesthetic and creative aspects of language and use language playfully and creatively, and across other languages as appropriate. • LO6 (W) Explore and use the typical text structure and language features associated with a variety of genres. • LO7 (W) Use the writing process when creating texts collaboratively or independently.

Focus of the new learning/Learning Objectives: (Two are required. One other may be added if deemed necessary)

  1. The child should be enabled to identify and recall the key features of letter writing
  2. The child should be enabled to collaboratively brainstorm their ideas for tomorrow’s letter to their buddy
  3. The child should be enabled to work colabrartry in creating their group poster together. Assessment:
  4. Method: Observation and teacher questioning during group tasks
  5. Assessment of: Understanding of letter format, engagement with brainstorm
  6. To be recorded: Group contribution notes, individual reflection from gallery walk Teacher Questioning: (Insert I, D, C for relevant part of lesson) Lower order questions (Closed Questions)
  7. What is the first part of a letter? (I)
  8. How do we end a letter? (I)
  9. What do I want to know about 4th Class(D) Higher order questions (Open Questions)
  10. Why do our buddies give us “light”? (D)
  11. What’s one great idea you’ll use in your letter tomorrow? (C)
  12. What’s one thing you saw on someone else’s poster that you liked? (C) Language Development opportunities in this lesson: Buddy, Signature, Questions,, Curious, , Grateful, , Friendship Encourage correct use in group posters and future draft letters Practice turn-taking and sentence starters such as : o “I wonder if…” o “Maybe we could ask…” o “I want to tell them about…” Literacy Development opportunities in this lesson: Oral Language: Recall and discuss letter parts; share ideas in groups; Think-Pair-Share reflections. Reading: Read and refer to brainstorm prompts and letter structure visuals. Writing (Pre-Writing): Use key vocabulary (greeting, message, closing, buddy); organise ideas on poster for tomorrow’s letter.

Teaching Methodologies: Please underline the primary methodology/ies to be used during the lesson. • All Subjects: Talk and Discussion, Collaborative/Co-operative Learning, Active Learning, Skills Through Content, Using Local Environment, Problem Solving

Introduction: (10 mins) Stimulus:

Elicit Prior Knowledge:

Share Learning Intention: Review Game – Whole Class • Stimulus: Flashcards with letter parts (e.g., Date, Greeting, Body, Closing) placed in the wrong order on the whiteboard • Pupils work as a class to rearrange them in the correct sequence • Say each word aloud in silly voices to boost engagement and recall • Elicit Prior Knowledge: o “Who remembers what part comes first?” o “What part do we write at the end?” Share Learning Intention (WALT): “Today, we’re getting ready to write to our buddy in Fourth Class! We’ll remind ourselves what goes into a letter and work together to plan what we want to say.”

Development: (25 mins) Development (25 mins) I Do – Teacher Modelling (Poster Brainstorm) – 5 mins • Teacher explains that tomorrow we will write our first draft in our copies • On the secondary whiteboard, the teacher models how to brainstorm ideas using a poster layout • Introduces 4 PowerPoint questions on the board for pupils to answer as a guide:

  1. What do I want to tell my buddy?
  2. What do I want to ask them?
  3. Why do they give me “light”?
  4. What do I want to know about 4th Class? • Teacher uses different colours to highlight different sections (idea: use colours to match letter structure) We Do – Group Start Together – 10 mins • Children work in mixed-ability groups • Teacher models answering Question 1 together as a class (e.g., “What do I want to tell my buddy?”) • Groups record this shared answer on their own posters • Teacher circulates, checking understanding and reminding pupils to use the PowerPoint as a guide

You Do – Group Brainstorm Continues – 10 mins • Groups continue working through the remaining questions • Pupils use drawings, bullet points, or words to fill out their brainstorm poster Teacher supports targeted pupils with prompts like “What do you want to tell them about Easter?” or “What’s one nice thing about your buddy?” Conclusion: Cognitive:

Social:

Transition (if appropriate): Gallery Walk & Reflection • Pupils walk around the classroom to view other groups’ posters • Think-Pair-Share Prompts: o “What’s one great idea you’ll use in your letter tomorrow?” o “What’s one thing you saw on someone else’s poster that you liked?” o Allow one or two groups to share thoughts o Teacher will conclude reaffirming the importance of planning when writing anything for the future. o Social: Children will tidy up desk, clean up resources and give the group work posters to the teacher o Transition Children will line up in the classroom to prepare for their outdoor movement break. Hook for Tomorrow: “Tomorrow we will write our first draft of our own letter to send to our buddies in our copies.  Universal Design for Learning:  State how you will provide an inclusive learning environment. You may consider how you use Lesson Content, Activities, Resources, Product/Expectations, Class Environment, Teaching Strategies, Pace or Groupings to provide appropriate Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Remember to consider different interests, learning styles, experiences and abilities. Please use generic identifier-pupil 1,2,3. Please do not use any criteria which identify the specific pupil by initials, date of birth, name etc. Insert additional rows as required.

Pupil(s) Reason(s) Method(s) Additional Comments P5,

P11,

P14

P21

P5 Need: Emotionally sensitive, struggles with task initiation and self-esteem.

P11 Need: Needs extra time for reading and slower pace.

P14 Need: Struggles with task initiation, focus and completing tasks.

P21 Need: Slow to start tasks, requires extra prompts

Paired with supportive peer, fun review game, positive feedback, micro choice focus on two out of the four questions so he doesn’t get overwhelmed.  

Give micro choice focus on two out of the four questions to help with time, repeated instructions.

Dyslexic friendly print so easier to follow questions on board. Visuals reminders beside text to help stay on task.

Dyslexic friendly print so easier to follow questions on board. Visuals reminders beside text to help stay on task. Targeted support & encouragement during group work.

Targeted support & encouragement. Praise for effort and starting

P1, P8, P19 P1 Bright but struggles with focus at times. P8 Need: Quick worker, may rush tasks P19 Bright -may rush through tasks. Encouraged to expand on ideas, support others, or suggest extra questions for buddy. Encourage self-reflection of work.

The Learning Environment Resources: The classroom will be arranged for collaboration, with students working in small groups. Differentiation will ensure all students are supported, with some receiving one-on-one help from during the group work task. • Flashcards of letter Key Features PowerPoint with 4 question prompts • Two whiteboards (one for sample brainstorm) • Poster paper and markers for groups

Letter Writing Preparation

Overview

This 40-minute lesson is designed for 24 First Class students following the Irish Primary Language Curriculum (PLC) for English. It continues a multi-day sequence on letter writing, focusing on recall, collaboration, and pre-writing skills, preparing pupils for drafting their own letters to buddies in Fourth Class. The lesson integrates oral language, reading, and writing strands with active, co-operative learning methodologies. Differentiation and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles are embedded to support diverse learner needs.


Curriculum Links

  • Primary Language Curriculum (Ireland)
    • Oral Language: Strand - Exploring and Using; Element - Communication and Understanding
    • Reading: Strand - Exploring and Using; Element - Text Features and Genres
    • Writing: Strand - Exploring and Using; Elements - Writing Process, Genre Features
    • Learning Outcomes addressed:
      • LO7 (Reading) – Experience and respond to creative aspects of texts
      • LO9 (Oral Language) – Use playful and creative language
      • LO6 (Writing) – Use typical text features associated with genres
      • LO7 (Writing) – Use writing process collaboratively and independently

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

  1. Identify and recall the key features and structure of a letter (greeting, body, closing, signature).
  2. Collaboratively brainstorm relevant content for their buddy letter using guiding questions.
  3. Create and contribute actively to a group poster to organise ideas for their draft letter.

Assessment

  • Method: Observation & questioning during group work and gallery walk.
  • Assessment Focus: Understanding of letter format, engagement in group discussion, quality of brainstorm ideas.
  • Recording: Teacher notes on group contributions and pupil reflections during Think-Pair-Share.

Key Vocabulary

Buddy, Signature, Question, Curious, Grateful, Friendship, Greeting, Closing


Teaching Methodology

Primary methodologies underlined

  • Talk and Discussion
  • Collaborative/Co-operative Learning
  • Active Learning
  • Skills Through Content
  • Using Local Environment
  • Problem Solving

Lesson Outline

1. Introduction (10 mins)

Stimulus: Rearrange the Letter!

  • Display flashcards with letter parts: "Date," "Greeting," "Body," "Closing," "Signature" randomly placed.
  • Involve the whole class in rearranging the parts into correct order on the board. Use silly voices when pronouncing each part to increase engagement and memory retention.

Elicit Prior Knowledge:

  • Teacher asks:
    • "Who remembers what part comes first in a letter?" (LOI)
    • "What do we write at the end of a letter?" (LOI)
  • Brief recap on punctuation needed in letters (full stops, capital letters, commas).

Share Learning Intention (WALT):

  • "Today, we’re preparing to write a letter to our buddies in Fourth Class. We will remind ourselves what goes into a letter and work together to plan what we want to say."

2. Development (25 mins)

I Do (Teacher Modelling) — 5 mins

  • Using a secondary whiteboard/projector, teacher models brainstorming ideas using a poster template divided into four coloured sections (matching letter parts):
    1. What do I want to tell my buddy?
    2. What do I want to ask my buddy?
    3. Why do our buddies give us “light”?
    4. What do I want to know about Fourth Class?
  • Teacher thinks aloud, writing sample answers with different coloured markers in corresponding sections, demonstrating sentence starters like "I wonder if..." and "Maybe we could ask..."

We Do (Group Start Together) — 10 mins

  • Pupils form mixed-ability groups of 4-5.
  • Teacher facilitates class-wide discussion for Question 1, modelling collaborative idea generation.
  • Groups record company answers on poster paper in their assigned section for Question 1.
  • Teacher circulates, scaffolding and prompting, reminding pupils to refer to posters created the previous day.

You Do (Group Brainstorm Continues) — 10 mins

  • Pupils continue in groups to address Questions 2, 3, and 4 using drawings, short phrases, and key words on posters.
  • Teacher provides targeted support to P5, P11, P14, P21 with tailored prompts and encouragement.
  • Group members practice turn-taking and sentence starters to encourage oral language use.

3. Conclusion (5 mins)

Gallery Walk & Peer Reflection

  • Pupils walk around the classroom, observing other groups' posters.
  • In pairs, pupils use Think-Pair-Share prompts:
    • "What’s one great idea you’ll use in your letter tomorrow?"
    • "What’s one thing you saw on someone else’s poster that you liked?"
  • Select 1-2 groups to share reflections aloud.
  • Teacher reinforces the importance of planning before writing.
  • Pupils tidy and hand in posters.

Transition Activity:

  • Line up ready for an outdoor movement break.

Hook for Tomorrow:

  • "Tomorrow, you will write the first draft of your letter to your buddy in your copybooks using the poster we made today!"

Differentiation & Inclusion (Universal Design for Learning)

Pupil(s)Need DescriptionStrategiesComments
P5Emotionally sensitive, struggles with task initiation and self-esteemPaired with supportive peer; positive feedback; micro-choice focus on 2 of 4 questions to avoid overloadProvide extra encouragement; celebrate small successes
P11Extra time needed for reading and slower paceDyslexic-friendly print; visuals next to text; repeated instructionsUse clear, large font for prompts; calm, patient approach
P14Difficulty initiating, focusing, completing tasksTargeted prompts during group work; chunking tasks; encouragementAllow breaks if needed; use checklist for task completion
P21Slow to start; needs extra promptsFrequent check-ins; praise for starting tasksGradual increase of independence across lessons
P1, P8, P19Bright pupils; varied focus and paceEncourage extension of ideas; support peer group; promote self-reflectionChallenge to generate extra questions; scaffold complex language
  • The classroom’s collaborative seating supports peer interaction and scaffolding.
  • Multi-sensory inputs (visual, oral, kinesthetic) are used to accommodate different learning styles.
  • Encouragement of sentence starters aids language confidence.

Resources Needed

  • Flashcards of letter parts (Date, Greeting, Body, Closing, Signature)
  • Interactive whiteboard / secondary whiteboard
  • PowerPoint slide with the 4 guiding questions
  • Poster papers and markers (various colours) for group brainstorming
  • Copies of posters created in previous lesson for reference
  • Copies of writing checklist including punctuation rules

Teacher Questioning Examples

Question TypeQuestionPart of Lesson
Lower order (Closed)What is the first part of a letter?Introduction
How do we end a letter?Introduction
Lower order (Diagnostic)What do I want to know about Fourth Class?Development
Higher order (Open)Why do our buddies give us “light”?Development
What’s one great idea you’ll use in your letter tomorrow?Conclusion
What’s one thing you saw on someone else’s poster that you liked?Conclusion

Literacy Development Focus

  • Oral Language: Recalling letter features; sharing ideas; collaborative discussions using sentence starters.
  • Reading: Referring to key prompts and letter structure posters from prior lessons.
  • Writing (Pre-Writing): Using vocabulary to organise thoughts neatly on group posters.

Reflection Notes for Teachers

  • How engaged were pupils during the flashcard sequencing?
  • Did all groups contribute equally to their posters?
  • Which sentence starters helped pupils articulate ideas best?
  • Which pupils needed most support and what strategies were effective?
  • How well did the gallery walk foster appreciation of peer ideas?

Prepare for tomorrow’s main task by collecting pupils’ posters and distributing personalised envelopes for their letters, to be addressed and decorated during the next session.


End of Plan

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