Teacher Newsletter for Read Write Think Activities in Your Classroom

Read Write Think is one of the most widely used free literacy resources available, and when your classroom uses it, families deserve to know what it is and why it matters. Your newsletter is the bridge between the tools students are using in class and the curiosity families have about what their child is learning.

Explain What Read Write Think Is

Open the newsletter with a clear description. Read Write Think is a free online resource supported by the International Literacy Association. It provides interactive graphic organizers, story maps, character analysis tools, and dozens of other activities designed to support reading and writing skills. Most tools work on any device with a web browser, which means students can use them at home and families can explore alongside them.

Name the Specific Tools Your Class Is Using

Generic descriptions of a resource are less useful than specific ones. If your class is using the Story Map this week to analyze the structure of a narrative text, say so. If students are using the Venn Diagram tool to compare two characters, name that. When families know the specific tool, they can look it up, try it with their child, and have a real conversation about what their child is learning to do.

Connect the Tool to the Current Literacy Goal

Every Read Write Think tool serves a specific literacy skill. Your newsletter should name that connection: we are using the Character Map because students are learning to analyze how a character's traits influence the story. That one sentence transforms the tool from a fun activity into a purposeful academic exercise in families' minds.

Encourage Home Exploration

Include the website address and a brief invitation for families to explore it with their child. Mention that most tools are free and work on tablets, laptops, and computers. Families who discover they can access the same tools as the classroom at home are more likely to follow up on the learning outside school hours.

Suggest a Specific At-Home Activity

Rather than a general "check out this website," suggest a specific activity: try the Story Map together using your child's favorite book. Use the Venn Diagram to compare two movies you have both seen. A concrete prompt makes the newsletter actionable rather than informational.

Reference the Resource in Future Newsletters

Literacy tools are most valuable when families see them as a consistent part of the classroom routine, not a one-time mention. Using Daystage, you can reference Read Write Think activities in your weekly literacy updates, building familiarity over the course of the year rather than introducing the resource in a single newsletter and moving on.