1.
April 9, 2013
Dear Phersphlao family,
My name is Emily Mitchell and I am a student at Towson University. Over the past few months
I have spent time in your child’s Kindergarten classroom as a student intern. For a school
assignment, I was asked to create a family literacy bag for one student in my Kindergarten
classroom. I’m happy to share that I chose your child and have developed a specialized
literacy bag just for you and your family!
A literacy bag is a great opportunity for families to share literacy and learning experiences at
home together in a fun and educational way. This dog themed literacy bag includes various
books and enrichment activities intended for the whole family to enjoy. The purpose of this
bag is to encourage a love for reading while also fostering your child’s literacy development.
In your family literacy bag you will find seven dog-themed books and five enrichment
activities which correspond with the books. As you and your child engage in each of the
activities he will be developing important early literacy skills. Each activity is organized in its
own folder along with everything you will need to complete the activity. On the front of
each folder the activity directions are explained, as well as a description of the specific early
literacy learning skills your child will develop with each.
Attached to this letter you can find an overview of all books and activities included in this
literacy bag. It is important that you review the attached page prior to beginning your
literacy bag journey. The overview will provide information as to when each activity should
be completed, corresponding books and activities, early literacy learning and other relevant
information.
Remember, this literacy bag is meant to be exciting and rewarding for the whole family.
Please take your time and enjoy all of the books and activities with your child! The literacy
bag should be returned to school by April 17th. Prior to returning the bag, please take the
time to complete the Family Evaluation Form, located in the parent folder.
Additionally, please be sure to use the Literacy Bag Checklist (located in the parent folder)
to ensure all items are included in the bag before returning to school.
Happy Reading,
Emily Mitchell

2.
An Overview of Literacy Bag Activities
First:
Before jumping into this exciting bag there are two activities for your child to complete:
Reading buddy and Dog bookmark
To complete these activities refer to the directions page located in the parent folder
Second:
Before any reading begins your child needs to be introduced to the activity labeled “Doggy
Detective.” This will be an ongoing activity as you and your child read. When you’re ready to begin
please refer to the directions on the red folder labeled “Doggy Detective.” Important: Get your child
excited for this activity by explaining to him that once he has found all 10 golden paw prints he will
unlock the “top secret folder” which has a secret game inside! Please do not allow your child to open
this folder until “Doggy Detective” has been completed.
Activity
When to complete
Part 1: First
Reading Buddy
Book Association
Part 1:All/ any
Part 2: Your Choice
Bookmark
Part 2: Biscuit and
the Little Pup
First
Color
Folder/Label
Selfconfidence/
reading skills
Green “Parent
Folder”
As needed
Doggy Detective
Sight Word hunt
Second
“Top Secret Game”
Sight word BINGO
After you’ve
completed Doggy
Detective
N/A
Fetch a Rhyme
Your choice
The Digging-est
Dog
A Messy Day
Magnetic story board
Your choice, but
complete this
activity before
doing Retelling
Rocket activity
Dog’s Colorful Day
Your choice
How Rocket
Learned to Read
Retelling Rocket
Learning Skill
Multiple books
(Listed below)
Green “Parent
Folder”
Sight word
knowledge/
spelling
Sight word
recognition/
reading
fluency
Phonemic
awareness/
rhyming/
Manila envelop
“Top Secret”
Story
sequencing/
retelling
Green “A Messy
Day”
Story
comprehension/
retelling
Red “Doggy
Detective”
Blue “Fetch a
Rhyme”
Yellow “Retelling
Rocket”
Books Used for Sight Word Hunt:
Slippers at School by: Andrew Clements
How Rocket Learned to Read by: Tad Hills
Cool Dog, School Dog by: Deborah Heiligman
The Digging-est Dog by: Al Perkins
Dog Loves Books by: Louise Yates

3.
Reading Buddy Directions:
The first part of this activity is to introduce the reading buddy to your child by reading him the
following poem:
I am your little reading buddy,
quiet as can be.
I will listen to you,
as you read to me.
Read to me anywhere,
anytime you can.
You will soon find,
I am your biggest fan!
Next, have your child name his reading buddy and decorate a collar for him (crayons and
glue are provided in the front of the bag).
-Color “dog collar” strip
-Fit around dog’s neck and glue
Encourage your child to bring his reading buddy with him when he listens to stories from the
literacy bag.
The purpose of a reading buddy is to give confidence to beginning readers and foster
reading mastery and oral reading skills.
Part 2: To develop your child’s oral reading skills have him read age appropriate books to his
reading buddy, such as Biscuit and the Little Pup which is included in the literacy bag. The
reading buddy is yours to keep! Continue encouraging your child to read to his reading
buddy to build confidence in his oral reading skills.
Bookmark Directions:
Use the crayons provided to decorate a dog bookmark for you to keep! You may need to
use the bookmark during your readings- if so, just hook the dog’s mouth over the page
you’re stopping on. When you’re ready to begin reading again you will be able to open
right up to where you left off. It is a good idea to review with your child what was previously
read before continuing the story to increase his comprehension of the story.

4.
Dog Family Literacy Bag Checklist
Before returning this bag to school, please ensure that all of the following items are included.
THANK YOU!
Books
o Biscuit and the Little Pup by: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
o Slippers at School by: Andrew Clements
o Dog’s Colorful Day by: Emma Dodd
o Cool Dog, School Dog by: Deborah Heiligman
o How Rocket Learned to Read by: Tad Hills
o The Digging-est Dog by: Al Perkins
o Dog Loves Books by: Louise Yates
Activities
€ Doggy Detective folder
o 10 magnifying glass sight words
€ Top Secret envelop
o 4 BINGO game boards
o 15 dog calling cards
o 40 paw print chips
€ Fetch a Rhyme folder
o 2 dog house folders
o 6 bones on popsicle sticks
o 8 dog bone words
o 6 dog bone pictures
o 8 paper bowls
o 1 ball
€ A Messy Day folder
o 1 magnetic board
o 1 magnetic dog
o 9 colored spots and 9 colored objects
o 1 sponge
€ Retelling Rocket folder
o Retelling rocket page
o Assembled mini story book
Other
€
€
€
€
€
€
1 box of Crayola Crayons
Glue stick
3 dry erase markers
Dog bone cookie cutter
Family folder
Completed evaluation form