My 6 year old niece entered first grade last week. I encourage her to practice her reading skills by sending her one page notes in the mail that she can read herself. I make them with my greeting card program. I try to use simple words I think she will know, incorporating a few she can decode from context clues. I try to use pictures that will attract her attention. She really enjoys them and her mother is so excited that she can read them aloud.
I send a separate note to her younger brother later, so that each child gets something in the mail, but on a different day.