The first week sets the tone for the entire year, so I built this unit to do real work instead of just "getting to know you" fluff. Across five days, students settle into routines, get moving with a Four Corners activity, listen to and respond to a real essay from This I Believe, build community through an All About Me collage, and give me a true read on where they are as writers and readers, all before a single grade hits the book.
The diagnostic data collected on Day 4 (Grade Level and Honors versions) tells me exactly who my readers and writers are from day one, while the Reading Life Survey gives me insight no test score ever could. Every piece is intentional: built for 90-minute blocks, aligned to the Alabama Course of Study, and designed to make the first week feel purposeful for both my students and me.