Getting Down to Business

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I believe it is important to begin the year with a project that allows me to quickly get to know my students and to assess their reading and writing skills. A quick writing and computer activity helps everyone get to know each other while I begin the assessment of each student. Next, a review of academic success strategies and the establishment of expectations set the tone for a successful year.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Create a brochure about themselves and share with class.
2. Be assessed in reading and writing for baseline data and instructional decisions.
3. Review success strategies for content classes.
4. Learn the routines of the READ 180 classroom
5. Make class commitments to create the ideal classroom environment.

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: A Great Beginning
Lesson 2: READ 180 Routine Assessment
Lesson 3: Beginning the READ 180 Routine – Teaching the Rotations

REPRODUCIBLES
Nonfiction Reading Comprehension (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

After brainstorming ideas, students write a description of their ideal classroom and share their commitments to make this class ideal. We include anti-bullying information and expectations of the school, as well as my expectations, to create a display of the classroom climate we agree to maintain.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for a Great Start

Laurence Yep's Dragonwings
Presents organized steps to providing thorough, hands-on lessons in literary analysis, including research, discussion, graphing, and writing.

A Dog's Life Teaching Guide
This reader's guide, which focuses on the book A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin, challenges students to create stories from a first- or third-person...

ARTICLE	Teacher Activity Guide: Milly and the Macy's Parade Find quick learning activities and thought-provoking printables to enhance the experience of reading Milly and the Macy's Parade with your class.
LESSON PLAN	READ 180 Routine Assessment Presents the steps involved in an effective Read 180 reading assessment.