High school students need to engage in getting-to-know-each-other activities during the first week of school. By incorporating these activities into your first week while you discuss rules and expectations, you will create a high level of comfort and begin forging relationships that will make your classroom successful for the rest of the year. The diagnostics are any-level user friendly and will give you a good idea of where your students are with their writing, vocabulary, and reading skills.

Students will:

1. Work cooperatively
2. Access prior knowledge
3. Display essay writing and prior literary terms knowledge
4. Develop collegial relationships with classmates
5. Create "Bio Poems"
6. Make verbal presentations
7. Use context clues
8. Think critically

Lesson 1: Hey Teachers! Get to Know Me!

Lesson 2: Hey Classmates! Let's Get to Know One Another!

Lesson 3: Writing Diagnostics and Introduction to Literary Terms

Culminating Activity

After introducing the literary terms, have students work in groups to create a story that includes a protagonist, antagonist, conflict, climax, conclusion, setting, and any other literary elements that you choose. Have them present the story, or a part of it, in a creative way (i.e., drawing a storyboard, acting, etc.).

Supporting Books

Books for Starting High School English Class Off Right