Start your independent reading routines off right with this easy lesson! Download for proper formatting. Link to the full set of reading journal plans: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Start-the-Reading-Year-Beginning-of-the-Year-Lesson-Plans-for-Reading-146737

1. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
Lesson Plan: Meet and Greet
Goal: Students will get to know the other students in the class by
participating in a “meet and greet” activity.
What you will need
-Reading Meet and Greet page for each student (pages 16 and
17. Choose which version would work best for your students.)
-Chart paper
-Selection of the best high-interest books from your classroom
library shelves (I always include lots of nonfiction.)
At the start of the lesson
This is a good lesson for the very first day of reading class. The
goal is to get students talking to each other, focused on literacy,
and reading books.
1. As students enter, hand out the Reading Meet and Greet
page with minimal comments. Encourage students to read
the directions and circulate around the room. Help out
anyone who seems stuck.
2. Set a timer for five minutes. At the end of the time, gather
the students together. What did they learn about one
another? Keep this discussion brief and upbeat.
3. Have students circle three items on the list that they have
done. Then, pair up students to talk about those items in-
depth with a partner. While students are doing this, put piles
of high-interest books on desks or tables throughout the room.
4. Gather everyone back together to talk about what they
learned. Make a chart: “What we know about our reading
class” Encourage students to share comments about what
other students have read or done.

2. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
5. Tell students, “Now, the most important part of reading
class is reading! You’ve probably noticed that I have books
all over the room. Who already sees a book that interests
them?” If more than 10 kids raise their hands, you’re in good
shape for the year! If 10 kids have brought their own books
from home, you have a dream class!
6. “Before we start reading time, let’s look at some rules.” Give
kids basic rules for reading time. Later, we’ll put together a
more developed set of rules. This is just to get us started.
My basic rules are: Sit in a just-right spot, Focus on the
book, and Stay quiet. Usually students will generate these
rules on their own.
7. Once rules are done, send the kids who know what book
they want away to get them and settle down somewhere in
the classroom. I do quick book talks for everyone else.
Usually, I can whittle down the group to 5 holdouts pretty
quickly. I give these picky kids some extra attention to help
them find a book they can live with, with the added advice:
“This may not be your favorite book ever. We’re just trying
things out today.” I have lots of easy picture books and even
wordless books available for these kids. The key for this first
day is to give everyone a positive experience!
8. Silence. You might manage to get 10 minutes of sustained
reading time. Don’t let it go too long, and be sure to
circulate to keep everyone reading. (You will probably have
some students who wish to exchange books in this time.
This is fine!)
9. Gather the students back together to talk about their
books. Who found a book they want to keep reading? Who
wants to keep browsing?
a. I don’t let kids take books from my classroom library
home in the first week of school. Instead, we have

3. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
book for “Still Reading” and students mark their books
with sticky notes on the cover.
10. Closure: Go back to the list of “What we know about
our reading class.” What can we add? What are we looking
forward to doing together?
Find the full lesson: Start the Reading Year
Reading Meet and Greet
Learn about your classmates! Find a person who has done each
one of the items below. Have that person write their initials on the
line. See how many boxes you can get filled in before time is up.
Has read a
mystery book
_________
Has used a recipe
to make
something
_________
Visited the library
over the summer
________
Has read a menu
at a restaurant
________
Has read a fantasy
book
_________
Has read a book
aloud to a
younger child
________
Has read a
nonfiction book
about animals
________
Has used a map
to get somewhere
_________
Has read a book
AND seen the
movie version
________

4. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
Has followed
directions from
the Internet
________
Has learned how
to play a game by
reading directions
_______
Has read a
historical fiction
book
________
Has read a
biography
________
Has looked up the
meaning of a
word
_________
Can name a
favorite author
________
Has read all of the
books in a series
________
Has used the
guide feature on
the TV
_________
Has used
directions to put
something
together ________

5. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
Reading Meet and Greet
Learn about your classmates!
 Read each box below.
 Find someone who can answer “Yes!” to each box.
 Ask that person to write their initials in the box.
Visited the library over the
summer
_________________________
Has used a recipe to make
something
_________________________
Has read a menu at a
restaurant
_________________________
Has read a book aloud to a
younger child
_________________________
Has read a nonfiction book
about animals
_________________________
Has used the guide feature
on the TV
_________________________
Has read a book AND seen
the movie version
_________________________
Has looked up the meaning
of a word
_________________________

6. Emily Kissner 2018 For classroom use only
Has learned how to play a
game by reading directions
_________________________
Has used directions to put
something together
_________________________