Margin Notes

We hope you had a restful summer and found time to recharge. The new school year brings with it a possibility with new students, new stories, and a chance to build communities where reading and writing are at the heart of our classrooms.

One of the best ways to set that tone is by starting with reading and writing on day one. While it’s tempting to spend the first days on routines and introductions, inviting students into meaningful literacy work right away sends a clear message that their voices and ideas matter most. Beginning with reading and writing helps students see themselves as part of a community of thinkers from the very start.

To support this work, we’ve gathered quickwrite texts and invitations to respond, organized by grade level. These short, engaging text are designed to spark thinking, writing, conversation, and connection on the very first day.

(You may need to open links using Microsoft Edge)

Grade 6 – Middle School Fears and Faves and The 6th Grade Nickname Game+ THE SIXTH GRADE NICKNAME GAME – EXCERPT

Grade 7 & 8 – THE SIXTH GRADE NICKNAME GAME – EXCERPT and Top Six And A Half Quickwrite + Top Six And A Half – How To Survive Middle School Excerpt

Grade 9 -12 – Quickwrite – FIRST DAY FLY BY JASON REYNOLDS and Quickwrite – First Impressions + Quickwrite Text – First Impressions

Here’s to another year of reading, writing, and learning together,

The ASDW Literacy Team