BTS Read Alouds

So for several teachers September is Back to School month. For our state, we began a few weeks ago. One activity I highly recommend are Read Alouds throughout the first week. Children love read alouds (especially my third graders)! I find this a great time to practice using listening skills, procedures, talking about reading strategies (without students really knowing they're learning reading strategies) and modeling good reading techniques.

I read books that are exciting and focuses on students' feelings of the first day/week of school, independence and teamwork. After each read aloud, the students complete an assignment that goes along with the book, which helps incorporate a written response to the stories (this is also a good way to learn about students' writing and artistic skills). Some of the books, if not all, are quite familiar to teachers. Check below to see what we enjoy and hopefully you will too.

One of my all time favorites! I first heard of this story when I became a third grade teacher because it was the first story in our basal. The students are always amazed to find out that Sarah Jane Hartwell is not only a nervous wreck about her first day, but that she's also the new teacher at her school!

Amy Krouse Rosenthal has to be one of my favorite children's authors. This book is a great source when teaching students about significance of independence and teamwork.

The Miss Nelson series have to be an all around all time favorite by many! In particular, I read Miss Nelson is Missing to focus on the importance of behavior and what's expected and not expected in the classroom. My students always get a kick out of the students change of heart after meeting Miss Viola Swamp. 

This is another of my favorites by Amy Krouse Rosenthal! Exclamation Mark teaches students to understand and determine their own unique abilities and realize that everyone is different. It's another great book to discuss being an individual and making yourself stand out.

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon is the sweetest book about a student meeting his teacher on the first day of school. He doesn't know what to expect other than what he's previously heard from others about his teacher. I asked my students how they felt about meeting their teacher this year and most said that they already knew me so they were happy. One student said that his brother (who was in my class the previous year) told him that I was mean. (LOL) I just wanted my students to make connections with the main character and with each other to see that everyone has some sort of 'jitters' on the first day of school.

So definitely collect some great Read Alouds for the first week back and have students make connections to themselves and the classroom expectations! Whether you think the stories will be exciting or not, your students will love them regardless...especially if they are some of your favorites!