You know, the ones that will make your students interested when they sit and listen to the story, instead of rolling around on the carpet.
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What is a Read Aloud?
A read aloud is when a teacher, parent, caretaker, etc. chooses a book to read out loud to children.
Typically, teachers have certain picture books and chapter books that they use throughout the year to read to their class.
In my own third grade classroom, I would read aloud to start a lesson, or when we had free time.
But, I ALWAYS had a set time that my students knew I would be reading to them.
Each day when students returned from recess, I would use this time to allow them to sit quietly on the carpet and listen to the story.
Typically during this set time, I was picking up where we left off in the chapter book we were reading. But, sometimes I would choose a picture book.
I would choose to read aloud after recess because it allowed students time to calm down from all the running and yelling they did outside.
They would get to sit in a quiet room and just listen for about 20 minutes- just enough time for them to refocus their brains.
What are the Benefits of Read Alouds?
The benefits of read alouds are almost endless.
When students listen to you read a story, they are hearing what a good reader sounds like. They are listening to you change the pitch in your voice, make voices for characters, and the way you pause at punctuation.
They are also strengthening their listening comprehension, and being exposed to books they may not have chosen on their own.
Another benefit of listening to you read is practicing the skill of visualization. We all make pictures in our head of what different characters look like, and we create our own picture of the settings.
When students listen to you read books, they pick up on new vocabulary words that we may not use regularly.
And one of my favorite benefits is that students can learn complex life lessons in such a simply written story. They imagine themselves in the story and it sticks with them.
The benefits of listening to a story are endless.
First Week of School Read Alouds
You can find a picture book for just about anything you are teaching your students. I have picture books for math lessons, for teaching class rules, for social studies lessons, etc.
Read alouds are my favorite way to teach any type of lesson. I use picture books DAILY in my classroom.
If there is ever a conflict between students, I’m positive I have a book for that.
This is why I center the first week of school around teaching rules and procedures and using picture books to help reinforce those rules.
If you grab my back to school checklist, my classroom rules and procedures slideshow, and the picture books below, you will be SET for the first week (or more). These 3 things will help you set clear expectations for your school year.
Best First Week of School Read Alouds
I am going to give you my list of the top 5 first week of school read alouds.
I chose 5 books for the first 5 days of school.
I suggest reading one per day. If you have time, try and do an activity to go along with each book after you discuss the topic with your class.
This will help your students to really remember that skill.
Each of these books teach a different type of lesson- from anti bullying, consequences of not following the rules, manners, and more.
These books are books that you can refer back to all year long to reteach the lessons that come from each of them.
1. The Awkward Avocado by C.J. Zachary
Grab your copy, here on Amazon OR here on Book Baby!
This book is perfect to read at the beginning of the year when you are teaching your class to be themselves. This book goes through many examples of an Awkward Avocado learning that it’s okay to be different.
*Keep this book on display ALL YEAR as an easy reminder as your students see the cover each day*
2. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Get your own copy, here.
This book is extremely powerful to teach kindness in the classroom.
This story is about a young girl and her friends who have a new student named Maya join their class. They notice her shaggy clothes and dirty shoes, and decide to start making fun of her.
They whisper about her at recess, and refuse to be friends with her.
But one day, Maya doesn’t show back up to school. When the teacher is teaching a lesson about kindness, the young girl feels guilty about how she treats Maya.
However, Maya doesn’t show back up to school, so the girl doesn’t get a second chance.
3. What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Grab your own copy, here!
This book is the number one book that I refer back to ALL year long.
I constantly use the phrase “what if everybody did that?” after reading this story as a reminder to students.
In this story, each page shows a little boy doing something that may seem like no big deal. But, if you think about what would happen if EVERYBODY did that, it makes you realize why we have the small rules we have in life.
For example, the librarian is reading a story, and you can’t wait til the end, so you shout out instead! Seems like no big deal.
But, what if everybody did that? The author does a great job of showing examples of chaos with illustrations in each scenario.
4. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Grab your own copy, here!
If you are looking for a book about accepting students of all backgrounds, this book is perfect.
This book is about a little girl that moves to America from Korea.
She is nervous about the kids in America liking her already, and she knows that no one will be able to pronounce her name. So on the first day, instead of introducing herself with her real name, she tells her classmates that she will choose a name by the end of the week.
The class starts a name jar to help her decide on a name- names like Suzy, Laura and Amanda.
But one day, a classmate of hers finds out her real name- and that it has a special meaning.
The name jar disappears and Unhei is encouraged by the classmate to go by her Korean name. She even was able to help everyone pronounce it- Yoon-Hey.
5. Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
You can purchase a copy, here!
Anything by Patricia Polacco is fantastic. This is one of my favorites to read aloud to teach students that it’s okay to struggle with school.
This book made me cry the first time I read it. A little girl has waited years to be able to read. Growing up with her grandparents, she has watched older siblings learn to read and her grandparents always promised that she, too would read one day. But she starts school and struggles with reading.
She makes it all the way to 5th grade without any teacher realizing that she can’t read. She gets bullied, her grandparents pass away, and she moves across the country.
It was then that her 5th grade teacher, Mr. Falker, learned that she couldn’t read. Through tutoring and extra help, she is diagnosed with dyslexia. She eventually learns to read.
You later find out that this is a true story- the author of the book, Patricia Polacco, is the little girl in the story with dyslexia.
You’ll have to read the last page for yourself- I promise you’ll get tears just like I did.
The students in my class GASP each year as I read this story.
6. Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller
Grab your own copy, here!
This book is great for teaching back to school vocabulary, manners, and how to treat others.
This is a light hearted story about a family of Otters moving into a new neighborhood. When they introduce themselves to the rabbits, the rabbits panic because they don’t know anything about Otters.
So the Otters teach them a saying they’ve heard- “Do unto Otters as you would have Otters do to you.”
So they begin going through ways they would like Otters to treat them, with examples of each word. “Well, i’d like Otters to be FRIENDLY. A cheerful hello, a nice smile, and good eye contact!”
The book goes through several words and examples of what each one looks like.
More Resources You May Enjoy
Check out this post by The Tacky Teacher– 25 Books that Teach Kindness in the Classroom
Deedee from Thinking Third Grade wrote this wonderful post about the importance of read alouds- Why Read Alouds Are a Non-Negotiable
Classroom Routines and Procedures Slideshow – Done for you slideshow to help you teach your back to school routines and procedures.
Download my FREE rules and procedures CHECKLIST, here!
