20 Must Have Read-Alouds For Your Primary Classroom

     Read Aloud is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE parts of the school day. This isn't really surprising though, since I myself am an avid reader, and always have been. Some of my fondest childhood memories include summertime trips to the library with my mom, where she would let me check out STACKS of books to bring home, and then spending hours upon hours lying on my bed surrounded by those books caught up in all kinds of imaginary tales. Even now, as an adult, I always have a good book (or two) with me, because honestly, reading soothes my soul.

     That being said, I have several "go-to" read alouds in my first grade classroom that I sprinkle throughout my school year for those times when one or all of our souls in the classroom could use a little soothing. Many on this list are just plain laugh-out-loud funny, most of them are thought provoking, and all of them leave my students asking for an encore EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!

     Here is a list of some of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE classroom read alouds, in no particular order. (Book list contains affiliate links.) *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins Penelope Rex cannot wait to meet her classmates on the first day of school, but she soon finds out the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated. You see, Penelope's classmates are humans...and they sure are delicious! However, eating your classmates certainly doesn't make you the most popular kid in the class. Penelope learns how to curb her appetite when she gets a taste of her own medicine!

The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill Mean Jean is the Recess Queen and nobody will DARE tell her she isn't. Until a new girl moves in and teaches everyone a lesson or two. My students and I especially love the rhyming text of this one, and the fact that the teeny, tiny new girl becomes the hero in the end!

Ralph Tells A Story by Abby Hanlon Ralph finds writing time one of the most difficult times of the day. He can NEVER think of something to write about, because NOTHING ever happens to him! (Sound familiar??!!) His classmates soon help him understand that stories can be about anything, and he really does have LOTS of stories to tell! Young students can really relate to this book! I use this one over and over again during writing conferences!

Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston This is another rhyming book that my students fall in love with EVERY YEAR! Finklehopper Frog wants to try jogging, but when he does, all the other animals tease him and make fun of him. He meets a rabbit who teaches him that the perfect thing to do is to be himself and to do what he loves! It is a great reminder about individuality, and we revisit this one often throughout the school year. 

Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements Talk about a dislike for vegetables!!!??? One touch of a pea to his lips, and this guy turns into a VEGGIE MONSTER!!!! He puts on a dramatic show at the dinner table for his parents EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!! Prepare yourself for the most entertaining, best vegetable hating, food-boycotting stories from your students after reading this one!!!! (Seems lots of kids can relate! Teachers too, honestly...peas???? GROSS!!!!) This is another of my favorites to use during writing conferences to remind students that everyone has something to write about!

Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann I feel like I have been reading this one since the beginning of time, but it never gets old! It is a story about a police officer who comes to Napville School to give safety tips. The problem is, his presentations are a snoozefest, and no one can stay awake long enough to listen. That all changes when he brings his police dog Gloria along with him! There is so much going on in the story as well as the pictures, my students always beg to hear this one again and again! (It is perfect to add some comedy relief when you are going over the rules for the 100th time!!! zzzZZZ)

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak Ok,this book is just a whole bunch of silliness and that is what makes it GREAT! The premise of the book is that the reader must read ALL the words on the page...ALL of them. Even if they are silly, nonsense words. Don't expect a quiet, polite audience for this one..because it just isn't going to happen!  

Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini This is another one that I have been reading aloud to my students for forever and a day, and the results are always the same...belly laughs all around!!! Gritch the Witch is hungry for piggie pie, so she goes looking for the main ingredient...pigs. When she gets to the local farm though, she soon learns that the pigs there are pretty smart cookies! They lead her on a very frustrating adventure, but all hope is not lost, when she meets a surprising character at the end of the story! 

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat So this story is just plain GENIUS! It is the story of what happens to Humpty Dumpty after he falls from the wall. I am not going to give away the ending to this amazing story, but I can tell you that lots of rich conversation is going to come from reading this book. My favorite comment ever was when we finished the book and one little guy said, "I can't wait to get home and tell my mom what happens to him, because I know she doesn't even know!"

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev This book teaches a great lesson about inclusion, friendship, and helping others. In the story, a little boy and his elephant are banned from a local pet club because elephants aren't allowed. They soon befriend other children with unusual pets facing the same problem, and join together to start a club of their own...one that welcomes ALL KINDS of children and pets. The natural discussions that come from reading this are so heartwarming and genuine that it makes the teacher beg to read it again!

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts This is another book that leads into such ENRICHING classroom conversation! (Basically, a teacher's dream come true!) Jeremy wants nothing more than to have the new shoes that EVERYONE is getting. (Sound familiar?) But his grandma says they can't afford to get them. Jeremy struggles with this hardship, but eventually realizes what is really important in his life.

Swim!Swim! by Lerch I can't even with this one! It is a story about a lonely fish who is looking for friendship and eventually finds true love (with the help of a not so well-meaning cat)!!! ABSOLUTE GIGGLE-FEST!!!!!

Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin This is another example where so much is happening in the pictures while the story is going on, you can't help but want to read it again and again! It's a hilarious book about a grouchy old man who hates everything except the birds in his yard, and he especially hates THOSE DARN SQUIRRELS! He does everything he can think of to rid his yard of squirrels, but they continue to outsmart him and in the end, a beautiful friendship is forged!

 

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt Scaredy Squirrel is a germaphobic, fraidy-cat who never leaves his tree. He is well prepared though for things like Martian attacks, lurking sharks, or killer bees. One day, the inevitable happens, and he finds himself out of his tree and forced to brave the unknown! (What could be funnier than a squirrel with a fully stocked emergency kit??!!)

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen Bear's hat is gone and he wants it back. He asks each animal politely if they have seen it, but seems to be having no luck...until he comes upon rabbit..... DELIGHTFUL giggles and RICH conversation with this one..every single time!

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen This one is the kind of book where the author never tells you EXACTLY what happens in the end, so you and your students are left discussing all the possibilities for days on end! This little fish steals a hat and is hoping to get away with it. All the while, the owner of the hat is hot on his trail. So much suspense, so many giggles, and SO MANY rereadings of this one!!!

We Found A Hat by Jon Klassen In this gem, two turtles find a hat and they both like it very much. The problem is that there are two of them and only one hat. They agree to leave the hat and go on their way. But it soon becomes clear, one of the turtles may be having second thoughts.  

An Extraordinary Egg by Leo Lionni another forever favorite of mine! These frogs live on Pebble Island and one of them discovers an egg that they are sure is a chicken egg. When a baby alligator hatches from the egg, they continue to play with their new friend the "chicken". The kids love that the frogs keep calling the alligator a chicken even all the way up until the end of the book! Another laugh out loud funny one for sure!

The Bad Seed by Jory John This Bad Seed has a reputation that precedes him, and the kids love hearing ALL about it! (He is surrounded by flies because he never washes his hands and feet...talk about bad seed, right??!!!) He eventually changes his ways and there is lots of classroom discussion to be had about decision making, consequences and life experiences.

Philomena's New Glasses by Brenna Maloney This is an adorable story about Philomena and her sisters! Every time one of them gets something, the competition among them begins...and they ALL feel that they need to one-up each other! The kids can SO relate to the competition part of the story, as well as the fact that Philomena needs glasses and her sisters want glasses! Great discussions and lightbulb- moments come out of reading this one!

Hope you have a great school year, and you find yourself reading some of these "soul-soothing" treats to your students! I would love to hear all about their reactions...and yours as well!

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How Morning Meeting Looks In Our Classroom!

   So I would have to say, of all the parts of my day, Morning Meeting is my all time favorite! Part of the appeal is knowing that each morning is like a fresh piece of notebook paper- everyone gets a fresh start- no matter what did or didn't happen the day before in the classroom. But I think an even bigger part of the appeal for me is the reality of the impact that morning meeting can have on my students. For many of them, the greetings they get at school are the first kind greetings they are getting for the day. For many of them, school is their safe place. For many of them, the classroom is the place they count on to provide them with their daily dose of structure, validation, and acceptance.

This is what Morning Meeting looks like in our classroom... 

When the students come in each morning they unpack at their lockers and come into the classroom. They turn in any notes, lunch money, or homework they have and then find a place in the morning meeting circle. (At our school we do not start the day with morning work. It is the philosophy of our school that all students should begin each day with a soft landing. The majority of our students walk to school and have breakfast at school as well. Many students (our building is K-6) attend various morning study and counseling groups before coming to their classrooms each day. Once the morning bell rings, I take attendance, by greeting each child with "Good Morning ____ , I am glad you are here today!", and then our morning meeting can begin.

     We start off each morning with some songs to liven things up! A couple good morning songs and of course OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE "I SAID BOOM CHICKA BOOM!"  If you aren't familiar with "I Said Boom Chicka Boom", it is an old camping/scouting song that involves echo voices and a whole lot of silliness...just what the doctor ordered to wake up a bunch of sleepy six year olds at 8:30 in the morning!

You can check our our Morning Meeting Songs HERE

AND

I SAID BOOM CHICKA BOOM HERE

     After we sing our songs (and giggle our heads off),  we say our greetings to each other. We do this while we are still sitting in our Morning Meeting circle. We use our friend Tapioca Tiger to help us with our good mornings each day. Whomever is holding Tapioca will turn to their neighbor and while making eye contact, greet them by "Good Morning _______", and then give them a compliment or a well wish for the day. (For example, "Good Morning Ben, I hope you have a great day." "Good Morning Addy, thank you. You look very nice today." It absolutely melts my heart to watch and listen to them give each other genuine compliments each morning. I JUST LOVE MY FIRSTIES! (insert tears and sniffles here.) Tapioca is often heard adding his two-cents as well!

     When we finish our greetings, then we move into our regular rug seats for the Morning Message. The children love the morning message because each day it is different, each day they get to share the pen, and each day one lucky firstie gets to take it home to share it with their family! (What family wouldn't want this huge chart hanging on their living room wall?) I love the morning message because it is a great way to do a quick review or introduction of the skills we are doing in class, all while incorporating our schedule or plan for the day and any important news I need to discuss with them.

   
     Then it is time for The Joke Of The Day! I have been doing The Joke Of The Day now for as long as I can remember...well to put it into perspective...I have a student this year whose mother had me in first grade....GASP! (I know...impossible, right?!) and she still remembers doing Joke Of The Day!) Anyway, it is an absolute highlight of each day! I put on my "joke glasses" (I have a treasure chest full of different ones) and I choose one student to wear the "student joke glasses"- (Target for the win!) I read the joke and the student helper calls on students to guess the answer. We then discuss what the joke meant and why it was funny. I mean, because honestly...who doesn't love a good joke?

You can check out our Joke Of The Day Set HERE

     So, after Joke Of The Day, we then move on to Fact Of The Day! These are "Weird But True"  Outrageous Facts, so they require us to wear some outrageously "smart" glasses and a headband with "brainwaves" shooting out of it! (Also, Target for the win!) These are a great tie in to science, health, and social studies, as well as just plain old good for making you think a little harder each morning!

 You can check out our Fact Of The Day Set HERE 

     We then move on to The Advice Of The Day. These are life lessons written in kid language that we can think about, talk about, and plan to teach others. My firsties really love figuring out the meanings and trying to come up with different examples to use to explain them. I love listening to their conversation abilities grow as they discuss The Advice Of The Day each morning. These are great practice for comprehension and inferencing, as well as speaking and dicussion skills!

You can check out our Advice Of The Day Set HERE

     To round out our "of the days", we do our Question Of The Day. This is a getting to know you question that gives us a little insight into what makes our classmates tick! I press the Q &A button (it plays the Jeopardy theme song) and then I ask the kids the Question Of The Day. They put on their best I am thinking poses (scratching heads, rubbing chins, looking up at the ceiling) until the music stops, then I pick names randomly out of our "Really Cool Kids" bag until everyone, including me, has a chance to answer the question. Sometimes, instead of everyone answering out loud, we take it one step further, and write our answers in our writing journals.

You can check out our Question Of The Day HERE

You can check out our Writing Journals HERE

          We end our morning meeting every day with the Pledge of Allegiance and Our Class Pledge. We spent a great deal of time at the beginning of the year learning about the meaning of the words in the Pledge of Allegiance and the words in Our Class Pledge so that when we stand and recite these each day, our words have meaning and purpose.

      You can check out Our Class Pledge HERE

     I like to tie my morning meeting in with my day in some way so that my day flows nicely. So whenever possible, I connect the day's lessons into the morning message through a skill review or introduction, or connect our journal writing for the day with the Question Of The Day. Occasionally, I tie my science, health or social studies lesson to the Fact Of The Day, or even connect the daily read aloud with our morning routine.

Recently, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE READ ALOUDS actually tied in perfectly with the Question Of The Day..."What is something your family does together that you love?" This was a FANTASTIC segue into The Tub People by Pam Conrad

Have you read it? It is a must read!

These little tub people live on the edge of the tub. When the boy is not playing with them they have adventures together. The book talks all about what they love to do together. But, during the story, the Tub Child gets lost down the drain and the family is very worried and sad until he returns again. My firsties could not get enough of this story...edge of your seat I tell you!

You can find The Tub People by Pam Conrad HERE

The sequel to the story is The Tub Grandfather by Pam Conrad 

In this book, the family finds the Tub Grandfather under the radiator covered with dust. He has long been forgotten, but the Tub Grandmother could not be happier to have found him. They reminisce and dance and the family is all happy to be together again.

(This book is actually out of print, but can be found used on Amazon.)

As for the little tub people in the pictures, I have a really good story behind those. So many moons ago, when I was in college pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Education, I was given an assignment to make props to go along with a story. I chose to use the book The Tub People. Having a very talented, artistic mother, who,when I was a child, I had sat along side trying to imitate for many hours on end while she painted on ceramics, and wood, and fabric, and while she sewed clothes and quilts and costumes...I knew exactly what I wanted to make! I had my dad cut out the wood I needed and I borrowed the painting supplies from my mom. I got to work. I made a model bathtub with a shower curtain, a replica of the soap they played on in the story and the washcloth that they used as a raft. I even made the Tub Grandfather to use in my future classroom with the sequel book because I loved the story so much....

I bet you think you can guess the ending of this story right?

The professor raved about the project and put it on display for everyone to look at and gave me an A+ ...

WRONG!!!

What actually happened was I got called into the professor's office to answer questions about where I actually got the little people for this project, because she felt there was no way possible that I made them. ( I reminded her that this was the third class I had with her, and that she knew what kind of student I was, she know what kind of work I produced, and she knew what kind of character I had.) She reminded me that she took that all into consideration, but she had even asked other professors and they all agreed these were too well done to be handmade. WHAT???!!! She told me she had to think about it some more and in the end, I got the project back with an 

A- ...

with a note..."the minus is because I am still not sure these were not store bought."

I tell you this story as a way of reminding you... 

Everything you do as a teacher shapes someone in some way. 

Everything you do as a teacher leaves an impression on someone in some way.

Wouldn't you rather the things you do leave good impressions and guide your students to the actions they want to repeat in their lives

instead of 

the actions they want to avoid repeating in their lives?

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