5 Best Read Alouds for Building Community in the Classroom
Hi friends!! I can’t wait to share some of my very favorite back to school read alouds for building classroom community. It’s so essential that we take time to do this with students at the beginning of the year because it lays the foundation for positive student-teacher and student-student relationships for the rest of their time in our classroom!
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SPAGHETTI IN A HOT DOG BUN
This story is all about Lucy, a girl with curly hair who loves to eat her spaghetti in a hot dog bun, and Ralph, a kid with nothing nice to say. Lucy has the courage to stand up for herself and be exactly who she is, while still being kind to Ralph. This story encourages conversation about bullying, courage, and celebrating differences. I also love to discuss character traits while reading this story.
THE CRAYON BOX THAT TALKED
This is another great read aloud that celebrates differences and uniqueness in the classroom. After we read this story, we decorate our own crayons in unique ways that represent us.
HOW FULL IS YOUR BUCKET?
This book is an excellent visual representation of how our words can "fill people up" or "dump them over" - after we read this story, we make our own bucket filler book filled with all the different ways we can fill other peoples' buckets at school!
THE GIRL WHO NEVER MADE MISTAKES
This is one of my favorite back to school books! As the title suggests, it's all about making mistakes. In order for our students to feel safe taking risks in our classrooms, it's essential that they know it's okay to make mistakes, and this book is a great place to start! We use it to discuss the growth mindset concept of looking at mistakes as opportunities to grow our brains, and we complete this growth mindset sort. I also take this opportunity to discuss how we can support our classmates when they make a mistake
THE INVISIBLE BOY
I'm so glad this book is starting to gain popularity - it is just fabulous! It lends itself so well to discussions about friendship, empathy, and inclusion. It is a must-have for any classroom!
