One of my favorite parts of the day is our read alouds! I was trying to think back to exactly when I started doing read alouds, but I honestly can't remember how or why I started... guess that is my old age taking over!
Each week we have a main read aloud that I use to teach the reading skill(s) for the week. I also do several other read alouds throughout the week, but we might not dig as deep into them as the main one.
For the main read aloud I pretty much follow a pattern each week. On Monday, we read the whole story cover to cover and focus a lot on prediction skills. The rest of the days we work on different reading skills and vocabulary. Somedays we reread the whole story, but other days we might only read a page or two. It really depends on what we are doing. Then on Friday we WRITE! We use a writing prompt that somehow ties to our story to get the kids focused on writing to a prompt for the BIG state test at the end of the year. (Like it or not... it is always in the back of my mind.)
Many years ago a parent gave me a beautiful basket. At the beginning of the month I stock the basket with read aloud books that go with the month, holiday, or season. I keep all of my read aloud books in a special teacher only place so that the kids haven't read them yet. If we have a few minutes of down time we pick a book to read to class and discuss. I've been doing the monthly book basket for about three years and I think it really is excellent idea. The kids love it and beg to reread a book from the basket on their own that I have already shared with the class. (Whatever it takes to get them to love books works for ME!) They are really good about only reading the ones we have shared.
Here are some of my favorite read alouds for January.
Martin's Big Words - By Doreen Rappaport
This is a MUST read! The illustrations are amazing and the vocabulary is so rich! We select unknown words as we read and make a list on chart paper. Then we work in groups to come up with a definition that is kid friendly based on what is happening in the book. I am lucky that for this book I actually have several copies so the kids can put them in their hands while I read!
Snowmen at Night - By Caralyn Buehner
We love this! It is a favorite! This is story is great for sequencing and prediction. The kids get a big kick out of trying to name all of the different things that the snowmen do at night and then put them in the right order. We do a writing prompt that is so much fun!
Here is the prompt we use:
During Snowmen at Night the snowmen come to life and do some amazing things. What do mailboxes do at night while we sleep? How about your lunchbox? Select an object that doesn't move and write a story about their crazy adventure at night while you sleep!
The Missing Mitten Mystery - By Steven Kellogg
This is a book that we spend a few days working on! We focus on what a mystery is. I am always shocked at how many of the kids don't exactly know what a mystery is. We focus on a bunch of different skills because the kids love this book. We write about something that we lost and leave off the ending. Then we pick a few to read to the class and the kids work in groups to make predictions of how they found their item. It is a great reinforcer for making sure your story provides the reader with enough details. This book is always a hit with the kids!
We work on identifying the beginning, middle, and end of the story. We make this flip flap book. Under the flaps the kids write in detail what happens during each section.
We work on sequencing using this printable. I just print them out and give the kids construction paper to cut and glue them into the correct order. This is a great activity for partners. Just click on the printable to see the whole packet of printables that go with this cute book.
These are just a few of my favorites for January! I hope one of them is something you can add to your collection.
Happy TEACHING!
