The start of a new school year is an exciting time for students and teachers alike. It’s a time for new beginnings, learning new things, and making friends. One of the best ways to get your class excited about the school year is to read aloud to them! In this blog post, we will share some of our favorite back-to-school read-alouds for elementary students. We hope you find these books as inspiring as we do!
Back-to-School Read Aloud #1: “The First Day of School” by Doreen Cronin.
One of our all-time favorite back-to-school read-alouds is “The First Day of School” by Doreen Cronin. This hilarious picture book follows a group of chickens as they experience their first day of school. From the nervousness of meeting new friends to the joy of recess, young readers will relate to the chickens’ experiences. This is a great book to kick off a discussion about what to expect on the first day of school.
Back-to-School Read Aloud #2: “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn.
Another one of our favorites is “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn. This heartwarming story is about a little raccoon who is nervous about going to school for the first time. His mother helps him overcome his fears by giving him a special kiss to take with him. This is a great book to read aloud if you have students who are starting school for the first time or are feeling apprehensive about the new year.
Back-to-School Read Aloud #3: “Miss Nelson is Missing!”
“Miss Nelson is Missing!” is a great book to read the first week of school because it helps students understand the importance of paying attention and behaving in class. In the story, Miss Nelson’s class is out of control until she mysteriously disappears and is replaced by a strict substitute. The students quickly realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and work to get her back. This is a great book to teach students the importance of following rules and paying attention in class.
Back-to-School Read Aloud #4: “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig
“The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig is a great book to read the first week of school because it helps students understand the importance of being inclusive and kind to others. In the story, Brian feels invisible at school until a new girl comes and starts including him in her games. This is a great book to teach students the importance of being inclusive and kind to others.
Check out these printable activities that accompany this book!
Back-to-School Read Aloud #5: “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson
“The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson is a great book to read the first week of school because it helps students understand that everyone feels like an outsider sometimes. In the story, a girl who is starting at a new school feels like she doesn’t fit in. But she soon realizes that everyone feels that way sometimes and that’s what makes us special. This is a great book to teach students the importance of being accepting and understanding of others.
Make sure you grab these activities to go along with this book!
We hope you enjoy these back-to-school read-alouds! They are sure to get your students excited about the new school year. What are some of your favorite back-to-school read-alouds? Share them with us in the comments below!
Happy reading! 🙂