Read Alouds Archives

Festive Chinese New Year Books for Your Elementary Readers

As a school librarian, I enjoy witnessing the impact that cultural exploration can have on students of all ages at my school. Today, we are going to go on a literary journey into the vibrant traditions of the Chinese New Year. It is a celebration brimming with significance and rich details. Diving into the details of this festive occasion might seem daunting for some of our readers! Through the magic of picture books and chapter books, we unlock the gateway to a captivating learning experience. These literary treasures weave compelling storylines but also enchant with vivid illustrations. Let’s jump into the Chinese New Year books full of pages of enchanting tales that foster an appreciation for diversity and cultural awareness among our eager learners. Why Should You Use Chinese New Year Books? Diving into the spirit of Chinese New Year is more than just adding festive decorations. It’s about

Read-Alouds Made Easy: 10 Tips for Successful Storytelling

My favorite memories from when I was a student include when my teachers would have read-aloud time. When the lights dimmed and my teacher perched on her stool, I knew an adventure would begin! I loved being able to fall into a story with the help of my teacher’s ability to change voices and bring the story to life with her animation. Now, you and I are the champions of literacy for our kiddos. We hold the key to unlocking the magical world of read-alouds for them. A well-crafted read-aloud session can spark curiosity, nurture imagination, and foster a lifelong love for books. I have gathered some incredible tips to make your read-alouds unforgettable! 1. Collect Captivating Read-Alouds As book lovers, we understand how mind-blowing a good story can be! So when choosing books for read-alouds, pick ones that click with your students. Consider what they’re into, what fits

10 Picture Books for Teaching Visualizing

If there is one thing that makes people fall in love with reading, I believe it is the ability to visualize. The ability to take the words on a page and turn them into a mental movie. It’s visualizing that allows you to immerse yourself into a book and escape the here and now. While this skill comes naturally for some, it is a skill that often needs to be taught and practiced for many. Today I am sharing my favorite picture books for teaching visualizing. How to Teach Visualizing Teaching students to visualize is such a fun activity that students really love. Why? I believe it is because it connects two of their favorite things – being read to and drawing. Over the years I have found that the best way to focus on this skill is by reading to the students and having them listen. This takes

The Best Picture Books for Teaching Character Traits

Teaching students about character traits in reading is important but can be difficult to do. Character traits are such an ABSTRACT idea that some children have a hard time understanding what character traits are. Students typically have to use inferencing skills to “read between the lines” of what information the author is giving you about the characters in the story, such as what the character is saying and doing. How to Teach About Character Traits Start by defining exactly WHAT character traits are. Then together, make an anchor chart about character traits. Have students help you name certain traits that they believe characters in stories might have. Make sure to get them thinking about character traits on the OUTSIDE and on the INSIDE! I like to do another lesson about positive character traits vs. negative character traits. (Some traits can even be neutral). Finally, my biggest piece of advice

8 Picture Books for Teaching Main Idea

Are you constantly looking for picture books to teach about the main idea of a story? Some people confuse the theme with the main idea. The theme or central idea of a book is the lesson, moral or message the reader takes away after reading. The main idea is what the book is about and can usually be stated as a short summary. It’s important for students to start understanding the main idea (and supporting details) of a story after reading it. This means that they should be able to retell the story to show their comprehension of it, stating the main idea and at least three details that can support the main idea of the story. Some Tips for Teaching the Main Idea A read aloud can be one of the most overlooked strategies that can be used to teach main idea and supporting details. When performing a

10 Read Alouds to Welcome Spring

Spring is here and I could not be more excited for warm weather, sunshine and birds chirping! Spring is one of my favorite seasons and it is a good excuse to read and teach students about the weather changes that happen with the new season and get them learning outside as much as possible! Here are 10 read alouds to welcome spring to your students: *Links to purchase the books are all affiliate links which means that if you purchase from that link I make a small commission for recommending it to you. Thank you! Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring Grade Level: Preschool- 3rd Grade Summary: In a simple, cheerful conversation with nature, a young boy observes how the season changes from winter to spring in Kenard Pak’s Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring. As days stretch longer, animals creep out from their warm dens, and green begins to grow again, everyone

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Festive Chinese New Year Books for Your Elementary Readers

Read-Alouds Made Easy: 10 Tips for Successful Storytelling

10 Picture Books for Teaching Visualizing

The Best Picture Books for Teaching Character Traits

8 Picture Books for Teaching Main Idea

10 Read Alouds to Welcome Spring

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