“You, child. What do you know of Greece?” Betsy had not understood much of what had passed, but she remembered her nursery night-light burning in a little pan of grease and she said, “It …

Are you looking for some great read aloud books to share with your kiddos? Here is a list of 35 of our favorites books that you're sure to enjoy.

Tate and I went out of town last week, and she had a ball spending most of her afternoons playing with friends and running in the sunshine. But in the evenings she’d wind down, and as grown-up as she seems to be lately (she’s 7 going on 17), her one request before slipping on her pajamas was this: “Mom, can you read Charlotte’s Web to me?” This was important to her, even on a fun vacation. (I mean, don’t get me wrong, the girl also likes Phinneas & Ferb.) But she’s a decent reader for her age,

We’ve gathered this list of compassionate, thoughtful, and compelling books for families to read aloud or recommend to older readers.

Fractions can be a tricky concept to grasp. This post shares the top 15 fraction read alouds for big kids + a fun FREE fraction activity!

Get cozy with some apple cider and read with the whole family.

I love using read-alouds to encourage teamwork with my students. Here are my favorite children's books about collaboration for grades 3-5!

Much has been said and written about Wonder by R. J. Palacio during its short existence on bookstore and library shelves. Even before its February release, one could see and hear the buzz grow on Twitter and the Internet as advanced reader copies found their way to teachers and librarians. At first I was hesitant to buy into the hype since kids don't generally care about hype. Finally I decided to find out what all hubbub was about and got my own copy. After reading it in one sitting, I knew. Wonder is one of those books that stays with you long after finishing. After reading it once I changed my lesson plans to make it our class's next read aloud book. I immediately started rereading. And I started writing. I'm not going to write a full synopsis here. That's readily available elsewhere. But it doesn't matter. You don't need one. Wonder is a book you should read. Wonder is a book you should share. Wonder is a book you should discuss. Parents, children, teachers, students, everyone. As I planned our class read aloud, I wanted to help students see and hear what the main character, August, shared with readers. Most sections of the book are introduced by song lyrics, and songs play a role on several key scenes. Auggie also uses numerous Star Wars references, and face it, you don't know who Mon Mothma or Lobot are off the top of your head either, just like I didn't. So I created a visual guide for Wonder to share with my class and posted it on my class blog. These resources are what I started writing as I prepared for our read aloud. Here are links to each section. Wonder - Part One: August Wonder - Pages 1-26 Wonder - Pages 27-50 Wonder - Pages 51-80 Wonder - Part Two: Via Wonder - Pages 81-117 Wonder - Part Three: Summer Wonder - Pages 118-132 Wonder - Part Four: Jack Wonder - Pages 133-157 Wonder - Pages 158-185 Wonder - Part Five: Justin Wonder - Pages 186-204 Wonder - Part Six: August Wonder - Pages 205-234 Wonder - Part Seven: Miranda Wonder - Pages 235-248 Wonder - Part Eight: August Wonder - Pages 248-274 Wonder - Pages 275-293 Wonder - Pages 294-315, The End Culminating Activity

Our favorite family read aloud books for the year. If you’re looking for books that work for multiple ages, you’ll find them in this list.

Pick first grade read alouds picture books your child will LOVE! These 1st grade picture books are sure to be a new favorite!

Today, I wanted to share some of our favorite chapter books series in honor of Children's Book Week . The Lil Divas truly look forward to re...

Picking kindergarten read alouds for circle time is important to maintain interest and attention. We've got a great list of funny kindergarten books.

We are going to be taking it fairly easy this summer (we all need a little time to decompress) but we wouldn't be true to ourselves if we didn't have a

shhhhhhhhhh.... Both, BOTH! of my babes are asleep right now! This NEVER happens! Ella has outgrown her nap but we've had swimming lessons for 2 weeks straight and we also swam this afternoon so they are both tuckered out! I've been reading the Daily 5 and following along with the book study but haven't had a chance to link up yet! Melissa from Mrs. Freshwater's class is hosting the study this week! Now... I am a newbie when it comes to Daily 5. I've been doing Debbie Diller- style stations for the last 3 years, so I am SUPER excited about changing things up and improving upon what I already have in place. I went to a Daily 5 workshop a few weeks ago and everything about it sounds like it will fit perfectly in my classroom! I want my students to be independent and become better readers, who doesn't?!? First of all - my gathering place. I use my large carpet as my gathering place -where we begin the morning with calendar, our morning message, etc. Although this will be my first year doing Daily 5, I have always had a gathering place. I think this is a lot easier for us Kindergarten teachers to implement because it is how we teach anyway! I absolutely love to be on the floor with my kiddos. I've been known to lay down and teach on my stomach during small groups. They love for me to be at their level! This is a picture of the awesome carpet all of the K and 1 teachers have at my school. I don't know what I would do without it! I will use this carpet to bring my kids back, do the mini-lessons (it's right in front of my Smart board) and check-in. I had some "pick me" type of sticks to choose kids to share and I will do the same for Daily 5. I love the ones that Melissa made! Now this... This will take me a while to figure out! I've chosen the books my kids read based on our basal reader's system. I think it is definitely important for our students to choose their own "on level" books so that they can build up their stamina. I think at the very beginning of the year I will have 3 books for them in their book boxes - two right at level and one above. This way while we are all getting accustomed to the Daily 5 they still have some choice out of their books. I know, I know... this is not completely an "I PICK" situation.. but it is going to take time! And I only have one set of leveled readers! I will have to build more of a supply! Ok...my favorite! I L.O.V.E. anchor charts! My kids can tell you exactly what expository text, or setting, characters, landforms, etc. are because of the anchor charts I have plastered all over my walls! I always have them help me to create them (either by giving me ideas or actually writing on the actual chart) so that they are "owning" their learning. My friend Stephanie is a master at anchor charts, and I learned from her! I can't wait to start my Daily 5 anchor charts with my kids that first week of school! Here are some that I have created in the past: Since I've moved rooms... I'm going to need to find a blank wall that I can fill up over the year! As primary teachers, we know all about this one.. especially Kindergarten! We don't expect our kids to come in knowing how to act in a classroom and cafeteria, or how to sit and read for 30 minutes(!) So.. just like the sisters say to build up their stamina, it goes along with everything we do during a day. It takes practice, practice, practice! My kids love it when I make mistakes or say the wrong things (they were STILL talking about that time I told them to put their chairs on top of their lockers at the end of the year - it happened, like, in November!) it just shows them that we do not know everything, either, and we have to practice to be better, too! I'm ready to hear about how everyone will set the stage for their students next week! If you already practice the Daily 5 in your classroom, I would love to hear how you do it!

Grade two is such a fun age for read aloud novels! The books I'm sharing in today's list are really good for a variety of ages. We've actually listened to

Teachers…tell me if you can relate. Here’s how the end of every school year typically played out for me. I would count the seconds to summer vacation with jubilation. Sure I shed some annual tears as

These activities are the perfect way to wrap up your classroom study of My Father's Dragon! Whether students read the novel independently or in reading groups or listened as you read it aloud, they will love choosing one or more of these activities to celebrate the book and have fun with its memorable characters! These activities are aligned to the CCSS for third grade, but can also be used with second and fourth grade students for whom the reading level is appropriate. Please see the PREVIEW above for a closer look at this resource. You can also try FREE chapter one resources for My Father's Dragon by clicking HERE! ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS INCLUDED IN THIS RESOURCE: ★ Character Trading Cards give students the opportunity to make trading cards for their favorite characters. Keep or trade! ★ Postcard Home helps children think about the adventure from Elmer's point of view as they design a postcard and write a message from Elmer! ★ Book Charades gives students a reason to reread for detail as they prepare and perform a scene SILENTLY for the rest of the class to identify. ★ The Grand Finale is an exciting whole-class game based on that famous "question & answer" game show. Teams vie to see how much they remember about the book, using questions from five fun categories. Thank you for your interest in my materials and resources for My Father's Dragon! Your students will also love: • MY FATHER'S DRAGON – Task Card Fun! • THE STORIES JULIAN TELLS – Complete Literature Unit • THE STORIES JULIAN TELLS –Task Cards Save money by building a custom bundle of my resources! It's like having your own private sale! You'll find more information HERE. Follow my store to receive notifications of new resources and sales. My new resources are 50% off for the first 24 hours, so it pays to be a follower! Don't forget to leave feedback for all your TpT purchases to earn credits you can use for future TpT purchases. I love feedback! Thank you for visiting my store! Please contact me via the Q & A tab if you have any questions. Carla Hoff

Looking for the BEST 2nd Grade Reading List? This second grade book list is arranged by reading level, with free printable for the library.

In the last few months I've been realizing how much more Ephraim enjoys chapter books when they are funny. For that reason I've been trying to add more

I have written previously about Fakebook, which allows you to create a fake Facebook page. To see that article, click here. Classtools.net has another fun activity that is a bit easier for you to…

From reader requests, I’ve made a wholesome middle grade books for girls ages 9 – 12 with kind main characters you’d want as a friend....

On September 13th, Roald Dahl Day, we read Esio Trot. It's a humorous love story starring Alfie the tortoise.

Kids can learn programming with these coding apps and online programs.

The Highland Falcon Thief by M. G. Leonard, Sam Sedgman & Elisa Paganelli takes us on a steam train adventure around the British Isles.

It feels like forever since I've written a book list! I used to do them every week but I took a little break and it's been hard to get back in the habit,

In 1995 an endearing book was published and many mothers began reading, repeating and crying over the story “Love You Forever” by Robert ...

We've put together a list of our Top Christian Book Series for Kids. They're wholesome, beautiful, and your family won't be able to put them down!

Spoiler alert: This blog entry contains "spoilers" for the novel OLD YELLER. If you have not yet read the book or seen the movie, you might want to skip the following. A few years ago I was visiting a friend and, as we sat talking, I could hear the sounds of a barking dog coming from the family room, where his five-year-old son was watching videos. A couple minutes later, the little boy yelled, "Daddy, how does OLD YELLER end?" My friend, always blunt to a fault, shouted back: "The dog dies." A moment later, I heard the TV switch off and then saw my friend's son go outside to play in the yard. Smart kid, I thought. He knew enough to ask. Even though he was only five, he'd seen enough movies and TV shows to know that a loving canine companion rarely makes it to the final credits. I certainly didn't know that at his age. In fact, no matter how many dog stories I read as I was growing up, I never did learn that lesson -- and always began each new animal book with the naive belief that a happy ending lay in store. Which was why I stupidly took OLD YELLER to school with me in eighth grade (yes, I still hadn't learned that lesson by eighth grade!) and read the heartbreaking scene where the young protagonist must shoot his dog just before the bell rang at the end of class...then had to pretend I was catching a cold as I blew my nose all the way to my locker. Many years passed before I acquired a copy of this book for my collection. Once, after ordering some books from a catalog, I sent the book dealer a list of titles I was still seeking; one of them was OLD YELLER. The next time this dealer came to Michigan for an Antiquarian Book Fair, she had two copies of the book to offer me. Both were the same price -- $125. One was in a dull dustjacket with small tears at the top and bottom of the front panel. Someone had tried to repair these tears with tape, and though the tape had now been removed, its shadows remained. The top of the spine was chipped, the bottom of the spine had an open triangular tear and the second "E' in YELLER had a white scratch across it. The back panel had some light surface oil and a black skid mark coming right down the middle. However, the book was signed by the author! The second copy was presented in a bright yellow dustjacket pristine in every way (no chips, tears, tape shadowing, or skid marks.) However it was unsigned. What a dilemma! A dingy copy that had once been signed by the author or a perfect unsigned copy. I debated and debated, remembering how the appraisers on the Antiques Roadshow always say to get an item in the best possible condition, since condition is all-important. Still, how many copies of OLD YELLER did Fred Gipson sign? Wouldn't it be smarter to get a copy he'd actually held in his own hands and written in, despite its physical imperfections? The previous blog entry describes how I emulated the behavior of my Aunt Tony when visiting a bookstore. Now I was following in the footsteps of another relative, Aunt Gerry, who was once given twenty-five cents to buy a quarter doll. They were called "quarter dolls" because that's what they cost. (This was in the 1920s, before the Depression; during the Depression the family didn't have twenty-five cents for food, much less dolls.) Aunt Gerry took her twenty-five cents to the store and looked carefully at the display of quarter dolls, each dressed in a different outfit. The doll that had the nicest dress also had a cracked head, so Aunt Gerry had to choose between nice dress/cracked face or tacky dress/intact face. Her family was surprised when she returned home with a beautifully dressed doll whose head was cracked in two. Now I was faced with a similar dilemma: an unsigned book in perfect condition or a signed book with a damaged dustjacket. What would you do? To find out which book I chose, scroll down to the end of this blog entry. I must say that finding a first edition of this book in any kind of condition was lucky. It's a true classic. The fact that it's a Newbery Honor Book almost doesn't matter: when I see the silver Newbery Honor sticker on later editions of titles like OLD YELLER, CHARLOTTE'S WEB, and some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, they almost seem out of place, as if those books are so well known on their own merits that Newbery recognition seems unimportant and unnecessary. OLD YELLER Written by Fred Gipson Illustrated by Carl Burger Harper and Brothers, 1956 Why the book is collectable: The novel is recognized as a classic book. It was a Newbery Honor Book. Made into a good Disney film. Desired by collectors of dog stories, Americana stories, Texas books, and historical fiction. First edition points: This is another Harper book that contains only vague edition information. The book is bound in green and black (spine edge) cloth. The copyright page states "1956" and contains a Library of Congress catalog number. The dustjacket has a price of $2.75 at the top of the front flap and "No. 7042-A" on the bottom of that panel. (No. 704 3-A is on the bottom of the flap.) The back panel has "No. 4769" printed at the bottom. Difficulty in finding first edition: Rather difficult to find, though a few copies are listed online running from about $70 (which seems rather low...if they match all first edition points) up to $750, which seems a bit high. I'd say $125 to $200 would be a fair price for a true first edition. Oh, and this the copy I ended up buying: ...Maybe it's genetic?

Book selections for preschool kids who are ready to listen to chapter books. Some for the very young (2 and 3 year olds) and some for the older preschoolers (4 and 5 year olds). Brief reviews of each!

A World Book Day 2020 AuthorWINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD 2019 WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE 2019SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2019Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense. There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He's nine years old (just like me), but he's very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn't like sweets - not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite!But then I learned the truth: Ahmet really isn't very strange at all. He's a refugee who's run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help. That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan. . . With beautiful illustrations by Pippa Curnick; 320 pages; Published: 12/07/2018

From reader requests, I’ve made a wholesome middle grade books for girls ages 9 – 12 with kind main characters you’d want as a friend....

We've curated this list of 100 favorite books for kids, based on recommendations from more than 2,000 of our readers.