How We Celebrate the First Day of School

How We Celebrate the First Day of School

Creating traditions in your homeschool journey is a fun way to show kids that we value both their education, and the privilege we have of spending these days together as a family.

Back-to-school is an exciting time. There is so much newness, but also accomplishments, achievements, goals, things to look forward to.

As homeschoolers we capture a bit of that back-to-school magic in different ways. We don’t buy a lot of new supplies or clothes, the kids don’t get a new classroom, they don’t need backpacks. Over the last several years we have found other ways to make the first day back memorable. A special breakfast, new pajamas, art supplies, books, board games, and a park meetup with friends are just a few ways we’ve celebrated the first day back.

We’ve also done lunch out with Dad, scavenger hunts, family art projects, and day trips. One of their favorite things was the year I filled a miniature pinata with fun school supplies.

The days leading up to the first day the kids are kept out of the classroom while I clean, reorganize, and make everything look new and fresh. They come into the classroom on the first day with new supplies, pajamas, clothes, curriculum, and equipment piled up on their desks and the main table.

This year they each got a handheld microscope, lots of books, and two new board games. We spent the day going over our plans for the year, coming up with a word of the year to focus on, and setting goals for ourselves.

We started a family painting that we will work on all week. We also played one of our new games and wrote autobiographies.

I make a big deal out of the first day because I want my kids to understand that what we do matters. School is important, and learning can be exciting and fun. They are entering a new grade which is an accomplishment they should feel proud about. When kids see how much we value education it becomes more valuable to them.

Other fun ideas you might consider for the first day of homeschooling: 

  • Make a special breakfast or lunch.
  • Meet up with friends for a joint activity or playtime.
  • Have a pajama day.
  • Explosive science experiments.
  • Messy Art Projects.
  • Go to the movies or bowling.
  • Have a board games and movie day.
  • Have a tea party.
  • Take photos.
  • Have a picnic. 
  • Do schoolwork somewhere different like a local creek or State Park
  • Make fudge or bake a back-to-school cake. Cinnamon Rolls are the favorite here. 
  • Learn a new craft together: Last year my kids learned to weave on both a regular and circular loom.
  • Paint rocks with cheerful messages and hide them around your town. 
  • Use up any leftover sparklers.I love seeing the back-to-school traditions families come up with. What does your family do on the first day back to school? Tell us in the comments below.

LIST OF BOOKS by Theme

LIST OF BOOKS by Theme

This is a comprehensive list of children’s fiction books organized alphabetically by theme. This list keeps growing and growing. There is a wide variety of themes, including units like bears and the ocean, academic themes like rhyming, vowels and becoming writers, and character building/behavioral issues such as lying, making friends and wearing glasses.  


When possible I’ve linked the book that comes with a CD. If you can get a book with a CD, do it.
CDs are great for teachers when they lose their voice. They’re an awesome way for children to increase their fluency because they’re hearing a variety of voices. They also help children practice word-to-word correspondence. 


See my list of books to buy for Early Emergent Readers
–that are similar to the readers they get at school here.


*Scroll to the bottom for a list of fiction books boys love*
To see a list of books Dads Love to Read to little ones click here



Alphabet

Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod
Animalia by Graeme Base
Sesame Street Sign Language ABC with Linda Bove by Linda Bove
B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet by Gleaves Whitney

   


Anger Management
*See Feelings/Emotions

Art/Artists
*Also see Drawing

Andy Warhol’s Colors by Susan Goldman Rubin
Babar’s Museum of Art by Laurent de Brunhoff
Georgia’s Bones by Jen Bryant
Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt
Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson
Matisse Dance with Joy by Susan Goldman Rubin
Me, Frida by Amy Novesky
Monet Paints a Day by Julie Dannenberg
No One Saw by Bob Raczka
Seen Art by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Squeaking of Art by Monica Wellington

Bears
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Corduroy by Don Freeman
A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Time To Sleep by Denise Fleming
When Will It Be Spring by Catherine Walters
Teddy Bear Story by Josa Keyes




Beautiful, Thought-Provoking Pictures Books
The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant
Tuesday by David Wiesner (wordless)
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (wordless)
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers                       
                       ✯How to Catch A Star Comprehension Page
The Heart in the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
A Story for Bear by Dennis Haseley
The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney 
The Snowy Day by Jack Ezra Keats
The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen
The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg
The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills
Kiss The Cow by Phyllis Root
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Mirette on the Highwire by Emily Arnold McCully
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce


   


Becoming Writers
*Also see Writing Letters and Writing Prompts
Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown
Bear Has A Story To Tell by Philip Stead
The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli
Dr. Seuss (Rookie Biographies) by Dana Meachen Rau
J.K. Rowling (Welcome Books) by Mary Hill
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
Little Red Writing by Joan Holub
More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt–A fun, interactive story, great for helping them name characters too!
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills
You Can Write A Story: A Story-Writing Recipe for Kids by Lisa Bullard
* Click here for my Tips on Creating Writers


Bedtime
Good Night, Sleep Tight: A Book About Bedtime by Emma Quay
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Just Go To Bed by Mercer Meyer
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Time for Bed by Mem Fox




Behaving
*Also see Interrupting, Tattling, Getting Along
I Just Don’t Like The Sound of No! by Julia Cook
I Just Want to do it My Way by Julia Cook
Ricky Sticky Fingers by Julia Cook (stealing)
You Get What You Get by Julie A. Gassman



Being True to Yourself/Be an Individual

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
David’s Drawings by Cathryn Falwell
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop    
                         ✯Dumpy La Rue Comprehension Page
Elmer by David McKee                                     
                         ✯Elmer Activity: Design Your Own Elephant and Write
Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Krau
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown and Sara Palacios
Matthew ABC by Peter Catalanotto
Odd Velvet by Mary E. Whitcomb
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
Olivia by Ian Falconer

Purplicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann

The Shortest Kid in the World by Corinne Demas Bliss (being different)
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy and Kimberly Shaw-Peterson
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up In A Ball by Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox




    


Biography/Memoir (also see Historical Biographies)

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox        
                       ✯Questions for Wilfred Gordon
No, David by David Shannon
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills

Bravery
Chico the Brave by Dave Horowitz
Little Quack by Lauren Thompson
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
Puddle Jumping: A Book About Bravery by Emma Quay
Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes
The Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain 

Bullying
*See Friendship, Getting Along, Feelings, Being True to Yourself
* Read why there are no “Bullying” books on this list here.


Cause and Effect
Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo by Rosetta Stone
If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover
If You Give A Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff (any If You Give A…book)
Once Upon a Banana by Jennifer Armstrong
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
That’s Good! That’s Bad! by Margery Cuyler


Chapter Books Kids Can Read *Easy chapter books for emergent to independent (K-2)
Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruel 
Bink and Gollie series by Kate DiCamillo
Buster: The Very Shy Dog by Lisze Bechtold
Candy Fairies by Helen Perelman
Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold
Frog and Toad (box set) by Arnold Lobel
Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline (2nd grade reading level)
Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows
Junie B. Jones (kindergarten series) by Barbara Park
Junie B. Jones (1st grader series) by Barbara Park
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Mermaid Tales series by Debbie Dadey
My Weird School series by Dan Gutman

Chapter Books To Read Aloud 
*For classics I try to find abridged or updated versions, the originals can be wordy, have outdated language and are difficult for the little ones to understand.

Junie B. Jones (books 1-4) by Barbara Park
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sacher



    



Christmas and Multicultural Winter Holidays

Bear Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Helen Recorvits

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Christmas for 10 by Carthryn Falwell
Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman
Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
Growing Up With Tamales by Gwendolyn Zapada
A Pinata in a Pine Tree by Pat Mora
Circle of Wonder: A Native American Christmas Story N. Scott Nomaday
Grandma’s Gift by Eric Velasquez
N is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya

My First Kwanzaa Book by Karen Katz

The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Emma Kragen 

How Santa Got His Job by Steven Krensky
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer
Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Nancy Cote


Chunks/Word Families/Digraphs

Ook the Book: And Other Silly Rhymes by Lissa Rovetch

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Bob Books: Set 3 Word Families by Bobby Lynn Maslen and John R. Maslen
The Bug in the Jug wants a Hug by Brian P. Cleary
The Thing on the Wing Can Sing by Brian P. Cleary
Fix-it Duck by Jez Alborough
Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough
     Word Family Tales
The Clock Who Would Not Tock by Pamela Chanke
A Nap for Zap by Kama Einhorn
Jake’s Cake Mistake by Betsy Franco
Jan and Stan by Samantha Berger
Bop, Bop at the Bunny Hop by Robin C. Fitzsimmons

Cleaning Up
Clean-Up Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Clean Up Time (Baby Max and Ruby) by Rosemary Wells
Just a Mess by Mercer Mayer
Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells
Sloppy Joe by Dave Keane and Denise Brunkus
What Mess? by Tom Lichtenheld
What’s With This Room? by Tom Lichtenheld



Color Words

The Deep Blue Sea: A Book of Colors by Audrey Wood
Dog’s Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Colors and Counting
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Eric Carle
Mary Wore Her Red Dress And Henry Wore His Red Sneakers by Merle Peek
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Little Blue and Yellow by Leo Lionni
The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh


Counting
Dinner at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson
Little Quack by Lauren Thompson
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book About Rockets by MichaelvDahl
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
One Hungry Monster by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe
You Can Count on Monsters by Richard Evan Schwartz


Cowboys/Texas

Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
Cowboy Kid by Max Eilenberg
Eyewitness: Cowboy by David Hamilton Murdoch
I Want to Be A Cowboy by Dan Liebman
Cowboy Small by Lois Lenski
Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen
Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse by Rebecca Janni

    



Crying

The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Peter and the Whimpering-Whineys by Sherrill S. Cannon
Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story by Kate Klise
                                       ✯Questions for Why Do You Cry?

Day and Night
Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan
Nightsong by Ari Berk
Red and Yellow’s Noisy Night by Josh Selig


Dealing with Death and Other Traumas

I Miss You: A First Look At Death by Pat Thomas
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

The Next Place by Warren Hanson
The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills
Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile by Julie Kaplow
Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert
A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret Holmes (witnessing trauma)

What is Heaven Like? by Beverly Lewis (religious)


Diversity

*See Friendship

Drawing
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates

Earth Day/The Environment/Rainforests
Arthur Turns Green by Marc Brown
The Berenstain Bears Go Green by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland
Earth Day–Hooray! By Stuart J. Murphy
Emeraldalicious by Victoria Kann
Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day by Jane O-Connor
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
A Leaf Can Be by Laura Purdie Salsa
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
Michael Recycle Meets Literbug Doug by Ellie Bethel
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme by Marianne Berkes
The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell
The Tree by Dana Lyons
The Umbrella by Jan Brett 
Where Once There Was A Wood by Denise Fleming

Easter
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
The Easter Story by Patricia A. Pingry and Mary Ann Utt (religious)
Fancy Nancy’s Elegant Easter by Jane O’Connor
God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergen and Laura J. Bryant (religious)
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells



Empowering Girl Books
(see also Books For Older Girls with Strong Female Leads)
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Cherry and Olive by Benjamin Lacombe 
Dangerously Ever After by Dashiki Slater
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots
The Frog Prince, Continued by Steve Johnson
The Girl Who Wouldn’t Brush Her Hair by Kate Bernheimer
Keep Climbing Girls by Beah E. Richards
Lucia and the Light by Phyllis Root
Millie Fierce by Jane Manning
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Princesses Are Not Quitters by Kate uLm
Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke
Rosie Sprout’s Time to Shine by Allison Worth
Sally and the Some-Thing by George O’Connor
The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah
Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes
Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolan
Two Girls Can by Keiko Narahashi
Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm


Fairy Tales Characters and Fairy Tale Comparisons

*See my Fairy Tales lessons, resources and printables here.
Beauty and the Beast by Jan Brett
Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. San Souci
Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-LIsa
Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland    
                                      ✯Comprehension Questions for Incredible Storybook
Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale
The Jolly Postman by Janet Ahlberg

Family

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Russell and the Lost Treasure by Rob Scotton
Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman

Sloppy Joe by Dave Keane and Denise Brunkus

Feelings and Emotions
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberly and Anne Miranda
How Are You Peeling? by Saxton Freymann (feelings vocabulary)

I Was So Mad by Mercer Meyer (anger management)
Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban (anger management)
Soda Pop Head by Julia Cook (anger management) Soda Pop Head Activity Book
Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail (learning to use words instead of hands)
Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
The Way I Act by Steve Metzger (positive behaviors such as compassion & responsibility)
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain (feelings vocabulary)
When Sophie Gets Angry–Really, Really Angry… by Molly Bang (anger management)

Fibbing
*See Honesty

First Days of Schools

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

Fighting with Friends

*See Getting Along



Friendship/Acceptance/Diversity 

(Also see Learning Differences and Making New Friends)

Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat (getting along/diversity)

Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson

The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf and Michael Letzig (diversity)

Don’t Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin, Allan Shamblin and Glin Dibley (teasing/tolerance)
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson (getting along)

Hooray for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester (speech, being different)
Leonardo, The Terrible Monster by Mo Willems (hurting feelings/being friends)
Let’s Be Enemies by Janice May Udry
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (loneliness)
The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits (diversity)
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (diversity)
Odd Velvet by Mary Whitcomb (accepting differences)
The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant
Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by P. Kahumbu
Pig in a Wig by Alan McDonald (being kind to those who are different)
Pigs Make Me Sneeze by Mo Willems
Priscilla and the Pink Planet by Nathanial Hobbie (diversity)
The Rag Coat by Lauren A. Mills (poverty, teasing, forgiveness)
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfizer 

A Rainbow of Friends by P.K. Hallinan
The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill (getting along)
Red and Yellow’s Noisy Night by Josh Selig (conflict resolution between friends)

Ruby the Copycat by Margaret Rathman

The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah (diversity)

The Shortest Kid in the World by Corinne Demas Bliss (being different)
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler and David Lee Csicsko
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (being teased)
The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff (dwarfism)
Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino                            
                              ✯Unlovable Comprehension Page
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox



Elephant and Piggie Books 
are easy to read and great
for increasing expression.

Fluency

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems
I’m Bored by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
There is A Bird On Your Head by Mo Willems

We Are In A Book! by Mo Willems

Yes We Can! By Sam McBratney and Charles Fuge

Funny Books

Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale by Willy Claflin–Definitely get the one w/CD.

Who’s on First by Bud Abbott
Ugly Fish by Scott Magoon
Underwear! by Mary Elise Monsell



Getting Along:
Angry Dragon by Thierry Robberecht
Bad Mood by J. Allison James

The Berenstain Bears Get in A Fight by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Hands Are Not For Hitting by Marieka Heinlen

How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy L. Carlson

Let’s Be Enemies by Janice May Udry, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Mean Soup by Betsy Everett
The Meanest Thing to Say by Bill Cosby (standing up for yourself)
My Big Dog by Janet Stevens
The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy (showing empathy)
The Sandwich Swap by Kelly DiPucchio

Talk and Work It Out by Cheri J. Meiners

Why Are You Fighting, Davy? by Brigitte Weninger
Words Are Not For Hurting by Elizabeth Verdick


Girly Girl Books (see also Empowering Girl Books)
Alice the Fairy by David Shannon
Birdie’s Big Girl Shoes by Sujean Rim
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen
Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella by James Mayhew
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer 
I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn
Ladybug Girl by David Soman
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans 
Olivia by Ian Falconer
P Is For Princess by Steven L. Layne
Priscilla and the Pink Planet by Nathanial Hobbie
Pink Tiara Cookies for Three by Maria Dismondy
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Polite as a Princess by Melissa Lagonegro
Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert
Princess Penelope by Todd Mack
The Real Princess by Brenda Williams, Tessa Strickland and Sophie Fatus
Shoe-La-La by Karen Beaumont
Tallulah’s Tutu by Marilyn Singer


Glasses
Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg
Arthur’s Eyes by Marc Brown
Fancy Nancy: Spectacular Spectacles by Jane O’Connor
Glamorous Glasses by Barbara Newman
I Wish I Had Glasses Like Rosa by Deborah Hembrook and Kathryn Helig
I Really Absolutely Must Have Glasses by Lauren Child
Luna and the Big Blur by Shirley Day
Mermaids Don’t Wear Glasses by Peyton Adams
Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert
Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses? by Rhonda Fischer

Halloween
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams
Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-LIsa
The Hallo-weiner by Dav Pilkey
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
By the Light of the Halloween Moon by Caroline Stutson
Julius’s Candy Corn by Kevin Henkes
Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves

Historical Biographies for Early Readers
     Abraham Lincoln
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters and Nancy Carpenter
Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers by Karen B. Winnick
Abe Lincoln’s Hat by Martha Brenner
My First Biography: Abraham Lincoln by Marion Dane Bauer
A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David A. Adler
The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln by Mike Reiss and David Catrow
    George Washington
A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler
George Washington (Welcome Books) by Phillip Abraham
George Washington (Rookie Biographies) by Lynea Bowdish
    Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Benjamin Franklin
    Rosa Parks
A Picture Book of Rosa Parks by David A. Adler (I clipped together the KKK pages so the little ones wouldn’t see those illustrations and ask questions they are too young to ask.)
    George Washington Carver
   Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman (Welcome Books) by Phillip Abraham

   Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus (First Biographies) by Lola Schaefer
My First Biography: Christopher Columbus by Marion Dane Bauer

Honesty

Oh, Bother! Someone’s Fibbing! by Betty Birney
Don’t Worry Douglas by David Melling
Edward Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkeley Breathed
Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Sam Tells Stories by Thierry Robberecht
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Boy Who Cried Wolf by B.G. Hennessy
The Empty Pot  by Demi                                    
                              ✯Questions for The Empty Pot



Imagination
For Just One Day by Laura Leuck
I’m Going to Build a Supermarket One of These Days by Bill Martin (out of print, but if you can find it, it’s such a fun book–great for teaching kids to think outside of the box and awesome for GT lessons)
Olivia by Ian Falconer                                             ✯Questions for Olivia
Olivia Acts Out by Jodie Shepard                      ✯Questions for Olivia Acts Out
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer         ✯??s for Olivia Saves the Circus
Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer     ✯??s for Olivia & the Missing Toy
Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer                ✯Questions for Olivia Forms a Band

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner 
    



Insects
Ant, Ant, Ant! An Insect Chant by April Pulley Sayre

Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hose
I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown

Insects-Eyewitness Books by Laurence Mound
Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons

Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward (it’s a song, if you can find the one with the CD, get it)



Interrupting

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
My Mouth is A Volcano! by Julia Cook


Kindness

Kitty Princess and the Newspaper Dress by Trevor Dickenson
The Sandwich Swap by Kelly DiPucchio
The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson

Watch Your Tongue Cecily Beasley by Lane Fredrickson



Learning Differences: Autism/Downs/etc.

You’re Going to Love This Kid (for teachers) by Paula Kluth
Understanding Sam and Aspergers Syndrome by Clarabelle Van Niekirk
Me, My Brother and Autism by A.C. Phalon
All About My Brother by Sarah Peralta
Autism and Me: Sibling Stories by Ouisie Shapiro
Hooray for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester (speech, being different)
My Friend with Autism by Beverly Bishop
My Friend Has Autism by Amanda Doering Tourville
I Am Utterly Unique by Elaine Marie Larson
My Friend Has Down Syndrome Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephaine Stuve-Bodeen (down-syndrome)
The Best Worst Brother by S.A. Bodeen (down-syndrome/learning sign language)
In Jesse’s Shoes by Beverly Lewis (offers a biblical perspective to having friends with special needs)



Learning English
Did you know that many of your 2nd language think they’re the only ones in the class that don’t understand you? Getting them to realize they’re not the only one, goes a long way in helping them feel comfortable and safe in your classroom.
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
The Name Jar by Yannsook Choi
I Speak English for My Mom by Muriel Stanek
I Hate English by Ellen Levine
Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox
Rene Has Two Last Names by Rene Colato Laniez


Learning to Read

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
How To Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson

I Don’t Like to Read! by Nancy Carlson

Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr


Listening and Following Directions
My Mouth is A Volcano! by Julia Cook
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow
Come Along Daisy! by Jane Simmons
I’m the Boss by Steve Metzger


Long Vowels
The Peaches on the Beaches by Brian P. Cleary
The Frail Snail on the Trail by Brian P. Cleary
Here Comes Silent E by Anna Jane Hayes
Bob Books set 5–Long Vowels by Bobby Lynn Maslen


Love of Reading

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce
The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

Lying
*See Honesty


Main Idea  
These are books I used to help 1st graders learn about Main Idea

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill
Ruby the Copycat by Margaret Rathman

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
The Night I Followed the Dog by Nina Laden
Six-Dinner Sid by Inga Moore                      
                                     ✯Six-Dinner Sid Comprehension Page


Making New Friends

Pink Tiara Cookies for Three by Maria Dismondy
Poindexter Makes a Friend by Mike Twohy
Purplicious by Victoria Kann
Making Friends by Fred Rogers

Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen


Making Mistakes/Having a Bad Day:

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzburg
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes “Today was difficult. Tomorrow will be better.”
No, David by David Shannon
*There’s also a great Sesame Street song called “We all Make Mistakes” on their Platinum Too album



Making Predictions

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joff Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Joff Numeroff
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joff Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Joffe Numeroff
For Just One Day by Laura Leuck
Same Old Horse by Stuart J. Murphy
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers


Manners
The Golden Rule by Irlne Cooper
The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Manners in the Lunch Room by Amanda Doering Tourville
Manners on The Playground by Carrie Finn
Watch Your Tongue Cecily Beasley by Lane Fredrickson


Math

3 Little Firefighters by Stuart J. Murphy (sorting)

12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam
Animals on Board by Stuart J. Murphy (adding)

Beep Beep, Vroom Vroom! by Stuart J. Murphy (patterns)

Circus Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy (recognizing shapes)

Dance Away by George Shannon

Double the Ducks by Stuart J. Murphy (doubling numbers)

Equal Shmequel by Virginia Kroll and Philomena O’Neill
Every Buddy Counts by Stuart J. Murphy (counting)

A Fair Bear Share by Stuart J. Murphy (regrouping)
From Zero to Ten: The Story of Numbers by Vivian French and Ross Collins

Give Me Half! by Stuart J. Murphy (understanding halves)
The Greatest Gymnast of All by Stuart J. Murphy (opposites)

The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns

Henry the Fourth by Stuart J. Murphy (ordinal numbers)

How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller

If You Were a Fraction by Speed Shaskan

It’s About Time! by Stuart J. Murphy (hours)

Jack The Builder by Stuart J. Murphy (counting on)

Monster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy (subtracting one)
Mathmatickles by Betsy Franco
Math-terpieces by Greg Tang and Greg Paprocki

One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes and Bonnie MacKain

A Pair of Socks by Stuart J. Murphy (matching)
Pattern Bugs by Trudy Harris
Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris
Pepper’s Journal by Stuart J. Murphy (calendars)

The Real Princess by Brenda Williams, Tessa Strickland and Sophie Fatus

Seaweed Soup by Stuart J. Murphy (matching sets)
Spaghetti and Meatballs For All! by Marilyn Burns
Tally O’Malley by Stuart J. Murphy (tallying)


Money
Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells
Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins 
The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy and Lynne Woodcock

Moose

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joff Numeroff
Looking For A Moose by Phyllis Root                   
                          ✯Questions for Looking for a Moose

Moose, Of Course by Lynn Plourde
Moose on the Loose by Kathy-Jo Wargin
Moose (Our Wild World) by Anthony D. Fredricks
The Uglified Ducky: A Maynard Moose Tale by Willy Claflin–Get the one with the CD.

The Useful Moose by Fiona Robinson



    



Never Give Up/Perseverance

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Try It and Stick With It by Cheri J. Meiners
You Can Do It! by Tony Dungy (religious themes)
Winners Never Quit! by Mia Hamm
Never Give Up! A Children’s Picture Book by Adriana Cerrotti
Princesses Are Not Quitters! by Kate Lum
The Dot by Peter Reynolds


Ocean and Sea Animals

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Baby Sea Turtle by Audrey Lang and Wayne Lynch
Baby Sea Otter Story by Martha E.H. Rustad
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
Ocean (DK Eyewitness Books) by Miranda MacQuitty
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan

Opposites and Contrasts
Big is Big (and little, little) by J. Patrick Lewis
Big and Little by Steve Jenkins
The Greatest Gymnast of All by Stuart J. Murphy
The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
What’s Up Duck? A Book of Opposites by Sandra Boynton



Patience
Babushka’s Doll by Patricia Polacco
Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan
Bob and Larry in the Case of the Missing Patience by Karen Poth (religious)
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
This Monster Cannot Wait by Bethany Barton
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
Remy the Rhino Learns Patience by Andy McGuire
Tallulah’s Tutu by Marilyn Singer
* Click here for activities and ideas on teaching patience


Poetry/Songs

Sipping Spiders Through A Straw by Kelly DiPucchio
Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People  by Jane Yolen
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
If You’re Not Here Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School by Kalli Dakos
Honey, I Love and Other Poems by Eloise Greenfield and Leo and Diane Dillon
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky and Marc Brown
My Very First Mother Goose by Rosemary Wells and Iona Opie



Potty Training
Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Super Pooper! By Monika Sloan
When You’ve Got To Go by Mitchell Kriegman


Rainforests
*See Earth Day



Reading Together

You Read To Me, I Read To You by Mary Ann Hoberman

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman

Jamberry by Bruce Degan
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
I Want My Hat Back by J. Klassen
For Just One Day by Laura Leuck                                        


Reading with Expression
*See Fluency                                         


Repetition/Shared Read Alouds
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Eric Carle
Panda Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Eric Carle
Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle


Rhyming
Altoona Baboona by Janie Bynum
Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

The FOOT Book by Dr. Seuss  Obviously anything by Dr. Seuss is going to help with rhyming

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Llama, Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Nadine Bernard Wescott

Mud is Cake by David M. McPhail

An Octopus Followed Me Home by Dan Yaccarino
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky

Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman

Sixteen Cows by Lisa Wheeler

   



Selflessness/Giving
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola
The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson

The Magic is You by Sally H. Taylor
The Most Valuable Treasure by Sally H. Taylor
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
Someday by Alison McGhee


Separation Anxiety
I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Llama, Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Mama Always Comes Home by Karma Wilson
Oh My Baby, Little One by Kathi Appelt
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
You, Me and the Rainbow by Petrea King
Zou and the Box of Kisses by Michel Gay


Sequencing
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Rabbit’s Pajama Party by Stuart J. Murphy
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback (or any similar)
Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch
When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzler


Sharing

The Boy Who Wouldn’t Share by Mike Reiss
I Must Have Bobo by Eileen Rosenthal
It’s Mine by Leo Leonni 
Llama, Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney

Mine! Mine! Mine! by Shelly Becker
The Mine-O-Saur by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems
Ribbon Rescue by Robert Munsch
Share and Take Turns by Cheri J. Meiners
We Share Everything! by Robert Munsch


Shyness

Buster: The Very Shy Dog by Lisze Bechtold
Halibut Jackson by David Lucas
Poindexter Makes a Friend by Mike Twohy
Rosie Sprout’s Time to Shine by Allison Wortche
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt
Too Shy For Show and Tell by Beth Bracken


Strong Girls
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
The Frog Prince, Continued by Steve Johnson
Keep Climbing Girls by Beah E. Richards
Lucia and the Light by Phyllis Root
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Sally and the Some-Thing by George O’Connor
The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah
Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolan
Two Girls Can by Keiko Narahashi
Velma Gratch and the Way Too Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison
Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm


Strong Female Leads: Books for Older Girls
Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry (series)
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (series)
Coroline by Neil Gaiman
Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (series)
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (trilogy)
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (series)
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (series)
Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke (series)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 
Little Women by Louisa Alcott
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (series)
Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (series)
Ramona Quimby by Beverly Cleary (series)
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell or Kathryn Kenny (series)



Talking Too Much

*Also see Interrupting
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne C. Jones
My Mouth is A Volcano! by Julia Cook

Tattling

Rainbow Fish: Tattle Tale by Sonia Sander
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue by Julie Cook and Anita DuFalla
(There is also a workbook associated with this book available on Amazon)



Telling the Truth
*See Honesty


Thanksgiving
Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland




Trying New Things
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
My Brave Year of Firsts by Jamie Lee Curtis

Valentine’s Day
The Berenstain Bears Valentine Party by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Unlucky in Love by Charles Schultz
Be My Valentine Charlie Brown by Charles Schultz
The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bons
Grover, Messenger of Love by Joseph Ewers
Mr. Prickles by Kara LaReau
Snowy Valentine by David Peterson
The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting
Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio
* Click here for activities and ideas on Valentine’s Day


Winter and Snow
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
The Snowy Day by Jack Ezra Keats
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Hat by Jan Brett
The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen 
All You Need For A Snowman by Alice Schertle
Flannel Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennen
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett


Wordless Books
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Bee & Bird by Craig Frazier
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer
The Boys by Jeff Newman
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Changes, Changes by Pat Huchins
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Frog on His Own by Mercer Mayer
Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day
Leaf by Stephen Michael King
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman
The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Sector 7 by David Wiesner
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Truck by Donald Crews
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Wave by Suzy Lee
When Jack Goes Out by Pat Schories
Where’s Walrus by Stephan Savage
Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu
Zoom by Istvan Banyai

*Click here for more info on Teaching With Wordless Books.


    


Worrying
Is a Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff
Melvin Might? by Jon Scieszka
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Writing

*See Becoming a Writer
* Click here for my Tips on Creating Writers


Writing Letters
Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolan                                       
                             ✯Questions for Plantzilla
The Jolly Postman by Janet Ahlberg
I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
I Wanna New Room by Karen Kaufman Orloff
First Year Letters by Julie Danneberg
A Letter To Amy by Jack Ezra Keats
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin


Writing Prompts

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton




Books Boys Love✯  For a list of books dads love to read aloud go here.
The David books by David Shannon
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham
Hello, Robots by Bob Staake
Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
I Stink by Kate McMullan and Jim McMullan
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak         
                                  ✯Wild Things Comprehension Page
Arthur’s Pet Business by Marc Brown (a series)
Me and My Cat by Satoshi Kitamura
Kat Kong by Dav Pilkey
Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (a series)
The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey (a series)
Captain Underpants (books 1-5) by Dav Pilkey (a series)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (A bit hard for K and 1st, but any book boys love, carry around, and obsess over–I’m going to let them have) (a series)
Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (a series)
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
The Amazing Spider-Man (Little Golden Book) by Frank Berrios
Spider-Man versus the Green Goblin (I Can Read Book 2) by Susan Hill
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle (a series)
Sloppy Joe by Dave Keane and Denise Brunkus
Morris the Mankiest Monster by Giles Andrae and Sarah McIntyre
This Monster Needs a Haircut by Bethany Barton



    

*If you have a book or theme to suggest leave a comment or email me at wildrumpusschoolhouse@gmail.com

*1st Grade Language Arts PRINTABLES

*1st Grade Language Arts PRINTABLES

Main Idea Practice

Main Idea Bike
Main Idea Cat
Main Idea Dance
Main Idea Swim
Main Idea Glasses
Main Idea Puppy
Main Idea Baseball
Main Idea Boat
Main Idea Lunch

*Do you like these and need more? Email me: wildrumpusschoolhouse@gmail.com

Comprehension Pages

These are great for testing days or sub plans. Start off the year doing them whole group, and by the 2nd semester many of the kids will be able to do them on their own.

Sleeping Beauty–any version
Where the Wild Things Are –Maurice Sendak
How to Catch A Star–Oliver Jeffers
Unlovable–Dan Yaccarino
Six-Dinner Sid–Inga Moore
Dumpy Larue–Elizabeth Winthrop and Betsy Lewin

Fun Stuff

Mystery Words I used this at the end of 1st grade when the kids could read the sentences on their own and they had a firm grasp of repeating patterns in words. It was easy for the higher-level kids, but they enjoyed it. I only made one, but I really liked it.

*Let me know if you use this or like it, I can make more. wildrumpusschoolhouse@gmail.com

Word Posters

Are your students constantly asking how to spell words? We all know telling them how to spell something doesn’t help them. In 1st grade they shouldn’t be focused on spelling anyway. My solution increased their independence and their sight word vocabulary. I filled the entire wall under my while board with words. The first list is an alphabetical list of words they were constantly asking for–but weren’t at their reading level. If they can figure out the first letter and find the picture, they can find the word. The other posters are done by subject. *You’ll need a good color printer for these, but I printed mine on cardstock, laminated them and they lasted 6 years.

Alphabetical Words
Clothing Words
Family Words
Sports Words
Popular Characters
Days and Months

Guided Reading

Last year my classes were overcrowded so I decided to try something new for Guided Reading that ended up solving my biggest GR problem–the behavior and management of the other kids while working with one group.
And it was so simple! Instead of having them reading quietly at their seats, waiting for their group to be called, I had all of them sit on the carpet in their group and I moved around the room with my box of guided reading supplies (white board, flash cards, whatever I needed). The kids sat back-to-back so they didn’t bother each other, and turned around to form a circle when I came to their group.
This worked great for me because I’ve always liked to do groups on the floor. (I’m too small to use a kidney table–I can’t reach the kids books!) The best part–for some reason it took less time and I was able to meet with every group, every day.

My 2nd favorite tip for Guided Reading: Loud Fridays.  One day a week we did Loud Reading instead of Silent Reading. On Fridays they could read with their friends, sing from their song books, and read out loud. This encouraged shared reading, increased fluency because they didn’t have to whisper and they loved it. (This is also a great day for Reading Buddies!)

Guided Reading Lesson Plans 1
Guided Reading Lesson Plans 2

*Phonics PRINTABLES (K-1)

*Phonics PRINTABLES (K-1)

Chunks, Blends, and Vowel Digraphs

Two Blends Worksheets th sh ch str spr sw
Chunk worksheet  (chunks: -at -og -ick -in -ike -ot -ad -op)

Vowel Digraphs cut and paste -ee -oo -ea

Long Vowel Word Families

-ake mini book
-ake Finish the Sentences
-ake Write Sentences
-ake Cut and Paste
-ike mini book
-ike Finish the Sentence
-ike Write Sentences
-ike Cut and Paste
-ight Finish the Sentence
-ight Write Sentences
-ight Cut and Paste

More Printables

short and long vowel chart I taped these charts on the kids desks for a quick reference. In order for it to work, we referred to it OFTEN.

*Printable BOOKS (PK-K)

*Printable BOOKS (PK-K)

 

These are books I created to help my little ones who were struggling with word boundaries, sight words and alphabet skills.  They loved having their own books they could color, write on and keep in their book boxes. 
I laminated a few for the classroom too.


Instructions: Click on the title, not the picture. Print, make copies, cut along the dotted line, stack pages and staple.

Putting these together is very kid friendly, as there are no page numbers. As long as the title page is on top, the page order doesn’t matter. Use the dots under the words to reinforce word boundaries and pointing while reading.

School book Repetitive words: I, have
Farm Animals book Repetitive words: lives, on, farm
Firefighter book  Repetitive words: I, see, a

Free Printable books from Disney: 

Brave and Tangled
Cars and Toy Story
(from 123 Homeschool 4 Me)

 

ALPHABET BOOKS

For letter studies and high-frequency words:

 

Letter Aa book–easy Repetitive word: The

Letter Bb book–easy Repetitive word: The

Letter Cc bookRepetitive words: Here, is, a

Letter Dd book Repetitive words: Here, is, a

Letter Ee book Repetitive words: An

Letter Ff book Repetitive words: Here, is, a

Letter Gg book Repetitive words: Here, is, a

Letter Hh book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Ii book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Jj book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Kk book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Ll book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Mm book Repetitive words: I, see, two

Letter Nn book Repetitive words: The

Letter Oo book Repetitive words: The, big

Letter Pp book Repetitive words: This, is

Letter Qq book Repetitive words: This, is

Letter Rr book Repetitive words: A, and

Letter Ss book Repetitive words: A, and

Letter Tt book Repetitive words: A, and

Letter Uu book Repetitive words: is, for

Letter Vv book Repetitive words: is, for

Letter Ww book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Xx book Repetitive words: I, see, a

Letter Yy book Repetitive words: I, see

Letter Zz book Repetitive words: I, see, a

 

Books that are more challenging:

Letter Bb book-harder End of 1st grade, focusing on harder vocabulary and lower case “b.”
(I made this book for 1st graders struggling with “b” and “d” confusion.)

Pin It on Pinterest