Hi, I am a second year, second grade teacher. I plan to read aloud many chapter books throughout the year. I kind of want to read them in the appropriate seasons, for example, Charlotte's Web in the spring. Last year, I read Charlotte's Web, Because of Winn Dixie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc. Can you give me some good books to read out loud to the second graders? I like books that I can then show the movie for, but I don't have to do this. I just think it is a treat when we are done with the book. I was looking at the thread about favorite books and saw that someone wrote, The Polar Express. I didn't realize this was a book. Would it be a good read aloud book? Thanks for all the help. cindy
I read all of the E.B. White classics - Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan, and Stuart Little. We do activities each day after a chapter, watch the movies once we're done w/the books, and compare/contrast as well.
My first graders really enjoyed the Flat Stanley book. Of course, as many other classes do, we each made a Flat Stanley to send across America. We got great responses, photos, information from all the various places Stanley visited. The children were so excited to share their packages when they arrived! It was a wonderful cross-curricular learning unit! It took some planning. We wrote letters to go with our Stanleys. Then after each chapter, I made a vocabulary and comprehension sheet to review. We tracked our Stanley locations on a map, too. Lots of fun and worth the planning involved!
I also teach 2nd grade and LOVE finding good books for read-alouds. I have a habit of choosing books that are above 2nd grade level if for no other reason than the kids LOVE hearing stories that they, themselves may not be able to read yet. Plus I only read aloud books that I loved reading myself. I would suggest to read, read, read this summer. I marathon read books during the summer and have found some excellent books that way! The Hundred Dresses is an EXCELLENT book for the beginning of the year. It address bullying (and the bullies are girls, which in 2nd grade is common!) I was able to do many quick write activities with my class focusing on issues like connections (similar experiences), as well as predicting what they thought would happen. Another book that I read to my 2nd graders this year was "The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane". It is another Kate DiCamillo book (I just LOVE her books!). It has a couple of heart-wrenching sections (one where the hobo Edward is with is treated meanly, and another where his little girl owner dies, but my kids did well with both. I just briefly talked about the cruelty of others and explained what happened to the girl, but didn't dwell on it!). My kids loved this book! .
My students love "The Chocolate Touch", any and all of the Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody, the Ramona series, and when we started cursive, we read "Muggy Maggie" about a girl who absolutely hates cursive. They loved it!
chapter books i read My students love Horrible Harry books, I know they are very simple, but because it is a series, they can hear more than one story about the characters, and they can relate easily to them. I also like that they are able to read the book, because once I have read it, I put it in the Horrible Harry box and they are able to read the book themselves, during quiet reading. The books are also very nice and short chapter books, so it works out very well.
I usually read: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Stuart Little James and the Giant Peach Ramona Quimbly, Age 8 The Doll People The Meanest Doll in the World I don't think that you have to do activities with each book (sometimes we watcht the movie). I think sometimes it's just good to read the book to the kids and let them realize that we read for enjoyment also. There doesn't always have to be a "lesson" or "enrichment activity" to go along with the book. Let them enjoy the read aloud.
We did Judy Blume's series with the mischievous Fudge character and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. The latter is AMAZING for learning about story development, characters and VOCABULARY! My kids did some phenomenal reader response journals because they just adored the books. The movie is very different, so it brings up great discussions about comparison and contrast. Other coworkers have done Bridge to Terabithia, Matilda, James & the Giant Peach, and The Paper Bag Princess.
I love to read chapter books to the kids because they enjoy it so much!! It is a great way to introduce a variety of literature and get them excited to read. I tried to read a variety of genres too so they understood the labels on the baskets and had an example of what that meant. The books I read this year were: -the first Magic Tree House, A to Z Mystery and Cam Jensen books (Mystery and Adventure). These were quick to read and introduced the series to them. They continued to be popular picks the rest of the year. -My Father's Dragon (Fantasy) -Ramona The Pest (Realistic Fiction) -Little House in the Big Woods (Historical Fiction) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Fantasy...by far my favorite and the kids!) -Flat Staney (we did this when we started our letter writing unit and did the whole Flat Stanley project) -Chocolate Fever Now I am blanking on what else we read! I do my chapter book read aloud after my kids get back from specials and while they have their snack. It really calms them down and allows us to do work the rest of the afternoon.
If you teach at a Catholic or private religious school, a favorite read-aloud of mine is Tales from the Ark by Avril Rowlands. Awesome book, with each chapter being told by a different animals' perspective.
Hi Cindy. The Polar Express is a picture book that I think your 2nd graders would love. In fact, all of Chris Van Allsburg picture books are great. The ones that I can think of are Jumanji, Zathura, The Widow's Broom, Two Bad Ants, and I can't remember any more right now.
The children love chapters books from Dan Gutman (Miss Daisy is Crazy). I read a few after lunch and recess. They enjoyed it and wanted to read them on their own too.
You took mine My 2nd grade teacher read some of the Laura Ignalls books & other books than Charlie & the Choc Factor by Rolad Dahl...what about Charlie & the Great Glass elevator. I liked BOY. My 3rd grade teacher read Indian in the Cupboard...LOVE that book!!!
I taught second grade last year (we loop between second and third grade). The children in my class loved The Magic Tree House series. They couldn't wait to find out what adventures awaited Jack and Annie!
