As the year winds down I think I want to do a read aloud of a good chapter book. My library has a bunch of class sets and I was thinking of reading Bridge to Terebithia. Thoughts? Is there something better? I feel a bit guilty because I only did 1 read aloud this whole year.. I read Loser by Jerry Spinelli. We never really had time after that and I certainly let it go to the back burner. I'm more interested in reading a classic rather than a contemporary book (like those of Jerry Spinelli). I was tempted to read The Secret Garden... I remember that being read to me in my elementary days... Any MUST reads??? (4th grade)
I know a lot of kids that like the book, "Holes." I've never read it though. An good off-the-wall read would be "McBroom Tells a Lie." I read it when I was 8. It isn't a chapter book but it has 47 pages and few pics. Funny book.
What about something you could get in a children's classic - like King Arthur or Treasure Island? Secret Garden is really heavy- good book, but hard for the kids to get into. Holes is a good suggestion. I love the book Loser! We had to read it for the reading competition we participate in - I think teachers should have to read the parts about the various ones Zinkoff had. I know you didn't want contemporary, but I really liked "The Thing about Georgie" - it's about a child who is a dwarf.
My class loved Bridge to Terabithia. I will definitely do it again next year. I read Holes to my class when I taught 5th grade, but at the beginning of the year, so end of the year 4th graders would probably like it.
Bridge to Terabithia is definitely a wonderful choice. Night of the Twisters is also a fantastic book that will have your students on the edge of their chairs.
My kids loved Indian in the Cupboard this year. Sideways Stories from Wayside School is also great, especially when you stick in your students' names for the characters.
Just one? Only one?.... This might be TOO hard for me. It's a tie between Frindle and Shiloh I love the moment I stop reading and the children say, "No, no, no! You can't stop now. I need to know what happens next! Please, please, please. You can give us extra homework.":woot: Next would be Stone Fox..... however, some students will feel angry with me for making them feel sad... but then ask for me to read it again.
Absolute must:::::!!!!! A Wrinkle in Time! You will get to make all the different voices and, well, it is my most favorite book in the whole world! And it would end the year on an upswing - good vs. evil theme, the good wins! Holes would also be a good choice, but it takes a lot of concentration to put it all together as a read aloud - like the movie was hard to understand, but reading the book myself, it all came together rapidly and it was an awesome story!
What about James and the Giant Peach? I remember this as being my favorite when I was in the 3rd grade. I know some think it's a little "dark." Anyone else have an opinion? I'm going to read it again this summer I'm actually reading A Wrinkle in Time right now for the 3rd time. I love that book and want to brush up on it before school starts. Any thoughts on that as a read-aloud for 3rd?
James and the Giant Peach was something my 4th grader read this year. They also did something with Sign of the Beaver. A Wrinkle in Time was required GT summer reading for my other son when he was going into 6th grade. They did a ton of stuff with it. I never read it so I don't know if it is good for fourth grade, but he enjoyed it.
First grade for me, so no Wrinkle. I like to read them Flat Stanley. Once I read them The BFG. My jr. high daughter recommended it! I had not read it. I was horrified as right away the BFG steals a child from her bed at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my students had nightmares from that book. That was my first year teaching primary and lesson learned! They loved the book overall, but it sure isn't appropriate for first grade! I have read Wrinkle to all my jr. high classes and they loved it.
