I like to read aloud to my students for a little bit after lunch. What are you going to start your year with as far as chapter books go?
I read Frindleby Andrew Clements to my class last year and they loved it. They also enjoyed the Cam Jansen series. I'm also looking for some good chapter books for this year.
Because of Winn Dixie, Matilda, Flat Stanley, one book from many series such as: Magic Tree House, Bailey School Kids, Pee Wee Scouts, Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, Boxcar Children, ect. I've thought about Spiderwick, have you read them?
Muggie Maggie, Flat Stanley, Winn Dixie, Charlotte's Web, Judy Blume books, Bailey School Kids, and I have all the JBJ books. I don't personally like JBJ books for read alouds b/c of all the grammatical errors, but the kids like to read them independently.
I'll read three or four of the Marvin Redpost books to my class, and some Magic Tree House books this fall.
I read almost all the books others have mentioned... I always start with Charlotte's Web though. Most kids know the story, but love hearing it again... plus it's an awesome way to talk about friendship and social skills at the beginning of the year. We talk about the story all year long too.
I'm a huge fan of the Spiderwick series. My students loved the first book and pleaded with me to continue reading the series. I read the next two and left them to read the rest with their families. There is a little violence (second book) and a few choice words from the main character's 13 year old sister. I plan on reading the books a little earlier this year, before the movie comes out in February. Besides Magic Tree House, Junie B., and A-Z Mysteries, I love to read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to my students also.
I am going to try something new this year. I bought a few of the Choose Your Own Adventure books from Amazon (remembered loving them as a kid) and I am going to read those, drawing sticks to give kids the opportunity to choose what happens next. My 3 year old has been enjoying them! After that, my old stand-bys, Roald Dahl books-LOVE The Twits and Charlie and the Choc Factory.
I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books too. I kept flipping to find the best ending instead of reading it through. I may use your idea!
I LOVE Miss Daisy is Crazy, and the whole My Weird School series. This is also my first chapter book read aloud during the year. I also like reading Bunnicula, the Cam Jansen series, Horrible Harry series, The Boy Who Turned into A TV Set, Freckle Juice, The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo, and the Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo series. And this is just my list for the first half of the year! I have my read-aloud stack in my closet at school. I'll post more suggestions if anyone would like them.
I like Flat Stanley because it is shorter for the beginning of the year. I also have read Misty of Chincoteague, Poppy(AWESOME BOOK!), Skinnybones, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and The Magic Treehouse.
Charlotte's Web, of course The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Ramona Series Little House Series This year I want to read: Holes Wayside School Series
During the second half of the year, I decided to read books that had a great story, but perhaps were too challenging for them to read themselves. My idea was that I could also expose them to interesting vocabulary and give them reason to think about things that were unfamiliar, and imagine the characters. I read The Secret Garden.... which was a bit challenging for me to read because of the English dialect... but the kids absolutely loved it. (and it is one of my favorite books) I also read the Tale of Despereaux, and the BFG. All of those are books that older kids might enjoy, but they were a wonderful success.
I would check out the Newburry Medal Award winner list. So many of them would be great for read alouds. Also, The Last of the Very Great Wangdoodles is amazing for 2nd graders! I def recommend it.
For some reason my kids love the Elmer books so I might read those, I read the Magic Tree House Books, sometimes I just pick a kid to get 4 books off the shelf, I read the back of them and the kids vote.
I use Junie B Jones for a lot of Read Alouds. I always get a great reaction. I stop frequently to ask questions not only about the story, but also about the grammatical errors she makes.
I startedt his year off with Ramona the Pest. The kids can relate because they all have younger siblings.
I'm reading the first Cam Jansen book. I am using it to introduce books in a series. The next book I want to read it Matilda. I'm trying to alternate them between new books and my classics )
Yeah, the kids love Junie B. but it's hard for some of the kids, especially ELL, to make sense of it. Plus, some kids don't quite understand that the author wrote like that to make it sounds like a 7 year old....they think that's the way you're supposed to write.
I read the same ones you do! Cool. I hate JBJ books for the same reason. I remember starting one and then I got so disgusted I quit reading it after chapter 2. Kids love em though. I also would add Mr. Popper's Penguins (winter) and Charlie and Choc Factory and also I've done Mouse and Motorcycle and Pippi Longstocking. The series are good because you get a kid hooked on that author! :woot:
When I taught second grade last year, they LOVED The Secret's of Ms. Snickles class. It's about a teacher who lives in her classroom, and when she pushes a button after school it changes into her apartment. It also has a plot line about secrets of the students, one of the students was a swan and one's mother is the tooth fairy!
I usually begin the year with a favorite of mine -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The students love this book. Then I have read The Tale of Desperaux, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Charolottes Web, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Bridge to Terabithia, Wizard of Oz, Winn dixie. I have read many more, however at this time in the morning I really can't remember them all.
I read my Choose Your Own Adventrue book yesterday and today (same one, let kids pick what happens, so ended differently each time) and they absolutely loved it! One actually thanked me for introducing them to them, and another said, "Yeah, we love these now." I am so excited!
Hey, Me too! In that order! Next will be Stewart Little, Mr. Popper's Penguins and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I like Pippi Longstocking too and The Mouse and the Motorcycle.
The Little House Series (9 Books) is in the Scholastic Book Club paper for September. It shows that the books are around 200 to 400 pages each. Did you find them to be too long? I loved the series on T.V. and wondered if it would take a super long time to read through one of them?
