TGI Spring Break!

Can we just take a minute to appreciate the greatness that is Spring Break? Up until a few years ago we were still only getting one week off in March and now that just seems way too short. Thank goodness for whichever powers at the school board decided to save some money by closing the school for an extra week...I really appreciate it!

With Spring Break comes so much extra free time. Free time to sit and think about school stuff, just from the comfort of my couch. One of the things I've been thinking about this week are read alouds. Here are some of my latest favourites that you might want to check out.

1) Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate for Grades 4-6

When Jackson and his family have to deal with the possibility of moving again, his imaginary friend Crenshaw - an oversized cat - shows back up in his life. This book deals with a lot of heavy topics - poverty, the illness of a parent, moving - which can lead to some great discussions about growth mindset, grit, and sticking together.

2) Refugee by Alan Gratz for Grades 4-7

Refugee follows the stories of three characters: Josef, a Jewish boy living in Nazi Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1994; Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015. This book would be a great read aloud during a Social Studies unit on immigration/refugees to help students build compassion and empathy for what people around the world may be going through.

3) Ugly by Robert Hoge for Grades 3-6

If your students loved Wonder, try Ugly, the memoir of Robert Hoge who was born with a tumor in the middle of his face. This sounds like a great story highlighting the importance of courage, resilience, and overcoming obstacles.
*Disclaimer* This is the one book on this list that I haven't read, but I am intrigued by it.

4) The Wild Robot by Peter Brown for Grades 3-7

I've always loved Brown's picture books, so when I saw this come out, I had to grab it. This is a charming tale about a robot that is shipwrecked and comes alive on an island. She must learn to adapt to the wilderness (and its inhabitants) in order to survive.

5) The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown for Grades 3-7

If you loved The Wild Robot then you have to pick up the sequel (which came out last week) to see how Roz's story concludes. 

6) Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Another one by Applegate; her writing style is so engaging for students and teachers. This is a fantastic story that introduces students to the topic of prejudice. Since the narrator is a tree, there are a lot of interesting observations made about human nature and how we treat each other.

Well, now I'm off to enjoy another week of sitting on my couch. I hope you are also enjoying a relaxing break. If you're still in school, or just returning, and need something to occupy your students, make sure to grab my *free* Spring Break Mini Pack of Fun Activities {HERE}.

10 of My FAVORITE Chapter Books for Kids!

I am so excited about this post. I LOVE reading. Picture books, novels, non-fiction, I get excited about it all. So today I wanted to talk about 10 (I know, how could I narrow it down to only 10?!) of my favorite chapter books for kids.

When I was making this list, I was getting excited. That is the power books hold over me. Just glimpsing the cover of a book I haven't read in years is enough to bring back great memories.

I have to preface this list by saying that it may seem completely unorganized and seemingly disconnected. There is no set age-range or theme, but rather I solely chose books that have somehow impacted me. These are books that have stayed with me since childhood or have somehow impacted my teaching. This list is a book of favorites - my favorites. I'm sure I've left out some masterpieces, but when I sat down to think, these are the 10 that popped into my mind. So without further ado, let's move on to the list!

10) The BFG by Roald Dahl

All books via Amazon

Of course I had to start my list off with a Roald Dahl - you'll see that this will be a reoccurring theme! I first heard this book as a classroom read-aloud in third grade and have loved it ever since. The detail, the humour, the suspense, it is great.

9) From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Mystery, intrigue, and New York City, what more do you need?

8) The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I love this book because it is the perfect first chapter book read-aloud for young readers. Plus, it's a really great story - who can't help but love that sweet, little Despereaux?

7) The Giver by Lois Lowry

When I read this book in seventh grade, it was so different than other books I had previously read. The concept had a powerful impact on me then that still resonates to this day.

6) Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

When I read this book, all I wanted to do was eat tomato sandwiches and carry a spy notebook. Love it.

5) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Another Roald Dahl. I'm sure I could have filled this entire list with his books but I limited myself to three. This one makes the list because it was the first novel read-aloud I heard while in school. One of my favorite teachers read it to my class in first grade and it sparked my interest in novels. Before that I had been a voracious reader, but I had only ever seen picture books for kids - I thought novels were limited to adults! The thought that there were novels - amazing, long, intricate stories - for kids, opened a new world of reading for me.

4) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This is another book that has stuck with me since childhood. Novels can be powerful way to introduce tough historical topics to students, and this novel does just that.

3) The Breadwinner Trilogy by Deborah Ellis

This book came out when I was in university and by the time I started student teaching it was SO popular among students. The school library could not keep it on the shelves and boys and girls alike were devouring it. It brings current news and issues into the classroom and sends a powerful message.

2) The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

This series came out when I was a kid, but for some reason I didn't discover it until adulthood. I heard about it over and over again, but for some reason, I resisted reading it - big mistake! As soon as I picked up the first book, I couldn't put it down. It was a stay-up-until-2a.m. read for me and I continue to re-read the series all the time. I always feel that the hallmark of a great children's book is that adults love it too, and this series is a perfect example.

1) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Hands down, this is my favorite chapter book for kids. It's great as a class read-aloud, to inspire struggling readers or for students to re-read over and over again. This book has stuck with me since childhood. When I was in elementary school, as soon as my teacher finished reading it to the class, I immediately went to the local library and checked it out. I have read it countless times over the years and it will always hold a special place in my literary heart.

So those are my favorites, what are some of yours? Even as I was going through the list, I know I've left off a bunch, so I might have to make a 2.0 list!

I've seen a lot of students that struggle with reading & responding to chapter books. If you're interested in something to help your students with their comprehension, I have a bunch of prinables just for that . . .

You can click {HERE} or the above pictures if you'd like a closer look.

If you're interested in similar printables designed for use with picture books, you can check out a blog post I wrote {HERE} about using picture books to make predictions.