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}.