The Read Aloud Classroom

Leap into Learning with Picture Books!  Check out these fun Leap Year read alouds.  We'll be diving into a collection of fun, engaging reads that explore the concept of time, the importance of calendars, and the excitement of an extra day.  Whether you're looking for silly stories, informative explanations, or heartwarming tales, we've got you covered! 🌟 FREE JABARI JUMPS LESSON 📚...

Struggling to make those tricky states of matter click for your young scientists? Look no further than the wonder of picture books! This video unlocks the secret to transforming your classroom into a laboratory of imagination, where learning explodes with vibrant illustrations and playful narratives. ⚗️ 🌟 SNEEZY THE SNOWMAN LESSON PLAN 📚 STATES OF MATTER PICTURE BOOKS: - Sneezy the Snowman - Man...

Check out these new picture books released in January 2024!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which January 2024 picture book to read first! 🌟 FREE BOOK LIST 📚 JANUARY PICTURE BOOKS: - Homegrown - Time to Make Art - There’s No Place Like Hope - The Fish of Small Wishes - Too Much: My Big Great Native Family - Tree of Life - The Last Stand -...

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day in your classroom with these fun activities!  I have 6 different ways to help you share books with your students this February.   Watch the video to learn how to use all these World Read Aloud Day activities in your classroom! 🌟 FREE STORYTELLING ACTIVITIES Check out the show notes for World Read Aloud Day Activities Join the Colorful Apple Book Club ! Check out the...

We all know that teaching students about wants and needs is super important. But guess what? Picture books make it way more fun and memorable! We're diving into wants vs needs picture books that can help us explain the difference. 🌟 WANTS VS. NEEDS VS. ROBOTS LESSON PLAN 📚 WANTS VS NEEDS PICTURE BOOKS: - Wants vs. Needs vs. Robots - Those Shoes - Lily Learns about Wants and Needs - Do I Wan...

It's that time again - Mock Caldecott 2024!  I'm sharing my predictions for which books might win the Caldecott award this year.  I even have a freebie for you to host your own Mock Caldecott award ceremony in your classroom. 🌟 FREE CALDECOTT ACTIVITY 📚 CALDECOTT PREDICTIONS 2024: Big An American Story Jumper: A Day in the Life The Tree and the River Once Upon a Book I’m From In the Ni...

Story elements are the foundation of our comprehension work with students.  Once they can retell the components of a story, they’ll be able to answer higher level questions.  Story elements include; characters, setting, problem & solution, main events.  And the best way to teach this is through read alouds!  Here are a few of my favorite picture books for story elements. 🌟 THE PAPER BAG PRINC...

Hibernation books for kids are a great way to teach students about this intriguing science topic!  Get ready to snuggle up with your class and dive into a collection of stories that will make this natural phenomenon come alive in the most delightful way. 🌟 BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL LESSON PLAN 📚 HIBERNATION BOOKS FOR KIDS: - Bear has a Story to Tell - Hibernation Station - Over & Under the Sn...

Kids have a lot of opinions!  But getting them to write those opinions and give reasons can be tough.  A great way to introduce opinion writing is to model how our favorite authors share their opinions through mentor texts.  Students need to be exposed to examples of the writing genre we are teaching.  These mentor texts are not just for exposing students to the genre, but they are powerful for ex...

Check out these new picture books released in December 2023!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which December 2023 picture book to read first! 🌟 FREE BOOK LIST 📚 New Picture Books December 2023: Wish Soup If I Were a Fish I’m Going to Be a Princess Mercy Watson is Missing! The Little Tiger Cupig: The Valentine’s Day Pig Small-Girl Toni and...

Join me as I share my favorite picture books that were released in 2023!  All of these books make great read alouds for your elementary classroom. 📚 2023 Picture Books: January - The Kindest Red February - Once Upon a Book March - When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left April - Naming Ceremony May - Big June - Salat in Secret July - A Book for Bear August - Girls on Wheels September - Something S...

It's almost 2024!  Around this time, I like to look into the picture books that will be released in the new year.  Well, I was not disappointed!  I planned to write a post that covered books for all of 2024.  However, I already had a huge list in just the first half of the year! 📚 New Picture Books: 2024 Homegrown Time to Make Art There’s No Place Like Hope   The Fish of Small Wishes  Escarg...

These Christmas books for kids are perfect to read aloud in December! The Christmas picture books share the spirit of the holiday and your students will definitely enjoy them. 🌟 FREE LESSON 📚 CHRISTMAS PICTURE BOOKS: Dasher Santa in the City The Polar Express Red and Lulu The Little Reindeer A Wish to be a Christmas Tree I Got the Christmas Spirit The Christmas Book Flood 🎄 Christmas Picture Bo...

Check out these new picture books released in November 2023!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which November 2023 picture book to read first! 🌟 FREE BOOK LIST 📚 NOVEMBER PICTURE BOOKS: - Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year - The Big Cheese - What’s in a Dumpling, Grandma? - When I Smile: A Book of Kindness - How to Love a Grandma - Love Comes...

In today's video, we're diving into picture books to teach elementary students about holiday celebrations. Join me as we explore the power of interactive read-aloud lessons to make learning about diverse holidays a memorable and engaging experience. 📚✨ ✏️ Winter Candle Lesson 🌟 Free Lesson: O ur Favorite Day of the Year 📚 PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT HOLIDAYS: - Red & Green & Blue &am...

In this video, I'm sharing picture books to teach small moments in writing.  We'll be using an interactive read-aloud lesson, a method that never fails to capture students' imaginations. ✏️ Last Stop on Market Street Lesson Plan 📚 PICTURE BOOKS TO TEACH SMALL MOMENTS: - Last Stop on Market Street - Owl Moon - The Snowy Day - Fireflies - Blackout - Shortcut - Hike - Jabari Jumps - F...

Today, we're diving into the magic of picture books to teach an invaluable lesson—gratitude! In this episode, we'll explore the power of interactive read-aloud lessons and how they can help our students understand and express gratitude in meaningful ways. ✏️ Thankful Lesson 📚 Thankful Picture Books 📚 Thankful The Thank You Book The Thankful Book Thank You, Omu! Bear Says Thanks We are...

Check out these new picture books released in October 2023!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which October 2023 picture book to read first! 📝 FREE Picture Book List 📚 New Picture Books 📚 What You Need to Be Warm I am Mister Rogers Busy Betty and the Circus Surprise Flat Cat Lawrence & Sophia Sankofa Nesting Dolls Begin Again Ethan and...

In this episode, we'll explore how to use the magic of picture books to teach friendship skills and create a more inclusive classroom environment. 🌟 Picture books are the perfect tool for teaching social development and empathy to young students.  Learn about picture books that address friendship themes, promote diversity, and engage your students. 📝 The Someone New Lesson Plan 📚 Picture B...

In this episode, I'll show you how to use picture books to teach your students the art of descriptive writing. Get ready to witness the transformation of your young writers as we embark on an interactive read-aloud adventure! 📝 I Need My Monster Lesson Plan 📚 Picture Books 📚 I Need My Monster Southwest Sunrise Magnificent Homespun Brown A Gift for Amma Saturdays & Teacakes Fry Bread Sh...

In this episode, I'll be sharing some tips on how to use picture books to teach students about storms. Storms can be a scary and confusing topic for young children, but they are also an important part of science. Picture books can be a great way to introduce children to storms in a way that is both engaging and informative. 📝 I am the Storm Lesson Plan 📚 Picture Books 📚 I am the Storm Hurr...

In today's episode, we're diving into a fun and interactive lesson on how to teach the asking questions strategy using picture books. 📖✨ 📝 The Stranger Lesson Plan 🎯 Key Takeaways 🎯 Discover the art of selecting the perfect picture book for your lesson. Learn how to introduce the asking questions strategy with examples from beloved books like 'The Stranger' and 'Grand...

Check out these new picture books released in September 2023!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which September 2023 picture book to read first! Picture Books: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh Something, Someday Artivist Who I Am Swimming Toward a Dream Harlem at Four I’m From Babo Building a Dream See You on the Other Side Say My Name S...

Goal setting picture books for kids are a great way to start the new year!  These picture book read alouds about goals are perfect for any time of the year, though.  Each book will walk through the steps of setting a goal for students.  I've also included a free goal setting activity for you to use after reading these books aloud! Resources: Goal Setting Activity Jabari Jumps Interactive Read...

Hi!  Welcome to Unlock the Power of Picture Books .  I'm Sara Soucy, a former elementary school teacher with a passion for read alouds.  This podcast will be the place where I share my best tips for using picture books in the classroom.  Join me each week as I share book titles to use in all areas of the curriculum. Join the Colorful Apple Book Club ! Check out the TpT Store . Join our FREE F...