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Great Read Alouds for the First Days of School

June 5, 2017, 3:52 p.m.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Wood

An all-time favorite for the first day of school! Chester the Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school, so his mom kisses his palm and tells him to press it to his cheek every time he thinks of her. Be sure to have heart stickers to pass out as a souvenir. Students will remember and retell the story when they get home from school.

Heart Stickers

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

It’s the first day of school and School is nervous. He’s worried about being liked. He has a rough start, but things turn out great.

Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins

This adorable version of the Three Bears shows readers how to choose just right books and just right places to read. After reading, ask students to describe what makes a book too hard, too easy, and just right. Create a Goldie Socks-How to Choose a Just Right Book anchor chart with students that lists student-generated criteria for what makes a book just right.

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

The surprise ending in this book makes for a fun and relatable example of overcoming the "first day jitters" students can experience.

The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

Use this book to get to know your students. Write an “Important Thing about Me” poem for your students using the structure of the poems in the book. Have each student write or dictate an important poem. Bind all of the poems together for your first class book of the year.

If I Were In Charge of the World by Judith Viorst

Use the first poem in this anthology to discover what each of your students think needs changing in their world.

What would they cancel? What would there be more of? How could they make life just a little better? This is a great, quick writing activity that will reveal your students’ cares and worries and help them bond as they discover they have so much in common.