This year I'm back at the elementary level for my job (a district "restructuring" eleminated 11 of 15 librarians, and the four of us remaining now each have four buildings with only partial para coverage. I'll try to keep by negative thoughts to a minimum). I've been in the middle school for nearly a decade, and while it was time for a change then, there are some things I still miss about the elementary kids.
One of them is read alouds. There is nothing like getting a group of kids engaged in a read aloud. I love that a read aloud is abe to calm the class down, the discussions you can have while reading, and the way you can see an entire class rapt with attention as they sit on the carpet while you share a good book.
This fall I've been reading a lot of picture books as book orders arrive at school, and there are a several books that I've had on repeat.
This isn't really a Halloween book, but Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe is the book I read to classes from Kindergarten through fifth grade as I introduced myself to new groups of students. Spare text makes this a quick read, but students quickly became engaged because they realized they needed to pay attention to the illustrations. Aggie's ghost doesn't follow the rules, and she'd like him to leave her alone. This isn't as easy as it may seem as the ghost has ideas of his own. Older students could discuss "reverse psychology" when the ghost seemed to do the opposite of what it was supposed to, and also the idea of "frenemies."
Typically I would teach/recite nursery rhymes with kindergarteners in the fall. I was initially surprised that they rarely knew any nursery rhymes. And, now nine years later, they still know almost none. (There is research out there that shows that knowing nursery rhymes is a pre-reading skill and helps kids learn to read). I have read this book to upper elementary students after we do a quick review/introduction to a few nursery rhymes (Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Hickory Dickory Dock, etc) and they are able to participate in the read aloud by happily shouting, "Pop! Goes the nursery rhyme!" repeatedly. I love a good rhyming book and this one is a delight.
If you're looking for something a little more serious, The Library In the Woods by Calvin Alexander Ramsey is a historical fiction picture book. Calvin recalls his childhood when his family moved from their farm to town. Although Calvin knew about libraries, he knew as a black boy he was not allowed to check out books. However, his friend introduced him to a library in the woods close to where they lived. This building housed more books than Calvin had ever seen and was open to the black community. There Calvin was able to check out books; I love how this story shows how important reading and books were to him. And although kids don't often read the notes at a book's end, we did make sure to look at the photograph of the actual library in the woods.
I have several other stacks on my desk waiting for me to read them. I am already anticipating what other enjoyable stories I can share with my students.
