A great follow up to the first book is this book which is written in the form of a letter from a former student to a teacher who had a lasting impact on her life (including inspiring her to become a teacher herself)!
The narrator of A Letter to My Teacher says that she "was the one who marched to school that first day, splashing through every puddle I could find..." she says that for her "school meant sitting still and listening, two things I wasn't much good at."
So many students can see themselves in the narrator, and it is a great way to show them that as their teacher, you will help them to grow and love all those things that make them unique!
Teaching Idea:
In the book, the teacher reads to the children about the explorer, Mary Kingsley, and the student says that she is just like her when she causes havoc on a field trip. Have your students research and learn about Mary Kingsley themselves.
Mrs. Spitzer is a wise teacher who knows many things. She knows about gardens, and she knows about children. She knows how similar they are, and how both will flourish if tended with love.
Mrs. Spitzer also knows that each plant (and each child) has their own shape. Each grow differently, some "...grow quickly, pushing upward, eager, impatient. Some grow more slowly, unfolding themselves bit by bit."
Teaching Idea:
After reading the book, investigate how seeds grow. What things are needed to help them to grow? What differences do some seeds have? (i.e. some need more light, others need support as they grow). Perhaps start a small garden with your students.
Miss Maple's Seeds is another story that compares students to flowers, but in a slightly more subtle way. The book never shows Miss Maple in a classroom, but the author leaves hints that it is a metaphor for being a teacher.
In the book Miss Maple "... learns each seed by heart, all similar yet none the same." She takes them on field trips where they learn about being a seed and how they must "..take care to stay clear of weedy characters."
In May, it is time for Miss Maple to send her seeds off to find roots of their own. She reminds them that "...even the grandest of trees once had to grow up from the smallest of seeds."
Teaching Idea:
Since this book is a metaphor for students and teaching, comparing them to seeds and Miss Maple, have your students compare the two and show how they are similar.
Ramon is a little boy who loves to draw. But one day, his older brother makes fun of his picture because it doesn't look "right". He finally gives up drawing until he sees his sister's room. She has created a gallery of all of his drawings. She points to one of the pictures and says that it is her favorite. Ramon says that it was supposed to be a vase of flowers, but it doesn't look like one.
His sister replies that it looks "vase-ISH!" He realizes that all of his drawings are "ish" and that is ok. This is a great way to introduce your students to the fact that it is ok to make mistakes as we are learning, and that not everything needs to be picture perfect.
Teaching Idea:
In the book, Ramon's brother breaks down his confidence by laughing at his picture. In order for students to feel comfortable living "ishly", the classroom needs to be a comfortable and safe place. Ask students to describe a classroom where all students feel safe living ishly. Remind them to include:
- How students should treat each other.
- How they can support one another.
- How they can react when other students make a mistake.
Wallace Bleff has an overactive imagination and his parents tell him that his imagination is "getting to wild" as whey send him out West to visit his Aunt Fern. That's how his essay about how he spends his summer vacation begins.
But, he becomes captured by cowboys who carry him off to their Cow Camp. His story becomes wilder and wilder until he tells his teacher that he can't wait for show and tell (as a bull appears in the illustration). Your students will love How I Spent My Summer Vacation!
Teaching Idea:
Have your students write their own versions of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by using their imaginations to come up with crazy ways that they could have spent their summer vacation.
This is a great way to help students write about their summer vacation without anyone feeling bad if they didn't get to do anything exciting over the break.
Calvin Can't Fly is the story of a bookworm birdie who LOVES to read! While all of his sterling brothers, sisters, and cousins are learning to fly, Calvin is in the library learning to read. In the end, it is Calvin's love of learning that helps him and the other starlings to survive a hurricane. He also finally learns to fly!
This book is a great starting point for a conversation about respecting and appreciating individual differences.
Teaching Idea:
Have your students write about the things that make them unique.
Dear Teacher is written in the form of letters from a little boy named Michael who has his own first day Jitters and is explaining why he can't go to school.
Teaching Idea:
Have your students write about the wildest reasons why they can't go to school.
Bonus Teaching Idea:
I know that I said at the beginning of this blog post that these books were different than First Day Jitters, but if you are anything like me, you still LOVE this book and want to share it with your students anyway! Here is an idea for that inevitable moment when your students blurt out, "We've already read this!"
Before I read the book, I tell students "I know you may have read this book before, and if you have, I don't want you to spoil the ending! But, I have a big job for you. I want you to pay attention to how the author and the illustrator worked to make it a surprise ending."
The students then look for clues such as the character saying, "I'm not going! or "I hate my new school!" They might also notice how the illustrator doesn't show the whole character, so you can't tell that she's not a kid.
I hope you found this list helpful with new ideas for Back to School Read Alouds! What is your favorite Back to School Read Aloud? Let me know in the comments!
Are you looking for more ideas for Back to School?
