The Read Aloud Classroom

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 Want It or Do I Need It?- Last Stop on Market Street- Tight Times- The Can Man- The Pigeon Wants a Puppy- Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last SundayCheck out the show notes for Wants vs. Needs Picture Books Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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:BigAn American StoryJumper: A Day in the LifeThe Tree and the RiverOnce Upon a BookI’m FromIn the Night GardenNell Plants a TreeEvergreenThere Was a Party for LangstonSee the show notes for the Caldecott Predictions 2024 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 PRINCESS LESSON PLAN📚 PICTURE BOOKS FOR STORY ELEMENTS:- The Paper Bag Princess- Ruby Finds a Worry- Ira Sleeps Over- Enemy Pie- If You Give a Pig a Pancake- Where the Wild Things Are- In Our Mothers’ HouseSee the show notes for Picture Books for Story Elements Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 Snow- Time to Sleep - Animals in Winter- The Snowy Nap- Bear Snores OnGet the show notes for the Hibernation Books for Kids Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 explicitly teaching the structure and features.  Here are my favorite opinion writing mentor texts.🌟 THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT LESSON PLAN📚 OPINION WRITING BOOKS FOR KIDS:- The Day the Crayons Quit- I Wanna Iguana- Hey, Little Ant- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus- The Perfect Pet- I Don't Want to be a Frog- The True Story of the 3 Little PigsGet the show notes for Opinion Writing Picture Books Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 SoupIf I Were a FishI’m Going to Be a PrincessMercy Watson is Missing!The Little TigerCupig: The Valentine’s Day PigSmall-Girl Toni and the Quest for GoldA Gift for Nai NaiYour Voice, Your Vote Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 RedFebruary - Once Upon a BookMarch - When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go LeftApril - Naming CeremonyMay - BigJune - Salat in SecretJuly - A Book for BearAugust - Girls on WheelsSeptember - Something SomedayOctober - Nesting DollsNovember - The Big CheeseNovember - Lila Greer, Teacher of the YearDecember - Mercy Watson is Missing!Get the show notes for My Favorite Picture Books of 2023 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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: 2024HomegrownTime to Make ArtThere’s No Place Like Hope The Fish of Small Wishes Escargot & the Search for SpringSeeds of ChangeIt’s Holi!Memory GardenA Rainbow in BrownWhen the Rain Came DownDon’t Wash WinstonLookAll I Need to BeTricky ChopsticksThe Mochi Makers Someone Just Like YouAvocado MagicToo Much: My Great Big Native FamilyOllie, the Acorn, and the Mighty IdeaA Maleta Full of TreasuresSister FriendChurro StandSydney’s Big SpeechReady to SoarThis TableThe Spice Box The Last Stand📝 Show Notes for New Picture Books 2024 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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:DasherSanta in the CityThe Polar ExpressRed and LuluThe Little ReindeerA Wish to be a Christmas TreeI Got the Christmas SpiritThe Christmas Book Flood🎄 Christmas Picture Books Show Notes Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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 First📝 New November Books Show Notes Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!Check out the TpT Store.Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.Keep your teaching colorful,Sara :) The Colorful AppleFull disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.