Beginning of the Year Read Alouds

Like so many of you, read alouds are my favorite part of the day.  I love sharing new literature with my students.  What I love even more is when they connect to the story.  Two read alouds that I use every year are Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians and The Best Story.

I use Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians, by Jackie Mims Hopkins to teach and practice finding a "just right" book.  The author does a wonderful job of following the Goldilocks format while explaining how to find the "right" book.  Once we have read the book, I allow students to explore our classroom library, searching for a "just right" book.  I also provide each student with a Just Right Bookmark.

Click on the image to grab a copy of this bookmark.

Each time I conference with students, on their reading, I make sure that they have their bookmark handy, and can demonstrate how one of their books is "just right."

I have blogged about The Best Story before.  I love using this book to launch Writers' Workshop.  Once I have read it to my kiddos, we create our "what we love" project.  I give each student their journal for the first time, with a blank heart glued to the back cover.  Students then draw pictures and label items and events they love.  They can then refer to their hearts for writing inspiration, and add to it throughout the year.  

What books do you use to launch Readers' and Writers' Workshop?