Some Suggestions for the First Few Weeks of School

I hope that you have begun your school year and are transitioning into the school year smoothly. As a lover of books, I am getting to see what new books I can incorporate into the classroom and I came across two more books I wanted to highlight on my blog. 

​Little Ghoul Goes to School

​I discovered this book through childrenslit.org where I serve as a book reviewer and receive books in exchange for book reviews. I read this tale and initially thought this might be a Halloween story, but it is a story about the first couple of days of school. 

What I love about this story is that the little ghoul thinks all of the worst things about school, some of which come true and some of which do not. Halfway though the story, we realize that the first day we have just read about was simply a dream, and that the real first day is yet to come. However, while the real first day does have its low moments, all of this changes when our main character sees the librarian that she envisioned in her dream and bonds instantly.​

​This is a great reminder that we do not know where our children will find what speaks to them in the school environment, and it is important to try and make our spaces as welcoming as possible. Another great lesson from this book is that often our fears about situations are just fears and it is important to give new situations and experiences a try.

Time for School: Little Blue Truck​

​I love the Little Blue Truck series due to the seasonal nature of many of their books as well as the rhyming prose, which naturally lends itself to a lesson on steady beat. This one is great because it talks all about getting to school on time which many students will no doubt struggle with. The illustrations as well as the sounds of the animals and the truck throughout the book provide children with an opportunity to participate and vocalize those sounds. The rhyming language gives this book a wonderful momentum that will help to set the tone for the beginning of school. 
Hope these books help you in your first few weeks of settling into routines with your students!

​Polina