First Week of School Picture Books!

Happy Summer Friends!,

 

I don't know about you, but I know my brain NEVER turns off from teacher mode, not even in the summer time. I'm already thinking of fresh new ideas for the new school year and what to do to prepare for that time we all know and love...back to school time.

EEEK...Yes, I know that I should not be thinking about this yet. I've only been on vacation a little less than 3 weeks, but it's a teacher thing!

Today I'm linking up with the lovely Deanne from First Grade and Fabulous and The Teacher's Chair to tell you about the books that I use for the first week of school.

 

 

 

Since I have a pirate theme, I always read the pirate books by Melinda Long and David Shannon. First we start off reading "How I Became a Pirate" which I turn into a writing activity afterwards. Students write about what they would do in a sentence frame (beginning 1st graders :-)) if they became a pirate. It is always a hit!

 

 

Then we follow up with "Pirates Don't Change Diapers" and discuss the similarities and differences between the 2 books.

 

 

I make sure we do a book themed study with fun activities every day of the first week. On the first day of school, we always read the Kissing Hand and A Pocket Full of Kisses.

 

 

 

We discuss how we feel as first graders in a new classroom and being separated from our parents. Then we do an activity related to that. We have made Kissing Hand Necklaces, Handprint puzzles with a poem to go along with it, or eat Kissing Hand cookies.

 

Another book that we cover the first week of school is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom as we review letters and sounds from Kindergarten.

 

 

Following this book, we make our own coconut trees with cut out letters. This activity can be found in my Back to School Read Alouds Activity Pack:

 

 

Another day we read one of my favorite books, "Chrysanthemum" to discuss names and how special and unique our names are.

 

 

Then we make a flower glyph based on the vowels, syllables, and letters in our names which is also in the Back to School pack above. Here is a picture of the glyph:

 

 

Another book that I love to use to go over school safety rules is "Officer Buckle and Gloria". My students always get a kick out of this book as we read it.

 

 

Then we discuss our school safety rules and come up with some class rules collaboratively that we will follow in our classroom.

 

Some other books that I will be adding to our first week of school fun this year:

 

 

 

I just found this one!!! How perfect for my pirate theme and playground rules...I am in LOVE!! <3

 

and

 

 

I am a big believer in the bucket filling program. After a overwhelming year last year, I want to get this program back on track in my classroom.

 

What books do you use for the first week of school? Link up with First Grade and Fabulous to share!!!

 

Have a great one!!,