What are so good books to read the beginning of the year? My up and coming second graders are great. It's a small school so everyone already pretty much knows everyone. I was looking for books about getting along and knowing when to stop in regards to pushing each others buttons since they know each other so well.
I always read First Day jitters to start the year. Then we talk about different types of emotions and the students draw and picture and write about how they are feeling on the first day. I try to have them come up with something they are looking forward to in second grade and something they are nervous about. This year I am going to use this picture and writing as the first page of a scrapbook for the students.
I read a chapter book titled Book of Coupons. It is about a fifth grade class in France. The students are hopeful they will get a young, pretty teacher who will teach them PE. They are very disappointed when their teacher turns out to be an old, fat man. He has a great deal to show them about judging a book by its cover. He gives his students gifts often and one of his gifts is a book of coupons.
When we complete the book I give each of my students a book of coupons.
My third graders always love this story.
I suggest you preread this story if you like the story line. It does have two lines about making love. The French are more open about such things compared to Americans at least. I just changed it in my book to being in love.
It is a really good school story to start the year with. The students can make text to self connections because of the subject matter, it is easy to relate to for them.
I am one of the last teachers at my school to still read aloud to my class every day. I start off easy with about 10 minutes worth; by the end of the year my class can sit through 30 minutes of a complicated, high-level chapter book (like The Secret Garden). I think that the skill of listening with no visuals is an extremely important skill; it also exposed students to vocabulary above their own reading level.
That said, I usually start the year with Junie B. Jones and the Stupid, Smell Bus. It is hysterically funny, has short chapters, and most of the kids are already familiar with the characters. Once they can sit through Junie B, I move on to another realistic fiction book that is a little bit more challenging. BTW, in this book Junie B. learns how to get along with her kindergarten peers (as well as obeying the adults in her life)!
First Day Jitters on the first day for sure! Also like Fine, Fine School. I have a whole basket of back to school books. I try to do a few each day. The Miss Malarkey books are great.
Chrysanthemum is a great picture book for that! I do a little activity with it where I photocopy the mouse onto cardstock and cut her out. Then as I read the book, I make a "cut" in her whenever someone says something mean to her (to show how she's "hurt"). When someone says something nice (usually her parents), I put a piece of tape on the cut to show how it helps. At the end of the book, I show how the kind comments (tape) helps her, but she's still never the same (it leaves a "scar"). I tape her to the board as a reminder all year.
Even though your students know each other so well, it's still a good reminder (and probably especially needed in that case) that we don't get so comfortable with someone that we say whatever pops in our heads.
I second Kevin Henkes...all his books deal with common 2nd grade problems.
I always try to start out with the funniest books I have. I think this sets the year off with the tone that reading is for fun and enjoyment. Some GREAT ones:
Tacky the Penguin
Ugly Fish
Scaredy Squirrel
Chester
Lulu and the Brontosaurus (my personal favorite)
Maybelle in the Soup
Any Elephant and Piggie book- I will often call an "Elephant and Piggie break" when the class (or me!) is acting sluggish or cranky. It immediately puts everyone in a better mood
My Lucky Day
Miss Nelson is Missing
Stephanie's Ponytail
Miss Piggle Wiggle (a little old fashioned but it cracks them up every year)
For nonfiction- my kids love all of Steve Jenkin's books. They have interesting and sometimes outrageous facts.
Another good beginning of the year book for 2nd grade is The Hundred Dresses- great message, though not very funny.
Thanks so much for sharing the activity you do as you read Chrysanthemum. What a powerful visual for your students! I always read that book at the beginning of the year, but this year I'm excited to try that too!
I second many of the suggestions...Never read Goony Bird greene, but think i will this year. I don't like Hundred dresses for second grade, although i do love the story. i just think it's a little much.
Some others...
Chrysanthemum, Hooway for Wodney Wat, and other Kevin Henkes
Wilson Sat Alone
Bad case of Stripes
Enemy Pie
The Crayon Box that talked
One by Kathryn Otashi (It's about bullying.)
How to Handle a Bully (Chapter book)
I also like to read some funny/back to school themed books:
Lunch Bunnies
Nobody's Mother is in Second Grade
Black Lagoon
Miss Nelson
My schools a Zoo
This is the teacher
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06-22-2012, 05:10 PM
and the kids love it!
