Read Alouds

Often times my students will bring me a book from our library that they have read and ask me if we can read it to the class. They have read the book and are thinking about their classmates (an audience) and want to share their discovery. How awesome is that?

As important as teaching is and how much we need to fit into every single day, read alouds should be on the top of that list. Read alouds are so beneficial for kids. They help in comprehension and the ability to discuss a book. Not only that, but they are getting a model (from us, the teacher) of what a reader looks like. And lastly, they get to gather and listen to a story for pure enjoyment.

At the beginning of the school year, and all throughout the rest of the year if I'm being honest, I use read alouds to aid in the teaching of a life lesson such as being kind, being a hard worker, and persevering through difficult times (see my BE Words blog post for more information). But I also use read alouds as a time for my students to enjoy soaking up a book.

One of our biggest challenges with students is just to get them to enjoy reading - to create lifelong learners - to help them want to pick up a book on their own. Consistently doing read alouds with your students and listening to what they like will help immensely in this area. After I have read a book aloud to the class, I put it in one of our book shelves for a couple of weeks. Most of my class will pick up that book at some point on their own and read it. So now, when they go to read independently, they have a jist of what the book is about and have heard it read to them. Therefore, they will be more successful when reading it on their own - no matter the level!

What do you love about read alouds? How do you use them with your students?

Why are your bulletin boards blank?

At the beginning of the school year I often get asked the same question as people walk into my classroom and look around;"Why are your bulletin boards blank?"

I strongly believe in a student-centered environment in my classroom. Therefore, my bulletin boards are decorated and covered by my students and with my students. We fill our bulletin boards with things that they have done or anchor charts that we have made together. When we are making our bulletin boards together and they have a say in what goes on the wall, they are likely to use the references more often.

Sure it looks nice if we cover our bulletin boards before our students enter the classroom. But is it relatable to our students? Does the 'stuff' we hang apply to our students if we don't involve them in it?

How do you make sure your students have bulletin boards that relate to their learning? How do you involve them in the creating of your classroom?