First day of school read aloud?

Question

I taught 4th and 5th grade for 2 years.

One year I read Dr. Seuss's "Oh the Places You'll Go" to them on the first day. Another year I read "Ms. Malarkey Leaves no Reader Behind."

This year I am going to have a 2nd grade class. Do you have any suggestions for great read alouds that go with a theme?

Many thanks.

Answer 1

The Kissing Hand

Chrysanthemum

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day (Dr. Seuss)

Junie B. Jones has a monster under her bed (that one starts with school pictures...sooo funny).  

Answer 2

Oh, the Places You'll Go is still a great one for 2nd grade.  I'm teaching 2/3 this year and plan to use "This is the Way We Go to School" by Edith Baer it combines transportation, school and different cultures.  

Answer 3

i remember my teacher read me "the magic treehouse" back in 2nd grade. i liked it, and the whole story was done pretty fast.

Answer 4

"The Shining" By Steven King

Or "Positions of the Day"

Answer 5

One of the Arthur books by Marc Brown.  Each one has a theme that can be incorporated into other activities.  Or try some Jack Prelutsky poetry; always good for laughter.

Answer 6

I agree that "You are Special" is a great book - read it at your faculty meeting - it is a lesson to help you remember to value people NOT label them.

For 2nd grade: "The Rainbow Fish" is a good first day book.

Best of luck in the new school year!

Answer 7

Wow.  Ignorance is at a high here this evening.  

Anyway, at first I would have suggested the Magic School Bus books, but it might be a bit too mature for them.  Click on the link below to the Scholastic website and see if any of the books catches your attention.

Answer 8

That is so funn, I just posted this question myself. I personally have used the following books to help with not only first day of school but also friendship.

Chyrsanthemum

First Day Jitters

Suki's Kimono

The Recess Queen

The newest book I just bought to read to my class this year is called, Go Home Mrs. Beekman. It is about a mom that won't go home even though the kid feels comfortable about school - hilarious!

Answer 9

You'll find lists here:

http://www.teachingheart.net/backtoschoo...

http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/bo...

Answer 10

my life in the ghetto lol good book

Answer 11

"You are Special" by Max Lucado.  It's a perfect first day read aloud.  I've read it the last two years. Max Lucado is a Christian writer but this book is fine for public school where I teach.  I like this book so much I read it to my daughter before she left for college and I plan on reading it to my son next week.

Answer 12

Hi,  I am a teacher and writer at Bright Hub, a new K-12 Learning channel.  I recently wrote a read aloud article about Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes and I think it's a nice way to set the tone for treating others in your class.  Have a great year!

Answer 13

cliffard, the big red idiot :\