Fresh New Read Alouds!
On average, the population of children at my school face adveristy with some serious, adult issues in their daily lives. From alcoholism to parents going to jail, these kiddos often struggle with focusing on school work because they are so low on Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs," or whichever model you use to assess student needs. My focus this year with read alouds is children (and animals) rising above the difficulties in their lives. This summer one of my goals is to read each one of my read-alouds for next year (some of them for a second time).
Here's my plan:
September: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
- Adversity faced: Unexpected responsibilities and friendships
- How it's overcome: Work and understanding, reevaluating what is important
October: Wonder by R.J Palaccio
- Adversity faced: Having disabilities, looking different, being an outsider, starting a new school
- How it's overcome: Empathy, compassion, and acceptance
November/December: The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson
- Adversity Faced: Homelessness, building a family
- How it's overcome: Teamwork, family
- Adversity Faced: Alcoholism, losing a parent, losing a friend, new school, being an outsider
- How it's overcome: Making surprising friends, learning to trust, caring for others, letting go
- Adversity Faced: Being alone, in hiding, a forbidden third child
- How it's overcome: Making friends, being brave, standing up for what you believe
- Adversity Faced: Crime, bad decisions, abuse, helplessness, anger
- How it's overcome: Reflecting on bad decisions, deciding to make a change and stop the cycle
- Adversity Faced: Difficult journey, depression, uncertainty
- How it's overcome: Perseverance, teamwork, friendship, trust
- Adversity Faced: Saving the community
- How it's overcome: Teamwork, hard work
A Few Picture Books I plan to read:
