Read Picture Books to FIFTH Graders? YES!

Funded Sep 7, 2018

"It's Christmas in October!" The smiles and excitement was seen and heard all around my classroom when the principal came in with the stacks of books. We opened the boxes and shared in the joy of seeing all the new books! Since the first day of school, I have been reading aloud a book a day to my classes and it starts off with everyone gathered together in our area for "Story Time" and, the book of the day, waiting on the stand. The leader of the day begins, "The Read Aloud today is....." I sit with the class in front of me and for about 10 minutes, we are immersed in a story. It could be a funny story, a story about a connection with a grandparent, a story about kindness, a story about accepting who you are and others, a story that inspires us to do something big! We always end it with "What is the story REALLY about?" We discuss themes, connections and most importantly, I just love when the story is a story that we can reflect on and connect with our reading lesson or target for that day.

The skills or lessons learned with these new books I've seen are invaluable. One time, I remember referring to the book we read early that morning, to discuss how the illustration showed meaning and beauty to the text. Sometimes it happens, where it all blends in beautifully like magic; the picture book helps to explain just what I'm teaching them during the reading lesson. It just get me so excited, I literally get goosebumps when it happens! When we come across Figurative Language in a story, the students can already recognize it and name the figurative language they hear. Personification, Similes and Alliteration are the most popular and I'm sure they are recognizing them in their own reading of books. Teaching theme is so much easier now, the many new words we've learned, seeing connections and having them share, "This book is just like ____", giving them the "feel good" are all the benefits I've seen so far with reading aloud to my fifth graders. Not only that...I have inspired other teachers in my school to also read aloud to their students daily and they are just loving it, too. I have shared my books with them and they share their books with me. Our class has also joined with our second grade buddies to read aloud to them and the feedback about the experience was great!

Many students express that reading aloud has taught them "life lessons to help with real life problems". They like that the books are different and about a variety of people, topics, and everyday life. For them, it is their favorite time of the day! When the students miss listening to the story, I can see them reading the book themselves or I see someone else reading the book to them. It warms my heart! Some student have admitted that listening to stories has helped them read more books themselves. I am sure that as readers, they too, are applying and interpreting their chapter books the same way as when they listen to picture books. I can't wait for them to do their Paired Book Projects, where they will compare two books (a non fiction and fiction text) on the same topic and share the new information learned from the books with their peers. This book project has really renovated my joy of teaching and I'm so thankful for your gift to learning and supporting teachers. May your kindness be returned to you plentiful!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Lorenzo