20th January Back to School

Nearly time to be back at school. I know that next week teachers who have been planning during the holidays will come to the library to get books to read with their new classes which will be provocations for class discussions about, composing their class agreements, everyone's expectations, setting rules and routines. The first few weeks of school are so important for this as it helps set the tone for the rest of the year. Teachers often need to model the desired behaviours and let students practise them until they become second nature. I know good picture books can  help make this process a little more enjoyable because  sometimes laughing at someone else in a book has a way of getting through when your words cannot.

Besides specific nonfiction books such as Rules and Responsibilities by Louise Spilsbury and Why Do We Have Rules? by  Jane Pearson,  it is sometimes just fun to start with a story about someone who has trouble with rules. See:

The Day the Banana Went Bad by Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight

Princess Smartypants Breaks the Rules!  by Babette Cole

Monster School Rules by Rory H. Mather and Carla Martell

David Goes to School  by David Shannon

For  young students these are good:

Our Classroom Rules!  by Kallie George and Joy Fleck

Our Playground Rules! by Kallie George and Joy Fleck

I have written about this before here. And there are other suggested titles here. 

15th January New School Year List 1: Rule Setting

I'm finding it hard to comprehend that I am going back to school next week. Where did the break go? Between lock down for me or friends and family I feel like I have seen no one and done nothing much except read and watch television. Oh woe is me.

I have been putting together lists of picture books for my classroom teachers to use as they begin a new year with a new class. I get lots of requests for books at the beginning of the year on friends; rule setting;  goals; separation, etc and usually the requests are on the run and I miss things that I later wish I'd supplied them with. So this year a list of suggestions for some situations. 

Today I thought I would do 'rule setting'. Child development suggests routines and rules are beneficial for children. Rules help children feel safe. Rules say, “Someone cares about me.” Rules mean, “I know what to expect.”  Here’s a dozen books to help start a discussion with your class. Of course this is not a definitive list but these books are in our school library and suitable for students 5 to 8 years old.

1. You Must Bring a Hat by Simon Philip & Kate Hindley

2. Rules of the House by Mac Barnett & Matt Myers

 

3. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

 

4. A Visitor For Bear by Bonny Becker & Kady MacDonald Denton

5. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

 

6. Rufus Goes to School by Kim T. Griswell & Valeri Gorbachev

 

7. Maurice the Unbeastly by Amy Dixon & Karl James Mountford

8. The Station Mouse by Meg McLaren

9. Noodlephant by Jacob Kramer & K-Fai Steele

 

10. David Goes to School by David Shannon

11. Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

 

 

12. What If Everybody Did That? By Ellen Javernick & Colleen Madden