Picture Books for Anti-Bullying Month

picture books for anti-bullying month

(This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  This means that Amazon sends me a little pocket change, at no cost to you, if you purchase through one of these links.  This helps keep my site running and funds giveaways for you!)

Are you always looking for ways to build a classroom community? Many times, this involves having different students work together. Additionally, it recognizes students for being kind and helpful to each other. While this is important all year long, it deserves a special focus during October for Anti-Bullying Month! Honestly, students genuinely need to understand why bullying is so wrong and hurtful. Luckily, there are fantastic picture books for Anti-Bullying Month! Every selection will inspire students to always be kind. 

picture books for anti-bullying month

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#1- Tough by Erin Frankel 

Do you ever reflect on how different school is for our students than we experienced? While changes are normal to occur over time, students are under so much pressure. Our students can lose sight of who they are with all of the pressure they are under. This is exactly the case with Sam. She spends her time trying to look “cool” at school. This means she thinks she has to withstand others being mean and not working together. Sadly, this causes her to tease a free-spirited classmate. She even gets a friend to join in on the teasing. A concerned teacher confronts Sam and her friend to talk about this bullying. Luckily, this eye-opening conversation shows Sam her actions have been mean and hurtful. Students will love to see Sam evolve from cover to cover! 

picture books for anti-bullying month

Students will love this book so much. Thankfully, this series has three books to explain a different bullying experience. This is a great way to build connections with students! I love how the entire series shows students how to face challenges, stand up for what is right, and be kind to all. 

#2- My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe

Ida May experienced some of the toughest heartaches a fourth grader can- her best friend moved away! Sadly, Ida May really doesn’t have any other friends, thanks to a bratty, bossy classmate. However, Ida May insists she does not mind and vows to never have a best friend again. 

Everything changes when Stacey Merriweather arrives at school. Since Ida knows what it is like to be lonely, she reaches out to Stacey through anonymous notes. While the girls continue talking like this, Ida May eventually reveals herself. While this story begins with heartache, it has a happy ending with a true friendship forming. 

picture books for anti-bullying month

As you’re looking for more books to read during the fall, check out Fall Mentor Texts for the Elementary Classroom. These are great ways to remind students to be grateful for all the kind, caring people in their lives. 

#3- The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson 

Do you often tell students not to stand by while someone does something wrong? Honestly, teachers have this conversation every year! It takes a lot of courage and confidence for students to stand up versus being a bystander. 

Using picture books for Anti-Bullying Month shows students how to stand up for what is right. They will learn this through the perspective of Pete’s new classmates. They have two options. First, they could be bystanders and just watch when Pete misbehaves. Second, they could help him make “The Promise” and stop being a bully. Thankfully, Pete’s classmates select the second option! 

read aloud

 

#4- The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes 

Do you have students who often wear the same clothes to school? Unfortunately, many families cannot afford to buy their children multiple outfits. Sadly, this leads to students getting teased and made fun of. 

This is exactly the situation with Wanda Petronski. While she tells her classmates she has one hundred dresses at home, they know she wears the same faded blue dress daily. After leaving early one day, her classmates feel awful about their behavior. Luckily, there is a classmate who promises never to stand by again. Students will love to see how a classmate went from being a bystander to gaining the courage to speak up! 

read aloud

#5- My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig 

Honestly, this is a story many of our students will relate to! It is the story of Monica and Katie- two girls who have been best friends since kindergarten. Sadly, Katie has changed and uses Monica as her target. Monica does not understand why Katie is being mean, calling her names, and purposely embarrassing her. Thankfully, Monica opens up to her mom. This conversation provides Katie with the strength needed to stand up to Monica’s bullying.  

picture books for anti-bullying month

Truthfully, this book is fantastic for students, teachers, counselors, and parents. It shows the importance of opening up to a caring adult and never allowing someone to put you down. 

#6- Goal by Mina Javaherbin 

Ajani and his friends love playing with their soccer ball. However, it is not just a regular soccer ball. It is a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball! Since they live in a South African town, it is hard to come by this type. So, they play with it non-stop. Sadly, this excitement stops when bullies try to steal the ball. Readers will be on the edge of their seats while seeing how Ajani and his friends get their ball back. 

read aloud

Books have the power to change lives. They allow students to visit places worldwide and learn vital life-long skills. Additionally, reading even allows students to learn all about holidays, such as the Halloween Mentor Texts! There are even Halloween Close Read Passages to teach students about key aspects of Halloween while becoming stronger readers. Whether looking for books to help students believe in themselves or picture books for Anti-Bullying Month, there are many options! Thankfully, this means there are books for everyone to connect with. 

halloween reading

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read aloud

Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

books for hispanic heritage month

Are you always looking for new ways to prepare students for life outside of school? Honestly, this is because you know the importance of ensuring students have all the support they need while in class. While the main focus is on academics, teachers also realize students need to gain social skills. This includes respecting diversity, understanding people have different beliefs, and valuing individuality. Honestly, one of the best ways to do this involves the power of books! So, I am so excited to share these books for Hispanic Heritage Month! 

books for hispanic heritage month

(This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  This means that Amazon sends me a little pocket change, at no cost to you, if you purchase through one of these links.  This helps keep my site running and funds giveaways for you!)

#1- Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora 

When selecting books for Hispanic Heritage Month, this is a must-have for bookshelves! It is based on a true story about the son of migrant workers. Every summer, Tomas and his family spend long, hot days working in the fields. At night, they are able to sit back and listen to Grandfather tell amazing stories. When Tomas thinks he knows all the stories, magic happens in the form of a librarian. Honestly, this incredible story shows students how a library opens up a world of stories filled with joy, determination, and rit. Students will feel ready to work hard to reach their goals with this story! 

books for hispanic heritage month

#2- Danza! by Duncan Tonatiuh

Many times, students love to dance! However, many do not know how dance originated. So, I love to bring in books for Hispanic Heritage Month that show students how much heart goes into each dance. This book focuses on Amalia Hernandez, a dancer, and founder of El Ballet Folklórico de México. As with any business, success did not occur overnight. She first fell in love with dancing in her town square Then, she studied under world-renowned dance companies. Through all the dancing, Amalia never forgot her roots. So, she traveled all around the Mexican countryside to study how others dance. With her heart and passion for ballet and modern dance, she brought traditional dances to the stage. Honestly, Amalia shows our readers how hard work and creativity transform an idea into a world-renowned company. 

read aloud

#3- My Name is Gabito by Monica Brown

Do your students love adventure? Similarly, do they love learning about people with endless determination, bravery, and courage? If they do, this is the perfect option! It follows the journey of Gabriel Garcia Marquez- also known as Gabito. Students will love seeing how he survived as a shipwrecked sailor! 

books for hispanic heritage month

#4- Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

Are you always telling your students the importance of being a positive community member? Honestly, this is so important! However, this book shows students that a community does not just include their school. It even includes more than just their neighborhood! So, this book shows students how one cousin living in the United States and one cousin living in Mexico actually have similar lives! While they live in different areas of the world, they both like many of the same things. This is an incredible way to show students the importance of getting to know others before making assumptions. 

books for hispanic heritage month

#5- The Lizard and the Sun by Alma Flor Ada 

Are you always searching for creative ways to teach the importance of perseverance and hard work to your students? I’m sure all teachers are! Thankfully, this story creates the perfect way to drastically increase student interest AND awareness of never giving up. Students will learn about this through a brave little lizard who is searching for the sun. Sadly, it disappeared, and people are scared. While the animals search for everyone, no one can find it. Students will be on the edge of their seats while waiting to see if the lizard finds what he is looking for! 

mentor texts

#6- Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Kyle 

Do your students love parades? I’m sure they do! Therefore, they will be so excited to journal Pepe as he participates in a Hispanic Day parade. Students will learn about food, music, and dance that honors and respects Hispanic heritage. This book even includes Spanish words for students to learn!

mentor texts

I hope you found some new books for Hispanic Heritage Month to add to your classroom! They all allow students to explore amazing stories and beautiful illustrations. Grab some of my other favorite fall mentor texts while you’re here!

If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming lessons, join my email list to be notified of all the interactive lessons coming up! By joining the email list, you will also receive freebies for blog-exclusive subscribers!

books for hispanic heritage month

Back to School Must Have Picture Books

Are you stressing about ways to transition students from summer fun to learning? I totally get it! While some students are so excited to be back in the classroom, others are not. Due to this, they are hesitant to join in on the fun activities the teacher has planned. Luckily, I have the perfect way to support students as they adjust to waking up early and learning new material. Picture books! No matter the age, picture books are an incredible resource to use. So, these back to school must have picture books are ready to help all students enjoy every moment in the classroom! 

How to Catch a Class Pet 

Do some of your students struggle to sit still when they return to the classroom? For many of them, it is probably because they have spent the last few months exploring! Suddenly, they have this expectation to just sit for so many hours. So, I love to include back to school must have picture books that focus on adventure. 

In this hilarious story, the class pets all escape! Yes, this includes everything from lizards to birds. There is even a bearded dragon, which students always love! Now, students get to go on a journey to help catch every class pet. Honestly, this silly story will draw in even your most reluctant listeners!

The Dunderheads 

Did you ever have a nightmare about having a teacher who hates children? Or, did you ever experience this while in school? I sure hope not! 

In this story, there is a teacher who hates kids. Her name is Miss Breakbone. Yes, you read that name right! While she hates all kids, she really hates the ones who struggle to pay attention, doodle, or sleep during class. Since no student wants to spend the year with a mean teacher, the Dunderheads come together. They use their special talents to show their teachers how incredible kids really are. Students will love seeing the power of working with classmates in this fun story.

The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer 

I’ve had students tell me wild stories about their summer vacation! Like sliding down a giraffe or flying through the forest! Sometimes, the stories are so crazy that it is hard to know what is true or not. That is exactly what students will have to decide with this fantastic story. Students will hear all about a treasure hunt filled with high-flying hijinks and outrageous characters. Students will love hearing about this exciting adventure while deciding if it’s true or not. 

back to school must have picture books

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story

Every year, we work tirelessly to inspire students to be themselves. We want them to stand up for what is right and be proud of who they are. Sometimes the best way to do this involves back to school must have picture books! This story allows students to hear about a young girl who grew up in a world where women did not have a voice. However, she refused to listen to this. She proudly used her voice to change the world. After listening to this incredible story, students will feel inspired and empowered to make positive changes around them.

back to school must have picture books

I’m sure your mind is developing so many incredible ways to implement these books! However, I understand how short on time teachers are! I’ve had amazing ideas and just didn’t have the time to make them come to life! So, I love to offer freebies all year long through my Facebook group! Be sure to join Adventures of Teaching: Collaboration for 2nd-4th Teachers for many amazing ideas and freebies! 

The School of Failure: A Story about Success

Are your students so afraid to make mistakes that it holds them back? Or, do you have students who feel their mistakes mean they are not smart? Sadly, all classrooms have students who doubt themselves for various reasons. So, this is the perfect book to show students that success involves mistakes and determination. There are even three fairy tale characters to ensure students build personal connections. Honestly, this is one of my favorite back to school must have picture books to show students to never give up on their goals. 

School People 

For so many students, school is the place that brings them joy and excitement. However, it is not the decorations or playgrounds that are the source of these positive feelings. It is all of the grown-ups that children work with throughout the day. This book contains 15 poems that celebrate these adults. Yes, this includes bus drivers, teachers, custodians, and nurses. There is a beautiful, inspirational poem for all of the caring adults! 

Let Me Finish! 

You will have a classroom full of smiling faces with this story! Just as a young hero gets all comfy to read a great book, noisy animals create an adventure! Sadly, this adventure involves ruining the ending of the story. Thankfully, the young hero actually makes his own ending with the help of the animals. 

Chairs on Strike

Do you ever think about all that chairs endure each day? They have to hold us up and help keep us comfortable. They also have to handle us constantly wiggling around. On top of this, they smell our feet! So, this rhyming book creates so many giggles within our students as the chairs go on strike. Honestly, this is one of the best back to school must have picture books to teach students all about kindness. Best of all, this includes people and things! Students will love the funny story while seeing the importance of being kind. 

Back to school is exciting yet exhausting for students. They are enjoying time with their teachers and friends. However, this also means they are exerting so much energy! So, they need time to sit and enjoy the moment during the day. Luckily, these back to school must have picture books will help students fall back in love with school! 

chairs on strike

For more tips on having a great year, check out these 5 Back to School Amazon Must Haves! They will ensure your classroom is organized and ready for a year of learning. 

If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming lessons, join my email list to be notified of all the interactive lessons coming up! By joining the email list, you will also receive freebies for blog exclusive subscribers!  

Unique Ways to Use Graphic Organizers

graphic organizers

Are you always looking for creative ways to use activities students are familiar with? With how much students learn in a year, it makes complete sense to do so! Since the focus is on academics, teachers do not want to overwhelm students with too many changes. Likewise, teachers do not want to spend more time explaining new directions than students spend on the content. So, they bring in items students are familiar with, such as graphic organizers, and embed them into amazing lessons. Thankfully, there are so many unique ways to use graphic organizers! 

graphic organizers

#1: Interactive Read Aloud 

Students love listening to their teacher read! By adding in graphic organizers, students are working on listening skills, comprehension, and various literary elements. Before reading, I like to go over the selected chart and focus. Then, students can fill out the chart while listening. Or, the teacher can pause and allow students time to discuss and fill out before continuing. This is such a great way to check for understanding! 

#2: Differentiated Homework with Graphic Organizers

Are reading logs at home frustrating for you and your students? For instance, do they forget the needed signature? Or, do they get stuck on what to write down? Thankfully, the solution is here! 

The Differentiated Graphic Organizers take learning to a whole new level. Over 70 differentiated graphic organizers focus on 24 different reading skills and strategies. This includes everything from the author’s purpose to figurative language. Specifically, there are three levels for each reading skill and strategy! Teachers can assign students the best level while ensuring everyone shows growth. Students will enjoy working on their forms throughout the week while reading at home. 

For more tips, check out Differentiation Strategies that Work! Students will love learning with such a supportive, caring teacher! 

graphic organizers

#3: Anchor Charts

Are you always looking for new posters to hang up to help students learn? Teachers always are! An incredible idea is to use graphic organizers as anchor charts! To do this, I like to go to a printing store, such as Staples, and print my graphic organizer on larger paper. Or, you can even use your projector and copy down the graphic organizer yourself on anchor chart-sized paper. Then, as a class, we fill out the anchor chart while working. Students love to use their charts throughout the week while learning new skills! 

#4: Assessments and Graphic Organizers

Are you tired of grading multiple-choice tests with a few short-answer responses? I’m sure you are! This also means students are tired of the same assessments week after week. Since assessments are essential in education, let’s liven them up with unique ways to use graphic organizers. Instead of a traditional test, hand out a graphic organizer based on a specific skill. Then, after reading, students can work on their chart. Honestly, this is an incredible way to get students thinking deeper and developing solid responses. 

#5: Literature Circles/Book Clubs 

I know there can be struggles with assigning different roles in literature circles or book clubs. Many times, this leads teachers to avoid using this great activity. Thankfully, there is a way to use literature circles without assigning roles! Instead, give each student a different graphic organizer. For instance, one student may receive an organizer on inferences while another is working on character analysis. So, if there are 5 students, the group works on 5 different skills as they read the book. Students can stop and discuss their findings along the way! 

graphic organizers

The Differentiated Graphic Organizers create an incredible way to assign different level books to different groups. This resource ensures that students are working on various skills at the level most appropriate for them. 

#6: Reading Accountability 

Teachers want students to love reading. There is so much enjoyment in looking at a classroom full of students reading and engaging with their books. However, teachers know students can also turn pages without reading the words. So, graphic organizers create an awesome way to hold students accountable. Instead of just flipping pages, they are responsible for filling out a graphic organizer. This can be over any literary skill, such as theme and main idea. When students know they are being held accountable, they take the assignment seriously. 

Graphic organizers have the power to be such an incredible learning tool. With the unique ways to use graphic organizers above, students will deepen their thinking and understanding of so many skills.

If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming lessons, join my email list to be notified of all the interactive lessons coming up! By joining the email list, you will also receive freebies for blog exclusive subscribers!  

graphic organizers