As a long time 5th grade
teacher, I have found 5th graders still love to hear read alouds. Most of
the class will still come gather on the floor around my chair.
My very first year
teaching, while browsing the public library a few days before school started, I
found this book on the shelf: The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th
Grade by Ken Derby. I was intrigued since I was teaching 5th grade and did not really
know how I was going to start the year. I took it home and read the
first part- decided it was good to start out the year as a read aloud. (No, I
did not finish reading before I read it aloud to my class. I didn't know any
better.)
The kids loved it . . . . .
. .
They could not wait for me to read it each day. In fact in the first Scholastic book order the book was there and about 10 students ordered it.
Summary
The book focuses on Anthony
Madison, AKA Tony Baloney. He is obsesses with The Late Show with David
Letterman and his Top 10 Lists. He is a little nervous
about going to fifth grade, and his year does not start out so well. The book
is hilarious and the humor would appeal to upper elementary school and
middle school. It is a fairly quick read, and I normally finish it during the
first week or two of school (depending on how long bus call takes those
first few afternoons).
That first year we read the
book and I started the students writing a Top 10 list of their own, but I don't
think we ever followed through.
Follow Up
Activity
Every year as we are
nearing the end of the book I have students brainstorm topics for their own Top
10 Lists. I tell them it has to be
school related. During the beginning of
the year, I always review sentence structure.
The students then write their own Top 10 List. It makes a great display for our Curriculum
Night (an evening a few weeks into school where all the parents come to hear
about the class).
The book has since been renamed Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School. Amazon: Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of School
What are your favorite
books to start the school year?