Back to School Mentor Text Linky

     I am liking up again with Collaboration Cuties for their Back to School Mentor Text Linky.  I love reading the ideas of all of the different grade levels and how they use certain books in their classrooms!    I am a little late to the party this time and I see that two people have already posted about my book today, but I decided to go ahead and join in anyway!  

 

     I have to say that I do love many back to school books and it was hard for me to choose just one to talk about.  At the beginning of each year, we do a Names/All About Me Unit with our students.  This gives our students time to get used to being back at school and it allows them to get to know one another, while I get to know them!  The best book for this unit is Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes.

     I use this as a read aloud to my students and it is how we begin our Names Unit each year.  Some other activities we do with this unit are illustrating a name poem, counting and graphing the letters in every one's name in the class, comparing the number of letters in our names, and writing in our reader's notebooks about our favorite character from the story.  It is a heartwarming story that provides excellent discussions about respect and friendship.  I also use this book later in the year when we have our Author Study for Writer's Workshop.  Kevin Henkes is one of my favorite authors to study in writing.  He is an amazing example for my little writers!  

    I have a pretty basic little activity pack that includes 4 stop and talk "sticky notes" and two graphic organizers for this book.  It is only $1.50!  Check it out at my TpT store. Click on the picture below to head over there.

    I can't help myself by telling you about these other amazing back to school books.  If you haven't read these, make sure to give them a try! These are on my first week of school must read list!

• The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Anderson
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
• The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolf
• Ham and Pickles First Day of School by Nicole Rubel

I can't believe that in a short time we will actually be heading back to school!  The summer is going WAY too fast!  

-Michelle