Picture this: it's October, and your read alouds feel more like classroom management battles than magical learning moments. Students are wiggling, interrupting, and completely checked out during what should be the most engaging part of your day. Sound familiar? The truth is, those October struggles often trace back to what happened (or didn't happen) during those crucial first weeks of school. The routines you establish in August and September will either set you up for a year of read aloud magic or a year of read aloud mayhem.

In this episode, I'm sharing my week-by-week framework for transforming your read alouds from surviving to thriving during that critical first month of school. We'll dive into the most common mistakes teachers make early on (like jumping into content too quickly or assuming students know your expectations), and I'll walk you through exactly what to focus on each week to build rock-solid routines that will support meaningful read alouds all year long. Plus, I'm sharing my one non-negotiable practice that every teacher should implement in those first few weeks. If you want to set yourself up for read aloud success from day one, this episode is for you!

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

As we inch closer to back-to-school season, you know what's coming—those first-week jitters, the worried faces in your morning lineup, and yes, that familiar flutter in your own stomach too. What if I told you that ten carefully chosen picture books could transform those anxious moments into powerful teaching opportunities that help your students understand and manage their big feelings?

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my top 10 picture books that help students process worry and anxiety in the most beautiful, relatable way possible. From Ruby's growing yellow worry scribble to Jabari's diving board fears, these stories give our students permission to feel worried while providing concrete strategies they can actually use. You'll discover discussion prompts, follow-up activities, and practical classroom implementation tips that work even with your packed schedule. Plus, I'm sharing why these books are absolute must-haves for those crucial first weeks of school when everyone—students, teachers, and parents—could use a little extra support navigating those big feelings.

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Ever feel like you're constantly hunting for new books to teach different subjects, even though your classroom library is already bursting at the seams? You're not alone! In this episode, I'm sharing the game-changing strategy that smart teachers use to make one amazing picture book do the work of three. We'll explore how to uncover the hidden cross-curricular potential in books you already own and love, saving you precious planning time while actually enhancing your students' learning experience.

I'll walk you through four specific picture books that work like magic across multiple subjects—from "Because of an Acorn" teaching both cause-and-effect AND life cycles, to "Whistle for Willie" covering sequencing AND social-emotional learning. You'll discover my practical three-read approach that transforms student complaints of "We already read this book!" into excited expertise, plus simple organization systems to track the teaching potential in your classroom library. If you're ready to stretch your book budget, save planning time, and create deeper learning connections for your students, this episode is exactly what you need to hear.

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.