1st Week of School Books

During the 1st week of school, I use a large amount of books to teach rules, behaviors, social interactions, and content. To keep me organized, I have set aside a box of 1st week of school books so that I can easily access them. Here are some of my favorites! I have provided a list of 1st week of school books and an activity for each.

1. First Day Jitters

A book that reflects the fears and concerns of students on their first day or school. There are many fun activities to use with this book.

Activity: Make “Jitter Juice” to help calm the nerves of all my students. It’s a fun way to start the school year.

2. Recess Queen

Teaches rules and behaviors of recess. It also teaches to be nice to classmates and not to be a bully.

Activity: Draw a picture of being a good friend on the playground. Add to your list of rules or relate it back to your school rules.

3. The Kissing Hand

Another great book to help students get over the fear of their 1st week of school and saying goodbye to mom and dad. Students learn that they can hold a kiss in their hand to keep their parents close.

Activity: Create a raccoon with 3 things you love about school. Take it home and have mom or dad leave a kiss on his hand. My students then hang their raccoon craft in their cubby for an extra comfort from home when they need it.

4. Beautiful Oops!

This book is a great 1st week of school book to introduce to students a growth mindset. Students see their mistakes as changes to grow or create something new. I love this book as a way to open up to students. I teach my students that we don’t say we “hate” something or that we “aren’t good” at things, but instead say “this is hard for me, but I can’t wait to try.”

Activity: Draw a picture and have students either cut, color on it wrong, or put fingerprints on the paper. Then students use their creativity to create something new or write an expression and have students work together to change it to a positive growth mindset.

5. Splat the Cat: Back to School Splat

This funny book is about homework on the 1st day of school! Splat needs to choose a summer adventure to share with his classmates. I use this book to introduce my policies on homework and for a discussion of summer fun.

Activity: Journal prompt of favorite summer activity or homework on the 1st day about your favorite summer activity. You can connect this with technology and allow your students to use multimedia to create a video, bring pictures, create a PowerPoint, or another creative way to show and share about their summer.

6. Wemberly Worried

Wemberly is worried all the time and throughout the story she learns to be brave. I love to read this book at the end of the 1st week of school. It is a great way to talk about 1st week of school feelings and how they might have changed throughout the week.

Activity: compare and contrast Wemberly’s feelings and your feelings. You can also read Shelia Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes and compare and contrast characters.

7. Chrysanthemum

In this book Chrysanthemum gets teased about her long name. It is a great book to teach about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. I love using this book as part of my morning meeting to discuss creating a community of learners that work together.

Activity: Students can use their name to create a name tag. Your students can use the letters in their name to create an acrostic using words that describe them or if this is too hard have students create a mind map of their name with describing words or pictures about themselves.

8. The Crayon Box that Talked

This is a great book to show that students are all unique and different. The uniqueness in each of us is what makes us special.

Activity: Students can use the writing prompt “I am unique because…”. I love a craft where you use yellow construction paper to make a crayon box. Throughout the 1st week, we put all our 1st week of school papers in the box.

9. Pout Pout Fish Goes to School

Mr. Fish is nervous about his first day of school. He worries about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math. Mr. Fish learned that he will learn these new skills at school.

Activity: Use sticky notes for students to create a goal for the school year. They can choose something they hope to learn this school year. Using a folder, the student can place their idea in their folder and put items in their folder to show how they are working on the goal throughout the year. You can also create a goal on an online portfolio like SeeSaw. Students can add work, take pictures, or other digital displays that show their progress towards their goal.

10. First Grade, Here I come! (or Kindergarten, Here I come!)

Henry is not sure he will like 1st grade. It is different than Kindergarten. He meets a friend who likes soccer and tells his mom that this year might not be so bad.

Activity: I have…who has… games with classroom items. Get to know you games or scavenger hunt for friends with similar interests, characteristics, or likes.

These are some of my favorite 1st Week of school books! I would love for you to share your favorite 1st Week of school books and any favorite activities.