As I was preparing & refreshing my list of read-alouds for the first few weeks of school, I discovered a wonderful book that I just had to share with you! As teachers of young students, we understand the importance of creating a welcoming environment where our new young learners, who may not have experienced school yet, feel safe and secure so that they can thrive and learn. This book will help you strengthen your class community in a meaningful way.
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen is a meaningful back-to-school read-aloud for helping young students understand that their classroom can be a place where they feel safe, cared for, and included.
It helps children understand, in a very sweet way, how their class can also be their family. It is a wonderful book for strengthening and building classroom community!
I wanted to create a visual reminder of the concept in the classroom and have students help create it so it was even more meaningful for them.
I loved the “home sweet classroom” sign in the book and the idea of making the classroom a home away from home, so I created picture frames for the students to draw a picture of themselves and write their name (a simple enough craft for young learners at the beginning of the year). Then I created a class display by hanging their pictures around the sign to resemble family photos hanging on a wall.
I have shared the free bulletin board and craft on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. CLICK HERE to download it for free.
Since some of you teach older students, I also included a version where students draw and write on a schoolhouse (similar to the book cover) how they can help make their classroom feel more like a home.
You may also like:
Bucket Filler Activities, Bulletin Board Idea, & Awards / Treats
Growth Mindset Activity Based On “The Little Engine That Could”
Books / Read Alouds for the Beginning of the School Year
How to Build Relationships with Your Students at the Beginning of the Year
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