Drop Everything And Listen Time is our daily read aloud time!!
I read aloud to my first grade students every day. Of course, I read mentor texts and literature for reading, writing, and math lessons all the time. But, aside from that, we have a special time set aside EVERY. DAY. for students to listen and enjoy a story and you should too!
Here are a few facts about how I run Drop Everything And Listen time:
- I read a picture book each day at the beginning of the year
- Later on, we begin using chapter books and read one or two chapters each day
- We read for 5-15 minutes after we return from lunch
- Books are available to students when we are finished
- It becomes a beloved part of our classroom and most days, as we walk into the classroom after lunch, you’ll hear, “Yes! It’s DEAL Time!”
- We start read aloud routines and expectations on the very first day of school…read HERE about my Back to School Book Challenge!
Why Is It So Important?
- I can introduce new books and chapter book series to my students
- I demonstrate fluent reading with expression
- We can encounter new vocabulary words in an authentic setting
- Many of my students are not read to at home, so this helps fill in the gap of that missing “lap time”
- Students learn to love reading as they associate it with a peaceful, fun, and relaxing time with their teacher and classmates
- All students have an opportunity to practice mindful sitting and listening
- We can practice asking and answering questions, making connections, and more through these informal lessons
- After recess and lunch, it’s a nice way to transition back to the classroom environment
What Do The Children Do?
- Most of the time, they are just listening to a good book. I ask that they follow our Listening Rules, just like they do for any lesson.
- Sometimes, especially when reading chapter books, we will keep an anchor chart of characters, new vocabulary, or important events. We review it before reading and add to it after reading.
Because of Winn-Dixie
- Rarely, I may have students write in a response journal…I’ve done this when I have students who have a difficult time staying focused, but usually, I just want them to listen and enjoy. You can check out my Discussion Journals HERE, which I most often use in my small reading groups with students who are reading more advanced text.
Here are Some of My Favorite Chapter Books and Series We Use in First Grade…
- Magic Tree House
- A to Z Mysteries
- Calendar Mysteries
- Cam Jansen
- Molly of Denali
- Junie B. Jones
- Horrible Harry
- Zoey and Sassafras
- Because of Winn-Dixie
- Charlotte’s Web
- My Father’s Dragon
- Mercy Watson
- Meet Yasmin
I’m always looking for great new chapter books to introduce to my young readers. If you have some you love, e-mail me at practicalprimaryteacher@yahoo.com so I can add those titles to my library!
Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer ~ Practical Primary Teacher
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