Reading some end of the year books together is the perfect way to help make this transition better for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned kindergarten teacher or about to finish your first year in first grade, reading aloud during the last week of school can help everyone process the change, celebrate the past year, and look forward to what’s next.

Read on for the perfect end of the year books to read to your students, as well as some companion activities!

These end of the year activities are ready to print and go! Get ready to make some core memories.

Click to jump to:

• Why The End Of The Year Transition Matters
• Why Read Alouds Are A Must For The End Of The Year
• End Of The Year Books To Try This Year
  • Getting Excited For The Future
  • Celebrating The Year
  • Saying Goodbye
• Tips For Reading End Of The Year Books
• Saying Goodbye To Your Students

Why the End of the Year Transition Matters

Students spend over 180 days in your classroom. That’s a long time for a young child. The routines, the friendships, the structure—all of it becomes a big part of their world. So, when the end of each school year comes, it’s not just the beginning of summer vacation; it’s also the end of a safe space.

Even kids excited for the next grade may feel nervous about leaving their teacher and classroom behind. For some, the last days of school can be tough. That’s why helping them mark the transition with some thoughtful, funny, or emotional end of the year read-alouds can make a real difference.

Teachers can also use this time to create rituals or class traditions that honor the past year. Think autograph books, goodbye letters, memory walls, or even a class awards day where everyone is celebrated. These small, consistent practices paired with great end of the year books can give closure and reinforce positive memories.

Why Read-Alouds Are A Must For The End Of The Year

Reading aloud is a daily part of many elementary classrooms, but during the final weeks of school, it becomes something more. It’s a way to slow down, reflect, and connect. A great book can open up conversations about change, growth, and saying goodbye.

End of the year books are also a great way to support young readers who may have complicated feelings about summer break. Some kids love it. Others dread it. Picture books about big transitions lets them know those feelings are okay.

And let’s be honest—we teachers need this too. Sharing a sweet end of the year book with your class gives you a chance to pause and feel all the things that come with saying goodbye to your students. It’s also a great reminder of why we love teaching in the first place.

End of the Year Books To Try This Year

There are so many special books out there, but these end of the year books are some of my favorite read-alouds to pull out in the final days. I’ve broken them down into a few categories to help you pick the perfect book for your classroom.

Some of these end of the year books also have wonderful companion activities to make your end of school celebrations even more fun!

Here are some end of the school year read alouds about getting excited for what's coming next, celebrating the year you've had together, and saying goodbye.

Getting Excited for the Future

It's so important to remind students that they have lots to look forward to at the end of the year. Even though they're time with you might be ending, you can show them that the future is bright and full of wonderful opportunities!

Our World Needs You

This sweet book reminds students that their unique gifts and talents are made to be shared with the world. Let students know that they are so special, and that you can't wait to see what they do next!

You can pair this book with this fun and inspiring craft and display, where students think about what they want to do for the world when they grow up.

The Night Before Summer Vacation

A heartwarming book wishing your students hope and joy as they move on from your classroom.

I Wish You Happiness

This book is a wish for a future filled with joy and purpose. Send your students off with a sweet message of love and happiness as they finish the year.

Summer Days

Get your students excited for summer with this book that celebrates the season of summer and all the things there are to look forward to!

Celebrating the Year

These end of school books are perfect for celebrating all the growth and learning you've done together over the year. You can use these to help your students reflect on their learning and how far they've come. I've also included some possible companion activities to use with them as well.

A Letter From Your Teacher On The Last Day Of School

A sweet message from a teacher on the last day of school, writing to her students about the amazing year they've had together.

I'm Glad I Was Your Teacher

A teacher reminiscing about all the wonderful memories her and her class have made together during the school year.

Memory Jars

This sweet story follows a little girl who wants to save every memory. It’s a great way to talk about all the moments that made this school year special.

Doing a memories craft is a great way to remember the year and celebrate the good times you've had together. Here is a memories flower craft where students share a favorite memory on each petal of the flower.

Saying Goodbye

These end of the year books are especially helpful to students who might be having a hard time saying goodbye at the end of the year. They emphasize that it's not really “goodbye”, it's just “see you later”!

Last Day Blues

This book is funny, relatable, and captures how students (and teachers!) feel during the last days of school. It’s also a great book to ease the emotions that come with change.

Goodbye For Now

A teacher says goodbye to her students and lets them know that they will still see her and she will still be cheering them on!

Instead Of Goodbye

A lovely book to help students who are having a hard time with saying goodbye. This story reminds students that this isn't the end, but instead it's a new beginning!

This yearbook is a great way to help younger students say goodbye to one another. Students swap booklets and draw a picture and write their name in their classmate's book. The perfect keepsake!

Tips for Reading End of the Year Books

Here are some things to keep in mind when you're choosing end of the year books to read with your class.

1. Choose books that fit your class vibe. Every group is different. Some might love a funny story like “Last Day Blues,” while others connect more with a sweet story like “Our Class Needs You”.
2. Use books as a jumping-off point. After reading “Memory Jars,” have your students create their own jars or write about their favorite memories. It’s a great way to reflect on the past year.
3. Make it part of your countdown. If you do an ABC countdown or another fun way to end the year, include a special book for each day.
4. Let the kids choose. Put out a few options and let your class vote on what to read. This gives them ownership and gets them excited.
5. Connect it to next steps. If you’re sending kids off to the next grade, middle school, or even high school, pick stories that get them thinking about the journey ahead.

Saying Goodbye

Reading end of the year books is more than just a way to fill time during those hectic last weeks of school. It’s a great way to honor your students' growth, say goodbye with love, and get them excited for new adventures.

Whether you’re flipping through picture books during the last day of school or sharing a sweet book during the final days of school, these stories can help everyone process the emotions that come with change. They remind us that each ending is also a beginning.

So go ahead—grab one of your favorite books, gather your young readers on the carpet, and make those last moments count. The end of the school year only comes once a year, and these end of the year books make it unforgettable.

Note: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. But rest assured, I only recommend the books I truly love and would use in my own classroom.

Have you seen my latest book yet? Our World Needs You is the perfect end of the year read aloud!

Which of these books are you going excited try this year? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo
Laura

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5 Activities For The End Of The School Year That Your Students Will Love!

The post 15 Must-Read End Of The Year Books For Students appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Read on for the best social emotional learning books for teachers in elementary school to read to their students!

Want to teach social emotional learning to your students, but not sure where to start? Check out these done-for-you lessons, complete with age appropriate and research based crafts and activities!

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning

Social emotional learning (SEL) plays a vital role in helping young children develop essential skills like self-awareness, problem solving, and conflict resolution. When children learn how to manage their emotions and interact positively with others, it strengthens their ability to build strong relationships and succeed academically.

Many school districts now integrate SEL curriculum into their daily routines, recognizing that emotional intelligence is just as critical as math and reading skills. Research shows that fostering social-emotional learning leads to increased student well-being and creates a positive school community.

However, it can be so hard to know where to start with teaching this, especially if you don't have resources from your district or school. Read alouds are a wonderful way to teach these topics to students of all ages. These social emotional learning books for teachers are the perfect place to start your social emotional learning instruction!

Using Books to Teach Social Emotional Learning Skills

Books are one of the best ways to introduce and reinforce SEL competencies. Stories allow young learners to see characters experiencing emotions, making choices, and developing positive relationships. By discussing picture books in book clubs or as part of read-aloud sessions, teachers can guide deep reflection and provide evidence-based advice for handling real-life situations.

Using children’s books in the classroom is a great way to promote social awareness and encourage thoughtful conversations about emotions, friendships, and personal growth.

I've gathered up the best social emotional learning books for teachers to use with their students for the major SEL topics you might be interested in teaching.

Social Emotional Learning Books For Teachers

Growth Mindset

Developing a growth mindset is an essential skill for young people. Books that teach perseverance and resilience help elementary students understand that mistakes are part of learning. A strong foundation in growth mindset helps students embrace challenges and develop confidence in their abilities. Some social emotional learning books for teachers in this category include:

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain is a great book for explaining the science behind our brains and what happens to them when we persevere and learn new things.

The Magical Yet is a beautifully illustrated book shows the magic of trying new things that are still out of your reach. You can’t do it YET, but with practice and time, you’ll get there!

In The Most Magnificent Thing, a young girl works hard on creating a magical invention using her imagination. Along the way, she learns about anger, frustration, and patience.

I Can Do Hard Things is a wonderful book that provides lots of positive affirmations that children can tell themselves. It explores doubts that we face in different situations, and offers helpful strategies.

In Butterflies For Kiri, Kiri wants to make an origami butterfly, but it’s harder than she expects. She experiences frustration and wants to give up, but she learns that practice pays off.

Looking for crafts and activities to complement these growth mindset books? Check out these growth mindset lessons!

Mindfulness

Mindfulness books teach young children how to stay present and manage their emotions in a healthy way. Incorporating mindfulness into the school day can improve student well-being and help create a calm learning environment. Here are some social emotional learning books for teachers to teach about mindfulness:

My Magic Breath is a great book for helping students visualize calm breathing and using it in difficult situations.

Mindful Movements contains ten easy exercises that are great for brain breaks and for practicing moving mindfully with your body. This is perfect to use during transitions between lessons or as a movement break during the school day.

What Does It Mean To Be Present? provides a great introduction to the concept of being present in each moment – a key foundation of mindfulness that can be hard to explain.

I Am Peace examines what it means to go through life with mindfulness, being present in each moment.

Meditate With Me is a sweet book walks through the steps to get your body and mind ready for meditation. This social emotional learning book is a great introduction to meditation for younger children.

Looking for crafts and activities to complement these mindfulness books? Check out these mindfulness lessons!

Social Skills

Building strong relationships and developing social skills is a key part of social emotional learning. Books that highlight emotional recognition, cooperation, self-regulation, and relationship skills are perfect for SEL curriculum in elementary schools. Some favorite books for teaching social skills include:

Big Feelings acknowledges the hard feelings that can come up during our day, and offers some ways to express them and move on.

When I Feel Worried teaches children there are ways to calm and soothe themselves when big feelings come up.

I Can Say No emphasizes the choice children have to say “no” – in situations of safety, but also in situations with friends.

That’s Wrong! talks about how to respectfully disagree with our peers and friends. It breaks it down into four clear steps that are easy for children to understand and follow.

How To Apologize is full of examples of when and how to apologize, emphasizing the importance of an apology that comes from your heart.

Looking for crafts and activities to complement these social skills books? Check out these social skills lessons!

Friendship

Teaching young learners about friendship helps foster positive relationships and a sense of belonging. Picture books about friendship can help children understand how to navigate challenges and maintain strong relationships. Some great social emotional learning books for teachers to read about friendship include:

How To Have Friends contains lots of helpful, actionable strategies for kids on how to be a good friend.

Let’s Play! This book shares the story of a new girl who is nervous about making friends. Luckily, her classmates know just how to make her feel welcome! This book is great to read to help your students with making new friends.

The Invisible Boy is a classic story about a new boy at school. It shows the power we have to make people feel seen and included.

My New Friend Is So Fun! is a helpful book to talk about friendship conflicts that can arise. Piggie and Gerald learn to navigate some friendship bumps when Piggie finds a new friend to play with.

In Teach Your Dragon To Make Friends, Dragon learns different ways to be a good friend.

Looking for crafts and activities to complement these friendship books? Check out these friendship lessons!

Self-Love

Helping students develop self-love and confidence is crucial for their emotional intelligence. Social emotional learning books for teachers that promote self-acceptance and self-worth are a great resource that every elementary classroom should have. Some must-read social emotional learning books for teachers in this category include:https://amzn.to/3MYpQDhhttps://amzn.to/3MYpQDh

I Am Me is a joyful book reminding us that we don’t have to change ourselves to fit in. Instead, we can celebrate what makes us special and unique.

I Am, I Can provides examples daily affirmations for students, along with some activities you can do to go with them.

How Full Is Your Bucket? Students have probably heard about filling each other’s buckets to spread kindness. This book reminds them that we have to fill our own buckets too!

Sometimes I Need is a great book for helping students understand how to take care of their feelings. This wonderful book provides lots of strategies students can use for identifying what they need when they’re having a hard time.

I Am Enough is a powerful book about accepting ourselves and others with loving kindness.

Looking for crafts and activities to complement these self love books? Check out these self love lessons!

When to Read Social Emotional Learning Books

If you're ready to try out these social emotional learning books for teachers, there are many opportunities throughout the school day to incorporate SEL books into your routine. Here are a few best practices for using children’s books to support social emotional learning:

• Morning Meeting – Start the day with a read-aloud that sets a positive tone.
• Book Clubs – Use SEL books for small group discussions that encourage deep reflection.
• Restorative Practices – Read books that reinforce conflict resolution strategies and problem solving skills.
• Transitions and Breaks – A short read-aloud can be a great way to refocus and calm students.
• Professional Development – Teachers can explore SEL books, such as Social-Emotional Learning Playbook by Michelle Trujillo, to gain practical strategies for fostering emotional intelligence in young children.

Social Emotional Learning Books For the Classroom

Integrating social-emotional learning books into the classroom is a simple yet powerful way to help elementary students develop the essential skills they need to thrive. Whether focusing on relationship skills, mindfulness, or social awareness, picture books offer young learners a fun way to explore emotions and practice problem solving. By using SEL books as part of your curriculum, you can create a supportive school community that fosters strong relationships and lifelong social-emotional growth!

Want to teach social emotional learning to your students, but not sure where to start? Check out these done-for-you lessons, complete with age appropriate and research based crafts and activities!

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The post 35 Must-Have Social Emotional Learning Books For Teachers And Students appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Read on for the very best end of the year read alouds!

(This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission when you shop these links, at no extra cost to you.)

End of the Year Picture Books

One of the best ways to wrap up the year is by sharing one of these end of the school year read-aloud books that captures these sentiments, inspires reflection, and leaves students with a sense of joy and accomplishment. The end of a school year is a huge transition for students! These end of the year read alouds create opportunities to connect with students on an emotional level, to reinforce the values and lessons learned throughout the year, and to create lasting memories. The stories we choose can help students process their feelings about the transition and provide comfort and reassurance as they move into a new chapter of their lives.

Whether it’s a story that sparks laughter, one that encourages reflection, or a tale that offers a comforting message, these end of the school year read alouds are carefully selected to resonate with students at this pivotal moment. Here are some top picks for end of the year read alouds that are perfect for elementary students, each bringing its unique charm and valuable lessons to the classroom.

If you're looking for some fun party activities to go with these stories, make sure to check out 9 Amazing End Of The Year Classroom Party Ideas.

Best End of the Year Read Alouds

Here are my very favorite read alouds for the end of the school year. Take a look and see which ones you think would be perfect for your class! I recommend choosing a few – it's nice to spread them out during the last week of school to prepare your kiddos for saying goodbye.

A Letter From Your Teacher

This is the perfect book to read on the last day of school. This sweet book shares a message from a teacher to her students on the last day of school. It's sweet and heartfelt and a wonderful send off for your students.

Goodbye For Now

This is a sweet end of year read alooud helps students who may have a hard time saying goodbye at the end of the year. This gives the end of the year a more cheerful and upbeat outlook, which can be helpful during this time of year for some students.

Last Day Blues

In this end of the year picture book, the students are worried about their teacher missing them. A fun twist on the typical goodbye story, this book weaves in humor and is bound to engage your students with its fun premise.

Instead Of Goodbye

This book is a great choice if you don't want to say sad goodbyes. It shows the possibilities of remaining in touch and the truth that a great teacher never really leaves you for good.

I Wish You Happiness

This is another inspirational book that will fill your students up with motivation and happy thoughts at the end of the school year. This end of the year read aloud is perfect for telling your students you believe in them and you want them to be so happy in their next steps!

The Night Before Summer Break

Get your students excited about summer break with this fun and amusing story of a family trying to get ready for vacation on the night before summer vacation. This book would be perfect to pair with an activity asking students about their plans for summer break.

End of the Year Read Aloud Books

Ending the school year with a special read-aloud can make a big impact. These end of the year read alouds help students process their feelings about the end of the year and get excited for the future. By choosing books that resonate emotionally, you provide comfort and joy.

The end of the school year is a time to remember the good times, recognize growth, and look forward to new adventures. End of the year read alouds help students feel connected and valued. These books offer humor, reflection, and inspiration, making the final days of school memorable and meaningful.

Celebrate the last week of school with these engaging end of the year read alouds. They help create a sense of closure and excitement for what’s next. Students will leave with fond memories, a love for stories, and readiness for summer adventures and future learning.

Which end of the year picture book are you going to try this year? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo
Laura

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The post The Perfect End of the Year Read Alouds appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Looking for the best children's books about mindfulness? Read on for my top picks!

Click to jump to…

• Choosing Children's Books About Mindfulness
• Children's Books About Breathing
• Children's Books About Mindful Bodies
• Children's Books About Being Present
• Children's Books About Positive Affirmations
• Children's Books About Meditation
• Mindfulness In The Classroom

Choosing Children's Books About Mindfulness

Mindfulness is such an important tool for students to use. There are so many benefits to mindfulness in the classroom, but there just aren't that many resources available yet that are made just for students. (That's why I created these Mindfulness Lessons!)

The good news is, there are more and more children's books about social emotional learning available these days. But it can be hard to know which ones are the best for your students…

How should you go about choosing children's books about mindfulness? Here are a few tips:

• Look for books that have clear strategies that students can practice themselves. Giving children explicit examples of mindfulness that they can use in their own lives is so helpful!
• Look for characters that your students can relate to. It's so important to expose children to characters that are like themselves (but also important to expose them to characters that are different – we need a mix of windows and mirrors!)
• Choose books that have full class exercises you can do together! These are great for brain breaks and transitions between lessons, and create an easy way to squeeze some mindfulness activities into the school day.
• Find books that you could weave into your academic subjects. So often, we can create a writing response or some comprehension work around any read aloud. That makes it so much easier to include social emotional learning lessons as a natural part of the school day – perfect!

But guess what?

I've already done the hard work and searched for children's books about mindfulness that are perfect for the classroom! Read on to see my top choices…

Children's Books About Breathing

Breath is a key component of mindfulness, and it can help students in so many ways. Breathing helps us regulate our emotions, reduce stress, and calm our bodies. These next children's books about mindfulness focus on ways students can use their breathing to help get grounded.

My Magic Breath

A great book for helping students visualize calm breathing and using it in difficult situations.

Alphabreaths

A fun book of ABCs with different breathing exercises that are simple and easy for kids to try.

Breathing Makes It Better

This book walks students through the process of identifying challenging situations and using their breath to help them.

Children's Books About Mindful Bodies

Children are active, physical beings. But many students are still learning how to regulate and control their bodies. These next children's books about mindfulness help students calm their bodies and control their movements. These contain some great mindfulness exercises for students to use in the classroom!

Mindful Movements

This book contains ten easy mindfulness activities that are great for brain breaks and for practicing moving mindfully with your body.

Peaceful Piggy Yoga

This is a sweet book talking about yoga, the benefits of practicing mindfulness and yoga, as well as some basic yoga poses that children can learn and practice.

Breathe Like A Bear

This book contains 30 mindfulness exercises for kids – some breathing and some movement – to practice with your students. Great for pulling out and trying one or two between lessons or right after recess!

Children's Books About Being Present

With our fast-paced lives and the constant presence of technology, it's hard for all of us to remember to be present and appreciate the present moment. Teaching mindfulness for kids can help students learn to be present, a skill they can take with them as they grow up. These next children's books about mindfulness help students be present and aware of what's happening around them.

I Am Peace

This mindfulness book examines what it means to go through life with mindfulness, being present in each moment.

What Does It Mean To Be Present?

A great introduction to the concept of being present in each moment.

Charlotte and the Quiet Place

This mindfulness children's book examines the importance of being able to find calm and get grounded in the midst of our busy world.

Children's Books About Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are gaining more and more popularity as a tool for helping self esteem in children. A big pieces of mindfulness for kids is helping them identify negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. This set of children's books about mindfulness provides positive self affirmations that students can use to help them create a more positive self perception.

My Magical Words

This mindfulness book explains how we can talk to ourselves and what affirmations are. It gives many examples of positive affirmations.

It's Great To Be Me!

A great book full of self affirmations for students to repeat and practice.

Mind Bubbles

An easy-to-understand mindfulness children's book that shows how our thoughts come and go, and how we can practice noticing them.

Children's Books About Meditation

Wait… can you do meditation with students? Absolutely! Meditation doesn't have to be a woo-woo or spiritual exercise. It's really just a practice of focusing your mind on something. You can do a meditation as a quick mindfulness activity during the school day. Some simple meditations might be asking your students to picture a certain object in their mind, or having them think of a special memory that makes them happy.

These next children's books about mindfulness are great for introducing your students to meditation and explaining some of the benefits.

Leo Learns To Meditate

Leo is a very relatable character who doesn’t understand the value of meditation. He learns how and why it can be helpful.

Meditate With Me

This sweet book walks through the steps to get your body and mind ready for meditation.

Imaginations

A collection of relaxation stories that are fun to use as quick classroom mindfulness activities with your students.

Mindfulness In The Classroom

I hope these mindfulness children's books have given you some mindfulness classroom ideas to try out with your students. Just remember you can start small – any mindfulness activities you can start out with will be helpful! Once you get started, it will become more and more easy and natural to have mindfulness in the classroom.

If you want more activity ideas, check out How To Use Mindfulness In the Classroom: A Complete Guide.

Which mindfulness children's book are you going to try out first? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo
Laura

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The post 15 Children’s Books About Mindfulness Your Students Will Love appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Those days between Thanksgiving and winter break are some of the hardest to keep students focused. But I say, when students are so holiday-crazed, why not lean into that? December holidays around the world books are such a fun way to weave the holidays into your school day. Plus, students will love the opportunity to learn about holiday traditions around the world. So I've rounded up 15 of my favorite books about holidays around the world for you to explore with your students this season.

Read on for the best holidays and Christmas around the world books!

Need some December holidays around the world lesson plans and activities? Check out this activity bundle!

This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission when you purchase products through these links.

December Holidays Around the World

Celebrating holidays around the world isn't just a helpful way to engage students. It's also an important part of culturally responsive teaching.

So often, this time of year gets hyper-focused on Christmas and our Western ways of celebrating it. Showing students that there are lots of ways to celebrate Christmas helps open their eyes to the diversity of our world. Plus, introducing other December holidays helps them learn about differences that make our diverse world so interesting. It also helps the students in your class who might celebrate some of these holidays feel seen and valued!

I've always found that children's books are probably the best way to show “windows” and “mirrors” to our students. “Windows” help students see perspectives that are different from their own. For example, learning about some December holidays that they may not celebrate. On the other hand, “Mirrors” provide validation for students' own experiences. For example, reading a book about Kwanzaa when you have a couple of students who celebrate that holiday at home.

Holidays Around the World Books

I've divided these books into different categories so you can easily see which holiday they refer to and jump to the holiday you are interested in. However, I recommend choosing a mix of holidays to introduce to your students! The categories I've included here are Christmas Around the World, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice. All of these are wonderful December holidays that your students will enjoy learning more about.

You can sprinkle these read alouds throughout your school day in the weeks leading up to your winter break. My students always look forward to them.

Christmas Around the World

These books teach students about fun and interesting Christmas traditions from all over the world. I love creating an anchor chart display to show the different traditions as we learn about them!

How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World

Fun illustrations show a different country and their Christmas traditions on each page.

A World of Cookies For Santa

This beautifully illustrated book describes all the different treats that are left out for Santa by children in different countries.

Christmas Is Coming: Traditions From Around the World

Another fun book that explores Christmas traditions from around the world. This book has beautiful illustrations that children will love to look at.

Christmas Around the World (It’s a Small World)

This book follows different children around the world as they get ready for their Christmas celebrations.

Hanukkah Children's Books

You can teach your students about Hanukkah history and traditions with these fun books. One fun activity to do with these stories is to learn to play dreidel with your class!

My First Chanukah

A simple board book that explains Hanukkah in easy language for children to understand.

The Story of Hanukkah

Beautiful illustrations and vivid storytelling share the story of the Maccabees and how the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah began.

Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas

A fun story about a multi-cultural celebration of Hanukkah. A great starting point for a discussion of how many families blend traditions.

Elmo’s Little Dreidel

Elmo receives a dreidel. His friends teach him how to play this fun Hanukkah game.

Kwanzaa Children's Books

Kwanzaa has such a fun history and is based on values that are great to talk about in the classroom. I love making a Kwanzaa unity chain with my students as a fun activity to go with this holiday.

Kevin’s Kwanzaa

A fun story about Kevin and his family as they celebrate Kwanzaa together.

Kwanzaa by Lisa M. Herrington

A fact-filled book with wonderful photographs, examples of activities, and information about how Kwanzaa is celebrated.

Together for Kwanzaa

A big snowstorm hits, and Kayla hopes that her brother will make it home in time to celebrate Kwanzaa as a family.

Winter Solstice Children's Books

The winter solstice is a magical time. Students might not understand the science behind the days getting shorter, so it's fun to explore that with them.

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

A beautiful poem with lovely illustrations that shares some of the ways people honor the winter solstice each year.

The Shortest Day – Celebrating the Winter Solstice

A book for children that explains the science of the winter solstice and some of the traditions that go with it.

The Tomten

A magical story about a kind troll who visits the people of the town in the middle of the winter to remind them that spring will come again.

The Winter Solstice

This book also explores the scientific reasons for the days getting shorter in the winter time.

Winter Holidays Around the World

Celebrating winter holidays around the world can be such a fun experience for your students. Children love learning about different parts of the world. Plus, holiday celebrations are always a big hit as well.

I recommend pairing these holidays around the world children's books with crafts and other activities. If you want some inspiration, you can read my blog post on How to Celebrate Winter Holidays Around the World With Your Students.

If you want some fun activities that are planned and ready to go, you can get the December Holidays Around the World Activity Bundle right here!

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5 Must-Try Classroom Routine and Procedures Ideas

The post 15 December Holidays Around the World Books Your Students Will Love appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

But how do you explain gratitude to a child? Using children's books about gratitude helps students understand the concept in a full and clear way. Emphasizing gratitude is also the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom. I'm sharing my top 10 Thanksgiving children's books and gratitude children's books for your to use with your students this year!

Read on for the 10 children's books about gratitude that are perfect for November!

Looking for some Thanksgiving activities that are prepped, planned, and ready to print? Check out the Thanksgiving Activity Bundle here!

Children's Books About Gratitude

These children's books about gratitude are my favorite children's books for thanksgiving. They are perfect to use with your classroom activities for Thanksgiving. These read alouds will help your students understand the real meaning of Thanksgiving, and they will help explain gratitude for children in a clear way.

I've divided these children's books about gratitude into categories, so that you can better choose what would work best for your students. The categories are:

• Gratitude Books About Family
• Gratitude Books About the Earth
• Gratitude Books From Native American Authors

Gratitude Books About Family

Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together to give thanks. It's wonderful for students to have the opportunity to reflect on the people in their family that they are grateful for. These children's books about gratitude provide examples for students to help them think more deeply about this gratitude.

The Thank You Book

A Piggie and Gerald book about thanking the people in your life that you are grateful for. This is a sweet read for our younger readers. This gratitude read aloud helps students think about the different people in their lives that are meaningful to them. You could pair this book with a fun thank you card craft!

I Am Thankful

This story shows families celebrating Thanksgiving in different ways. Each family expresses gratitude and generosity during the Thanksgiving time. This Thanksgiving read aloud emphasizes family appreciation during this time of year. But it also shows students in a lovely way that different families can celebrate in different ways.

Gracias/Thanks

This is a fun rhyming gratitude children's book about a boy who expresses gratitude. Another children's book about gratitude that emphasizes being thankful for our family. I love that this book is also in Spanish – it's always so fun for students to see words in another language, whether or not they speak that language themselves.

Gratitude Books About the Earth

When talking about gratitude in the classroom, it's an opportunity to include discussions about nature and the earth. We can help our students be aware of the amazing gifts that we get from our earth, which can help foster a sense of responsibility for protecting it. These children's books about gratitude spotlight the earth and its many gifts to us.

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message

This Thanksgiving children's book is made up of a beautiful morning poem of gratitude. Written by the Six Nations People, this poem reminds us to stop and appreciate the many gifts of the earth. It's always a good time to stop and appreciate nature, but Thanksgiving presents a special opportunity. You could pair this with a Thanksgiving craft about being grateful for the earth.

Sweetest Kulu

A mother tells a newborn about all the gifts he has received from the earth. This sweet gratitude read aloud helps remind students of all the pieces of the earth we can be grateful for. We often don't think about these things, and this book brings forward many important ideas.

Sharing Our World

A book celebrating the many creatures of nature and Earth. Your students will love thinking about all the wonderful animals in the world that they are grateful for. This book will especially connect with students who love animals.

We Are Water Protectors

This book celebrates the great gift of water, and it teaches about how some Native American tribes have played a key role in fighting to protect the environment. Many students don't know this story, and they will love learning about how the Native Americans had to stand up for what they believed in to help protect the earth.

Gratitude Books By Native American Authors

November is Native American heritage month, so I love featuring books by Native Americans at this time of year. There are wonderful authors of Native American heritage that offer an important perspective that is often missed by other authors. These gratitude read alouds are some of my favorites.

My Heart Fills With Happiness

A child stops to appreciate the little things throughout the day that make them happy. This is a great children's book for Thanksgiving time. I love that it talks about the little things, showing that we don't have to be grateful for just the big things in our lives.

Go Show The World

This books showcases historical figures with Native American heritage. There are so few books like this, and it's wonderful to be able to share stories of these heroes with students. Plus, the stories of each person are incredibly inspiring. This is one of my favorites for Native American Heritage Month.

We Are Grateful

A story of a Cherokee community celebrating the things they are thankful for. This story goes through the different times of year, showing the various things that the community gives thanks for. Also, it includes Cherokee words throughout the story that students will love to learn and practice.

Thanksgiving Children's Books

Focusing on gratitude during this season is so helpful for students. For too long, there have been unhelpful and often untruthful representations of pilgrims and Native Americans feasting happily together. Whatever your views on the subject may be, I think we can all agree that focusing on thankfulness and gratitude is a positive choice.

I hope these children's books about gratitude make it easy to talk about these topics with your students this Thanksgiving season!

How do you celebrate gratitude in the classroom? Let me know in the comments!
xoxo
Laura

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The post 10 Best Children’s Books About Gratitude and Thanksgiving appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

These are such important questions to ask at the beginning of the year. And luckily, there are lots of children’s books to help us teachers out! Reading books aloud to your new class is one of the best ways to start setting expectations and reinforcing classroom rules.

Read on for 15 amazing read alouds to teacher classroom rules and routines!

Want some resources that are planned and ready to go? Check out my Rules and Routines Activity Bundle!

Classroom Rules and Routines

Establishing our rules and routines is extremely important at the beginning of the school year. Not only does it help our classroom run smoother in the months to come, but structure and rules actually help students feel safe and secure.

A piece of advice I always give to new teachers is to write out a list of all their routines and procedures and rules. A lot of times, you don’t realize until you start writing just how long that list can be! There are materials to take care of and store properly, transitions to organize and manage, rules about talking, sitting, bathroom-going… it’s a lot to think about! Making a list ahead of time will help you to plan out just how you’re going to teach all those things to your new students.

Now, there are lots of ways to establish our rules and routines, and I have a whole blog post with ideas right here. But children’s books are such a valuable tool, they deserved their own special list on the blog.

Children’s Books About Rules and Routines

These are some of my favorite books to use to teach about our classroom rules and routines. Not only can you use these books in the first weeks of school, but they are great for using to review your classroom routines and rules throughout the schoolyear. (Because let’s be honest… we will constantly be reviewing those routines and procedures!)

I’ve divided these into sections to help you choose which books will be best for you: Your New Classroom, Classroom Materials, Classroom Rules, A Listening Body, and Classroom Routines.

Your New Classroom

School’s First Day of School: The school is nervous about all the children coming for the first day! The day starts out difficult for school, but everyone is having a great day by the end. This is a fun book to talk about the different spaces at school and what they are used for.

A Letter From Your Teacher: A wonderful book where a teacher shares her hopes and dreams for the year. This book is great to introduce the classroom as a space for learning and sharing.

All Are Welcome Here: This book celebrates classroom community. You can use this to start setting expectations of inclusion and equality.

Classroom Materials

The Day the Crayons Quit: The crayons are tired of being treated poorly, and they decide to quit! A great book for talking about the correct way to use materials.

Too Much Glue: A little boy doesn’t know how to use the glue properly and ends up with a great big mess! Such a good way to talk about classroom routines for using glue and other art supplies.

I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!: A little boy makes a big, big mess with his paints. A cute story you can use when talking about the classroom rules for using paint.

Classroom Rules

Don’t Eat Your Classmates: Penelope the dinosaur keeps accidentally eating her classmates…until she has an experience that teaches her how it feels to be eaten! This book is all about the importance of self-control and treating others with respect.

What If Everybody Did That?: This book gets students thinking about the effect their choices can have. It helps them see that every action adds up and what they do in their new classroom matters!

What Should Darla Do?: A book that lets students decide what choice Dara should make to decide the outcome of the story. This is a great book for talking about making good choices.

A Listening Body

My Mouth Is a Volcano: A very relatable book about a little boy who can’t help but call what he wants to say! A great book for talking about classroom rules during group lessons.

Personal Space Camp: Louis learns about the importance of respecting personal space. This is a helpful book to talk about personal boundaries and what we mean when we say “hands to yourself”.

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker: Lacey Walker loves to talk and chat and visit. But when she loses her voice, she learns some important lessons about great value of listening. A great book if you have an extra chatty class.

Classroom Routines

Germs Vs. Soap: A funny and playful book about germs trying to avoid getting washed off of dirty hands! A great book to explain the importance of good hand-washing to students.

Just a Mess: Little Critter likes to leave everything in a big mess. In this book, he learns the importance of picking up after himself and keeping things tidy.

Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill: A great book for teaching about the rules of safety and reinforcing your school’s fire drill procedure.

Routines and Procedures

It’s important to take time at the beginning of the year to teach your rules and procedures thoroughly. While it might seem like it’s taking a lot of time, it will ultimately save you so much time in the future.

But the most important thing to remember about teaching your classroom rules and procedures is that it’s not one and done. Students will need practice and review throughout the whole year – so hold onto these book ideas for when you feel like your class could use a little refresher on the classroom rules!

Want more rules and routines resources? Check out my Classroom Rules and Routines Activity Bundle!

Which book are you going to try with your students this year? Let me know in the comments! 
xoxo
Laura

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5 Must-Try Classroom Routine and Procedures Ideas

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The Best Activities To Build Classroom Community To Try Now

The post Classroom Rules and Routines: The Ultimate List of Children’s Books appeared first on Love Grows Learning.

Read on for 15 growth mindset kids books recommendations.

This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission when you make a purchase using these links.

Growth Mindset Kids Books

Why teach with children’s books? For starters, picture books are one of the best ways to hold our students’ attention. If the storyline and characters are compelling, students won’t just listen, they’ll be invested in the story and the lessons it’s teaching. 

Plus, growth mindset is kind of a dense topic. It’s helpful for students to see it play out with characters in a story. Children’s books about growth mindset can showcase different characters struggling with and learning how to use their growth mindset to achieve their goals. Those types of examples are far more helpful than verbal explanations. 

Finally, students are more likely to remember what we teach when we use children’s books. As they hear the characters’ stories in growth mindset kids books, they relate to those characters. Then later, if they are faced with a similar situation, they’re more likely to remember and use their growth mindset strategies.

Growth Mindset Books For Kids

These books are my top picks for teaching growth mindset for children. Ranging from children to animals to facts to fantasy, these stories will give students a great foundation for what growth mindset is and how they can use it. I've divided these suggestions into five categories, to help you choose what kind of book would be most helpful for what your students need: Growing Pains, Fixed vs. Growth Mindset, Messages To Tell Myself, I Can't Do It YET, and Goal-Setting.

Growing Pains

These growth mindset kids books are all about the growing pains we experience when we try new things. The characters in these books struggle to master something new, and have to learn to persevere and embrace the mistakes they make.

She’s Got This

Zoe is so excited to learn gymnastics after watching it on TV. But when she comes to her first gymnastics class, she discovers that all that flipping and flying is a lot harder than it looks! Zoe has to learn lessons about mistakes, perseverance, and believing in yourself.

The Most Magnificent Thing

Determined to make a magnificent invention, a young girl works hard on creating something using her imagination and whatever materials she can find. But when she’s finished, her invention doesn’t look so magnificent. She has to deal with anger, frustration, and patience before she discovers that maybe she did make something magnificent after all.

Rosie Revere Engineer

Rosie has big dreams to become an inventor, but she hides it from her family. When Rosie finally shares an invention with her aunt, and it turns out to be a failure, she learns important lessons about mistakes and growth. 

Fixed Vs. Growth Mindset

Learning what a fixed mindset is versus a growth mindset can be so helpful for students as they try to incorporate perseverance and growth mindset into their learning. These growth mindset children's books explains these two ways of thinking in terms that a child can understand and really appreciate.

Fantastic Elastic Brain

A great book for explaining the science behind our brains and learning new things. This book uses kid-friendly language to explore the importance of trying new things and how practice really does help our brains get better at challenging tasks.

Bubblegum Brain

This book explains the difference between fixed mindset and growth mindset with fun characters “Bubblegum Brain” and “Brick Brain”. The story shows clearly how much we miss out when we decide not to try new things, and how being brave and making mistakes can lead to a lot more fun.

Making a Splash

In this book, Johnny and Lisa are learning to swim. They each experience different kinds of mindsets, and they learn how a growth mindset can help them learn new things.

Messages To Tell Myself

Part of practicing a growth mindset is sending yourself positive messages when things feel tough. These growth mindset books for kids provides concrete examples of positive affirmations to use when those negative messages start creeping in.

I Can Do Hard Things

This is a wonderful book that provides lots of positive affirmations that children can tell themselves. It explores the insecurities and doubts that children can face in different situations, and offers strategies to flip those into confidence-building moments.

My Strong Mind

This story follows the protagonist, Kate, as she faces different challenging situations. Kate offers a model for how we can use positive self-talk to help us embrace mistakes, persevere through difficulty, and remember to be grateful.

Beautiful Oops

This book celebrates mistakes as new possibilities. Rather than getting upset about a torn paper, a messed up brush stroke, or a mistake, we can turn it into something new and continue on.

I Can’t Do It, YET

The idea of YET can be very powerful for students feeling discouraged during new learning. Emphasizing this word can bring home the idea that just because we can't do it now, doesn't mean we won't get it with time. There are some wonderful growth mindset books for children that embrace this word.

The Magical Yet

This beautifully illustrated book shows the magic of trying new things that are still out of your reach. It encourages children to shift their mindset when things get tough. They can’t do it YET, but with practice and time, they’ll get there!

I Can’t Do That, YET

Enna struggles to believe in herself, and she doesn’t like trying hard things. After a special dream, she realizes that the possibilities for herself are endless, if she’s just willing to put in the work and not give up.

Not Yet

The main character in this story shows how you can go through your day with mistakes and frustrations, but understand that they are a part of learning and growing up.

Goal-Setting

Setting goals to learn new skills can be both exciting and scary. In these growth mindset kids books, the characters learn that it takes practice and bravery to conquer new learning.

Jabari Jumps

Jabari is ready to jump off the diving board, but he’s feeling nervous. After putting it off and making excuses, Jabari finally learns how to put his fear aside to reach his goal.

Whistle For Willie

Peter wants to whistle for his dog, Willie, but nothing but air comes out of his mouth when he tries. But Peter doesn’t give up – he keeps practicing and practicing, and he’s determined to reach his goal eventually.

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do

Lou is afraid to try climbing a tree with her friends. She makes excuses and puts it off before finally deciding to face her fears. This story explores ideas of courage, making mistakes, perseverance, and support as we try to learn new things.

Growth Mindset For Kids

Hopefully, you were able to pick some favorite growth mindset books for kids that you’d like to try with your students. There are so many possibilities, so have fun! 

But you don’t have to stop there – there are lots of other ways to weave growth mindset into your classroom. Children’s books are a great place to start, but we can do more to make a growth mindset a permanent part of our teaching.

Classroom activities, anchor chart and bulletin board displays, and crafts can all help in creating a growth mindset classroom environment.

If you’re looking for more support, check out my Growth Mindset Curriculum.

Which books are you excited to try with your students? Tell me in the comments! 
xoxo 
Laura

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10 Growth Mindset For Kids Activities Your Students Will Love

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