Light a Fire With a Good Back to School Book and Giveaway!

Some teachers have already started school and for the rest of us, it's right around the corner. It's important to start thinking about a game plan for your students this year. But there's SOOOO much to think about! Well, help is on the way!

Several of us bloggers have come together to give you some awesome ideas for Back to School Books! These books can be used to set up your classroom community, begin a good lesson, or just as a fun read-aloud.

The book I'd like to share with you is...

  

It's a great book for...
 

Building Community!

As teachers we need to provide opportunities for students to help and support each other in a safe learning environment. This community building needs to take place all year long, but especially needs to be the focus at the beginning of the year. It will set the tone and culture for your classroom. It will have to be deliberate. Community building will have to be the focus with every lesson until it is natural for your students to help, encourage, and support each other on their own.

One of my favorite ways to uplift each other is to "fill our buckets"!

 Have You Filled a Bucket Today is PERFECT for pointing out the obvious effects of complimenting or being mean to someone. Positive behavior like complimenting, encouraging, supporting, or helping someone fills buckets, while bullying, being mean, or ignoring others dips into buckets. I want my students to be BUCKET FILLERS! I create a bulletin board with each students' name on a bucket and they write positive sticky notes as someone is demonstrating kindness or appreciation and place them on each others' buckets. It's very exciting for my students to give or receive a sticky note!

 

This activity is from my Back to School Reading & Writing Pack. It's filled with activities and ideas using reading and writing to make your classroom a positive learning environment. I've selected popular books that you may own or be in your school library. Even if you can't find one, I've included a SafeShare link for every book, so you can show the video of the read aloud for students to watch.

Spending the initial time up front forming these relationships will prevent future problems and if a problem does arise, it will be handled in a respectful way because of the community you've built.

These reading and writing activities are sure to make the first month back fun and give you several opportunities to build community.

         

And have you heard? Teachers Pay Teachers is having a site-wide Back to School Sale August 3rd and 4th, so you will be able to get this Back To School Reading & Writing-Activities to Build Community in Your Classroom 28% off using the promo code BTS15!

 

We know what else really "lights a fire" in you, and that is fabulous technology! We are giving away a brand new Kindle Fire HD6 to one lucky winner! 

Enter the rafflecopter below by hopping through each of our blogs and entering the secret word that can be found on the tablet in each of our posts. Also make sure to follow our TPT stores because the winner will be announced through a message in your TPT inbox! 

(Is anyone surprised by MY SECRET WORD??!!)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are also giving away a $25 gift certificate to Creative Teaching Press!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Good luck! We hope you have a successful start to your school year! 

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