Have you ever been asked this question- What is your favorite lesson you have taught?

It is almost a guaranteed to be asked in an interview. For whatever reason, I was thinking about this question at the beginning of the year and realized this is by far my favorite lesson to teach.

My favorite lesson to teach comes from The Daily Five book by the Two Sisters. It is the lesson or actually lessons where you model and teach students that there are three ways to read a book.

  • I can read a book by the pictures.
  • I can read a book by the words.
  • I can read a book by retelling the story.

One of my least favorite things to hear in the classroom is when students say I can’t read. Because of that, I teach this series of lessons during the first two weeks of school. I model each way and give students time to practice whatever way works for them. I want every student to see themselves as a reader. Even a reader who just reads the pictures can figure out the characters, setting and plot.

On day one I model how to read a book by using the pictures. I do a think aloud for each page. Then right after I read the same book by reading the words. Then as a class, we talk about what was the same and different when I read the book by pictures and by words. We come with the same conclusion that it was just about the same story. Then students go and practice reading a book by the pictures or words.

The next day we review the two ways we already practiced. Then I model how you can read a book by retelling the story. Again, as a class, we talk about how it might have been different and then students get a chance to go read whatever way works for them.

The third day as a class we review each way and how to do it. Then student get time to read and when we come back together at the end, we check in to see which way they used to read the book they had.

Some of my favorite books to use for these lessons:

  • Knuffle Bunny Series by Mo Willems – especially because the book is so relatable and then sparks students interests to read the other two books.
  • No, David! by David Shannon – again so relatable, funny and students enjoy rereading this one
  • Eric Carle books especially Brown Bear What Do You See & The Very Hungry Caterpillar– I like both of these because of the pattern and story structure that is easy to follow.
  • There’s A Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher- This book is very interactive which makes it become one students’ really like to read and retell.

I also like to keep wordless picture books on hand especially for students who are the level where they just read the pictures. Having a bunch of these available gives them more options and makes them feel more successful with reading as they have more than a few books to read.

Wordless Picture Books I Love to Use:

  • Hike by Pete Oswald
  • A Boy, A Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer
  • Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
  • Chalk by Bill Thomson
  • Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day  (any of these series)
  • Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola
  • Du Iz Tak? By Carson Ellis
  • Spot and Dot by Henry Cole