Using Books to Welcome Students to the Classroom

In past years, teachers spent the last days of summer in their classrooms preparing for a new group of students.  I remember unpacking boxes of crayons, markers, construction paper and glue, always happy to inhale their familiar scents.  As I organized these materials, colleagues would often stop by, or call out, “Are you ready?”   Ready meant separating the crayons by color, setting up cubbies in alphabetical order, creating folders for writing and science and creating a welcoming and rich environment filled with books and posters.

I’ve thought about what being ready means today in the aftermath of an  international pandemic and dealing with trauma, whether on a personal or national scale.  It’s hard to get solid footing when we as teachers are figuring out how to introduce our classrooms—in remote, hybrid or in-classroom settings, and it can feel overwhelming.  There are days when moving forward on a clear path seems shaky, at best.

During times like this, I always to turn to books.  Picture books, in particular, guide, inspire and give me the courage to begin conversations with young children about important topics such as acceptance, loss, race, friendship and bravery.  Picking just the right book and sharing it with your class can open a door for building a classroom community that is supportive of all children.  I’ve culled my list down to six books (for now) that can set the stage for learning and growing together.  I hope you find them useful for creating your own classroom community.