The Read Aloud Classroom
A podcast to help elementary teachers incorporate more picture books into their school day by using read alouds across the curriculum.
Each week, I'll share picture book titles to guide you in your teaching. You'll find practical tips, innovative ideas, and a collection of handpicked picture books perfect for each subject.
Get ready to inspire, educate and empower your students with the captivating world of picture books. Happy reading!
Episodes
98 episodes
31. Picture Books to Teach Asking Questions
You know that magical moment when a student asks a question that makes you think, "Yes! They're really thinking deeply about this story!" But let's be honest—teaching students HOW to ask meaningful questions during reading can feel like another...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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18:47
30. The Last-Minute Scramble: Why Teachers Find Themselves Unprepared for Read Alouds (And How to Stop)
Ever found yourself frantically scanning your bookshelf minutes before a read aloud, grabbing any book you can find while hoping it somehow works for your lesson? You're not alone! In this episode, we dive into why even the most experienced tea...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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12:33
29. Picture Books to Teach Problem & Solution
Picture this: it's Sunday night, you're planning for the week ahead, and you need books that actually help your students understand problem and solution—not just pretty stories that check the box. You know those moments when you find the perfec...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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17:54
28. Building Your Read Aloud Confidence
Ever find yourself reading a wonderful picture book to your class, only to realize you've forgotten to ask a single question? Or maybe you're constantly second-guessing if you're stopping at the right moments or holding the book the "correct" w...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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17:17
27. Picture Books to Teach Point of View
You know that moment when you're trying to explain point of view to your students and they stare back at you like you're speaking another language? We've all been there! Teaching this concept can feel tricky, but the right picture books make al...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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13:49
26. Read Aloud Burnout: When Teachers Get Tired of the Same Books (And What to Do About It)
Are you staring at your bookshelf, dreading the thought of reading "Chrysanthemum" for the hundredth time? That feeling of reluctance when selecting books, the relief when you run out of time for read alouds, or grabbing any random title just t...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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12:00
25. New Picture Books! June 2025
Picture this: It's one of those days when your lesson needs the perfect book, but you have zero time to research new titles. That's exactly why I created this month's "First Thursday" episode! I'm sharing 10 incredible new picture books hitting...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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14:52
24. Creating Home-School Reading Connections That Actually Work
Are your students leaving their reading skills at the classroom door? In this episode, I break down how to create home-school reading connections that actually work for real families living real lives. Forget complicated reading logs and forced...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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11:20
23. Student Sharing Strategies for an Interactive Read Aloud
Ever opened a picture book in your classroom only to have a student's enthusiastic but completely off-topic story derail your carefully planned lesson? Or perhaps you've watched the same three hands shoot up while the rest of your class sits si...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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14:13
22. Turn & Talk Strategies for Interactive Read Alouds
Have you ever asked your students to turn and talk during a read aloud only to watch your carefully planned lesson dissolve into chaos? You're not alone! In this episode, I dive into practical turn and talk strategies that actually work in real...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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14:11
21. Reading Over the Summer?
Are you worried about your students losing their reading momentum during those long summer months? In this episode, I'll show you how to transform summer reading from a dreaded academic chore into an exciting adventure that keeps the read-aloud...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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15:12
20. Read Alouds for the End of the Year
Are you feeling the end-of-year crunch? With field days, awards ceremonies, and classroom cleanup dominating your schedule, it's easy to let read alouds slide. But these final weeks offer the perfect opportunity to bring meaningful closure to y...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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11:42
19. New Picture Books! May 2025
Need a fresh infusion of picture books for your classroom? In this month's new releases roundup, I'm sharing 16 incredible picture books that just hit the shelves! From heartwarming friendship stories like "Noah and His Wagon" to STEM explorati...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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17:49
18. Managing Interruptions During a Read Aloud
Every teacher knows that feeling—you're in the middle of a captivating read aloud, your students are fully engaged in the story, and then it happens. A student shouts out, the intercom blares, or there's a knock at your classroom door. Just lik...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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15:37
17. Keeping Wiggly Students Engaged During a Read Aloud
We've all been there – you're in the middle of reading that perfect picture book, and suddenly you notice Jimmy rolling around, Sarah playing with her shoelaces, and half your class looking everywhere but at you. In today's world of constant st...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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16:44
16. Making Read Alouds Interactive (without losing control)
Are your read alouds feeling a bit... boring? Or maybe you've tried to make them more interactive only to end up with chaos and confusion? In this episode, I'm tackling one of the biggest challenges teachers share with me: making read alouds tr...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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21:13
15. Setting the Expectations for the Read Aloud
Ever picked up a book for a quick read aloud only to spend more time managing interruptions than actually reading? You're not alone! In this episode, I dive into why setting clear read aloud expectations is the foundation that transforms this d...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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16:41
14. New Picture Books! April 2025
Looking for fresh new stories to spark your students' imagination this spring? In this episode, I'm sharing twelve brand-new picture books hitting shelves in April 2025 that are perfect for your classroom! From Jacques the underwear-loving hedg...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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10:25
13. How to Extend Your Read Aloud Lesson | Interactive Read Aloud Series
You've mastered choosing the perfect book, planned an amazing lesson, and delivered an engaging read aloud... but now what? In this final episode of our Interactive Read Aloud series, we're tackling one of the most common questions I hear from ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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12:29
12. How to Build Engagement During a Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
Picture this: You're in the middle of what you thought would be an amazing read aloud, but half your class is sliding down to the floor, three students are poking each other, and only your usual eager participants are actually engaged. Sound fa...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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14:02
11. How to Deliver an Engaging Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
Do you ever feel like you're second-guessing yourself during read alouds? From managing interruptions to wondering if you're asking the right questions at the right time, delivering a read aloud can feel overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be!...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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12:47
10. How to Choose a Book for a Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
We've all been there - standing in front of our classroom library, staring at hundreds of books, wondering which one to choose for tomorrow's read aloud. Maybe you've even done what I've done – grabbed a book off the shelf at the last minute, o...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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11:32
9. New Picture Books! March 2025 New Releases
I am so excited to bring back one of my favorite features - sharing brand new picture books that are coming soon to a classroom library near you! As a teacher, there was nothing better than introducing my students to fresh, engaging stories tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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14:08
8. How to Plan a Read Aloud Lesson | Interactive Read Aloud Series
Have you ever gotten to the end of a read aloud and realized you completely forgot to teach anything? Or maybe you've found yourself scrambling to come up with questions while trying to hold the book, manage your class, AND remember what you wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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12:52
7. Five Read Aloud Mistakes I Made in My Classroom (and how to fix them!)
Ever find yourself frantically searching for the perfect book minutes before your students arrive? We've all been there! I remember grabbing "You Matter" by Christian Robinson for a story elements lesson, only to realize halfway through there w...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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12:17
