Starting a Classroom: Book Recommendations

Soon enough, I will have a classroom of my own.  I only have a month left of student teaching, and will hopefully have a job secured soon after that.  Looking ahead to my own classroom and teaching career, there is a lot to do to prepare.

This week, I began a “book recommendation binder,” in which each student will write me a review of one of their favorite books.  44 fifth graders can read infinitely more books than I can on my own, so why not take advantage of that?!  These kids are avid readers (s/o to UT Elementary for breeding an enthusiasm for literature!), and not only do I want to read what they’re reading, but I want my future students to have a place to start when they’re looking to pick out a book.  Here’s a a few that I made on my own:

These will provide a great tool for my future classroom and students, which I will continue to have my students add to each year.  But it is not just a valuable tool for me or for future students, but current students are practicing so many skills!  Summarizing, critical thinking, evaluating- it’s all there!  Woohoo for making my students do work that is beneficial for everyone!  And, what better way to communicate to students that their thoughts and opinions are valued?  I will end up with a sweet binder full of book recommendations, and they feel loved and practice valuable skills in return.  (How’s that a symbiotic relationship for ya!?)  Here’s the template students will be using to write their own:

You can find a bundle of these book recommendations, template, and binder cover here, on my TPT account.