12 Must-Read Books to Build Classroom Community
Books to build classroom community to establish a solid foundation for students to build on throughout the school year. This must-have list of classroom community books is a game-changer and I have provided and EPIC list of books for classroom community.
The Benefit of Books to Build Classroom Community
For many teachers, it can be difficult to find time to carve out of an already very busy schedule. However, time spent building your classroom community isn’t time wasted. In fact, it is extremely important. Building classroom community is so important and time should be invested into it each school year.
This might sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Building classroom community doesn’t have to take a lot of time or involve detailed lesson plans. Teach students how to treat each other and just be good humans. The benefits are endless here! Books to build classroom community is a great option for every classroom.
Children of all ages love books! As an upper elementary teacher, I can tell you my students love it when I read to them or invite a guest to read. Invite a guest to read a classroom community book. Allow the class to vote on a book to build classroom community, or you can choose one that is needed for your class. If students are struggling with showing kindness or empathy, choose one tailored to that.
Books to build classroom community are fun and will help students learn life long skills. Take back your time when planning for activities to build classroom community and check out my top recommendations for books for building classroom community! Check your school library or local public library. If you are looking to add to or build your classroom library, these are my top recommendations for books to build classroom community.
To make finding books to build classroom community it easier for you, I have included links from Amazon (affiliate links) for each book to build classroom community. Also, I linked a video read aloud, if available, for you to use for convenience or for virtual teachers.
Books to Build Classroom Community
My Top Recommendations
We Will Rock Our Classmates
First on the list of books to build classroom community is We Will Rock Our Classmates. Invite Penelope, the coolest T. rex dinosaur, to rock out with your students and her guitar. The school talent show is quickly approaching. This at the top of my list for books to build classroom community and promote individuality within your classroom. Use this as an opportunity to get to know students and the talents they have. Also, don’t forget to share your talents with your sweet students! Teach students to build each other up and support each other.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
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Scribble Stones
Scribble Stones is a must-read classroom community books. The author wrote an amazing story and the illustrator created beautiful images students will appreciate. In the book, the little stone is eager for greatness in his life. A cool extension students can participate in after the read-aloud is to have them design their own rock. I have shopped for all the supplies you will need for this STEM activity. Check out the links below.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
Our Class is a Family
This book is a MUST and at the top of my list of books for building classroom community! Building classroom community within your classroom will help students feel loved and safe while they are at school. This book will help you build a family within your classroom with heartfelt messages to strengthen the community in your classroom. Our Class is a Family will help reinforce and teach kids that a classroom is a place where it’s okay to be yourself, make mistakes, and build relationships with others.
“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” -Unknown
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
All Are Welcomed
All Are Welcomed teaches kids to appreciate differences and people of all backgrounds and to learn and celebrate each other’s traditions. Many activities can be implemented after the read-aloud. Each student can share a family tradition with the class or invite a family member to share food or activities.
Another activity is to take Virtual Field Trips to different places to learn more about different cultures and countries. You can choose specific locations to fit the needs of your classroom.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
A Letter From Your Teacher
A Letter From Your Teacher is a heartwarming book is perfect for the beginning of school. Every school year teachers welcome a new group of students into their classroom. The author understands laying a solid foundation and the importance of building classroom community. This is an exceptional book for building classroom community.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
What If Everyone Did That?
What If Everyone Did That? definitely makes the list of great books to build classroom community. The author provides several teachable moments throughout the book. If everyone were to litter or if everyone broke the rules, what would our world be like? This is perfect to tie into classroom rules and procedures. If your school has already started, this is still a good choice to remind students why rules are important and must be followed.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
I Can Do Hard Things
I Can Do Hard Things is a great read-aloud. Positive, encouraging words of affirmation are so important for kids to hear. Kids also need to learn how to encourage each other. This read-aloud is a great teaching tool for these skills.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
Have You Filled A Bucket Today?
Teach students the importance of showing kindness and how to share and care for each other. Everyone carries an invisible bucket. Is your bucket full or empty? What about your friend’s bucket? This book teaches students the valuable lessons of giving, sharing, and caring. This great classroom community book will also promote positive behavior.
Bucket Fillers is committed to giving 50% of all proceeds to non-profits that serve children and families. For more information on bucket filling or free downloads and resources, please visit bucketfillers101.com.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
It's Okay To Be Different
You are different! You are different, and that’s okay. This great picture book theme addresses many important components of a strong classroom community including diversity, kindness, anti-bullying, racism, and special needs. A great activity you can incorporate here is helping students cope with their differences and really highlighting their individuality and celebrating it.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
We Don't Eat Our Classmates
This book is everything! Cute, funny, and includes some very important lessons. These lessons learned along with Penelope Rex include following the rules, showing empathy, and getting along with others. Penelope loves school and is so excited to meet her new classmates, but it’s hard to make friends when they are so delicious! Trust me, this classroom community book is a winner!
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
The Day You Begin
The Day You Begin is a New York Times Best Seller! Our classrooms are more diverse than ever. It’s important for teachers to acknowledge every student and make each feel loved, welcomed, and respected in our classroom. It doesn’t matter what makes you different from others, whether it’s your skin color, hair, background, etc. This book promotes stepping into who you are and thriving.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
Who You Were Made To Be
Who doesn’t love Joanna Gaines! I mean, really? Who You Were Made To Be is her new children’s book and it is a good one! Joanna focuses on celebrating each child’s individuality and celebrates that everyone is unique like a hot air balloon. A great activity you could incorporate would be to ask each student to color/design a hot air balloon that represents them and share it with the class. This activity would also help students get to know each other and hopefully find that they share similarities with each other.
Click here to access the Video Read-Aloud
As you can see, there are SO many excellent books for building classroom community. Start by incorporating a book during morning meeting time or when you feel the time is right. I highly recommend planning activities for each read-aloud.
Happy Reading!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
