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
87 episodes
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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11:50
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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13:23
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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12:08
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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10:53
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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11:38
6. Reading Week Ideas for the Classroom
As teachers, we dream of creating magical reading moments in our classrooms, but let's be honest - finding time for "one more thing" can feel impossible! In this episode, I'm sharing 10 practical ways to celebrate Read Aloud Week that won't add...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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18:05
5. Using Read Alouds in those Small Moments of Time
Do you ever feel like there just isn't enough time in the day for read alouds? You're juggling a packed schedule, trying to fit in all your required curriculum, and those magical reading moments seem to slip away. I hear from teach...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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13:12
4. New Picture Books! February 2025 New Releases
In this episode, I'm sharing my curated list of brand new picture books being released in February 2025. I know how hard it can be to stay on top of new releases while juggling all your other teaching responsibilities, so I've done the research...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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22:05
3. How to Make Read Alouds a Non-Negotiable in the Classroom
It's late afternoon, and that familiar wave of guilt washes over you as you realize - you haven't done your read aloud today. Again. Between administrative demands, packed schedules, and constant interruptions, it feels impossible to protect th...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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11:44
2. Where Do I Find the Books?
Picture this - you're walking through Barnes & Noble, dreaming of building your classroom library, when those price tags stop you in your tracks. $18.99, $21.99, $24.99 per book! If you're like me, you quickly realize that creating that dre...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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16:50
1. Read Alouds Matter More than Ever
As a teacher, you know the power of a great read aloud, but like so many others, you might be struggling with finding time, knowing which questions to ask, or keeping your whole class engaged. After years of sharing book recommendations on YouT...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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11:23
0. Welcome to the New Podcast!
Picture books are magical, but let's be honest - sometimes getting through a read aloud feels more chaotic than magical, doesn't it? Between managing wiggly students, finding the perfect questions to ask, and trying to squeeze it all into your ...
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Season 1
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2:16
64. Football Picture Books
Get your students pumped for the Super Bowl with these engaging football picture books! This video features a collection of fun and informative reads perfect for sharing with your elementary students. Let's make learning about football exciting...
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Season 2
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Episode 64
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10:23
63. Read Aloud Toolkit for Elementary School Teachers
Struggling to plan your interactive read alouds? The Read Aloud Toolkit is just what you need! Grab these organized binders to help you plan any read aloud lesson in your classroom.📚 READ ...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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13:35