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
126 episodes
59. New Picture Books That Make Perfect Gifts
Looking for the perfect picture book gifts this season? Whether you're shopping for your students, building your classroom library, or picking out books for your own kids, I've got you covered! In this episode, I'm sharing 9 brand new picture b...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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13:37
58. The 2025 Read Aloud Guide is almost here!
I've been working on something since January that I can't WAIT to share with you! If you love discovering brand new picture books (and I know you do - those are always my most popular episodes), then you're going to be so excited about the 2025...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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15:38
57. Celebrate KNOW-vember with Nonfiction Picture Books
Looking for an easy way to add some reading magic to November while building your students' knowledge across subjects? Welcome to KNOW-vember! This episode is all about celebrating nonfiction picture books – those powerful tools that help stude...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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15:36
56. Turkey Picture Books for November
Need some giggles in your classroom this November? Turkey picture books are about to become your secret weapon for keeping students engaged while still teaching those important comprehension skills! From turkeys in disguise to clever birds outs...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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11:58
55. New Picture Books! November 2025
Tired of scrolling endlessly through book lists trying to find the perfect read alouds for your classroom? Let me do the heavy lifting for you! In this month's new picture book roundup, I'm sharing seven amazing releases that are going to make ...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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14:03
54. Celebrating Native American Authors Year-Round
Here's the truth: Indigenous voices deserve to be celebrated in our classrooms every single day, not just in November. With 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States, each with their own unique cultures and traditions...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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12:14
53. New Kindness Picture Books
Want to spark meaningful conversations about kindness without adding another thing to your already packed schedule? Picture books are your secret weapon! With World Kindness Day coming up on November 13th, this is the perfect time to explore st...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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13:41
52. Picture Books for Math??
What if I told you that your math lessons could become the highlight of your students' day—without adding a single extra minute to your already packed schedule?In this episode, we're diving into ten incredible picture books that t...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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9:43
51. New Halloween Picture Books
Picture this: Your students' eyes light up the moment they see you pull out a Halloween picture book, and suddenly even your most reluctant readers are leaning in with anticipation. There's something magical about spooky season that tran...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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11:46
50. MY Favorite Read Alouds!
We've reached episode 50 of The Read Aloud Classroom—and it's my birthday week! To celebrate both milestones, I'm sharing something deeply personal: my top 10 favorite read aloud picture books that have never failed to create magic in my classr...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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12:52
49. New Picture Books! October 2025
Picture this: you're scrolling through endless book lists online at 10 PM, coffee cup in hand, trying to find that perfect new picture book for next week's lesson—but everything starts to blur together. We've all been there! That's exactly why ...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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9:52
48. Mentor Texts for Teaching Character Traits
Teaching character traits to your K-3 students can feel like trying to explain the invisible—how do you help little ones move beyond just retelling what happens in a story to truly understanding who the characters are on the inside? If you've e...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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12:49
47. Fall Picture Books: 12 Cross-Curricular Read Alouds
Feeling like you're drowning in lesson plans, trying to squeeze reading, science, writing, and social studies into an already packed day? What if I told you that those beautiful fall picture books sitting on your shelf could be your secr...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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15:51
46. Read Alouds to Teach Classroom Rules & Expectations
Picture this: It's the third week of school and you're already feeling like a broken record, reminding students about the same expectations over and over again. What if I told you there's a way to teach classroom rules that actually sticks—and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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10:04
45. Mentor Texts for Story Elements
Ready to transform your story elements instruction without adding one more thing to your already packed teaching day? Imagine your students eagerly identifying characters, settings, and problems while you read aloud—no separa...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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16:47
44. New Picture Books! September 2025
September is here, which means you're probably knee-deep in classroom setup, getting to know your new students, and trying to figure out how to fit everything into your packed teaching schedule. But what if I told you that this month's new pict...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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15:04
43. Picture Books to Build Listening Skills
You know that feeling when you're trying to read aloud to your class and it feels like you're competing with twenty different side conversations? Or when you ask a question and three students blurt out answers before you've even finished speaki...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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13:35
42. Community Building Picture Books
Picture this: You're preparing for a new school year, dreaming of that magical classroom community where every student feels seen, valued, and connected. But between lesson planning, room setup, and all those back-to-school tasks, actually buil...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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17:23
41. New Picture Books! August 2025
Get ready to fall in love with reading all over again! This month's new releases are absolutely incredible, and I'm practically bursting with excitement to share them with you. From a grumpy ghost who learns about friendship to a blind astronom...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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12:14
40. Setting Up Your Year of Intentional Read Alouds
Picture this: It's the second week of school, and you're frantically grabbing random books off your shelf, hoping they'll somehow connect to what you're supposed to be teaching. Sound familiar? What if I told you that just a few hours of intent...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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9:57
39. Back-to-School Books: Part II
Tired of scrambling to find the perfect books for those crucial first weeks of school? We all know how overwhelming it can be to build classroom community, establish routines, and create that magical safe space where every student can th...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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19:03
38. Organize Your Read Alouds: A FREE Workshop
Ever found yourself scrambling to find the perfect book for your read aloud, only to realize halfway through that it doesn't teach what you intended? Or finished reading without asking a single meaningful question? In this episode, I dive into ...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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12:08
37. Back to School Read Alouds: Part I
Picture this: It's the first week of school, and you want to create that magical classroom community feeling, but you're drowning in lesson plans, bulletin boards, and endless to-do lists. What if I told you that the perfect picture books could...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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13:50
36. Transform Your Read Alouds in the First Month of School
Picture this: it's October, and your read alouds feel more like classroom management battles than magical learning moments. Students are wiggling, interrupting, and completely checked out during what should be the most engaging part of your day...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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11:36
35. Picture Books to Help Students Who are Feeling Worried
As we inch closer to back-to-school season, you know what's coming—those first-week jitters, the worried faces in your morning lineup, and yes, that familiar flutter in your own stomach too. What if I told you that ten carefully chosen picture ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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16:59
