In my classroom, I love using read-alouds to help teach behavior expectations. Almost all students enjoy listening to stories, so it’s a fun way to introduce or reinforce behaviors for school. Also, read-alouds often provide a way for kids to see examples of the desired behaviors, which helps them better remember the expectations. And, I don’t know about you, but calling out seems to be an issue for at least some of my students each year. So, I have put together a list of great read-alouds for calling out! For each book on the list, I give a description of the book, a link to a youtube video of the book being read (since I know it is sometimes hard to find a copy without paying for it yourself), and some activities to go with the read-aloud. Here are the best read-alouds for calling out:
Best Read-Alouds for Calling Out
1. My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook
This book is my absolute FAVORITE read-aloud to use when teaching my students not to call out during lessons. It’s a story about a boy named Louis who always interrupts people. Others are always getting angry with him for interrupting them. So, his mom teaches him a strategy to keep his words from “erupting” when others are speaking, which makes him and the people around him much happier. (Just like not calling out in the classroom makes everyone happier!)
When using this book in the classroom, I like to begin by discussing what happens when a volcano erupts. We talk about how its sudden, hard to control, and destructive. Then, I read the book to the class and have students complete one of these activities. Afterwards, we make a class list of ways to stop yourself from erupting, which I put on the wall as a reminder for the rest of the year.
Click here for a video read aloud of My Mouth is a Volcano or click here
2. Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones
This book is a great read-aloud for encouraging students to be better listeners. It is about a girl named Lacey Walker who LOVES to talk. But one day she loses her voice! At first she is very upset, but as she goes through her day, she begins to notice new things. At the end, Lacey still loves to talk, but she realizes that listening is great, too.
When I read this book, I start by discussing what would make someone a “nonstop talker”. I ask them, “If someone is a nonstop talker, do you think they listen very much? What might happen if someone never listens?” Then, I read the book to my students and we discuss what happened to Lacey. After reading, I have my students complete one of these activities. Then, we get together and make an anchor chart of how to be a good listener, which I hang up in the room as a reminder for my students.
Click here for a video read aloud of Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker or click here
3. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
This book is a great choice to teach kids not to interrupt. This book tells the story of a little chicken getting ready for bed. His dad is trying to read him bedtime stories, but he keeps interrupting and telling his own version of the ending, so they can’t finish any of the stories! Finally, his dad tells the little chicken to read HIM a bedtime story. As the little chicken is reading a story he wrote, the dad interrupts with his snores. The chicken learns that its not good to interrupt a story.
When I read this book to my students, we start by having a discussion about interrupting (what it means, how it feels when it happens, etc.). Then, I read the book to my students and we talk about what happened. What did the chicken keep doing? How did his dad feel? How did the chicken feel at the end? How did YOU feel when we didn’t get to hear the end of each story? Finally, I have my students complete one of these activities, and afterwards, we make a big poster of why we shouldn’t interrupt during class. I put that poster on the wall to remind my kids to LISTEN instead of interrupting.
Click here for a video read aloud of Interrupting Chicken or click here
Do you have any great read-alouds for calling out that you use in your classroom? If so, leave a comment below or send me an email!
Looking for other read alouds to use in your classroom? Check out these Read-Alouds to Teach Kindness in the Classroom or these 28 Fabulous Chapter Books to Read Aloud!
