Beneficial Books for your Future Classroom!

During my years of experience within education and working with elementary grade students, I have put together a growing list of beneficial books that teachers can have in their future classroom. All of these books serve a purpose in terms of meaning and topic, with intent to help students understand certain concepts in life. I am aware that technology plays a very big part within the classroom in today's generation, but traditional reading can be very beneficial towards students' literacy and communications skills nonetheless, and it should therefore not be neglected. If technology is a big part of your teaching style and classroom dynamic, all of these books have read aloud videos online that can be accessed and played digitally for your students. 

The books listed below incorporate topics such as body image, different family dynamics, Indigenous history, skin colour inclusivity, students with disabilities/exceptionalities, the meaning of different emotions, immigration and newcomers etc. In such a diverse and complex world, it may become difficult to teach students about each and every aspect of what makes up one's life, but reading and/or assigning them to any of these books can open them up the difficult, yet needed conversations. To add, topics as such can actively promote understanding towards showing respect and including everyone in the classroom and in their future lives. I have listed the appropriate grade range for each book, but I do recommend each and every teacher considers getting these books for their elementary grade students:

• "Dreamers" by Yugi Morales (This book talks about a mother and daughter's journey through immigration and becoming a newcomer to a different country)- Grades 1-3 

• "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein (This book incorporates topics around growing up, love, relationships, etc)- Grades 1-4

• "My Mom is Awesome"- Romanian/English Edition By Shelley Admont (This book is a dual language book that is available in many different languages, topics consist of motherhood and nurturing emotions) - Grades 1-4

• "I am not a number" By: Jenny Kay Dupuis, and Kathy Kacer (This is a book incorporates Indigenous history and topics about residential schooling) - Grades 4-8

• "The Family Book" By Todd Parr (This book talks about the many different family dynamics that one may have)- Kindergarten 

• "I Love My Hair!" By Natasha Tarpley (This book incorporates skin colour inclusivity and talks about different types of hair, history etc)- Grades 2-6

• "What I like about me" By Allia Zobel Nolan, Miki Sakamoto (This book incorporates topics around self confidence and self love)- JK- Grade 3

• "Benny Doesn't like to be Hugged" By Zetta Elliot (This book talks about how to support others who have disabilities/exceptionalities, inclusivity etc.)- JK-Grade 3

• "Danbi" By Anna Kim (This book incorporates a new, struggling, shy student that has trouble fitting in, friendships etc)

• "The Perfect Project" By: Tracy Packiam Alloway (This is a book that talks about autism and how to include students with disabilities/exceptionalities, respect etc)- Grades 1-3

• "Bodies are Cool" By: Tyler Feder (This is a book that talks about body image and different body types)- Grades 3-6

Courtesy of Roma@NU