Volunteers needed in May!   Click here to sign up.
 Site Areas: 
  HOME  
  ABOUT US  
  FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS  
  HOW TO HELP  
  NEWS  
  READING CLUBS  
Printer-friendly version   

This School Year Will be the Best



Last updated Thursday, September 1, 2022

Author: Kay Winters
Illustrator: Renee Andriani
Date of Publication: 2010
ISBN: 0525422757
Grade Level: 2nd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Sep. 2022

Synopsis: On the first day of school, new classmates are asked to share what they would most like to happen in the upcoming year. Some kids' hopes are familiar while others are off-the-wall. Whether it's looking good on picture day or skateboarding at school, everyone's wishes are shown in humorously exaggerated illustrations. As the first day draws to a close, there can be no doubt - this school year will definitely be the best!

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  How is your school year so far?
•  What do you like best about the past few weeks?
•  What did you do to get ready for 2nd grade

Vocabulary:

•  Goal: is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offense has been committed by the team scoring the goal.
•  Festival: an often periodic celebration or program of events or entertainment having a specified focus a daffodil festival a Greek festival.
•  Science: knowledge about the natural world that is based on facts learned through experiments and observation
•  Perfect: having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be
•  Fountain: an ornamental structure in a pool or lake from which one or more jets of water are pumped into the air.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Have you been on a bus? What do you think is the best seat on the bus?
•  Do you like picture day? Do you get dressed up, get a new haircut or practice smiling for picture day?
•  What do you plan to bring to your show and tell day?
•  What would be your favorite place to go on a field trip?

Craft ideas:
•  Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 11th. Make a greeting card. (Note: Grandparents Days was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to acknowledge the special relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren)
•  Have the students cut out a star shape and put their name on it. Have each student write down one wish they have for the new school year on it. The students can take their star home and place it on their binder or notebook as a reminder. Or they keep it in their room as a reminder as well. Materials needed: Construction paper, slim markers and scissors.
•  Have the students write down one sentence that would make their second grade school year the very best on construction paper. The student can draw a picture or make a collage on the paper as well. At the end of the project collect each student artwork and make a book for teacher. The booklet can left on the teachers' desk .

Check our craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/september-2022-back-to-school-fun/

Special activities:
•  Have the students sit in a circle and when called upon have the kids act out what they did to get ready for school year: comb their hair, braid their hair , brush their teeth, exercise etc (thinking , creativity and active)

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!