I read spooky and silly and atmospheric stories to everyone in the building this week and last week. October is one of my favorite times for read alouds, and having fifth and sixth grade is extra fun because I can read a few extra creepy things to them.

In pre-k we read Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey (photo above © Scholastic), Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette, Where’s My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi, and Click, Clack, Boo by Doreen Cronin. Big hits.

Kindergarten read Hallo-Weiner and Boogie Knights by Lisa Wheeler (they had their big checkout ceremony last week, so we didn’t have as much time for books).

First grade read Nightsong by Ari Berk, Boogie Knights, Hallo-Weiner and Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. 

Second grade read Nightsong, Stellaluna by Jannell Canon, Creepy Carrots, Hallo-Weiner, and Boogie Knights. We compared and contrasted the two little bat books last week, then we read for fun this week.

Third and fourth grade read The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt (with Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations). Fourth grade also read Lemony Snicket’s The Dark.

Fifth and sixth grade did folktales, campfire ghost stories. I read from The Headless Horseman and Other Ghoulish Tales by Maggie Pearson and Alvin Schwartz’s classic More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Both grades loved these, then they checked out all the creepy folktales and campfire stories I could find for them.

It’s actually been a great couple of weeks for reading. I also finished weeding the nonfiction section today, which feels amazing. VHS tapes next, then fiction, then picture books. Next week I do pre-assessments for my SGOs and start some of my favorite lessons of the year: introducing our read-aloud chapter books in each class. I’m hitting a stride at work, for sure.