The beginning of the year is one of the most amazing times in a classroom. There is such excitement and wonderment experienced by teachers, students, and parents. Building a classroom environment that is full of comfort, trust, and respect is top priority. I love to use the joy of books to build strong bonds throughout the classroom and truly get to know each individual student. In order for learning to take place, we must first truly know our students, and create a community where learners are willing to take risks and expand their knowledge. We all would agree that reading, writing, listening, and speaking are the foundational skills needed for our young learners. When we create learning opportunities that encompass all of these aspects, true magic happens! This booklet includes narrative, informative/explanatory, and opinion writing opportunities for young learners that are directly connected to many favorite children’s books that are perfect for the beginning of the year. It also includes Interactive Reading Questions for each book! 70 pages. PDF