The Read Aloud Classroom
Episodes
60. The 2025 Minimalist Read Aloud Guide
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of choosing from over 100 new picture books? I get it—sometimes having too many amazing options can make planning fe...
59. New Picture Books That Make Perfect Gifts
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for the perfect picture book gifts this season? Whether you're shopping for your students, building your classroom library, or picking ou...
58. The 2025 Read Aloud Guide is almost here!
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've been working on something since January that I can't WAIT to share with you! If you love discovering brand new picture books (and I kno...
57. Celebrate KNOW-vember with Nonfiction Picture Books
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for an easy way to add some reading magic to November while building your students' knowledge across subjects? Welcome to KNOW-vember! Th...
56. Turkey Picture Books for November
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Need some giggles in your classroom this November? Turkey picture books are about to become your secret weapon for keeping students engaged while stil...
55. New Picture Books! November 2025
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of scrolling endlessly through book lists trying to find the perfect read alouds for your classroom? Let me do the heavy lifting for you! In thi...
54. Celebrating Native American Authors Year-Round
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here's the truth: Indigenous voices deserve to be celebrated in our classrooms every single day, not just in November. With 574 federally recogni...
53. New Kindness Picture Books
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to spark meaningful conversations about kindness without adding another thing to your already packed schedule? Picture books are your secret weap...
52. Picture Books for Math??
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you that your math lessons could become the highlight of your students' day—without adding a single extra minute to your already...
51. New Halloween Picture Books
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: Your students' eyes light up the moment they see you pull out a Halloween picture book, and suddenly even your most reluctant reade...
50. MY Favorite Read Alouds!
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've reached episode 50 of The Read Aloud Classroom—and it's my birthday week! To celebrate both milestones, I'm sharing something d...
49. New Picture Books! October 2025
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: you're scrolling through endless book lists online at 10 PM, coffee cup in hand, trying to find that perfect new picture book for n...
48. Mentor Texts for Teaching Character Traits
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Teaching character traits to your K-3 students can feel like trying to explain the invisible—how do you help little ones move beyond just retelling ...
47. Fall Picture Books: 12 Cross-Curricular Read Alouds
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling like you're drowning in lesson plans, trying to squeeze reading, science, writing, and social studies into an already packed day? What if...
46. Read Alouds to Teach Classroom Rules & Expectations
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: It's the third week of school and you're already feeling like a broken record, reminding students about the same expectations ...
45. Mentor Texts for Story Elements
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to transform your story elements instruction without adding one more thing to your already packed teaching day? Imagine your students eagerly i...
44. New Picture Books! September 2025
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
September is here, which means you're probably knee-deep in classroom setup, getting to know your new students, and trying to figure out how to f...
43. Picture Books to Build Listening Skills
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that feeling when you're trying to read aloud to your class and it feels like you're competing with twenty different side conversat...
42. Community Building Picture Books
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: You're preparing for a new school year, dreaming of that magical classroom community where every student feels seen, valued, and co...
41. New Picture Books! August 2025
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to fall in love with reading all over again! This month's new releases are absolutely incredible, and I'm practically bursting wit...
40. Setting Up Your Year of Intentional Read Alouds
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: It's the second week of school, and you're frantically grabbing random books off your shelf, hoping they'll somehow conne...
39. Back-to-School Books: Part II
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of scrambling to find the perfect books for those crucial first weeks of school? We all know how overwhelming it can be to build classroom commu...
38. Organize Your Read Alouds: A FREE Workshop
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever found yourself scrambling to find the perfect book for your read aloud, only to realize halfway through that it doesn't teach what you inten...
37. Back to School Read Alouds: Part I
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: It's the first week of school, and you want to create that magical classroom community feeling, but you're drowning in lesson ...
36. Transform Your Read Alouds in the First Month of School
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: it's October, and your read alouds feel more like classroom management battles than magical learning moments. Students are wiggling...
35. Picture Books to Help Students Who are Feeling Worried
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we inch closer to back-to-school season, you know what's coming—those first-week jitters, the worried faces in your morning lineup, and yes,...
34. Maximize Your Read Aloud Selections: Make One Book Do the Work of Three
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like you're constantly hunting for new books to teach different subjects, even though your classroom library is already bursting at the...
33. New Picture Books! July 2025
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that feeling when you discover a picture book that's so perfect for your classroom that you can hardly contain your excitement? Well, ge...
32. How to Turn Any Picture Book into a Powerful Lesson in Under 10 Minutes
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever grabbed a picture book for a lesson only to realize halfway through that it wasn't going to work for what you planned to teach? (Been there!...
31. Picture Books to Teach Asking Questions
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that magical moment when a student asks a question that makes you think, "Yes! They're really thinking deeply about this story!&quo...
30. The Last-Minute Scramble: Why Teachers Find Themselves Unprepared for Read Alouds (And How to Stop)
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever found yourself frantically scanning your bookshelf minutes before a read aloud, grabbing any book you can find while hoping it somehow works for ...
29. Picture Books to Teach Problem & Solution
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: it's Sunday night, you're planning for the week ahead, and you need books that actually help your students understand problem ...
28. Building Your Read Aloud Confidence
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever find yourself reading a wonderful picture book to your class, only to realize you've forgotten to ask a single question? Or maybe you'r...
27. Picture Books to Teach Point of View
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that moment when you're trying to explain point of view to your students and they stare back at you like you're speaking another la...
26. Read Aloud Burnout: When Teachers Get Tired of the Same Books (And What to Do About It)
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you staring at your bookshelf, dreading the thought of reading "Chrysanthemum" for the hundredth time? That feeling of reluctance when s...
25. New Picture Books! June 2025
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: It's one of those days when your lesson needs the perfect book, but you have zero time to research new titles. That's exactly ...
24. Creating Home-School Reading Connections That Actually Work
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are your students leaving their reading skills at the classroom door? In this episode, I break down how to create home-school reading connections that...
23. Student Sharing Strategies for an Interactive Read Aloud
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever opened a picture book in your classroom only to have a student's enthusiastic but completely off-topic story derail your carefully planned l...
22. Turn & Talk Strategies for Interactive Read Alouds
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever asked your students to turn and talk during a read aloud only to watch your carefully planned lesson dissolve into chaos? You're no...
21. Reading Over the Summer?
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you worried about your students losing their reading momentum during those long summer months? In this episode, I'll show you how to transfor...
20. Read Alouds for the End of the Year
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you feeling the end-of-year crunch? With field days, awards ceremonies, and classroom cleanup dominating your schedule, it's easy to let read...
19. New Picture Books! May 2025
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Need a fresh infusion of picture books for your classroom? In this month's new releases roundup, I'm sharing 16 incredible picture books tha...
18. Managing Interruptions During a Read Aloud
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every teacher knows that feeling—you're in the middle of a captivating read aloud, your students are fully engaged in the story, and then it ha...
17. Keeping Wiggly Students Engaged During a Read Aloud
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there – you're in the middle of reading that perfect picture book, and suddenly you notice Jimmy rolling around, Sarah play...
16. Making Read Alouds Interactive (without losing control)
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are your read alouds feeling a bit... boring? Or maybe you've tried to make them more interactive only to end up with chaos and confusion? In thi...
15. Setting the Expectations for the Read Aloud
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever picked up a book for a quick read aloud only to spend more time managing interruptions than actually reading? You're not alone! In this epis...
14. New Picture Books! April 2025
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for fresh new stories to spark your students' imagination this spring? In this episode, I'm sharing twelve brand-new picture books h...
13. How to Extend Your Read Aloud Lesson | Interactive Read Aloud Series
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've mastered choosing the perfect book, planned an amazing lesson, and delivered an engaging read aloud... but now what? In this final episode...
12. How to Build Engagement During a Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: You're in the middle of what you thought would be an amazing read aloud, but half your class is sliding down to the floor, three st...
11. How to Deliver an Engaging Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like you're second-guessing yourself during read alouds? From managing interruptions to wondering if you're asking the righ...
10. How to Choose a Book for a Read Aloud | Interactive Read Aloud Series
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there - standing in front of our classroom library, staring at hundreds of books, wondering which one to choose for tomorrow'...
9. New Picture Books! March 2025 New Releases
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am so excited to bring back one of my favorite features - sharing brand new picture books that are coming soon to a classroom library near you! As a...
8. How to Plan a Read Aloud Lesson | Interactive Read Aloud Series
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever gotten to the end of a read aloud and realized you completely forgot to teach anything? Or maybe you've found yourself scrambling t...
7. Five Read Aloud Mistakes I Made in My Classroom (and how to fix them!)
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever find yourself frantically searching for the perfect book minutes before your students arrive? We've all been there! I remember grabbing &quo...
6. Reading Week Ideas for the Classroom
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As teachers, we dream of creating magical reading moments in our classrooms, but let's be honest - finding time for "one more thing" ca...
5. Using Read Alouds in those Small Moments of Time
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like there just isn't enough time in the day for read alouds? You're juggling a packed schedule, trying to fit in all your ...
4. New Picture Books! February 2025 New Releases
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I'm sharing my curated list of brand new picture books being released in February 2025. I know how hard it can be to stay on top...
3. How to Make Read Alouds a Non-Negotiable in the Classroom
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's late afternoon, and that familiar wave of guilt washes over you as you realize - you haven't done your read aloud today. Again. Between...
2. Where Do I Find the Books?
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this - you're walking through Barnes & Noble, dreaming of building your classroom library, when those price tags stop you in your tra...
1. Read Alouds Matter More than Ever
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a teacher, you know the power of a great read aloud, but like so many others, you might be struggling with finding time, knowing which questions to...
0. Welcome to the New Podcast!
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture books are magical, but let's be honest - sometimes getting through a read aloud feels more chaotic than magical, doesn't it? Between...
64. Football Picture Books
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get your students pumped for the Super Bowl with these engaging football picture books! This video features a collection of fun and informative reads ...
63. Read Aloud Toolkit for Elementary School Teachers
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to plan your interactive read alouds? The Read Aloud Toolkit is just what you need! Grab these organized binders to help you plan any rea...
62. Caldecott Predictions 2025
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time again - the Children's Book Awards for 2025! I'm sharing my predictions for which books might win the Caldecott award ...
61. New Picture Books January 2025
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in January 2025! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choos...
60. Best Read Aloud Books 2024!
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What were the best read aloud books of 2024? Check out all these picture books that were released this year! I'm sharing my favorite read alo...
59. Picture Books for National Cookie Day
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to crumble with delight! This video features a collection of scrumptious picture books perfect for celebrating National Cookie Day. These sw...
58. New Picture Books December 2024
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in December 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choo...
57. NEW to the Book Club! | December 2024
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are adding some awesome books to the Colorful Apple Book Club this month! Check out these brand new lessons for reading, writing, science, social...
56. How-To Picture Books for Kids
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fun and silly picture books teaching students how to do something! These make great mentor texts for writing workshop when kids are working on how-t...
55. Veterans Day Books for Kids
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for engaging and meaningful books to share with your students on Veterans Day? This video features a collection of powerful picture books that...
54. New Picture Books November 2024
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in November 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choo...
53. NEW to the Book Club! | November 2024
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are adding some awesome books to the Colorful Apple Book Club this month! Check out these brand new lessons for reading, writing, science, social...
52. Picture Books for a Positive Attitude
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for inspiring and uplifting books to share with your elementary students? This video features a collection of picture books that promote a pos...
51. Stand Up to Bullies Picture Books
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for engaging and educational resources to teach your students about bullying prevention? Check out this collection of powerful picture books t...
50. New Picture Books October 2024
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in October 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choos...
49. NEW to the Book Club! | October 2024
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are adding some awesome books to the Colorful Apple Book Club this month! Check out these brand new lessons for reading, writing, science, social...
48. New Picture Books September 2024
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in September 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to cho...
47. Read Aloud Book Mail! Summer 2024
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I got some books in the mail to share with you! Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for sharing these with me. Which one of these books are you going...
46. New Picture Books: Summer 2024
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in Summer 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choose...
45. Reading Aloud Across the Curriculum
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reading across the curriculum is so beneficial for students! Using picture books in math, science and social studies not only helps students with th...
44. Classroom Management During a Read Aloud
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are going to talk about classroom management during a read aloud. This is the last video in our series on interactive read alouds and you m...
43. Questions to Ask During an Interactive Read Aloud
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What questions should you ask during a read aloud? In this video, we are going to chat about how to ask questions during an interactive read aloud l...
42. How to Choose a Book for an Interactive Read Aloud
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you choose a book for an interactive read aloud? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to pick a read aloud book for your classroom. I’...
41. Why Read Aloud? Benefits of Using Read Alouds in the Classroom
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why read aloud? Reading aloud to kids has so many benefits! I'm sharing my top 10 reasons for reading aloud to children in the classroom.FREE...
40. Read Aloud Books about Maps
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Calling all explorers! Take your students on a captivating journey around the world with the magic of map books! ️This video showcases a treasure tr...
39. New Picture Books May 2024
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in May 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choose wh...
38. Perseverance Books for Kids
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Looking to empower your students with the power of "never give up"? We're diving into inspiring children's books that teach cruci...
37. New Picture Books April 2024
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in April 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choose ...
36. Interactive Read Aloud vs. Read Aloud - What is the Difference?
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the difference between an interactive read aloud and just a regular read aloud? I’m going to break down the differences between the two an...
35. Books about Careers for Kids
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wondering how to spark your students' curiosity about the exciting world of careers? Let's dive into fantastic children's books that ma...
34. Poetry Books for Kids
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's National Poetry Month, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing incredible poems into your classroom? In this video, we're s...
33. Earth Day Picture Books
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrate Earth Day with these fun read alouds! Each book is perfect for teaching students how to take care of the Earth and why it is so important....
32. Solar Eclipse Books
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready for the solar eclipse with these children's books! I've got some amazing picture books that will spark your students' curio...
31. New Picture Books March 2024
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in March 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choose ...
30. Books about Recycling for Kids
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is full of engaging picture books that will help your students understand the importance of recycling in your elementary classroom. ♻️...
29. Teaching Setting Picture Books
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Picture books are a great tool to teach writing concepts. 📝 Today we are going to be chatting about teaching setting with picture books.Unleash t...
28. Healthy Habits Books for Kids
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Calling all germ-busting educators! This video is your one-stop shop for engaging picture books that teach kids about healthy habits, specifically t...
27. New Picture Books February 2024
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Check out these new picture books released in February 2024! Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom. It's hard to choo...
26. Basketball Books for Kids
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
March Madness is heating up, and what better way to celebrate the excitement than by bringing the energy of the court into your classroom? Today, we...