Fab First Chapters — TEACHER GOLZ

When I first rolled into the library gig, I really struggled with book talks. It sounds like it should come so naturally to a library lady - but I found it to be quite the opposite. As a slow reader, how could I possibly read middle grade books at a pace that matched the amount of titles I wanted to share with my students? It was quite discouraging and quite frankly made me feel extremely “less than,” when it came to encouraging literacy growth for my intermediate grades. I finally got to a spot where I was comfortable talking about my slow pace and trouble with comprehension (due to my ever-turning gears in the anxious brain) with my students. I believe very strongly in the fact that I should always have a book in my purse and hands for quick chapters no matter how long it may take me to finish. Once I got comfortable with the fact that I wasn’t going to finish one novel per week to share with my classes, I went back to the drawing board on how I would “book talk” in a way that worked best for me and my kids.

I remember seeing “First Chapter Friday” all over Instagram, where teachers would share the first chapter of a book with their students on Fridays. I was hooked. My main roadblock was the fact that I see my students on a fixed schedule once a week. For me it couldn’t just be Fridays that I shared first chapters. If we are adding to the list of roadblocks, let’s talk about the limited time I have with my students, the amount of content I need to fit in that short time, and the crazy transitions all day long that come with the territory of “Specials Teacher.”

I am the first person to gush on and on about innovation, creation, robots, and STEM, but y’all… the first ten minutes of my hour block with my students are by FAR my favorite.

Picture this: students enter your space, they have an agenda on the board, they have a task in front of them, and are sitting silently ready for you to read aloud. Sounds dreamy and way too much like a regular classroom than a library or Learning Commons right? Did I say dreamy?

When my students enter my space they find their seat and grab a Doodle Bookmark. I draw these and have blank copies for my students to color. They can choose to color one while I read, or sit quietly and listen. In order to save card stock I give them one bookmark a month. They are stored in clear sleeves in a binder at their particular table so they can continue to make progress on their coloring week after week.

While they color, I plop myself up on my back counter and read them the first chapter of a new book. I choose one book a week and read it to all my classes (3rd, 4th, 5th). Yes, they all want to check that book out and no I don’t have unlimited copies, however this is the perfect opportunity to talk about genre, call numbers, and how to reserve books through our library system. I also keep these books posted on my wall so students can refer back when they “have nothing to read.”

My library is loud. My library is hectic. There are robots flying everywhere, playdoh all over, failed 3D prints and LEGOS all over my counter most of the time. This first 10 or 15 minutes is our calm. I am sharing great literature, students get a chance to grab some zen while they just color and listen. We are all the happiest of campers.

Below you can find the last 30 titles I have shared with my students. There are so many amazing books out there, but only some have the right length of first chapter that will hook my readers from the get-go.

Click on the covers below to scroll through and check out my picks!