Mystery Reader

[icedcoffee]

I’m going to be a mystery trader in my 1st graders class this week. Any recommendations for books? Or tips for engaging them? I have 20 minutes. Other people’s kids stress me out. LOL

[mccallister84]

The Book with No Pictures is always a huge hit.

But man 20 minutes?!?!? That’s a long time to fill.

[UMaineTeach]

20 minutes is forever in first grade read aloud. Are you able to have a related activity after?

I’d probably go to the public library and browse books until I found one or two my kid might like and then go on teachers pay teachers and see if anyone made a free activity that doesn’t require more than crayons or a pencil.

Practice reading the book aloud and if you are feeling adventurous, find 2 places in the book where you can say ‘I wonder what will happen?’ or ‘I noticed’ or ‘I’m thinking about’

[cricketwife]

This may give you some ideas

pandce.proboards.com/thread/624515/grade-read-aloud-book-suggestions

[statgirl]

Findus the cat books—pancakes (or birthday party—same book, different translations) was always a favorite.

[nicolewi]

I doubt most people actually read for 20 minutes?? Does that include questions or something?

“If you ever want to bring an alligator to school, don’t” is a fun one.

[grover]

I am going to be the mystery reader in my 1st graders classroom beginning of May.

My friend who's an elementary librarian recommended "The Itty Bitty Unicorn".

[joy]

Can you read two books?

I read to my daughter’s first grade class last year. The book that got tge most engagement was “I Want My Hat Back.” Lol. So many interjections and discussion about the rabbit!

I also found that asking them questions about the book while you read is fun. They want to talk!

[suzv]

My son’s first grade class has a mystery reader most Fridays. His teacher tells us to bring 3-4 books. We have about 20 minutes or so before they have to pack up. The time goes fast since the kids like to ask questions or share stories.

The day the crayons quit, Pete the cat, or something seasonal are what I tend to bring. I agree that The Book With No Pictures is always a hit.

[loira]

I have never heard the term "mystery reader" before. But I sympathise because other people's kids also stress me out. Although slightly less now that DD is 8.

[Patsy Baloney]

I read What Was I Scared Of? By Dr. Seuss when I was a mystery reader. It’s part of the Sneetches and Other Stories book. I told the kids how much I liked the book when I was little and how my mom read it the best, but I was going to try really hard to be as funny as she was.

And then I went into it.

“Oh save me from these pale green pants with nobody inside them!” yowled pathetically in front of elementary kids really got them rolling.

[hermione]

I’d do Pete the Cat and the Four Groovy Buttons and one (author is Otoshi). Both let the kids call a response.

[arehopsveggies]

Jan Thomas books are hilarious and surprisingly not many kids have already heard them! Rhyming dust Bunnies is my favorite. But my firsties have loved every single book from that author.

[CrazyLucky]

Interstellar Cinderella

[ellipses84]

Can you read more than 1 book? We have family reading 1x month in small groups and we can usually get through 3 books for that age group in that time. With a bigger group I think you could read 2 books.

Kyo Maclear is my favorite children’s author right now and good for that age group. Their books are poetic with great illustrations. I’d pair that with something funnier like Mo Willems. Some other similar silly ones we’ve read lately are Problem Solved, It’s a Sign or Woo Hoo You’re Doing Great.

Also I suggest practicing reading aloud while showing the pictures to a group. My mom teaches early childhood education college courses and this is a skill students have to learn.

[jinkies]

I read the Circus Ship twice as a mystery reader. it was a hit both times. It's nice because the animals "hide" on a few of the pages so that killed some time because I had the kids look for them. 

I also did the Day the Crayons Quit once, it was also well received. 

I think the first time I was a mystery reader, I was more nervous than I'd ever been in my life LOL. I just had no idea what to expect with other people's kids. 

[janegold]

I was reading with my first grader last night and made a mental note that Miss Nelson is Missing would be a fun book to read to his class. The Gruffalo is a fun read-aloud book too.

[lessel]

I did a K/1 mystery reader last month. I did The Princess and the Pony, This is Not My Hat, and The Story of Ferdinand. I brought some fruit snack things and there was chatter between about the books. Kids also just asked me random questions. Then one kid has to go potty, another kid needs a water refill. Those kinds of things broke it up too. I think it probably took 20 minutes all told. It was only 6 kids though, so less intimidating than a class of 20.

[Poppy]

I like the Power to Choose books because they're interactive and long-ish.

But whatever books you choose are fine. Some tricks I've picked up from subbing are:
1) Ask them to turn and tell their neighbor something (eg their favorite ice cream if reading Mo Willems Should I Share My Ice Cream?). This gives them all a chance to talk and you don't have to wait for some kid to try to remember what they wanted to say while the rest of the kids start squirming.
2) You can draw out the reading by moving the book around to show the pictures.
3) Simon Says or I Spy are good if you finish early and need to kill more time.

Kids that age tend to love read alouds though so hopefully it will be easy and fun for you.

[meanie]

Aww I miss those days! I used to bring 3 books to fill the time. Crash, Splash, Moo is my #1 recommendation, the kids think it is hilarious and they get to be a part of it and yell out stuff.

I usually did something funny/silly, something short, and something themed for whatever holiday or season was next

These are some other go-to's:

- Book With No Pictures

- Any of the Mo Willems books

- Creepy Pair of Underwear

- I'm Not Just a Scribble

- This Is Not My Hat

I also have brought Shel Silverstein books and read a bunch of poems

Your library will probably also have some oversized books that you can borrow too

[186momx]

My DD's gone back and read to her old 1st grade teacher's class a number of times. There is always a bit of time where they get to ask her 20 questions. She has read Ruby's Wish, The Day the Crayons Quit, The Cool Bean (or something from that series) and I can't remember what else.

[heygrey]

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers is pleasantly silly, and has a cliff hanger ending. If you want to do an activity just a blank sheet and have them draw what they think happens next.

[minzy]

Feb 26, 2024 11:14:11 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I read the Circus Ship twice as a mystery reader. it was a hit both times. It's nice because the animals "hide" on a few of the pages so that killed some time because I had the kids look for them.

I love that book! We somehow got a signed copy in a book exchange.

My answer to this question is always Ms. Rumphius. (As I see it was in the old thread. 😝)

[icedcoffee]

I did The Book with No Pictures and The Day the Crayons Quit. It was great and DS was surprised to see me! YAY--thanks all!

[shauni27]

Feb 29, 2024 14:03:38 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I did The Book with No Pictures and The Day the Crayons Quit. It was great and DS was surprised to see me! YAY--thanks all!

you inspired me; our reading week is next week and I am going to be a surprise mystery reader in S's class. I cannot wait to see how surprised he is!

[redheadbaker]

Feb 25, 2024 14:59:51 GMT -5 loira said:

I have never heard the term "mystery reader" before. But I sympathise because other people's kids also stress me out. Although slightly less now that DD is 8.

It's fun! Usually a parent, sometimes a grandparent, signs up to read to the class, but the kids don't know who's coming. 

[redheadbaker]

It's been a while (DS is in 6th now), but when I did the mystery reader, I think I read "Dragons Love Tacos," "We Don't Eat Our Classmates," and a Pete the Cat book.