8 Interactive Lesson Plans to Launch Back to School with JOY
Can you believe the 2025–2026 school year has already begun for some and is just around the corner for others? Store aisles are lined with shiny new supplies, and even if you’re not quite ready, there’s something joyful about picking up a few fresh items for your classroom. It’s the little things, right? A brand-new pen can warm a teacher’s heart more than we’d probably like to admit. Whether it’s your very first year in the classroom or your 30th, summer always seems to fly by—and before we know it, it’s back-to-school time again!
As you head into the year, we hope your classroom is filled with curious word growers. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 8 of our favorite interactive read-alouds— each with a FREE, ready-to-use lesson plan— to launch your school year with ease.
by Alexi Lubomirski
“From Caldecott Honoree Cindy Derby comes an uproarious tale about an etiquette coach and the sentient paint blob that just might teach her proper manners.”
by Margo Sorenson
“Calvin is determined to find the perfect word to attach to his annoying older brother… Readers will enjoy celebrating the triumphant discovery of Calvin's perfect word along with his dictionary.”
Ruby's Tools for Making Friends
by Apryl Stott
“It’s Ruby the fox’s first day at a new school. She’s a little nervous, but luckily, she has her tools to help: a tape measure to count her breaths if she feels overwhelmed, pliers to remind her to be flexible, and safety goggles to see things in a new way.”
A Little Scribble Spot: A Story About Colorful Emotions
by Diane Alber
“The A Little SPOT series of books was developed to help children learn about the various feelings and emotions we all encounter every day. Once children can identify their emotions, they can learn how to manage them in a healthy way.”
by David LaRochelle
“Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you’re sorry.”
by Ashlee Latimer
“A beautiful picture book about self-acceptance and finding joy in a world that doesn’t always make that easy for kids who are different.”
Chasing Dreams: How to Add More Daring to Your Doing
by Kobi Yamada
“Dreams have a magical way of creating opportunities, stretching horizons, and giving us a glimpse into our vast potential. The words in this adorable all-ages picture book are here to awaken the dreamer in you."
Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us
by Kobi Yamada
“his is a story for everything you will do and everything you can be. It’s a story about all the possibilities ahead of you. It’s for who you are right now and it’s for all the magical, unbounded potential you hold inside.”
We hope you and your students love these books as much as we do!
