I ((Puffy Heart)) LOVE Junie B. Jones

If you've followed my blog for any length of time, or even know me personally, you will know that I am obsessed with Junie B. Jones.  It all started 14 years ago when I was student teaching.  My cooperating teacher {who was awesome, BTW} read it religiously to her class every day...1 chapter each day immediately following recess.  When I graduated, she gave me a few of my first JBJ books. I knew I had to build up my collection, but as a first year teacher, I was BROKE!  I would find the books at the library and make sure I always had a back up on hand when it was time for us to start a new book.

As the years progressed, I bought all of my own JBJ books.  I would find them at garage sales, secondhand book stores, and on Scholastic Book's website.  I found that I had lots of multiple copies {more on that later} but I didn't really care.  I figured some would wear out and I'd have to replace them eventually.  Can we say Hoarders: Junie B. Jones Edition??!!

I carried on the tradition of reading JBJ each day after recess.  No questions asked.  That is one time of day that I NEVER skip.  It's a joyful time, when my students and I can come together and ENJOY A BOOK JUST BECAUSE.  No thinking required.  Just my kids, me, and a lot of laughs!  This is also one time of day when the kids are SILENT.  No one wants to miss a funny part!  This picture below is me during my first year of teaching first grade!  Circa 2004!

Over the years, I noticed that kids would start getting their own JBJ books at their libraries or bookstores and bring them in to "follow along" {I use that term very loosely for obvious reasons!}. The main part they are obsessed with is showing the pictures, just like their teacher does.  It always warms my heart to see my kids develop such a love of reading through this quirky character known as Junie B. Jones!

Remember that I mentioned above that I have *many* multiple copies of each JBJ book?  Well that has come in handy!  I draw name sticks and give out the extra copies of the book we are currently reading for kids to "follow along" with.  They LOVE this!  In addition, during quiet reading time, the kids who are reading above grade level are allowed to choose one JBJ book for their book baggie for the week.  This is also very exciting!

For Christmas or End of Year {or both} gifts, I always gift my students with the love of JBJ!  Last year, I even found Valentine cards!  The kids flipped when they got them on Friday!

This year, I even had my kids start their very own "First Grade Journals," just like Junie B.!  *Idea inspired by Ashley Reed.  I had these composition journals in my cabinet for years and never knew what to do with them.  Let's just say you could hear a pin  drop in the classroom during journal time, which is every day, immediately following JBJ read-aloud.  The kids have 12 minutes to free write. This is completely separate from our Writing Workshop time.  Their entries are so adorable!  Here are some of them so far:

If you haven't checked out Junie B. Jones, I highly recommend it!  The books keep fun in the classroom and really help students develop a love of reading!  You can visit the Random House website to sign up for the JBJ newsletter and get the free checklist, bookmarks, and lots of other gems!  To win a starter set of JBJ books for you classroom, just enter the Rafflecopter below!

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