The Reading and Writing Nook

Hands-On Reading & Writing Resources

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About Us

Welcome! I’m Sonam, a passionate middle grades educator who believes learning sticks best when students are up, moving, and engaged. Over the years, I’ve taught middle school English Language Arts in both the U.S. and abroad, primarily in independent schools, and I’ve seen firsthand how hands-on, movement-based instruction can transform a classroom.

As a former board member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), I’ve been fortunate to help shape the broader conversation around literacy education. With a B.S. in Education from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.Ed. from Johns Hopkins University, I now use my background and expertise to design creative, standards-aligned resources that bring energy, clarity, and joy into ELA classrooms everywhere.

FIVE Back to School Read Aloud Activities for Middle School

Here are five of my favorite read alouds and hands-on activities that get students thinking, writing, and connecting. You can grab all of these FREE with student instructions HERE.

1. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

This gentle story follows Brian, who feels invisible until a classmate helps him feel included. The illustrations cleverly show Brian in grayscale at first, gradually adding color as he feels seen.

Activity: Silhouette Self-Portrait

  1. Give students a silhouette of themselves.
  2. Inside the silhouette, have them write sentences about moments when they felt seen, heard, or valued.
  3. Example sentences:
    • “I felt seen when my teacher called my name.”
    • “I felt important when a friend listened to me.”
    • “I felt included when my team asked for my ideas.”
  4. Display the silhouettes as a conversation starter or quiet reminder that everyone matters.

2. Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

Ish encourages students to embrace effort over perfection. Instead of showcasing only “perfect” accomplishments, students celebrate their ongoing efforts.

Activity: Proud-ish Polaroids

  1. Have students draw something they’re working on, or something they’re proud of, even if it’s unfinished, inside a Polaroid frame.
  2. Next to the drawing, they write about why they’re proud. Encourage depth: it could be a personal growth moment, standing up in class, or trying something challenging.
  3. Display these on a “Proud-ish Progress” wall: a visual reminder that growth is messy, meaningful, and worth celebrating.

3. I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët

This wordless book sparks conversations about courage, bystanders, and doing the right thing.

Activity: Walk of Courage Footprint

  1. Students trace a shoe or footprint template (fun options like crocs or high heels are available).
  2. Inside, they write about a time they stood up for someone, or what they would do if they saw unfair treatment.
  3. Line the classroom walkway with these footprints so students literally walk through examples of courage every day.

4. School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

This story gives a hilarious perspective of a school building experiencing the first day of school.

Activity: Object Point-of-View Foldable

  1. Students pick a classroom object, like a desk, backpack, whiteboard, etc., and write from its perspective.
  2. Open a foldable speech bubble to reveal what the object saw, heard, and felt on the first day.
  3. Encourage humor and creativity while practicing point-of-view writing.

5. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

A powerful story about how small acts of kindness ripple outward.

Activity: Ripple Reflection

  1. Students write a small act of kindness inside a raindrop.
  2. On the ripples extending outward, they describe how that act could spread to others.
  3. This quiet reflection encourages empathy, community, and intentional action.

These read-alouds and writing activities are perfect for building community from Day One, encouraging reflection, and letting middle schoolers create. They’re all low-prep, print-and-go, and designed to inspire meaningful conversations.

You can grab the full set of printables and instructions HERE. If you try these in your classroom, let me know!

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