While representation is necessary and so powerful all year long, in February we celebrate the many successes of a history that deserves a spotlight. So, besides National Days in February we will also focus on Black History Month in my classroom.  Here are a few of my favorites that I highly encourage you to check out:

1. Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito
This inspiring story highlights Georgia Gilmore, a woman who used her cooking skills to support the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Through her secret “Club from Nowhere,” she raised money to fund the movement, proving that small acts of courage can make a big impact.

2. How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison
In this moving story, readers meet MacNolia Cox, the first Black finalist in the National Spelling Bee. Despite facing discrimination, MacNolia’s brilliance and determination shine, reminding us of the importance of perseverance and equality.

3. Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham
This charming tale follows young Frank as he fights to help Miss Fancy, an elephant at the Birmingham Zoo, find freedom and friendship. Rooted in a historical setting, the story explores themes of segregation, community, and compassion.

4. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
This captivating true story celebrates the brilliance of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden, whose contributions to NASA helped launch astronauts into space. It’s a powerful testament to breaking barriers and chasing dreams.

Using picture books to celebrate Black History Month allows students to connect with inspiring stories of courage, resilience, and determination. These books help children see themselves and others in a positive light, fostering a classroom environment where every student feels valued and empowered. By sharing these stories, teachers can honor the past while inspiring a brighter, more inclusive future.

Don’t forget to stop by Ramona Recommends IG page as I will be sharing more through the month of February. Just in case this will help you, here are two resource ideas to use during the month of February. 

During reading rotations, I use these reading comprehension passages and during our writing rotations I am using this!

In case you missed it, here is a list of my other fav NATIONAL DAYS for February! 

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

The post Read Alouds for an Inspiring Black History Month appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Wait for it…..

USE PICTURE BOOKS.

If you take anything from me, please take this. Using picture books in the classroom will be one of the best instructional practices you can do this year. I have been teaching for 15 years and I have had multiple students- all upper grade kids- tell me how much they loved our picture book time. I use picture books for fun and for content. 

I love using picture books to teach real life. I will be honest with you. When teaching about the election, I stick to the process. I recently found the book Leo’s First Vote. I love this story for multiple reasons. Reason number one: It shows the importance of getting your voice heard and how we can all work together. Reason number two: It shows real life: someone becoming a US citizen and how proud they are to vote for the first time. Reason number three: the back matter. I believe it is my job as an educator to teach the process and importance of voting. I never share with my students who I vote for, but I will share that I vote. Below is list of my favorite government picture books. Click on the picture to get the list.

On Election Day, we will be reading Leo’s First Vote. Leo’s father becomes a US Citizen and Leo learns about the democratic process of voting. This book is very well done and is a tool to help teachers navigate this year’s election. 

Before reading Leo’s First Vote, I will walk my students through tier 3 words to help them navigate learning about the voting process. I selected words that will help them understand the story better and understand words that are specific to the voting process. 

Since we will be doing this activity during reading, I created a notes page for my students to fill out after reading and practice sharing with their classmates their findings. I love doing this because it helps my students process their thinking and work on their social skills. 

In Room 35, I will host a mock election to facilitate the difference between the popular vote and the electoral vote. If you would like to do this in your classroom, click on the picture above. Inside the resource, I have shared how I run my mock election. It is simple and to the point- my favorite lesson.

Want to teach about the election in your classroom? Here is the resource just for YOU! Click on the picture below. Let me know if you have any questions.

Need to come back to this later, pin the resource and come back soon!

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