Shannon Olsen

From the author and illustrator of Our Class is a Family, this touching picture book expresses a teacher’s sentiments and well wishes on the last day of school. Serving as a follow up to the letter in A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School, it’s a read aloud for teachers to bid a special farewell to their students at the end of the school year.

Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, the class is invited to reflect back on memories made, connections formed, and challenges met. The letter expresses how proud their teacher is of them, and how much they will be missed. Students will also leave on that last day knowing that their teacher is cheering them on for all of the exciting things to come in the future.

There is a blank space on the last page for teachers to sign their own name, so that students know that the letter in the book is coming straight from them. With its sincere message and inclusive illustrations, A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School is a valuable addition to any elementary school teacher’s classroom library.

From the author and illustrator of Our Class is a Family, this touching picture book expresses a teacher’s sentiments and well wishes on the last day of school. Serving as a follow up to the letter in A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School, it’s a read aloud for teachers to bid a special farewell to their students at the end of the school year.

Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, the class is invited to reflect back on memories made, connections formed, and challenges met. The letter expresses how proud their teacher is of them, and how much they will be missed. Students will also leave on that last day knowing that their teacher is cheering them on for all of the exciting things to come in the future.

There is a blank space on the last page for teachers to sign their own name, so that students know that the letter in the book is coming straight from them. With its sincere message and inclusive illustrations, A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School is a valuable addition to any elementary school teacher’s classroom library.

From the author and illustrator of Our Class is a Family, this heartwarming picture book helps teachers in welcoming their new group of students on the first day of school. Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, students are given the message that their new teacher is someone they will get to form a special bond with. Their teacher is not only there to help them academically, but also to cheer them on, and to provide a caring, safe environment for them to learn and grow.

During back to school time, teachers are wanting to set the tone for the new year. In addition to establishing rules and procedures, they are ready to get to know their kids and start building positive relationships. This is a read aloud that helps with laying that foundation, and it serves as a great starting point for get-to-know-you activities and class community building.

There is a blank space on the last page for teachers to sign their own name, so that students know that the letter in the book is coming straight from them. With its sincere message and inclusive illustrations, A Letter From Your Teacher is a valuable addition to any elementary school teacher’s classroom library.

Los maestros hacen mucho más que simplemente enseñar el aspecto académico. Establecen un sentido de comunidad dentro de sus clases, creando así casi una segunda casa donde sus estudiantes pueden sentirse seguros, valorados, y queridos. Con un mensaje sincero e ilustraciones elegantes y coloridas, “Nuestra Clase es Una Familia” es un libro que ayudará a construir y fortalecer el sentido de comunidad. Los niños aprenderán que la clase es un lugar donde pueden sentirse seguros de ser ellos mismos, donde pueden cometer errores y donde es importante ser un buen amigo para los demás. Cuando se escuche este cuento leído en voz alta por el maestro o la maestra, los estudiantes, sin duda, se sentirán parte de una familia especial.

Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.

“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” -Unknown

Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.

“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” -Unknown

Throughout the pages of Our School is a Family, various members of their school community are represented. Here’s a little sneak peek of just a few of those important school staff members, illustrated by Sandie Sonke.

The book can be helpful in introducing the different roles of school staff. Especially to younger students, or students who may be new to the school.

And even for the students who are already familiar with certain staff members, it reinforces that secure feeling of having multiple grown-ups who are there to help and support them in various ways.

The book could even help lead to an increase in positive interactions between students and staff.

Upon reading the page above, students may feel more inspired to show extra appreciation for the helpers at their school. You could possibly re-visit some of the pages in the book during certain appreciate days during the school year. For example, during Librarian Appreciation Week, it’d be helpful to re-read the page about the school librarian. You might do this prior to having your class make thank-you cards for him/her.

And when seeing many of these same figures from the book at their own school in “real life,” students might go out of their way to say hello to someone they wouldn’t have otherwise. While that’s a seemingly small action, it’s those kinds of things that add up to a big “win” when it comes to school community-building.