The Frazzled Teacher Recommends: Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Do you love books as much as I do? I definitely consider myself an avid reader! I am always on the lookout for new books while taking the time to reread my favorites. Join me each Thursday as I share a classroom treasure with you. Let me know what you think of the book and what book you would recommend! 

This week's Frazzled Teacher Book Recommendation is Sideways Stories from Wayside School!

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Since it is the end of the school year, I wanted to end with a chapter book for my students. I still have Read Aloud time daily with picture books. However, instead of reading from our readers, I end with this book because it's a fun one that always gets a laugh out of my students (and me)!

Quick Summary

Sideways Stories from Wayside School was supposed to be built one story tall with 30 classrooms. Instead, the builder accidentally built it 30 stories tall with one classroom per story. The builder did say he was sorry though!

This book filled with 30 short chapters (or I should say stories). Each chapter focuses on a different character, whether it be students or teachers. Most chapters are complete stories on their own. However, it's best to read the entire book as there is a story that weaves through it. 

Extension Activities

Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a perfect story to work on character - character development, character analysis, etc. Below are some examples of activities we complete in my classroom.

• Compare the two teachers in the story, Mrs. Gorf and Miss Jewels, with a Venn diagram. In order to do this, your students would have needed to read the first two chapters of the book.
• After reading Bebe's chapter, have students debate whether it is better to complete more simplistic pictures or create fewer pictures but with more details.
• Make predictions while reading Sammy's chapter. Each time a coat gets thrown out the window, predict what will happen next.

There is so much more that could be done with this book. Or...you can just enjoy reading a silly story with your students. 

For those interested, there is a television series that goes along with the book. The episodes are both similar and incredibly different from the book (maybe another Venn diagram is in the future!).

Other Book Recommendations:

             

There are five books total in this series. They do not need to be read in order. I have all of the books in my classroom library. I find that because a lot of the stories have double meanings, my students have a little difficulty reading them on their own after the second book, Wayside School is Falling Down. 

Looking for more recommendations? Check out some of these past blog posts for more.

   

      

What book do you recommend?