First Day of School Teaching Treasure

I have been using the book Bono the Monkey at School for MANY years.  Children LOVE the story of a monkey who goes to school for the first time but does not know how to act.  As I was searching this morning, I found it in a PDF format on-line.  This is truly an amazing resource for teachers of young children who want to begin the school year helping children to identify what behavior is appropriate and not appropriate in the classroom.  Here is the link:  Bono the Monkey Goes To School!!!

After reading the book, I would have children help me fill in a T Chart with what Bono the Monkey does that is OK at school and what he does that is NOT OK.  Reading the book brings you to a natural discussion of classroom rules or expectations for behavior.

At Teachers Pay Teachers you can also find signs for classroom rules based on Bono the Monkey at School.  

There are many post reading or follow-up activities that can happen in a classroom on the first day or first week of school.  One of my favorites is letting students make Bono the Monkey and  student puppets out of popsicle sticks.  Students retell the story with you using their puppets.  They can then take the puppets home and tell their families the story.