As educators, we know how important life skills are to student achievement.
But how do you actually teach them — especially when you have so many other academic priorities?
One of my favorite low-effort, high-impact ways to teach life skills is to integrate them into your read-aloud.
By selecting the right books, you can spark meaningful discussions about how characters and people use life skills to improve their lives and achieve their goals.
To celebrate the release of the new Byron V. Garret Life and Literacy Skills Library, I wanted to share seven of my favorite books about life skills.
You can find all these empowering titles in my new life and literacy skills collections or separately on The Teacher Store.
Rita & Ralph are best friends. But when their friendship is tested, they'll need to learn how to say sorry and resolve conflicts in the name of friendship. (Grades K–3).
2. Danbi Leads the School Parade
Danbi recently immigrated to America and she's nervous about her first day of school. In this inclusive titles students will learn how celebrating differences can bring everyone together! (PreK–1)
3. Jabari Tries
Jabari is determined to build a flying machine. When his idea doesn't work right away, he learns the value of persistence and collaboration by working with his sister to try again. (Grades K–2)
4. Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos
This inspiring biography recounts the story of Frida Kahlo, her relationships with her little animals, and how she used determination to succeed despite setbacks. (Grades 2–3)
One day, Jack tells his teacher about the school he would build if given the chance. This whimsical story is all about making decisions for the benefit of the group. (Grades 1–3)
Born a free man when many African Americans were enslaved, Benjamin Banneker used his problem-solving skills, ingenuity, and perseverance to build his own striking lock. (Grades 1–3)
Since she was six years old, Ashima Shirashi loved to climb mountains. In this first-person narrative, Ashima describes the immense effort, imagination, and mental discipline she must apply to each climb. (Grades 1–4)
I hope these seven selections inspire you to weave life skills into your next read-aloud. Books like these not only entertain but empower learners to tackle real-world challenges and read with greatness and success in mind.
Whether you use the Byron V. Garrett Life and Literacy Skills Library or not, I hope you'll join me in building the skills students need to achieve academically, succeed personally, and navigate the world confidently.