Featured August Teaching Resources
August Teaching Resources for Your Classroom
August is an exciting time for students, educators, and families. As classrooms reopen and routines begin again, it's the perfect opportunity to spark curiosity, build classroom community, and establish a lifelong love of reading.
RIF's August Monthly Teaching Resources brings together everything educators need in one place including free lesson plans, printable activities, book collections, classroom resources, read-aloud videos, Skybrary books, and professional learning opportunities. Whether you're preparing for the first day of school, helping children adjust to new routines, or encouraging exploration through literacy, this page makes planning easier.
Instead of searching across multiple websites, you'll find all of RIF's August literacy resources organized here so you can spend less time planning and more time inspiring young readers.
Why August Reading Matters
The transition back to school is one of the most important times of the year for developing positive reading habits. Students are adjusting to new teachers, classmates, and expectations while rebuilding academic routines after summer break.
Strong literacy experiences early in the school year help students build confidence, strengthen reading stamina, develop classroom routines, improve comprehension, foster curiosity, and build relationships through shared reading.
August Teaching Resources and Themes
This month's theme is Exploration.
Exploration encourages children to investigate new ideas, meet different characters, solve problems, and develop curiosity about the world around them. Students can explore new friendships, science discoveries, different communities, emotional growth, and imagination through reading.
Back-to-School Reading Supply List & Literacy Resources
Kick off the school year with RIF’s free 2026-2027 Reading School Supply List. Discover recommended reading essentials plus Literacy Central book collections, classroom activities, family resources, and reading tools to support literacy success all year long.
August Book Collections
Well-Being Collection
Check out RIF's Well-Being collection with titles that share stories and lessons as children understand and manage emotions, feel and show empathy, and explore relationships and decision-making.
Back-to-School Collection
Heading back to school is an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking experience. Here are some of our favorite books with activities and resources to help kids get right back into the swing of things and head back to school with confidence!
Sense of Belonging Collection
The world is a rich place and it’s so important for children to read books that reflect their lives, families, communities, and cultures. This collection celebrates our differences and individuality and helps teach children how to embrace and accept what makes us different.
Exploration Collection
Childhood is a time for exploration, and the possibilities are endless. Exploration is fundamental for learning about the world and oneself. Use this collection to help your children continue their discovery about this topic in school and at home.
Curriculum & Standards Alignment
August's teaching resources integrate literacy instruction with social-emotional learning, science, and inquiry-based learning while supporting Common Core and state literacy standards.
Educators will find resources that strengthen:
Reading comprehension
Vocabulary acquisition
Speaking and listening
Informational text
Narrative writing
Critical thinking
Collaboration
These cross-curricular activities make it easier to incorporate literacy throughout the school day while helping students develop foundational reading skills.
Skybrary Book Feature: Miss Martin Is a Martian
One of August's featured titles on Skybrary is Miss Martin Is a Martian, a fun and imaginative story that reminds students that differences should be celebrated rather than feared.
The book naturally supports classroom conversations about:
- Acceptance
- Curiosity
- Friendship
- Imagination
- Building classroom community
Teachers can extend learning with accompanying lesson plans, discussion questions, printable activities, and vocabulary exercises available through Literacy Central.
Read on Skybrary
Miss Martin Is a Martian is available through Skybrary, RIF's interactive digital library featuring hundreds of children's books and literacy activities. Teachers and families can create an account online or download the Skybrary app from the Apple App Store.
Literacy Central Teaching Resources
Literacy Central is RIF's one-stop destination for free lesson plans, vocabulary activities, book guides, reading passages, writing prompts, family resources, and classroom activities that support literacy instruction throughout August.
Free Printable Teaching Resource: Daily Book Bites
Looking for a quick literacy activity each day?
Daily Book Bites features a new reading activity every day of the year. Teachers and families can explore seasonal topics, printable resources, and engaging literacy prompts designed to encourage daily reading habits.
This resource is perfect for:
Morning meetings
Bell ringers
Literacy centers
Homework
Family engagement
Independent practice
Enhance Classroom Reading with Read-Aloud Videos
Read-alouds help students develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and a love of books.
RIF's growing library of read-aloud videos allows teachers and families to introduce new books, reinforce classroom instruction, and provide additional reading experiences beyond the classroom.
Videos can be incorporated into:
Morning meetings
Literacy stations
Small groups
Independent learning
Family reading time
August Webinars & Professional Learning
Professional growth is an ongoing part of effective literacy instruction. RIF's webinar library offers practical guidance on engaging readers, implementing literacy programs, and supporting children both at school and at home. With sessions available on demand, educators and families can access expert advice whenever it best fits their schedules.
Tips for Social & Classroom Engagement
Classroom Activities
Create an "Explorer Passport" where students earn stamps for every book they read.
Invite students to write about one place—real or imaginary—they'd like to explore.
Host a "Book Discovery Day" where students rotate through themed reading stations.
Build a classroom bulletin board featuring "Books That Take Us Places."
Family Engagement
Encourage families to visit their local library together during the first month of school.
Send home a weekly "Book Explorer Challenge" with simple reading prompts.
Invite caregivers to share stories about places, cultures, or experiences that inspire curiosity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are monthly teaching resources?
Monthly teaching resources are curated collections of lesson plans, activities, book recommendations, and printable materials organized around seasonal themes and important classroom events.
Are Literacy Central resources free?
Yes. Literacy Central offers thousands of free literacy resources for educators, parents, caregivers, and students.
What is Skybrary?
Skybrary is RIF's interactive digital library featuring children's books, videos, and literacy activities that support reading both at home and in the classroom.
Can parents use these resources?
Absolutely. While many materials are designed for educators, parents and caregivers can also use the activities, printables, and book recommendations to support reading at home.