Unit 3: Overcoming Challenges & Growth Mindset Belonging in Books™ Bundle

Belonging in Books Unit 3 Bundle: Overcoming Challenges & Growth Mindset

If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-impact way to bring purposeful comprehension instruction into your PreK–1 classroom or homeschool, this resource is for you! Part of the Belonging in Books curriculum, this unit supports deep thinking, joyful reading, and inclusive discussion using 8 powerful anchor texts:

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges

This bundle of books focuses on the theme of overcoming challenges and developing a growth mindset, helping students learn that perseverance, courage, and self-belief can lead to meaningful growth. Throughout this unit, students will focus on identifying the most important events in a story and explaining how characters respond to challenges and work toward solutions. As they read both fiction and nonfiction texts, students will examine how real and fictional characters show determination, face obstacles, and grow through their experiences. By analyzing character growth, identifying problem and solution, and comparing connected texts, students will build deeper comprehension skills while developing confidence in their own ability to learn, grow, and achieve their goals.

Each Belonging in Books unit is built around a high-quality read-aloud and carefully designed to:
✔️ Teach comprehension through rich, age-appropriate conversations
✔️ Build vocabulary and language skills in context
✔️ Explore story elements and text structures
✔️ Practice key comprehension strategies
✔️ Support synthesis using a paired companion text
✔️ Center student voices and diverse perspectives

What’s Included:
5-day lesson arc (20–30 minutes/day):

• Day 1: Connect & First Read
• Day 2: Vocabulary Exploration
• Day 3: Story Elements or Text Structure
• Day 4: Comprehension Skill
• Day 5: Paired Text & Synthesis Discussion

+Semi-Scripted daily lesson plans
+Thoughtful discussion questions
+Printable graphic organizers
+Visual Vocabulary and child-friendly definitions
+No Prep student practice sheets
+Anchor chart templates
+CCSS Alignment
+Student “I Can” statements
+Lesson plans for a culminating project or hands-on response
+Companion text suggestion and extension ideas

Each book in Belonging in Books can be a stand alone week of learning, or you can dive into an entire thematic unit of quality mentor texts that connect through themes, character experiences, comprehension strategies, and text structures.

Want the entire curriculum? Grab the Complete Curriculum Bundle!