An eight-minute book. A five-day lesson.
Everything here is designed for a real classroom with a real schedule, morning meeting, small group, or the fifteen minutes before specials.
Put the questions before and during, not just after
Most read-alouds save every question for the end, which turns them into comprehension checks. Distributing questions across three positions turns the same book into instruction.
Before · 1 min
"Has anyone ever wanted to join a game but wasn't sure how?" Hands up, no discussion.
During · 2 to 3 pauses
Pause at feeling-changes and before decisions. "How is he feeling? How can you tell?"
After · 3 min
"What did Mia notice that nobody else did? Where in our room could someone need that today?"
One book, five days
No re-teaching. Each day does different work.
Read aloud
Three-position questions: before, during, after. Name the virtue on chart paper.
Feelings vocabulary
Revisit two illustrations. Build a word bank: lonely, left out, hopeful, relieved.
Role-play
Pairs practice the noticing script. 90 seconds each, then swap.
Transfer
Each child sets one specific, observable recess goal. Report back.
Reflect
Peer-nominated recognition circle. Who saw someone do what Mia did?
CASEL alignment at a glance
Self-Awareness
Naming one's own reaction to the story and to real moments.
Social Awareness
Reading a character's feelings from face, posture and situation.
Relationship Skills
Rehearsing entry and inclusion scripts with a partner.
Responsible Decision-Making
Choosing and committing to one inclusion action.
Assess transfer, not comprehension: track spontaneous use of the target vocabulary and observed inclusion behaviour during unstructured time. If the tally stays flat, add rehearsal, not more reading.
Free classroom pack
Discussion cards, a feelings word bank, the kindness tracker for your wall, and the full five-day plan as a printable PDF.
Classroom sets & school visits
Bulk pricing for grade-level sets, plus in-person and virtual author visits with a read-aloud and a kindness assembly.
Read the full SEL guide →