Teachers worry about their students every year. Often, these concerns originate from hearing students talk negatively about themselves. It is heartbreaking to see our students give up or doubt their abilities.
Thankfully, that will all start to change with the help of a new friend named Lou. While she may want to give up, she shows students how important it is to be persistent and accept help from others. Ultimately, students will see the importance of developing a growth mindset with The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do. With this read-aloud, students will support each other as everyone works to be brave and courageous.
The story and Read Aloud Activities will help create a positive environment in all classrooms.
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do
Author Ashley Spires teaches students the importance of a growth mindset when facing new challenges.
Lou and her friends love going on exciting adventures. They rescue animals, build fortresses, and run so fast. However, one of Lou’s friends decides that the perfect place for a pirate ship is in a tree. Lou has never climbed a tree before and doubts she can do it.
Instead, she tries to convince her friends to make a ship elsewhere. Since she is not successful in this, she makes excuses for why she can’t climb a tree. She works hard to convince herself that she doesn’t want to climb. Deep down, she knows she is just afraid.
Students will love developing a growth mindset with The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do. Ultimately, they will see how important it is to be courageous and persistent no matter the outcome.
Growth Mindset Read Aloud Activities
Back-to-school season is such a crazy time of the year. There is just so much to do, and teachers end the day absolutely exhausted. However, they know how essential it is for students to develop a growth mindset early on. Thankfully, these read-aloud activities are the perfect way for students to understand the importance of a growth mindset. While they may face challenges, Lou shows why it is vital never to give up.
Since teachers are so busy, a guide will outline the entire unit. It includes an introduction to help students prepare, an overview of the activities, and essential vocabulary words. Essentially, this is a complete lesson plan made just for you.
At the beginning of the year, students may be hesitant to talk to each other. Or, they may be scared to reach out to someone new. Therefore, there are higher-level thinking questions and talking points to promote student discussion. There are even page numbers to help teachers know exactly where in the story to stop. Students will love being able to talk to their classmates while developing a growth mindset with The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do.
While students love socializing, they also need time to process their thoughts. Additionally, they need time where they get to sit and reflect on the material without distractions. Thankfully, this resource includes a written response and activity sheet. There are even multiple options for differentiation. This allows students to reflect on a growth mindset and see why they should never give up.
Furthermore, there is hands-on craftivity! Students will love how the craft connects the story to their lives.
Growth Mindset Application
Teachers work hard to ensure students understand how the material taught in the class relates to life outside the school. Therefore, there are task cards that provide scenarios or thought-provoking questions. Each task card will help students understand the importance of a growth mindset. Likewise, it will help them see how challenges and obstacles strengthen them.
There are different ways to use the task cards. Honestly, they work great for whole class or small group discussions. They even work perfectly for individual work time. No matter how students complete the task cards, they will appreciate developing a growth mindset with The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do.
No Prep Resource
Teachers have to handle so much. Thankfully, the Read Aloud Activities are all no prep! Teachers just need to print the resources. Best of all, all questions and prompts have page numbers to help teachers know exactly when to pause.
Students will face different challenges and obstacles this year. This includes many aspects, such as academics, extracurriculars, and friendships. No matter what they face, it is essential to remain courageous. Likewise, it is imperative to support our friends when they struggle. Honestly, students will appreciate developing a growth mindset with The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do and Read Aloud Activities. This is an incredible story to show students how to handle anything difficult that comes their way.
Free Read Aloud Lesson
Would you like to try out an interactive read aloud lesson? You can grab this free lesson plan for Jabari Jumps to share with your students. This free download focuses on helping students overcome challenges. Each lesson includes discussion questions and activities to do with the book. Just fill out the form below and it will be delivered straight to your inbox!
Save This Read Aloud Lesson
Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to this lesson plan when you are ready to read it aloud with your students.
