While most children’s books can be read any time of year there are some that fit just perfectly at certain times. Like, back to school.
When looking for books to begin the school year with we love turning to books that help set students up for success. For example, books that teach about a growth mindset and setting goals.
One of our favorite books for teaching young kids about goal setting is I Promise by LeBron James.
I Promise by LeBron James
As an elementary school teacher, you may already be familiar with the book I Promise or maybe you have read it because you are a basketball fan and wanted to read a book by your favorite basketball player! If so, feel free to scroll down a bit further to learn about the reading activities we created for you.
If you are not familiar with the plot of I Promise, then take your time to read below where we have provided a brief summary of the book. This will provide you with a better understanding of why so many teachers (and students) love this book, and why it is a favorite for back to school lessons.
I Promise Summary
The book begins by introducing readers to a diverse group of students, each with their own unique backgrounds and dreams. Then, as the book progresses, each student faces their own obstacles that they must overcome.
One of the wonderful things about this book is that it showcases a variety of obstacles that young kids face. This includes personal struggles as well as academic challenges. The variety of obstacles presented is a great way for all students to connect with the book and make it more personal to their own lives.
At the center of each obstacle that arises in the book is LeBron James’ “I PROMISE” philosophy. This philosophy says that no dream is too big to achieve. Furthermore, it emphasizes the value of hard work and perseverance to achieve success.
These central themes of the book are perfect for teaching students about how to achieve goals and how to work through obstacles. Two great lessons to set them up for a successful year!
In addition to these two important lessons, the book also emphasizes the importance of teamwork. Another great lesson to introduce to students at the beginning of the school year as it will help with effective classroom management.
I Promise Activities
As you know, any book you teach to your students is best taught alongside learning activities that help develop comprehension skills. Therefore, we went ahead and used our tried and true read aloud format to build an I Promise read aloud for first and second graders.
This read aloud follows the structure that we have used for over a decade that includes not only effective reading activities but engaging reading activities. Because we all know that there must be engagement for learning to take place.
To further support engagement, this read aloud (as with all of our read alouds) is available to use digitally or as a printable. This provides you with the choice to use the format that is most engaging for your students.
Keep reading to see what reading activities we have included and take a peek at what they look like in the digital and printable formats
Comprehension Questions for I Promise
These comprehension questions are designed to be used as part of your first read. They are designed to ask the whole class as a way to help each student develop a basic understanding of the book and to help you assess if students are comprehending the story.
Here are some of the comprehension questions we have provided for you to use:
- Who are the characters in this story?
- Where does this story take place?
- Who is telling the story? How do you know?
- What is the big idea of the story?
- What promises did the children make that will help them be successful?
Revisit the Text Activities for I Promise
In addition to the early comprehension questions, you will find several additional comprehension questions and activities designed to invite readers back to the text. This opportunity to revisit the text teaches students the importance of going back to a story after the first read.
Here is a quick peek at some activities and questions we have provided to help students dive deeper into the text. Beyond helping students get a complete understanding of the story, these activities provide you with additional learning activities that can span several days.
- Why did the author write the words this way?
- What sport do you notice is drawn most often in the pictures? Why do you think it is shown so often?
- Character and setting chart with moveable pieces
- Promise Chart: Identify which promises were in the story and which were not a promise.
Writing and Craft Activities for I Promise
An integral part of developing literacy skills is to incorporate writing with reading. Therefore, all of our read alouds includes at least one writing activity. Below is the writing activity we have included with the I Promise read aloud.
Writing Prompt: I Promise to Be the Best Me by…
While a craft is not the priority when it comes to developing literacy skills, it is important to engagement! Therefore, all of our read aloud packets also include a craftivity.
Even though the craft may not be seen as an activity that is essential in the same way that writing is, we believe it still provides important elements. Beyond engaging the students, the craft provides a creative way for students to share their understanding of the story. In addition, it gives them a tangible resource to take home and share what they have learned with their family.
Read Aloud for I Promise
Above, we highlighted some of the key activities you will find in our read aloud for I Promise. We know it can be helpful to get a full look at a resource before buying it though. Therefore, below we have provided an overview of all the resources included in this packet.
- Detailed lesson plans
- Comprehension questions
- Whole group response to text activities
- Response to text worksheets
- Writing pages
- Vocabulary cards and worksheets
- Quiz
- Retelling puppets
- Craftivity template
Remember, these can be used as printables. In addition, there are enough activities to cover 3-5 days of reading lessons.
Whether you use the key learning activities for three days or use all of the activities for a full week of lesson plans, we know your students will be ready to start the school year with some great goals!u
