Looking for a meaningful novel study for upper elementary or middle school students? Out of My Dreams by Sharon M. Draper is an excellent choice for engaging students in conversations about empathy, resilience, disability, independence, perseverance, and the importance of pursuing your dreams.
The third book in Melody’s story, Out of My Dreams, continues the journey that began in Out of My Mind and continued in Out of My Heart. This time, Melody has the opportunity to travel to London, opening the door to new experiences, new challenges, and new opportunities for growth.
For teachers, Out of My Dreams provides much more than an engaging story. It offers rich opportunities for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, literary analysis, writing, critical thinking, social-emotional learning, and meaningful classroom discussion.
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Why Teach Out of My Dreams?
Sharon M. Draper’s Out of My Dreams gives students the opportunity to see the world through Melody’s experiences while encouraging them to think more deeply about how we understand ourselves and others.
The novel is especially valuable for classroom discussions about:
Empathy and understanding
Resilience and perseverance
Disability and accessibility
Inclusion and acceptance
Independence and self-advocacy
Friendship and relationships
Family and support systems
Personal growth
Dreams and goals
Overcoming challenges
These themes make Out of My Dreams an excellent addition to an ELA novel study, reading unit, literature circle, or whole-class novel unit.
1. Build Empathy Through Literature
One of the greatest strengths of Out of My Dreams is its ability to encourage students to consider experiences that may be different from their own.
Melody’s cerebral palsy affects how she communicates and interacts with the world, but her disability does not define her thoughts, personality, dreams, or abilities.
Reading about Melody can help students consider important questions:
How do we make assumptions about other people?
What does it mean to truly understand someone else’s experience?
How can we make our classrooms more inclusive?
Why is it important to look beyond what we see on the surface?
How can our words and actions make other people feel included?
These questions can lead to thoughtful classroom discussions about empathy, kindness, accessibility, and inclusion.
2. Explore Resilience and Perseverance
Melody’s journey provides countless opportunities to discuss resilience and overcoming obstacles.
Rather than presenting challenges as something that simply disappears, the novel allows students to explore how people adapt, advocate for themselves, accept support, and continue working toward their goals.
This makes Out of My Dreams a natural fit for discussions about:
Perseverance
Growth
Self-confidence
Overcoming obstacles
Setting goals
Taking risks
Learning from difficult experiences
Ask students to consider:
What does resilience really look like?
Students can compare Melody’s experiences with challenges they have faced themselves, while recognizing that everyone’s circumstances and obstacles are different.
3. Discuss Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion
Out of My Dreams also creates an authentic opportunity to discuss disability and accessibility in an age-appropriate way.
Students can explore the difference between a person’s abilities and the barriers created by their environment.
Consider questions such as:
What makes a place accessible?
What barriers might someone with a disability encounter?
How can schools and communities become more inclusive?
Why shouldn’t we make assumptions about what someone can or cannot do?
What does true inclusion look like?
These conversations can help students move beyond simply identifying differences and instead think about how communities can remove barriers and create opportunities for everyone.
4. Develop Critical Thinking and Literary Analysis
Out of My Dreams is also a strong choice for teaching core reading comprehension and literary analysis skills.
As students read, they can analyze:
Character development
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Theme
Symbolism
Author’s word choice
Character relationships
Text evidence
Cause and effect
Making inferences
Encourage students to support their thinking with evidence from the text.
For example:
How does Melody change throughout the story?
What experiences contribute to Melody’s growing independence?
How does the setting of London affect Melody’s experiences?
What does the novel suggest about pursuing your dreams?
These types of questions take students beyond simple recall and encourage them to think critically about the author’s message and the development of the story.
5. Use Out of My Dreams for Writing Activities
The novel also provides plenty of inspiration for reading response and creative writing activities.
Students might:
Write about a personal goal or dream.
Describe a time they faced a difficult challenge.
Write a response to an important event in the novel.
Explain how Melody demonstrates resilience.
Analyze an important character.
Write about the importance of accessibility.
Use text evidence to explain a theme.
Write from a character’s perspective.
Create a new scene that fits naturally into the story.
You can also use the novel as a springboard for argumentative and opinion writing, asking students to support their ideas with evidence from the text.
6. Make Cross-Curricular Connections
One of the benefits of choosing a rich novel like Out of My Dreams is that the learning doesn’t have to stop with ELA.
The story provides opportunities for connections to:
Social-Emotional Learning
Discuss empathy, self-awareness, relationships, perseverance, independence, and respecting differences.
Social Studies
Explore London, cultural differences, travel, and how societies approach accessibility and inclusion.
Informational Reading
Have students research topics related to cerebral palsy, accessibility, disability, or London and compare informational texts with what they learn through the novel.
Geography
Use the novel’s London setting as an opportunity to explore maps, landmarks, geography, and cultural traditions.
These connections can turn a novel study into a rich, interdisciplinary learning experience.
Ready-to-Teach Out of My Dreams Novel Study
If you want to teach Out of My Dreams without spending hours creating comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, assessments, and lesson plans, I’ve created a complete Out of My Dreams Novel Study to make your planning easier.
This no-prep novel study for grades 4-6 includes 240+ pages of printable materials along with digital resources for Google Drive™, giving you everything you need to guide students through the novel.
Vocabulary and grammar activities for 62 vocabulary words
Printable vocabulary word wall cards
Answer keys
Parent letter
Informational reading activities about cerebral palsy
Informational reading activities about London
Three reading assessments
Essay questions
Google Forms™ digital assessments
Story Elements activities
Interactive notebook activities
Printable and digital versions
The resource is designed to work for whole-class instruction, small groups, literature circles, independent reading, homeschool, or a paperless classroom.
Save Time on Your Next Novel Unit
A good novel study should allow you to focus on teaching, discussing, and connecting with your students—not spending your evenings creating worksheets.
This Out of My Dreams book unit gives you ready-to-use materials for teaching reading comprehension, vocabulary, literary analysis, writing, and deeper thinking while your students experience Melody’s inspiring journey.
Try a Free Sample
Want to see what’s included before you buy? Download the free sample of the Out of My Dreams novel study and take a look at the activities, lesson materials, and student resources.
Out of My Dreams by Sharon M. Draper is a powerful choice for teachers looking for a novel that combines engaging storytelling with meaningful learning opportunities.
Through Melody’s experiences, students can explore empathy, resilience, independence, accessibility, inclusion, and the courage it takes to pursue a dream.
Whether you’re planning a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade novel study, this book gives you countless opportunities to help students strengthen their reading skills while having important conversations about how we understand and support one another.
If you’re ready to bring Out of My Dreams into your classroom, make your planning easier with this complete, no-prep Out of My Dreams novel study.
You can also buy Out of My Mind, Out of My Heart, and Out of My Dreams bundled together at a discount!
💬 Connect with Fellow Educators!
Are you teaching Out of My Dreams this school year? How do you celebrate kindness in your classroom?
Join our free community, Book Talk with The Teaching Bank, to share ideas, grab freebies, and connect with 3rd–8th grade teachers using novels in the classroom!
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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless classic that has captivated readers for decades. It is a perfect choice for teachers looking for a book that can both entertain and educate their students. The novel provides a rich source of material that can be used to explore a variety of themes, including friendship, loyalty, betrayal, good versus evil, and the power of imagination.
In addition to its rich thematic content, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is also an excellent tool for teaching literary analysis. The novel contains many elements of narrative structure, including foreshadowing, symbolism, and themes that recur throughout the story. By studying these elements, students can gain a deeper understanding of how literature works and how to analyze it.
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The benefits of using The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in your classroom:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has stood the test of time: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was first published in 1950 and has been a favorite among children and adults for over 70 years. The fact that it has remained popular for so long speaks volumes about its quality and relevance. By using a novel that has stood the test of time, teachers can be sure that their students will enjoy it and that it will be a valuable addition to their curriculum.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe incorporate important themes: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe explores important themes such as good vs. evil, redemption, sacrifice, and loyalty. These themes are relevant to students of all ages and can spark important conversations about the world around them.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can improve reading comprehension: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is written in a way that is accessible to students of all reading levels. By using this novel in the classroom, teachers can improve their student’s reading comprehension and help them develop critical thinking skills.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can inspire creativity: The world of Narnia is a rich and imaginative one that can inspire creativity and encourage students to think outside the box. By using this novel in the classroom, teachers can foster a love of creativity and encourage their students to explore their own imaginations.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can encourage empathy: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe encourages empathy through the characters’ experiences, students can learn to understand different perspectives and develop compassion for others.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an excellent novel that can be used to teach a variety of themes and literary elements. So go ahead and pick up a copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe today – your students will thank you for it!
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
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C.S. Lewis’s beloved series, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” includes “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” often mistakenly assumed to be the first book, when in fact, it’s the second installment. The true opener is “The Magician’s Nephew,” followed by #3 “The Horse and His Boy,” #4 “Prince Caspian,” #5 “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” #6 “The Silver Chair,” and concluding with “The Last Battle.”
Within Narnia’s enchanting realm, brimming with magic, mythical creatures, and talking animals, each book centers on children and their pivotal roles in shaping Narnia’s history. These children are magically transported from the real world to Narnia, collaborating with the Narnian lion, Aslan, in safeguarding the land from malevolent forces.
C.S. Lewis artfully intertwines his childhood experiences during World War II and theological insights throughout the series. While a subtle Christian undertone runs through the narrative, it’s not overt, rendering the books suitable for Christian and public educational settings. The foundational theme of the eternal struggle between good and evil offers a compelling narrative ripe for analysis and interpretation across diverse audiences.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Movies, including some high-budget releases by Disney, have been brought to life based on select books from the series. There’s buzz circulating that Netflix plans to develop a streaming series covering the entire Chronicles of Narnia collection.
For decades, enthusiasts of the fantasy genre have been captivated by the Chronicles of Narnia. Often serving as a gateway, these books ignite a passion for the genre, leading readers to explore more mature works like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. J.K. Rowling, renowned for the Harry Potter series, has acknowledged the profound impact the Chronicles had on her as a child, shaping her imaginative world and influencing her writing. Expect your students to join the ranks of countless others who have fallen in love with Narnia’s enchanting realm over the past seven decades.
I provide comprehensive novel studies tailored for each book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, designed for classroom or homeschool use. Each unit offers both printable and Google Drive™ formats, accommodating traditional and paperless classroom settings, including compatibility with Google Classroom. The structure of these units mirrors the format demonstrated in the video for The Magician’s Nephew.
You can purchase these novel studies at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
While having your students physically present offers the best means to gauge their comprehension of a subject and identify the necessity for tailored instruction, circumstances may arise where this isn’t feasible. Increasingly, students equipped with laptops and various devices are transforming traditional “free” snow days into E-Learning days. This shift aims to prevent extending the school year by leveraging technology for remote learning when in-person classes are impractical.
Periodic closures of schools due to natural disasters have been evident in various regions. For instance, in Nebraska, schools grappled with flooding issues both, in the spring and fall, resulting in chaotic interruptions to regular schedules. Additionally, student absences can range from short-term illnesses to prolonged health issues, leading to extended periods away from the classroom.
Furthermore, homeschooling communities often utilize e-learning within their cooperative groups or classes. The diverse array of reasons preventing direct in-person interaction with students underscores the significance of technology. It enables educators to virtually engage with their students during such challenging times, bridging the physical gap through digital platforms.
In my role as a curriculum writer, I prioritize flexibility by integrating numerous choices and options into my educational materials. Having been a teacher myself, I understand the constant influx of various challenges and unforeseen circumstances that a standard textbook isn’t equipped to handle. My educational philosophy revolves around the idea that a student ideally engages with the material using all their senses, transforming learning into solid knowledge. Therefore, all my resources feature a hands-on component—printable and tactile—encouraging collaborative engagement between students and teachers.
Recognizing the limitations of this ideal scenario, I’ve supplemented almost all my products with a Google Drive format, providing educators with alternative options. The Google Drive version encompasses the same content areas but allows for a paperless approach, utilizing Google Drive tools like Slides and Forms.
My portfolio predominantly includes a blend of printable and Google format materials, ranging from novel studies, social studies, to financial literacy resources. Additionally, I offer ELA and Math centers that are interactive on Google Drive while still being available in printable formats. Each download includes complete printable content and instructions on accessing and integrating the Google format files into your Google Drive, facilitating ease of use for educators.
After clicking on the provided link, your file will be visible in your Google Drive account under the name “Copy of File Name.” You can conveniently modify this title to your preference by clicking on the name box. Subsequently, you can assign these files to your students through Google Classroom.
How to use Novel Studies in an E-Learning Format?
In utilizing novel studies, your students will require a copy of the novel to accompany either the printable or Google Drive format provided. With the book in hand, they can seamlessly navigate through the study, engaging with comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, and extended writing tasks on Google Slides, mirroring the functionality available in the printable version. Teachers can track their progress through Google Classroom and I recommend conducting check-ins with small groups via platforms like Google Talk (or Google Hangouts/Google Chat) or Zoom. These sessions allow for discussions about the material read, ensuring comprehension and encouraging deeper exploration of the novel. It’s akin to the class discussions held in person, bridging the gap using technology.
All my novel studies feature assessments that can be completed through Google Forms. The multiple-choice assessments for comprehension and vocabulary are self-grading, significantly reducing grading time for teachers. However, the writing assessments, being more open-ended, cannot be self-graded. Typically consisting of one to two questions per assessment, these tasks can be submitted via Google Classroom for review and grading by the teacher.
How to use Social Studies and Financial Literacy Activities in an E-Learning Format?
My social studies and financial literacy resources are structured similarly to the novel studies in Google format, but they don’t require any specific books or textbooks. These materials feature Webquest links that offer learning content and include slideshow presentations in all social studies resources to facilitate students’ understanding and completion of activities.
Just like with the novel studies, Google Slides serve as the platform for both the presentations and activity completion. Additionally, in certain financial literacy activities such as the Escape Room exercises, Google Forms are integrated to delve deeper into the content alongside the use of Google Slides.
How to use ELA and Math Centers in an E-Learning Format?
The interactive ELA and Math Centers are designed to be completed using Google Slides. Students engage with the components to practice various skills, and teachers can oversee their progress through Google Classroom.
What can I do if my student doesn’t have access to equipment or the internet?
Many of us assume ready access to computers, laptops, and internet connectivity at home, yet some students lack this accessibility. In public schools, it’s our responsibility to ensure equity among our students. If your school lacks one-to-one capability or if a student doesn’t have home internet access, all my materials are provided in printable formats within the same product download. These activities are identical, just presented on paper rather than on a computer. You can distribute these packets to students for home use. To stay connected, consider communicating via phone calls, Facetime, or Skype for those with access via a parent’s cell phone. The content remains the same, only the format differs.
Technology offers various avenues to engage with students. While I advocate for a multisensory approach to learning—incorporating reading, writing, manipulation, and discussion—I recognize that there are instances where this isn’t feasible. In such cases, I hope my materials offer diverse options for utilization during e-learning scenarios.
Explore these free samples offered in my store, featuring both printable and Google Drive™ formats. They provide an opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the functionalities of these resources.
Sample from my Wonder Novel Study
Sample Social Studies Activity
In this post titled “Tips for Using Google Drive in Your Classroom,” you’ll discover helpful suggestions on customizing Google Drive products to suit your specific requirements more effortlessly.
One of the biggest frustrations I have as a parent is that my oldest son is a reluctant reader. He reads fine and does well in school, but he has zero interest in reading for pleasure outside of an assignment. When he is assigned books, he gets through them and rarely enjoys the process.
When assigned to read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, that attitude changed. He came home from school and started talking about Hatchet. The spark was ignited! He told me it was a fantastic book, and he hated to have to wait until the next day to continue reading. He wanted to sit down and read it as fast as he could! He’d never felt that way about a book before!
Each day my son would come home from school and voluntarily, which is uncommon with a middle schooler, tell me all about the chapter he had read that day! Seeing this book spark so much excitement in him made me realize this was a novel study that I needed to create!
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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a classic adventure novel that has been a staple in classrooms. It is a gripping story of survival and perseverance that teaches valuable life lessons to young readers. Hatchet is a perfect novel for students to study and should be a part of your curriculum.
Promotes Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills:
Hatchet presents its young protagonist, Brian, with a series of challenges and obstacles that he must overcome in order to survive in the wilderness. These challenges require him to use his critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making the book an excellent tool for developing these skills in students. The book encourages students to think deeply about the characters’ choices and decisions and to consider alternative solutions to the problems they face.
Teaches Survival Skills:
Hatchet is centered around Brian’s survival in the wilderness, making it an excellent tool for teaching students about survival skills. From building shelter, to finding food and water, the book provides a hands-on learning experience for students. These lessons can help students understand the importance of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness in their own lives.
Develops Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension:
The language used in Hatchet is rich and descriptive, which makes it an excellent tool for developing vocabulary and reading comprehension. The book is also an excellent example of storytelling, and students can learn about the elements of plot, characterization, and setting as they read.
Fosters Empathy and Understanding:
Hatchet is a powerful story of perseverance and determination, and it encourages students to think about what it means to be a survivor. The book helps students understand the importance of perseverance and determination in their own lives and fosters empathy and understanding toward others who may be facing similar challenges.
Using Hatchet in the classroom is a great way to hook those reluctant readers and turn them on to reading!
Hatchet is a valuable novel to use in the classroom. It promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, teaches survival skills, develops vocabulary and reading comprehension, and fosters empathy and understanding. By incorporating Hatchet into your curriculum, you can help your students gain a deeper understanding of the world around them and develop valuable life skills that will serve them well into the future.
You can purchase this novel study which contains both a printable and a Google Drive™ format at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
One of my favorite (and my students’) themes to explore every year was the Chocolate Theme. We would read The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling:
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Throughout the theme unit, we incorporated geography by mapping the different countries where the different ingredients of candy bars originate. We worked on letter writing by writing to different chocolate and candy companies with questions. This activity was particularly exciting because many of the companies would respond back to the students with offerings of trial samples or coupons to get free candy! Students learned the power they had as a consumer who shares feedback!
I always started the unit out with The Chocolate Touch written by Patrick Skene Catling which was first published in 1952. The story of loving chocolate never ages! John Midas loves chocolate and sweets more than anything and a wish turns his wildest dreams into a reality. Like King Midas before him, his touch is magic! This book leads to some great comparison activities with the King Midas story. Like King Midas, John soon learns that having too much of a great thing might not be as wonderful as he thought it would be!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany The Chocolate Touch for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Chocolate Touch
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Chocolate Fever written by Richard Kimmel Smith in 1972, is a more humorous and adventurous tale of young Henry Green whose dream of eating nothing but chocolate comes true. Henry soon discovers that his new ability can be dangerous so he escapes and goes on the run!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Chocolate Fever for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Chocolate Fever
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
In my opinion, the best is saved for last, Roald Dahl’s 1964 classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This story has everything; a character to empathize with, several characters to learn from, humor, and imagination, it really has it all. Singing the Oompa Loompa songs together is always a fun time that ends in fits of giggles!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Tying different areas of the curriculum together, and enjoying three wonderful novels together, the Chocolate Theme is a fun learning experience for all. It was truly one of the most favorite times I had with my students and it was something past students brought up as a favorite of their 4th-grade year with me. I encourage you to give it a try!
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
