Teaching Out of My Dreams by Sharon M. Draper: Building Empathy, Resilience, and Understanding

by Shelley | English/Language Arts, Novel Studies

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.

Out of My Dreams by Sharon M. Draper

You can Find This Novel Here

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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.

The Out of My Dreams Novel Study Includes:

Detailed daily lesson plans
Pacing and standards guide
Common Core standards alignment
Chapter-by-chapter reading comprehension questions
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.

📚 Ready to Teach Out of My Dreams?

Check out my complete Out of My Dreams Novel Study by Alan Gratz for a comprehensive, no-prep unit designed specifically for grades 5-8.

Print it, use it digitally, and start teaching!

Final Thoughts

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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Hook Reluctant Readers with a Hatchet Novel Study

by Shelley | English/Language Arts, Novel Studies

Looking for an engaging novel that will get your students excited about reading? A Hatchet novel study may be exactly what you need.

Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet has been a classroom favorite for years—and for good reason. This gripping survival story gives students an exciting reason to keep turning the pages while providing teachers with countless opportunities to teach reading comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, character development, writing, and literary analysis.

And sometimes, the best way to get a reluctant reader interested in books is to give them a story they simply can’t put down.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

You Can Find this Novel Here

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How Hatchet Hooked a Reluctant Reader

One of my biggest frustrations as a parent was watching my oldest son struggle to find enjoyment in reading.

He could read. He did well in school. But reading for pleasure? That was another story.

When he was assigned Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, something completely changed.

He came home from school talking about the book.

He wanted to know what was going to happen next.

He was disappointed when he had to stop reading for the day.

And, most surprising of all, he actually wanted to keep reading.

Every day, he would come home and tell me about the latest chapter. He wasn’t simply completing a reading assignment—he was genuinely invested in Brian’s story.

That experience reminded me of something important:

The right book can completely change a student’s attitude toward reading.

That’s one reason Hatchet is such a powerful choice for an upper-elementary or middle school novel study.

Why Teach Hatchet in the Classroom?

Hatchet follows Brian Robeson, a young boy who finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. With nothing but a hatchet, Brian must figure out how to survive.

The survival premise immediately gives students something to think about:

What would you do if you were completely on your own?

As Brian faces one challenge after another, students have opportunities to examine much more than survival.

1. Hatchet Encourages Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Brian doesn’t have an adult telling him what to do.

He has to observe his surroundings, make decisions, try different strategies, learn from mistakes, and figure out how to solve problems.

That makes Hatchet an excellent book for teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Students can discuss questions such as:

What choices did Brian make?
Which decisions helped him survive?
Which decisions made his situation more difficult?
What could Brian have done differently?
How does Brian respond when his first plan fails?

These types of questions move students beyond simply recalling what happened in the story and encourage them to think deeply about the text.

2. Hatchet Is Perfect for Teaching Perseverance

One of the most valuable themes in Hatchet is perseverance.

Brian experiences fear, loneliness, hunger, frustration, and failure. Yet he continues trying.

When something doesn’t work, he learns from the experience and tries again.

That creates natural opportunities to discuss resilience, determination, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.

Students can connect Brian’s experiences to challenges in their own lives, making the novel much more meaningful than a simple survival story.

3. Hatchet Builds Reading Comprehension

Because Brian’s survival depends on his ability to observe, remember, and make decisions, Hatchet provides excellent opportunities for reading comprehension instruction.

Students can analyze:

Character
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Cause and effect
Character development
Theme
Problem and solution
Point of view
Text evidence

Chapter-by-chapter Hatchet comprehension questions can help students slow down and think about what they are reading rather than rushing through the novel simply to finish it.

This is especially useful when teaching students how to support their answers with evidence from the text.

4. Hatchet Provides Rich Vocabulary Opportunities

Gary Paulsen’s descriptive writing gives students plenty of opportunities to encounter meaningful vocabulary in context.

A Hatchet novel study can turn those unfamiliar words into an opportunity to build vocabulary rather than allowing students to simply skip over them.

Students can examine words in context, determine meaning, and use new vocabulary in their own writing.

Vocabulary instruction is even more effective when students encounter the words repeatedly while reading the novel.

5. Hatchet Makes Writing More Meaningful

One of the advantages of using a novel for ELA instruction is that students have a shared experience to write about.

Instead of assigning disconnected writing prompts, teachers can ask students to respond to situations, characters, conflicts, and themes they already understand.

Hatchet naturally lends itself to:

Personal response writing
Character analysis
Opinion writing
Text-based responses
Critical-thinking questions
Creative writing
Theme analysis
Problem-and-solution writing

The survival setting also makes it easy to create engaging writing prompts that students actually want to answer.

6. Hatchet Can Hook Reluctant Readers

This may be my favorite reason to teach Hatchet.

A student who doesn’t consider himself or herself a “reader” may be much more willing to pick up a book when the premise immediately grabs their attention.

A plane crash.

A wilderness.

A young boy alone.

A hatchet.

Survival.

That’s a pretty compelling setup.

And once students become invested in Brian’s survival, reading comprehension activities and ELA skills become much less of a chore.

The story becomes the vehicle for learning.

Make Teaching Hatchet Easier with a Complete Novel Study

Of course, finding a great novel is only the beginning.

Teachers still have to figure out:

What am I going to teach with this book?

What comprehension questions should I ask?

What vocabulary should I focus on?

How will I assess whether my students understand the novel?

How can I incorporate writing and grammar?

How do I make sure I’m addressing ELA standards?

That’s why I created a complete Hatchet Novel Study Book Unit.

Instead of spending hours creating worksheets, comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, writing assignments, assessments, and lesson plans, you can have an entire unit ready to use.

What’s Included in the Hatchet Novel Study?

The complete unit includes resources for both teachers and students.

Teacher Resources

The teacher packet includes:

Detailed daily lesson plans
Pacing and standards guide
Vocabulary word wall cards
Answer keys
Parent letter

Student Activities

Students receive:

Vocabulary and grammar activities for 60 vocabulary words
Chapter-by-chapter short-answer comprehension questions
Extended writing activities
Activities that encourage deeper thinking about the novel

The extended writing activities are only included in the complete novel study, making the full unit an especially valuable option.

Assessments

The assessment packet includes quizzes covering both sections of the novel:

Part 1: Chapters 1–9
Part 2: Chapter 10 through the end of the novel

The assessments include vocabulary, reading comprehension, and essay questions, along with answer keys.

Additional ELA Activities

The unit also includes:

End-of-the-book activities
Story Elements Interactive Notebook activities
Common Core State Standards alignment for Grades 5–8

The unit is designed for approximately a 5th–8th grade reading level and can be adapted for whole-class instruction, small groups, one-on-one instruction, independent study, or homeschool use.

See what people are saying about the Hatchet Novel Study by The Teaching Bank!

Printable AND Digital Hatchet Novel Study

Teaching in a paperless or hybrid classroom?

No problem.

The complete Hatchet Novel Study is available in both printable and Google Drive™ formats, making it flexible enough for traditional classrooms, Google Classroom, distance learning, and homeschool environments. The digital version also includes self-grading Google Drive quizzes in multiple-choice format.

Prefer paper?

A printable-only version is also available.

Try the FREE Hatchet Novel Study Sample

Not sure whether this Hatchet book study will work for your students?

Try it before you buy it!

A free sample is available so you can see exactly what the novel study looks like and try the activities with your students. The sample includes one day of activities from the complete unit.

Ready to Turn Hatchet into an Engaging ELA Unit?

Hatchet is much more than a story about a boy trying to survive in the wilderness.

It’s a book about perseverance, problem-solving, resilience, courage, decision-making, and personal growth.

It gives students something exciting to read while giving teachers a natural way to teach important ELA skills.

And when a book can make a reluctant reader come home excited to tell you what happened in the latest chapter?

That’s a book worth teaching.

Connect with Fellow Educators!

Are you teaching Hatchet this school year?