Dive into Learning with “Jabari Jumps”: An Exciting Toolkit for Teaching Text to Self

Dive into the world of “Jabari Jumps,” a heartwarming picture book, with our comprehensive toolkit designed to teach a reading skill based on a picture book. Finding ideas for picture books for the upper elementary classroom can be really hard. I love using this book to teach text to self and your students will learn how to make those text to self connections!

Unpacking the Toolkit

1. Lesson Plans

“Jabari Jumps” lesson plans take about 5 days to complete. These plans provide a structured approach to teaching main idea while making learning fun and interactive. It will provide everything you wouldneed for the

2. Overview of the Book

Before diving into the lessons, it’s crucial to become familiar with the book itself. “Jabari Jumps” to help you get acquainted with the story and its themes. “Jabari Jumps” is a picture book written and illustrated by Gaia Cornwall.

The story follows a young boy named Jabari who is determined to jump off the diving board at the local swimming pool. As Jabari climbs the ladder to the diving board, he begins to feel nervous and uncertain, but with the encouragement of his father and sister, he finds the courage to take the leap. Isn’t that a great plot? Even better? It’s amazing to include that in the students text to self connection. The students really will definitely make connections from the text because they will identify things in their lives that make them nervous or scared.

3. SEL Connections

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an essential component of education. There are SOOOO many things you can do with Jabari Jumps!

1. Empathy and Understanding: The story of Jabari’s nervousness before taking a big leap from the diving board allows students to empathize with his emotions. Encourage your students to reflect on times when they felt nervous or scared, fostering empathy and understanding of their own and others’ emotions.
2. Courage and Resilience: Discuss with your students the concept of courage and how Jabari demonstrated it by conquering his fear. Highlight the importance of resilience in the face of challenges and how it can apply to their lives.
3. Growth Mindset: “Jabari Jumps” is an excellent opportunity to introduce the concept of a growth mindset. Discuss how Jabari faced his fear with a positive attitude, embracing the idea that learning and growth often come through challenges.

4. Vocabulary Words

A strong vocabulary is the foundation of comprehension. Searching for vocabulary words related to the book that can be used as part of reading activities in centers. Encourage your students to explore and understand these words in the context of the story.

The words that I use are:

• nervous
• determination
• courageous
• perseverance
• anticipation
• Patience

5. Before/During/After Reading Questions

Engage your students at every stage of reading with our thoughtfully crafted questions.

Here are some ideas that you can use in your classroom for before, during, and after reading:

Briefly flip through some of the pictures. What can students tell about the characters based just on the drawings?

Why is the setting of this story important?

How would the story change if the setting was in a different place, maybe like a beach?

What conflict did Jabari experience in the story?

Reading Response Questions How does Jabari’s family react to him becoming nervous?

What text to text connection can you make based on the book?

6. Extension Activities

Learning doesn’t stop with the last page of the book. I LOVE to use the same books over and over for different skills. This is a great way to introduce mentor texts and to make sure all of your students are seeing the texts over and over again. If you’ve used my picture book series before, you may have noticed that each book has 6 different skills that it covers.

7. Anchor Charts

Visual aids can greatly enhance comprehension. Our toolkit provides anchor charts related to the main idea and themes of the book. These charts come in various formats, including black and white, color, half sheets, and quarter sheets, allowing you to choose the one that suits your classroom best.

8. Student Workbook

To reinforce learning and promote independent thinking, we’ve included a student workbook featuring six extension activities specific to “Jabari Jumps.” Additionally, the workbook contains three writing activities that incorporate vocabulary words. These hands-on activities and graphic organizers support students in comprehending the main idea in context.

Unlocking the Power of “Jabari Jumps”

“Jabari Jumps” is a delightful picture book that not only entertains but also teaches valuable life lessons. By using the resources provided in our toolkit, you’ll create an engaging and enriching learning experience for your students. “Jabari Jumps” will not only be a story they read but a journey they embark on, diving into the world of literature and learning.

Whether you’re an experienced educator or just starting your teaching journey, our “Jabari Jumps” toolkit is a valuable resource that will make teaching main idea a breeze. Dive into learning with “Jabari Jumps” and watch your students soar in their reading comprehension skills.