Building Resiliency Through Stories

A research-based social emotional literacy program for parents and caregivers, classroom teachers, and childcare professionals

FOSTERING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR

About the Grow Through Reading Program

GROW – Guiding Resiliency through Opportunities of Well-Being

Grow Through Reading is more than just a reading program; it helps children thrive both academically and emotionally. Based on their research, Drs. AnnMarie Gunn and Susan Bennett with their team designed this flexible curriculum for parents, caregivers, teachers, and childcare professionals to support nurturing empathy, confidence, and connection.

Why Choose Grow Through Reading?

Grow Through Reading is a research-based program that has proven effective in enhancing children’s social-emotional learning. Our pilot study at the University of South Florida showed significant improvements in students’ SEL vocabulary and reading achievement, highlighting the power of high-quality literature in fostering meaningful discussions and emotional growth.

For elementary School

Grades K-2
Grow Through Reading
60%

60% of 2nd Graders Read Below a Proficient Level

Reading Education University of South Florida

“High-quality literature fosters meaningful discussions that not only improve reading but also build emotional resilience.”

quotes

– Dr. AnnMarie Alberton Gunn, University of South Florida

ENGAGING, STANDARDS-BASED LESSON PLANS FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

What’s Included In Each Lesson?

Book With Lesson Plans

Our lesson plans incorporate a range of educational frameworks, including Common Core and CASEL, and provide everything you need for a meaningful, interactive learning experience—featuring picture books, targeted vocabulary, and engaging activities that support emotional and academic growth.

Read Aloud Selection with Lesson Plan Includes:

  • Common Core Language Arts and Florida Resiliency Standards
  • Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Framework

  • A children’s picture book

  • Targeted vocabulary

  • Materials

  • Stopping points

  • Detailed dialogue and questions

  • Engaging multimodal or arts based response activities

  • Extension activities and center ideas

BUILDING ESSENTIAL SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THROUGH READING

Five Core Frameworks for Social-Emotional Learning

The 5 Core CASEL Frameworks provide a proven foundation for developing critical social-emotional skills in children. By focusing on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, Grow Through Reading supports a comprehensive approach to emotional growth and academic success.

Self Awareness

Self Awareness

Encouraging children to recognize and understand their own emotions, strengths, and challenges.

Self Managment

Self Management

Helping children regulate their emotions, behaviors, reactions, and impulses in different situations.

Social Awareness

Promoting empathy and understanding of others’ emotions, cultures, perspectives, and backgrounds.

Relationship Skills

Relationship Skills

Building communication, cooperation, and conflict-resolution skills to foster healthy relationships.

Decision Making

Responsible Decision Making

Guiding children to make ethical and constructive choices based on their values and the well-being of others.

EQUIPPING PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND CAREGIVERS FOR SUCCESS

Who Can Implement Grow Through Reading’s Curriculum?

Grow Through Reading is designed for parents, teachers, childcare educators, and caregivers who want to promote the social-emotional development of children through engaging, research-based activities and resources.

Teacher Reading

Classroom Teachers

Helping children regulate their emotions, behaviors, reactions, and impulses in different situations.

Parent Reading

Parents and Caregivers

Helping children regulate their emotions, behaviors, reactions, and impulses in different situations.

Educator Reading

Childcare Educators

Helping children regulate their emotions, behaviors, reactions, and impulses in different situations.