Illustration of students having recess in the gym
Art By Elio
Mini Graphic,

This is Too Hard!

Enjoy a mini graphic novel about persistence. 

By Katie Mach
From the December 2024/January 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Children will discuss persistence and the importance of having a growth mindset.

Lexiles: 350L
Featured Skill: Main Idea,
Topic: SEL,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RL.1.1 Key details RL.1.4 Identify feeling words RL.1.10 Read grade-1 prose SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read-aloud
TEKS Standards
  • Health
    (3) Mental health and wellness—social and emotional health. The student identifies and applies strategies to develop socio-emotional health, self-regulation, and healthy relationships. The student is expected to: (A) identify their own feelings and emotions; (4) Mental health and wellness—developing a healthy self-concept. The student develops the capacity for self-assessment and evaluation, goal setting, and decision making in order to develop a healthy self-concept. The student is expected to: (A) discuss ways to be kind to self and how to identify areas for growth.

Magazine View
See Student View

This Is Too Hard!

By Katie Mach

video (1)
video (1)

About the Story

English Language Arts Focus

Genres of literature

Social and Life Skills Focus

Self-awareness/self-management

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group

Pairings and Text Connections

  • From the Storyworks 1 archive: “Sticky Situation: I Give Up” (March/April 2022)
  • Suggested books: The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

Before-Reading Resources

  • Video: What Is a Comic? (5 minutes) Explore how comics use pictures, thoughts, and dialogue to tell a story.

Suggested Reading Focus

Self-awareness/persistence (20 minutes)

  • Tell children the expression “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Ask them what the saying means to them. Why is it important to try again? Explain that when you keep trying and don’t give up, it is called being persistent. Say that the comic they will be reading is about being persistent.
  • Read the comic with expression. Check children’s comprehension after each panel. Children can also turn and talk to discuss.
  • Using the Talk It Out questions, discuss the comic. Encourage children to make personal connections. Can they think of something they had to practice before they got good at it? What did it feel like to try again? Brainstorm ways to remind yourself that you can always try again.

Text-to-Speech