Special Download
School started weeks ago, but Jamal Jenkins hasn’t been around much. His empty desk hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially by Reggie, CeCe, and Terrence.
Their concern sets the stage for Hey, Jamal! Where’ve You Been?, a story that reminds readers how friendship, kindness, and encouragement can make all the difference when showing up to school feels hard.
In Hey, Jamal! Where’ve You Been? Reggie, CeCe, and Terrence notice that their classmate Jamal has been missing school. Through kindness and encouragement, they remind him that school is more fun — and more meaningful — when he’s there. This literacy mini-unit blends story, comprehension, puzzles, and reflection activities to support reading, social-emotional learning, and conversations about attendance.
The resource is designed for easy, no-prep classroom use and can be taught as a short mini-unit or spread across multiple weeks. And because this is the first story in Jamal’s journey, future resources will continue to check in on him as the school year unfolds.
What's Included
Story Passages (2 parts):
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Part 1: Hey, Jamal!
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Multiple-Choice Comprehension Questions
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Word Scramble
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Part 2: Where’ve You Been?
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Multiple-Choice Comprehension Questions
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Matching Puzzle
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"What Makes School Fun" Worksheets
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Word Search
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Fill-in-the-Blank
Student Reflection Worksheet
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Open-ended questions for thoughtful discussion or journaling
Teacher Resources
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Answer Key
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Handout: Purpose, usage tips, and extension ideas