Growing Home: Sparking Word JOY Through Vocabulary and Story
“Hope is like a hook. Once it catches hold of you, it doesn’t easily let go.”
— Beth Ferry, Growing Home
How do we help students grow their vocabularies—and their understanding of what it means to belong?
Beth Ferry’s Growing Home is a joyful launch book for Grades 3–5 classrooms ready to kick off the year with laughter, language, and heart.
In this quick, humorous, and slightly magical read, students meet Jillian, Ivy (her beloved houseplant), and Toasty (the ever-jealous goldfish). Through their whimsical adventures, Ferry weaves vocabulary seamlessly into storytelling—introducing words in context, modeling definitions naturally, and inviting students to fall in love with language along the way.
Why It’s a Perfect Launch Book
Ferry’s narration models word consciousness—an authentic curiosity about how words work and why they matter. Teachers can use Growing Home to introduce students to vocabulary routines, word exploration, and thematic discussions about home, friendship, and hope.
Pair it with Home by Matt de la Peña to deepen the idea that “home” is more than a place—it’s a feeling of belonging and care.
Inside the Lesson
This week’s downloadable lesson plan (linked below) includes:
Chapter-by-chapter vocabulary lists with kid-friendly definitions
Read-aloud pacing guides and discussion prompts
Before, during, and after reading activities
Creative extensions for character mapping, word banks, and thematic reflection
👉 Download the “Growing Home” Vocabulary Lesson Plan (PDF)
Extend the Learning
Explore our post on Launch Books to introduce word consciousness all year long.
Discover our 7-Step Process for writing powerful vocabulary lesson plans.
Read our paired lesson for Home by Matt de la Peña.
Let this story remind your students—and you—that “sometimes you just belong.”
That’s the power of Growing Home.
