Every year, there’s at least one book that brings my students together in unexpected ways—and for me, that book is Restart by Gordon Korman.
The premise is simple but powerful: a boy falls off a roof and wakes up with amnesia, only to discover that before his accident, he wasn’t exactly the nicest person. It’s funny, thought-provoking, and packed with opportunities to talk about identity, redemption, and second chances. And best of all—it hooks even my most reluctant readers.
I’ve taught Restart with a variety of grade levels, from 5th to 8th grade, and it never fails to spark discussion. Over the years, I’ve developed a set of activities that help my students dig deeper—not just into the text, but into themselves.
Here’s what I’ve found works best…
Reading + Real Life: Where SEL Meets ELA
Before we even crack open Chapter 1, we spend time talking about bullying, what it means to have a “circle of control,” and how empathy works. These social-emotional learning (SEL) activities lay the groundwork for understanding Chase’s story—and help students make personal connections right from the start.
We also explore big questions:
What makes someone change?
Can people really start over?
How do we know when we’re seeing the “real” version of someone?
Hook Reluctant Readers with the Restart Book Trailer
If you’re looking for a quick way to spark interest in Restart, check out Gordon Korman’s short book trailer. It’s a fun, engaging way to introduce the story and get even your most reluctant readers curious about what happens next. I like to show it before we dive into Chapter 1—it’s a great hook that sets the tone and builds excitement right from the start!
🧠 Deeper Thinking Activities
As we move through the novel, I lean into activities that stretch students beyond basic comprehension. A few of my favorites include:
Extended metaphor analysis (Brendan’s cafeteria wildlife comparison is always a hit!)
Allusions and figurative language hunts
Text-based inference with character reactions
Theme trackers that evolve as we read
We also do some creative work—my kids love the Instagram templates where they pretend to be Chase or Shoshanna. It’s a fun way to show understanding through a modern lens.
Character Conversations & Conflict Mapping
One of the best parts of teaching Restart is seeing how students’ opinions of the characters shift over time. I use characterization charts and Venn diagrams to help students track those changes. And we always do a “character text chat” where they write mock conversations between characters to show their grasp of the conflict.
✅ Assessment That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore
At the end of the unit, I use a Google Forms quiz that covers everything from plot to theme to characterization. It’s self-grading (a small teacher win!) and lets me see which concepts stuck and where I might need to spiral back.
Where to Find the Resources I Use
If you’re interested in trying any of these activities in your own classroom, I’ve bundled them all together in a printable and digital novel study for Restart. It’s available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store: Teaching with Jenny.
Whether you’re brand new to teaching Restart, or just looking to freshen up your unit, I hope you find something here that makes your classroom a little more joyful and a little more meaningful.
Happy teaching,
Jenny
