Differentiated Reading Comprehension Story Set: Out of Bounds (August 2026)

One story, three reading levels. Every student reads the same story at a level that fits, answers the same questions in a format that fits, and talks about it together. Summary: Marcus is shooting hoops alone when a missed shot rolls into the yard of the family that just moved in next door. The new kid passes it back, and instead of just taking his ball, Marcus invites him to play, turning a quiet afternoon into a new friendship. What's inside: The same story at 3 reading levels (about first through fifth grade) 5 comprehension questions per story, building from literal recall up to inference, theme, and a personal connection 3 response formats for those questions: Multiple Choice, Sentence Starters, and Open Response A Summarize page (Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then) for whole-group, small-group, or partner discussion A one-page Educator's Guide with the answer key, discussion prompts, and the story's social-emotional learning focus Why teachers love it: High interest, low readability, real comprehension, plus a built-in Social-Emotional Learning theme Works for whole-class, small-group, one-on-one, and homeschool/multi-age settings Print-and-go, no prep Recommended for grades 3–5 (ages 8–11).