My students need 100 copies of Maus I. I would like to have a copy for every student so that students can read at home and come to class prepared for discussions.
When I was in tenth grade, I signed up for an interdisciplinary English and History course called World Studies. We read a lot that year, but what I remember reading most is the graphic novel, Maus. I want to bring this exciting experience to my students. I want to bring comics to my curriculum.
My school educates grades 6-8 in a middle income area of Alabama.
We're a Google school. We split off from a county school system over a year ago, and we are working to forge our own culture and identity.
I teach eighth grade. Two of my classes are inclusion with special education and ELL students. My classes are small—mostly under twenty students. I am hoping that comics in the classroom can engage students who struggle with comprehension and engage them with the grade-wide holocaust unit.
My Project
I am requesting copies of this book because I want students to be able to read at home and come prepared for class discussions. I plan to use Maus to teach metaphors and symbolism and to facilitate discussion about the holocaust in conjunction with the eighth grade history curriculum.
I plan to use this graphic novel in conjunction with excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank and Night to reach Common Core aims of comparing how different mediums approach the same subject matter. Students will also read non-fiction to supplement their knowledge of the holocaust. They will journal and discuss frequently to check for understanding and practice speaking and writing skills.
At the end of the unit, a guest speaker will be coming in to speak with students school-wide.
When I read Maus in tenth grade, it was my first experience with comics as literature.
I went home and read the comic from start to finish in one night. Comics are great for English Language Learners, but they're also ideal for engaging students who are resistant to reading. I hope that by introducing this book to my class, that I can expose my students to a piece of classic literature and engage them in classroom activities.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Strickland and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
