Inspiring Learners with Graphic Novels

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My goal is to make reading fun and interesting for every student, while also making sure to build their reading level. I teach 6th grade at a K-6 Elementary School in California. Our school is made up of 98% students with free or reduced lunches. Over one-third of our students are English Language Learners, and many struggle significantly with reading. More than 80% of my class came in reading below grade level, and more than 20% were reading below a third grade level (in sixth grade). Since the beginning of the year, I have worked in a guided reading model to build their reading levels together. Our class has made over 3/4 of a years growth in 4 months of school.

My challenge is not my lowest students or my highest students, but my middle students that make up about 60% of my class. They are stuck at a 5th grade level and as they get to the middle school age, are becoming disinterested in reading. This is especially difficult because 6th grade is a non-fiction heavy year, and students are bored by non-fiction texts about un-relatable topics. In addition, there is a lack of interesting non-fiction books at my school.

I propose to start a reading program for my uninvested readers by using rigorous graphic novels to compel readers to learn and grow as readers. I have chosen three excellent graphic novels, two of which are non-fiction and one which is a historical fiction with lots of true details. The goal is to hook the readers back into non-fiction and teach non-fiction reading skills while keeping a high level of interest in the books. I will use these books during guided reading time, when I sit down with 4 students at a time and engage in reading with them to address their individual needs. Students will build their interest around the topic and then eventually write a research paper based on their reading.

You will make it possible for my students to become reinvested in reading at a critical moment in their lives. Middle school is the moment at which good readers grow and struggling readers crumble. Peer pressures will be alleviated by "cool" books and amazing stories in a program that is targeted and objective driven. My students do not have the resources to afford these books on their own and will treat the books and material with great respect. Please help me create a foundation for strong non-fiction readers.