Students at our high school are special because of their diverse backgrounds, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. Over 60% of our students identify as non-white. Our district is the third most diverse in the state and qualifies for 100% free lunch. Many of my students are English Language Learners or have learning disabilities and require differentiated and individualized lessons. Resources in low income, urban public school districts are slim, and many of my students have very few resources at home.
Many of my high school students struggle with reading as they are English Language Learners and have learning disabilities.
They often struggle to understand and engage with texts that they feel they cannot relate to. Our required reading of "ancient" texts, such as Romeo and Juliet and The Odyssey, can be especially hard for them to access as these stories occur worlds away, with characters living completely different lives than those of my students. However, I know that once my students are able to understand these classic stories, they will be able to connect with the characters and conflicts in these stories, as well as see the important messages they have to offer.
My Project
My students are engaged learners when they can connect to their reading. Classic texts such as The Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet often intimidate ELL students and my lower-level readers because they can be hard to understand, causing them to shut down and avoid reading them altogether. But these "ancient" texts contain important messages that are still relevant to my students today, and I want them to be able to appreciate them!
These graphic novels will help my students to access, connect with, and understand these classic texts.
In today's visual world, my students need texts brought to life. These graphic novels, when paired with the original texts, will help my students engage more deeply with the material and analyze themes, characters, settings, and conflict. From this deeper understanding, my students will be able to appreciate these stories and engage with the texts more authentically.
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