Manga Makes Reluctant Readers Reading Enthusiasts!
Help me give my students the chance to fulfill their reading requests for these graphic novels. I have struggling and reluctant readers who are super excited about this series. To become a reader everyone needs to start somewhere.
My students are bright, energetic, young boys and girls trying to figure out their place in the world. At times they are over flowing with youthful optimism and wonder at new thoughts, ideas and concepts. At others, they are jaded, old souls, too cool for school and way too mature to get overly enthusiastic. As a new teacher it is always a wonder and learning experience, for all of us, to see what each new day bring.
I am in a constant uphill battle to convince my students that reading can be fun and useful, and that reading for fun doesn’t make you any less cool.
I will never forget my first, and possibly only, thank you letter from a student. Charlie thanked me for assigning reading homework because he could see the difference in his hand writing, his spelling, and most definitely in his reading speed. He has read more books than he thought possible and found himself really enjoying reading. When I gave them the option to work ahead on reading homework over winter break he came back with a semester and a half done.
That’s what I live for.
My Project
I have many struggling and disinterested readers in my classes. Some say reading is boring or that they hate it. Some tell me that the library doesn't have the books they like, while others complain that it takes too much of their time.
Despite their complaints, I know no one hates to read; they just haven't found what they like to read yet.
Sometimes you just need to try a different angle. For many of my struggling and/or disinterested readers Manga can be and is a great alternative to the typical teen novels we push upon them at every turn. Lulled into a false sense of security by the dynamic pictures, few students realize what complex vocabulary and dialogue they are reading of their own free will and with a great deal of enthusiasm.
For this reason I have filled shelves with over 500 of my own personal Manga books and continually add extra volumes from my own collection as students read and make requests. I have made the books available to any student who is interested regardless of their grade level. However their has been a large number of requests for the Dragon Ball series, from students who have shown no interest in any other books at all. But as any book reader and graphic novel buyer can tell you, starting and maintaining any series gets really expensive really fast.
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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 Ms. Calkin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
