Our school has a very diverse student population, and graphic novels have broad appeal. For students learning the English language, graphic novel's visual format provides a key to understanding. Many of my advanced readers enjoy the appealing artwork and stories, as well.
With over 175 students, I never have enough copies of graphic novels in my classroom library to go around, especially once so many of my reluctant readers become hooked on these series.
I even have students who have transferred out of my classes coming back to peruse my classoom library shelves.
My Project
My graphic novel unit is one of the most popular and engaging subjects that I cover as a 6th-grade reading teacher. As with traditional novels, many graphic novels have complex plots, fully-developed characters, and exciting conflicts. My students read graphic novels from many genres beyond fantasy--realistic fiction, biographies, informational texts, science fiction, even graphic novel versions of classics like Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Anne of Green Gables. We learn the lingo--frames, panels, gutters, etc.--and how to spell onomatopoeia. (Can you?!) The unit wraps up with students designing their own full-color graphic novel pages.
Since I started my classroom library three years ago, I have been amazed by the demand for graphic novels.
This format's popularity has skyrocketed. Every new title or series that I purchase is read eagerly by my students.
I am requesting a list of graphic novels that middle schoolers love, like the #1 New York Times bestselling Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi and the graphic novel version of The Baby-Sitters Club series by Raina Tegemeier. Also, I am requesting a two rolls of clear contact paper to cover the books and help them last longer.
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