Help me give my students the ability to understand key themes and make analyses of To Kill a Mockingbird in a way that is familiar to them: graphic novels!
You've seen the news headlines: "Mississippi falls behind other states in student success." These types of broadcasts in media give our children a reputation that they certainly do not deserve. Often, students have little to no control over the education they receive; however, these devastating labels tend to follow Mississippi students post-graduation. This is no exaggeration: I've experienced it firsthand.
My students are breaking barriers and dismantling stereotypes with their resilience and determination.
Many of my students have more than just school to worry about. Although they are young, my students often have difficult situations to work through that many adults have not yet faced. I am inspired by their dedication to their studies, and I want them to have the education they deserve and the resources to help make their dreams come true.
My Project
Think of a novel that you were expected to read at some point in your lifetime but had difficulty understanding the verbiage, complex themes, and confusing dialogue. Imagine if you were able to read that same novel in the same way that you read picture books when you first began learning to read.
These graphic novels will allow students to learn to read and analyze complex texts in a way that works for them.
These graphic novels will be used to supplement our literary analysis of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. They will not take the place of the original text, but they will allow for students to make sense of difficult scenes, themes, motifs, and biases by tangibly helping them visualize the novel.
Unlike watching simply watching the movie version, graphic novels will still require students to actively think deeply and critically, yet they bridge the gap between "too hard" and "doing it for them."
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