Secondary Library Media (6-12)
Strand 1: Standard 1:
English Language Arts Grade 6
Reading: Literature Standard 1
English Language Arts Grade 6
Writing Standard 3 a.
English Language Arts Grade 7
Reading: Literature Standard 1
English Language Arts Grade 7
Writing Standard 3 a.
English Language Arts Grade 8
Reading: Literature Standard 1
English Language Arts Grade 8
Writing Standard 3 a.
5 class periods of 45 minutes each
Individual
Introduce middle school students to reading through the use of graphic novels. Students will follow different themes in the novel citing quotes to support the different themes in the book.
Visit Get Graphic: The World in Words and Pictures to get a firm understanding of what graphic novels are.
El Deafo is a memoir about Cece Bell in the form of a graphic novel, great for middle schoolers and could be appropriate for elementary students.
Read independently and build reading stamina. Understand the genre of memoir. Evidence to be collected: use text evidence to support analysis, determine themes from the book, analyze how elements in a story act.
Lesson 1: Introduction - whole group (15 minutes)
Introduction to graphic novel format: Ask students what they know about graphic novels, what they've read, what they like.
Key points:
Individual work for 30 minutes:
Introduction for Lesson 2:
Introduce El Deafo with a book talk.
Inquiry: According to the book talk what type of graphic novel is this book? (Think of yesterday's activity.) What clues lead you to that decision?
Finalize Lesson 2 and 3-5
Hand out sheet 2: El Deafo theme tracker.
Walk the students through the instructions and expectations for the assignment.
Each theme tracker box has a theme for the story. As students read the book, they write down a quote from the story and explain how it supports that specific theme. The last theme tracker box is a theme of the students choice.
Activity two should take about 3 full class periods.
7th or 8th grader reading on grade level should be able to complete 70 pages per period.
Teachers can read aloud with students that cannot read the text independently. Teachers can scaffold the theme tracking with those students. If Overdrive or audible text is available, students can listen to the text.
Teachers can read aloud with students that cannot read the text independently. Teachers can scaffold the theme tracking with those students. If Overdrive or audible text is available, students can listen to the text.
Quick Check: The graphic novel chosen by each student matches the critieria for each of the graphic novels described on the website.