Great Graphic Novels for the Classroom

I'm linking up with the wonderful people over at the Nerdy Book Club to blog today about amazing Graphic Novels that I have in my classroom.

One of the best items I've added to my classroom in the last few years has been graphic novels, and I'll be honest, at first I was a skeptic.  I thought that having them would make my kids grab them more over the traditional novel.  Now, get beyond the whole, "Well, they are still reading" thing.  I still want my students to read that traditional novel.  They need practice making visual cues, and they need to work on stamina and context reading long term.  But graphic novels have surely won me over.  They are an amazing way for students who struggle to feel like they fit in with your star readers.  

Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors for sixth grade.  My students devour The Lightning Thief series, and if I can get them hooked, they usually read The Kane Chronicles as well.  

              

I know that my struggling readers want so badly to read these series.  I've suggested audiobooks in the past, but graphic novels are SO.. MUCH.. BETTER for them!  I use The Lightning Thief graphic novel in my classroom with students to teach reading strategies.  It often gets the point across quickly within my small groups because my struggling readers can use the picture clues to determin character traits. Analysis becomes easier for them.  Then they can transfer their information into the lengthier traditional novel.  I use the Lightning Thief when I teach about the concept of The Hero's Journey.  If you teach this as well, you can go {HERE} to Google drive and download the organizer I use.

I love that the Nerdy Book Club has decided to devote Thursdays in the month of October to graphic novels.  When I head to the library this week with my kids, I'm going to look for a few more interesting GN's to share.  If you know of any I should check out, please leave me a comment below!