September 24

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Top 10 Reasons to Join Us in our October Graphic Novel Celebration!

Posted by on September 24, 2015 in Top Ten Lists | 11 Comments

gncelebration_square

Are your graphic novel book bins always empty?  Are your students begging you for more titles?  Are you always looking for new graphic novel titles?   Do you use them in the classroom to teach craft, structure and comprehension?  Do you love the energy they bring to the classroom?  If so, this event is for you!   Throughout the month of October, Franki Sibberson and Mary Lee Hahn of A Year of Reading; Alyson Beecher of KidLit Frenzy; and Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan of Assessment in Perspective will be hosting a Graphic Novel Celebration!  

What Is It? cool speech bubble

Each Thursday in October each of us will be blogging about graphic novels and the authors of graphic novels.  We will read and post about graphic novels so we can share titles and ideas.  On November 1, 2015 at 8:00 EST, we will culminate this celebration with a Twitter Chat featuring Terry Thompson the author of Adventures in Graphica: Using Comics and Graphic Novels to Teach Comprehension, 2-6.

 

Here’s how you can participate:

  1. Grab a Badge (just copy the URL address of the one above or take a screenshot)
  2. Join the #GNCelebration Google Community kapow
  3. Read Graphic Novels:  All you need to do is read and/or reread some graphic novels.  Choose some you want to blog about.
  4. Write Your  Post:  Each Thursday in October, write a post about graphic novels, a graphic novel series or a graphic novel author.  In your post, please include the age range recommendations for your books and share why you love them so other readers can match books to their students.  If you want to share ideas of how you use these texts instructionally, go for it!
  5. Share Your Post: Each Thursday in October post your blog and link it to the #GNCelebration Google Community (https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/117918938245141547958)
  6. No Blog?:  If you don’t have a blog, it is really easy to just post directly into the Google Community without a blog.  We will also be tweeting from the #GNCelebration hashtag.    
  7. Comment:  Each Thursday, take some time to read posts from other participants and please comment on at least three.

Not convinced yet?  Here are the top ten Nerdy reasons we think you should join us:

 

  1. Learn about New Graphic Novels: Graphic Novels are often the most well worn books in classrooms and libraries. Readers of all ages and interests just can’t seem to get enough of these texts.  Join this October celebration to share the texts your students love and learn about new graphic novels to add to your collection.

stratford zoo presents macbeth

 

  1. Find Engaging Texts for Developing Readers:  Graphic Novels are great books to “engage the unengaged.”  These books look sophisticated and cool, yet the limited words on each page make them very accessible.  The picture support, humor, varied topics, and format make graphic novels a perfect for choice for some reluctant readers.

sunny side up

 

  1. Graphic novels can be any genre: There is lots of choice in graphic novels. You can read fantasy, nonfiction, memoir and more.   The characters are unforgettable, the format is highly engaging and the texts are filled with layers of meaning.

drowned city

 

  1. Become part of a community of readers who are talking and learning about Graphic Novels: We have a Google+ Community set up to share blog posts, conversations and more. You can join us at  #GNCelebration Google Community

comics squad

 

  1. You’ll meet great new characters like Babymouse and Lunch Lady! There are so many great characters in graphic novels. Now, some of our favorite book characters are those we’ve met in graphic novels.

dragons beware

 

  1. You’ll meet great new authors like Noelle Stevenson (Nimona) and Rafael Rosado (The Chronicles of Claudette). There are so many great authors/artists writing graphic novels. The more you read, the more you’ll learn to appreciate each author’s particular style.

nimona

  1. Stretch yourself as a reader. Lots of your students have set a goal to read more widely and try out new genres, so you need to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. You might be outside your comfort zone reading graphic novels, but will learn new strategies and that will make you a better reader.

march book two

 

  1. Learn to appreciate the importance of the visual. Complexity and depth does not come only through a story told in words. With graphic novels, learning to explore the illustrations and their relationship to the text provides readers with a new experience and understanding of storytelling.

ares

 

  1. Graphic Novels are real books. Yes, graphic novels can entice children to read and be a bridge to chapter books and novels. Yes, graphic novels can be paired with a novel.  However, graphic novels can be read and fully enjoyed for how wonderful each book is on it’s own.

bird and squirrel on the edge

 

  1. Win a Prize: Each week we will raffle off a prize!  To enter, join our Graphic Novel Celebration, write about the graphic novels you and your students love to read and comment on 3 other posts.  A winner will be selected randomly each Thursday on one of our blogs:

hilo book 1

 

Join us and to celebrate the power of graphic novels!