#LDchat Archive
Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
Wednesday October 19, 2016
12:00 PM EDT
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Welcome to today’s LD Chat! This is Dan with the Understood team.
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We’re happy to have our founding partner cohosting today’s chat.
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Hi Kimberly, welcome to the chat!
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We’ll be chatting about texts for struggling and reluctant readers.
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Hi everyone! So glad to be here today co-hosting this chat on graphic novels with
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Hi Kimberly! Thanks for joining!
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Thank you! I am Kimberly Nicholls. I am a mother of a second grader with dyspraxia who is testing for dyslexia/dysgraphia and ADHD.
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Laura Jimenez here from BU school of ed. I research reading comprehension, as well as character representations in graphic novels.
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Hi Laura! Thanks for joining today.
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We'll start in just a couple minutes as folks settle in...
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Yes I am a regular user. We have been a part of the community since she was in Kindergarten.
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Thanks for telling us about your child, Kimberly. What are you hoping to get out of the chat?
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That's great! I hope you've been finding our resources helpful.
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Hey Jenn! So great to have you.
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Hi Laura, That sounds really interesting. Hope you can chime in w/ some recommendations during the chat!
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Ideas for reading to encourage her habits. It is kind of hard to get her to read for pleasure. I would love to see her have
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Ideas for reading to encourage her habits. It is kind of hard to get her to read for pleasure. I would love to see her have
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A series of books that she loves to reaf
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First question coming up...
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Q1. What is the benefit and appeal of graphic novels for struggling and reluctant readers?
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A1: Visualization and context clues help enhance comprehension of the story
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Success! Cece Bell: "Suddenly you read a 220-page book, and you’ve never read a 220-page book in your life." https://t.co/bpUei82OzI
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A1: Images help to tell the story and guide the reader.
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Great, we will have some recommendations coming up soon!
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A1: Also, in some instances, incorporating characters they enjoy from other media (TV, movies, etc.)
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My daughter loves it when she can see pictures and if text is spaced out in the page. I notice lots of sentence increase anxiety.
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first, chat, not sure of the etiquette...when do i ask a question,
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A1 - Some of these readers can be experts at reading images, they have a new role in class as experts.
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A1 but only of the reader knows how. : A1: Visualization and context clues help enhance comprehension of the story
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Kyle also says graphic novels "are the grand equalizers" & "welcome everyone into the reading conversation" https://t.co/oYr7epZP59
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Thanks for joining! We'll be posting questions to get everyone's thoughts on the topic...
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Good point - what are some effective ways to teach kids those skills?
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You're right. If you have trouble with interpreting facial expressions, you might not notice an angry vs. happy face.
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... But feel free to ask questions at any time. is available to give thoughts and expertise.
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RE: visual literacy skills. Readers need to learn to slow down when reading graphic novels (GN).
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There are those expressive faces games that help readers identify emotions outside of books.
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RE: visual literacy skills. reading either just words or just images is reading less then half the story!
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And some graphic novels are harder than others--just because it's a graphic novel doesn't mean it's easy.
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ty -1/2 - my 10yr tells me how often she "hates" reading. and, we've tried many approaches. she's never read a true chapter book -
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Q2. What are some titles of books that have “hooked” your kids or students, regardless of ability?
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2/2 should i back-off asking her re: chapter and suggest some good graphic books?
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Great suggestion! More of our users really like this series, too.
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My HS students have responded to memoirs and lit they can relate to.
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She likes Pinkalicious, too.
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Shannon Hale: "Nobody is not a reader, they just haven't found the right book for them yet." https://t.co/ZfqHKL9SvC
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The Dragonbreath series from Ursula Vernon; Babymouse from Jennifer & Matt Holm; Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi; and Toon Books
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A2 - depends on the reader. Historical fiction? Try Nathan Hale Haz. Tales
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My daughter is also at an age where she will need to read non-fiction books. I feel I need help with encouraging topics like these.
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A2 - Historical Fiction - Strange Fruit &Tales of the Talented Tenth, by
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A2 Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
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A2- My 5 yo loooves the bearenstean bears. Also Everyday Heroes series by
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Q3. What are some great ways to build a classroom library of accessible, interesting books for struggling and reluctant readers?
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Biograhpies, science, history, culture. I don't what to do as she moves into reports and projects with non-fiction books.
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A3: The internet today provides access to an online library.
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A3: Ask for recommendations from your school and public librarian to build your classroom library.
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A3 - I recommend great authors like Gene Yang, Barry Deutsch, Noelle Stevenson
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A2 Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
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A3: I would scour Amazon for used books that I could sometimes buy for pennies.
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What qualities about their books do you like best for kids with learning and attention issues?
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do graphic novels work well on digital or epic books? are they better in a paper copy?
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A3 - but teachers, parents and librarians need to be aware of issues of representation. There are many badly stereotypical GNs.
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A3: Audio books! Goodwill! Library sales.
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A2: Wonder by Raquel J Palacio
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I think it depends on the reader. Some people, like myself, have a hard time focusing on a screen. I prefer paper.
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Re: attention issues. Might want to look at books that use white space effectively. Less distraction.
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Yes! Especially when readers can listen to audio while looking at the book
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Does anyone feel like using audiobooks encourages kids not to read?
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Bookbub is good for cheaper books as well. How about auditory books or interactive ones?
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I used to have those books that came with records. I bet you can find those still, or something more modern.
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I find that audio provides access, and doesn't lead to not reading. My students would follow along in the text.
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Graphic novels on digital platforms have some issues. Page orientation is a problem. As is quality of color and line.
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Article: Students Who Learn Best with Audiobooks Are Not Cheating! They Are Accessing Their Curriculum
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I also worry about when it comes to teaching my child Shakespeare and Epics like Gilgamesh or The Iliad.
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Are you teaching decoding or comprehension? I know plenty of adults who prefer audiobooks.
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There are sites like No Fear Shakespeare that provide plainer language to understand the context.
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Last question coming up...
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Understandable! I think graphic novels can help start w/ small successes that pave the way for big ones later!
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Q4. What influence does digital reading and skimming and browsing on the Internet have on reluctant and struggling readers?
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I prefer Hinds work BECAUSE he uses Shakespeare's words.
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I am a parent not a teacher. Right now I am teaching my child to figure out what is happening from the pictures,
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A4: This is a digital literacy skill that needs to be taught to all students, but especially so to struggling readers.
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In general - I would be wary of following reading level guidelines when it comes to GNs.no guidelines that measure visual literacy.
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Video: Authors & illustrators like Jeff Kinney and Cece Bell on the benefits of using graphic novels | https://t.co/BJan25GVlo
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Then go back and read the words to masked sure she has the whole story. I usually ask her a question from the page to make sure
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Any final thoughts before we wrap up?
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A2: Some titles with strong girls: "El Deafo" & "Rapunzel's Revenge"
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she understands what she read. That is great for her current level, but I have no strategies for when she gets older.
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think of an audio book as similar to you reading to your child. except they can control what they repeat, etc.
