New Kid Jerry Craft into Your Curriculum full novel study lessons can be found by clicking HERE for Teachers Pay Teachers.

The 2019 graphic novel “New Kid” by Jerry Craft is an excellent resource for teaching middle school students important lessons about self-identity, racism, and cultural diversity. This thought-provoking book has been widely praised for its honest portrayal of the struggles that minority children face in school. In this blog post, we will discuss ways to incorporate this book into your classroom curriculum.

Encouraging Engagement with the Text
When introducing a new book to your students, it’s important to create an environment that encourages engagement and excitement. Start by showing them the cover of the book and asking what they think it might be about based on their first impression. You can also give them a brief overview of the story so they know what to expect when they start reading. Additionally, asking your students questions throughout their reading experience will help keep them engaged in the text and encourage them to think more deeply about the themes presented in the book.

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Introducing the Story
Before introducing the novel to your students, it’s important to provide them with an overview of the story. This can be done through discussion or by having students watch a short video about the book. You should also make sure to note some of the awards and accolades that the book has received (including the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award). This will help set up a sense of anticipation among your students as they begin reading it.

In-Class Activities
Once you’ve introduced your class to “New Kid,” there are plenty of activities that can help bring out meaningful conversations and deeper understanding of key topics in the story. For example, you could have students draw characters from the novel or create their own comic strips based on scenes from the book. Additionally, you could have them write reviews of “New Kid” or even create their own graphic novels inspired by the themes found in Craft’s work. These activities will help deepen student engagement with both literature and illustration techniques.

Discussion Questions
In addition to activities like those outlined above, there are also discussion questions that can be used as prompts for further classroom dialogue around key themes found in “New Kid.” These questions can delve into topics such as identity formation, racial microaggressions and cultural appropriation—all important topics that are explored throughout Craft’s graphic novel. This type of active participation will ensure that your students get more out of their reading experience than just comprehension alone; they’ll also gain valuable insight into these social issues as well as practice using critical thinking skills to articulate their ideas about them.

Exploring Important Themes
New Kid Jerry Craft work gives educators an opportunity to explore important themes such as racism, cultural identity, and self-acceptance with their students. Asking your class questions about how Jordan struggles with these issues can help students better understand these concepts as well as how they apply to situations in their own lives. Additionally, discussing how Jordan navigates his new school environment—from making friends with other minority students to learning new social norms—can help your students reflect on their own experiences adjusting to a new environment or fitting different social groups within their existing one.

Additionally, there are many activities you can do after reading New Kid with your class that will help reinforce its key themes and encourage critical thinking skills among your students. For example, you could have them write an essay or draw a picture illustrating different aspects of Jordan’s story or even write fan fiction from another character’s perspective!

Incorporating New Kid into your classroom curriculum is a great way to teach middle schoolers meaningful lessons about identity, racism and cultural diversity. Through engaging discussion questions, thoughtful activities and creative projects inspired by Craft’s text, teachers can create an interactive learning experience for their students that helps deepen their understanding of these topics while also encouraging critical thinking skills. Ultimately, New Kid provides educators with an invaluable tool for exploring difficult subjects in age-appropriate ways that are both educational and entertaining!

To read an article about the graphic novel, They Called US Enemy, click HERE