App review by Jenny Bristol, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2018
Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up With My Family?
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Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family?

Relatable characters, situations help kids build family relationships

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
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Grades
5–8
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Health & Wellness, Communication & Collaboration, Character & SEL
Great for
Instructional Design, SEL
Price:  Paid
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

7 images
This third comic in the series covers family relationships and dynamics.
Everyone in the group has a unique family experience.
Learn about the characters in the About the Cast section.
Each frame of the strip is zoomable and can be read in this close-up view.
Both right and wrong quiz answers are explained.
The storylines wrap up in an epilogue.
Info section includes easy access to each chapter and additional information and resources.

Pros: Scenarios in the quizzes are informative and offer relevant discussion material; teacher materials make lesson planning easy.

Cons: Despite an excellent range of diversity, not every family type is represented.

Bottom Line: This graphic novel prompts reflection and discussion for SEL on a topic relevant to every student: family.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

For middle schools with an advisory class or a class period focused on social and emotional learning (SEL), Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family? would make a compelling unit to include. ELA teachers could incorporate the graphic novel to complement other class readings, having students compare and contrast the families in two or more works. ELA teachers could also use the chapters in the story and the tips at the end of each as writing prompts to inspire personal, reflective writing. Students can also be given the optional assignment of sharing stories from their own family histories and dynamics, and what lessons they were able to learn or practice.

Additionally, to get the most out of the Middle School Confidential apps, use the free Leader's Guide to the Middle School Confidential Series that covers all three books in the series. It gives extensive activity and discussion suggestions based on the content of each chapter, page by page. There's also a project-based learning guide for the series that provides individual and group project suggestions.

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Standards:

Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family? is the third in an app-based graphic novel series written by anti-bullying activist Annie Fox and illustrated by Matt Kindt. This book continues the story of six middle schoolers with diverse racial and family backgrounds who dealt with self-esteem issues in Middle School Confidential 1: Be Confident in Who You Are and learned about friendship in Middle School Confidential 2: Real Friends vs. the Other Kind. Now they learn how to get along with and appreciate the families they have -- warts and all. The kids work through issues involving a new strict stepdad and goofy little stepbrother, a single mom and a new relationship with an estranged father's family, a big family that's embarrassingly close, old-fashioned parents' rules and a spying little brother, a mom's pressure to lose weight, and a little sister who's always in the way.

Each of the app's eight short chapters focuses on a different character's relationship with his or her family and ends with a few quiz questions and an inspirational tip recognizing the challenge of each family's dynamic in a respectful way. Kids can zoom in on panels for easier reading, and skip the quizzes by swiping past the quiz title page. Additional in-depth teacher resources are available on the books' website.

Kids can learn to develop their relationships and get along with others, especially those in their own families, as they read and discuss the families in the stories. They'll learn that families come in many forms, but all are important. Not every type of family is represented (notably missing are kids raised by grandparents, foster parents, or other caregivers), but most students will likely find at least one character they can relate to, as well as family dynamics that are often universal, such as sibling rivalry, handling change, and protective parents.

No option is provided to have the text read aloud, but the sound effects add to the mood of the stories, giving insight into the feelings of the characters. The takeaway message is that no one -- no family type, no parent, no kid -- is perfect, but we can all work on getting along better with those we love, and those skills, such as communication and respect, can transfer into all relationships. Quiz questions present real scenarios and ask students how they'd handle them, and then explain whether their choice was a good one and why. The quizzes force students to think carefully and critically about their own relationships and how they act in certain situations. Some of the questions even have several "correct" answers. The additional teacher materials will be needed to really drive the points home, though, allowing students to practice the story concepts through discussion and projects.

Overall Rating
Engagement

Students will likely find at least one character they can identify with, and the graphic novel's realistic writing and expressive illustrations can be engaging for some middle schoolers.

Pedagogy

In a format middle schoolers appreciate, the graphic novel uses a diverse group of kids to demonstrate how to maneuver family relationships and offers concrete ways to improve them, through modeling and quizzes.

Support

Students see explanations of both right and wrong answers and teacher materials allow classes to dig deep into family dynamics. Audio of character dialogue would expand accessibility.

Common Sense reviewer
Jenny Bristol Other
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Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.5.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.5.1b

    Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.

  • SL.5.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

  • SL.5.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.

  • SL.6.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.6.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.6.1c

    Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

  • SL.6.1d

    Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

  • SL.7.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.7.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.7.1c

    Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.

  • SL.7.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

  • SL.8.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.8.1b

    Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

  • SL.8.1c

    Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas.

  • SL.8.1d

    Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented.

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