Graphic Narratives as Teaching Tools

Rational

My Name is Garrick Yazzie, I am born for To Dich’ii’nii (Bitter Water Clan), my fathers are Bit’ahnii (Leaf People), my maternal parents are Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle People), and my paternal parents are To’aheedliinii (Water Flowing Together Clan). I am originally from Naatsis’Aan (Navajo Mountain), AZ. I have been in educations for about 19 years. I started out as a paraprofessional in 2007 in my home community Naatsis’Aan, UT. and was a long-term substitute as a Physical Education and Social Study Teacher in 2013-2015. In 2017 I earned my Masters in Elementary Education with Arizona State University and applied with Kayenta Unified School District. I’ve been with Kayenta Unified School District for about 9 years. I’ve taught Second, Third and currently teaching Fifth Grade this 2025/2026 school year.

Kayenta Unified School District (KUSD) has 4 school on its campus and about 1,611 students are enrolled. Kayenta, AZ is located in the Four Corner Region of the United States or Northern Arizona. Kayenta, AZ is 15 miles away from the Utah State Line. KUSD buses in students from a 40 miles radius, so students are bused in from neighboring communities like Black Forest, AZ which is about 50 miles from Kayenta and does onto dirt road. So, students must prepare for the bus very early. Some students get up as early as 4:00 am just to have a means of transportation to arrive on campus and arrive back at home by 5:00pm. he ABC Pre-K Building with 41 students enrolled, Debbie Braff Elementary a Kindergarten through Fourth grade school and has 455 students enrolled. Baker Middle is a Fifth through Eighth grade school and has 444 students enrolled. Monument Valley High School is a 9^th Grade through 12^th grade school and has 668 students enrolled. The Demographic is about 95.34% Native American Population, 2% Mutli-Cultural, 2.05% Hispanic, 2% Redacted (azedu.org). KUSD is a Title I school and 100 % free and reduce lunch for all students. KUSD also has a Navajo Culture Building, the Culture Building provides students with Dine language and culture activities and they an awesome inviting individual across Navajo Nation to present stories about traditional stories.

I work at Baker Middle School which is a 5^th – 8^th grade school. Baker Middle is on block periods, but 5^th and 6^th grader stay with one teacher. So 1^st and 2^nd period is English Language Arts (ELA), which we work on reading, writing and grammar.  3^rd period is Reading Intervention, which is based on student District Assessment they are placed in tier level groups.  4^th period is Math, which students work on algebraic thinking, measurement, data, geometry etc. 5^th period is Electives, which student have the opportunity to select Art, Physical Education (P.E.), Science Technology Engineering Math (S.T.E.M.), Computers, and Navajo Language. 6^th period is Science where student work on Life, Space, and Earth Science. 7^th period is Social Study which student work on U.S. Government and History, this is also where I am able to incorporate Navajo Culture and History.

Majority of incoming students are Navajo, so this gives me a chance to incorporate Navajo Language and Culture into my classroom. I get advice about Navajo Language and Culture lessons I teach in my classroom from the Culture Center or Navajo Language teachers on campus. The first week of school is all about getting to know one another. So, I have students say their clans, if they don’t know it I have homework where they can go come and collect the information from their parent(s) or guardian(s). Throughout the week students will introduce themselves in their Dine Language. I’ll greet students by my door by K’e and it brings a sense of comfort and safety. Another activity I do is have students recite an affirmation in the Dine Language. The affirmation is all about reminding ourselves to be mindful, be responsible, have respect and be determine. I have students use Total Physical Response (TPR), by pointing to their head and expand and phrase how we use our mind to think and be problem solvers; point to their eyes and expand and phrase how we use our eyes to analyze and watch where we go; students point to their ears and expand outward and phrase how we use our ear to listen and pick up knowledge; point to our mouth and touch our fingers together, and phrase how we use our mouth to inspire; Wave our hands and phrase how we use our hands to create; We touch our feet and march in one place and phrase how we use our feet to keep moving forward; and finally touch our chest and extend outward and phrase how the day will be beautiful.

I can be the smartest and knowledgeable teacher in the universe, but if you do not build a healthy relationship with your students, they will not learn or absorb the lessons. The value and importance of human connection is vital for student growth.