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New Tools for Literacy: Comic Books
In an ever-increasing digital age, it can be hard to get children to pick up a book. Teachers across the country are looking at alternative approaches to get students interested in reading again. Some believe that comic books and graphic novels can provide an innovative answer that excites students. Recent interest in graphic novels has further solidified their place in the literary world. Their rich themes and pictures make reading fun again for many students.
Comic Relief
Project based learning using comic books and graphic novels can appeal to students who otherwise have a lack of interest in reading. This is not a new concept, but certainly a growing one, according to Michael Bitz, founder of the Comic Book Project. Bitz says the programs "engage children on another level to create something that comes from them, reflects on literature, and reflects on characters and story lines."
A Pathway to Basic Skills
In many of these programs children not only learn from reading comics, they also work on group projects creating their own storylines and characters. The project-based structure of this idea brings benefits—improved collaboration skills and a deeper interest and understanding in subject material. Because it is a fresh approach, it encourages students to think differently about topics and become more engaged. Comics and graphic novels provide teachers with a more interesting way to introduce literary concepts and lessons. "Along the way, the teachers have been able to engage children in spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary,” Bitz notes. “Because the kids are creating the comic books themselves, they're really invested in making them right. They want to spell words correctly. Creative projects can be a pathway to basic skills." These types of projects also nurture creativity in kids, and allow them to pair fun activities—drawing and coloring, with more intellectual pursuits of developing language and grammar skills.
Source: Finkel, Ed. “A New Literary Hero: Comics Make for Colorful l Learning, www.edutopia.org.
