Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Our local news team came to my classroom to see how kids are using comics to learn to read, write and draw.

http://andrewwales.blogspot.com/2008/04 ... -news.html

I wish I got to read comics in class.

I like this idea. I don't know why schools everywhere don't teach comics. It seems like a no-brainer that that's a way to get kids to read.

I don't think I ever read a single "comic book" for a class until I read Art Spiegelman's Maus (which is excellent) in my final undergrad class in college.

I remember getting in trouble for reading comics in class.

ethanextravaganza wrote:I remember getting in trouble for reading comics in class.

Yes, but I suspect you got into trouble for reading comics as a distraction from the cource, while in Andy's class comics are the cource.

Thanks guys for replying. I think the old sterotype of the kid hiding the comic behind the textbook was a real thing. Some times the way subjects are approached are very boring. There is nothing more fascinating than history, but nothing more boring than a history book!

I think more and more teachers are trying to tap into the thirst for knowledge all kids have. Sometimes traditional methods squelch that. We can use comics, or other things they are drawn to. These things can make all subjects interesting and enticing.

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop for librarians called Graphic Novels: Comics in the Library. Many of those attending new kids were crazy about comics, but didn't know where to begin building their collection. I enjoy sharing how I use comics to teach a multitude of essential skills, but every time I participate in one of these I'm convinced I learn as much as anyone else from the other presenters.

Robin Brennar got us started with a presentation called What are Comics? We learned that comics are a format, not a genre. She shared how comics can help with literacy skills -- especially the 21st century set of skills for information in today's very image-oriented information age. She knew about of slew of new really great books I hadn't heard of. Now I have a long list of new things to look for.

Then it was my turn. I like the photo below, because even though it's a little blurry, it looks like I know what I'm talking about. My presentation evolves slightly every time I present. I now include what I call Comic Book Readers Theatre, Cartoon Drawing Building Blocks, and how comics can be used to teach the writing of dialogue and the literary devices of onomatopoia, alliteration, and hyperbole.

Also, a real treat was I took a little time to visit the Center for Cartoon Studies as long as I was close to it. I wrote a little about it on my blog.
There were two other really good presenters. I always come away from these things feeling like I learned at least as much as I taught!