For those not following the QUESTION: What do people need to know in order to teach the comic responses - you should check out the interesting set of responses folks dropped on Mike.
BTW - if you ever see a discussion you REALLY want to follow just click the follow button at the bottom of the discussion - see the hand below...
Check out the slideshow to see how creating comic strips in an elementary classroom really works! The second graders are studying various aspects of Japanese culture. Sumo wrestling has been a big hit! Three Strong Women is the tall tale I chose for students to read as partners to learn about traditional wrestling in Japan. Then we used "Kids Web Japan" to learn about modern day sumo wrestling. Students also learned to draw "Hello Kitty" characters, another aspect of Japanese culture. Students synthesized all of their learning to make individual "graphic novels," modeled on the graphic novels they are reading in class. Enjoy! (An integrated curriculum is a meaningful curriculum).
Marcy - that can go up in the discussion so that it is archived (With a url and not buried on the wall) and shared in our Week In Review - you might also cross-post in the Elementary ed group discussion - thanks for sharing!!!
Hey Ryan, I do not know of any hash-tags but we can always start a new one, right? What about #gnedu ? I recently took a course that opened my eyes to the usage of GN's in a classroom. We partnered American Born Chinese with Great Gatsby. Wow
I'd like to second the vote for #comicsedu. Jessica and I have been using it extensively on our own (@mmaddencomics and @jccabel) and also at @dwandwp and it's been taken up pretty widely by academics writing about comics, especially @ComicsGrid and @ernestopriego (one of its editors).
I take it that #comicsedu is a twitter thing? For those of us who don't have the media packages for our mobile phones, I guess it's accessible on the internet?
I'm definitely open to using graphic novels and comics, but I am looking for some type of superhero themed short story to use with my 9th graders. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Jessica, I have had a great deal of success having students create their own superheros, then a la Thieves World (Robert Asprin/Lynn Abbey) and Wild Cards (George R.R. Martin/Melinda Snodgrass), you and they create a shared story line incorporating their heroes (I strongly recommend that only the teacher gets to play the villains).
Belated comment from Comic-con: In the Comic Arts Conference mini con within a con, a special education teacher noted that Comic Sans is nearly impossible to decipher for many of her students, echoed by another sped teacher in the audience. We, as comics creators, should keep in mind font choice for an audience that craves the genre, but has challenges deciphering the language.
Random thought for the day: I think the upcoming film on Tintin is an excellent occasion for which to study The Adventures of Tintin in our classrooms! What may incite particularly interesting conversations would be to point out that a representative from the Congo requested that Tintin in the Congo .... I am currently writing up an article comparing this strange switch: the sudden rise in popularity of the series in America, and the sudden critical eye that Europe has developed for it. The occasion is all the more eerie for the sudden downfall of Asterix in France, as well.
Molly, that is great discussion topic! Perhaps paste it up above in the discussion forum so it does not get buried here on the wall AND so it can be shared with a URL in the Week in Review!
@Jeff: I understand your comment about reading some of the fonts used in comics. I teach quite a few ESL students and if the words are not in a readily recognized font, and a pretty vanilla one, they are even more confused. When I have them design their own comics the words are almost always Times New Roman or Arial because they can "see" those and comprehend them.
I am thinking about doing a mini-lesson with goanimate.com. My thought process is that my 8th grade students could use an alternative approach to learning how to use dialogue in their narratives. Also, there is a voice option that let's you hear how someone might read your words. My urban kids and ESL students might benefit from hearing how someone might read their writing. I am hoping it would improve grammar and punctuation. Thoughts?
Steven, consider adding some more details to your post and putting it up above as a crowdsource question - that way your question won't get buried on the wall, you'll have a discussion thread AND it can be shared with a URL with everyone in the next CS broadcasT!
Steven, I thing your ideas are great! I just finished reading how the use of dialogue can spice up non-fiction pieces of writing as well. I just retired in June, but from December to April, I will be taking over for an ESL teacher. Using and writing mini-graphic novels, as I call them, is a great way for students to show factual information!
One of my editors sent me the Texas Library Association list of recommended graphic novels for 2012 (Maverick Graphic Novel List). There are a lot of terrific books on the list. Make sure you go all they way to the last page where you can find Vietnamerica by GB TRan. It is one of my recent favorites.
Hey Jay - thanks for sharing that list. Don't be afraid to put stuff like that up in the discussion forum! That way it is archived and have a dedicated url we can share in the week in review! Ry:)
I teach ESL and use xtranormal.com when teaching punctuation, especially commas and complete sentences. First, I make a movie with no punctuation to illustrate how the computer won't pause unless told to do so with punctuation. After that, I show them how it can be done correctly. I have used this for a few years in a row now and have found great success with it. And the students love making the movies and sharing them. I am sure goanimate will work similarily.
I have also used graphic novels to teach dialog punctuation (many other languages don't use quotation marks - Spanish, for example, only uses paragraph changes to notate dialog). I ask students to re-tell a part of a graphic novel using traditional text. It forces them to use inference to decide on feelings and verbs to describe actions. It also forces them to use dialog punctuation whenever there is a dialog or thought bubble. And when they get to writing their own stories, it is really easy to hark back to "would that be in a dialog bubble?" when thinking when to use dialog punctuation.
I think your idea of using goanimate will be great! Best of luck!
Thank you so much, Stergios, for adding more titles to the graphic novels' list. I am now using Pinterest to upload all of the covers of the good graphic novels for teachers to pull of the Graphic Novel bulletin board I created. There is still a need for more "informative" graphic novels for young students. So many great titles are geared for middle and upper school kids.
If anyone wants me to "invite" them to my Global Reads' bulletin board, I will. If you are already a member, just use my name and "follow." I have a bulletin board of "Global Reads" as well.
Does anyone know of the most user friendly website for students to create comics related to world history? My goal is to give the students a basic historical event summary and then have them draw it online. Something better than paint would be awesome.
Mike -- This could easily become a full-fledged discussion, but here I'll just put in my standard plug to get the kids drawing with old-fashioned pencil+ink on paper. Even without the technological apparati, they'll still be learning essential skills relating to visual & hypertextual navigation, prioritization, and project management...
You'll find some sample approaches under HISTORY on my COMICS WORKSHOP blog, including units like WWII, Ancient Maya, Medieval Europe, &c. ... Note the vital role played by contemporary graphical texts in bringing the historical period to life for the students. -- M
I will be teaching a college course, "Comics, Graphic Novels and Film" and I would love to know your recommendations, both of books to read and film adaptations to view. Thanks!
Hi Tim! Great question. Unfortunately, things like this - when posted on the wall - tend to get buried / lost. For that reason do consider re-posting the question up above us in the discussion forum as a crowdsource question. That way you have a dedicated URL and I can share your ? on a Crowdsource Tuesday!
Hi, all! The third issue of SANEjournal: sequential art narrative in education has published. Guest co-edited with Katie Monnin, "Visualizing and Visually Representing" features three articles and three rationales designed to help us consider the roles of comics in the classroom. Plus, it's free and open-access for anyone! Visit http://www.sanejournal.net to access articles and free professional development for you and your peers.
A tender illustrated story about acceptance and belonging.
I discovered that it is indeed the well written graphic novels that help first and second graders engage and learn to read independently, with the "love" of reading. The visuals help students connect with the text. It is well researched that visuals are the bridge to reading success. As students grow older, books do not have illustrations, the very bridge that struggling readers need! At the College Success Academy, every struggling reader has unearthed their love of reading due to the higher level graphic novels I have purchased for them. I believe that every classroom should have a shelf or two of well written graphic novels.
Hey Marcy, you can always post that up in the discussion forum (with a cool pic of the cover - of course) so it has a lasting URL. Thanks for sharing. RRG:)
I'm really pleased that we're going to see a woman as the lead of a Hollywood superhero franchise, especially one tied to the Marvel money train.
Stuff that may be useful if you want to do work around female superheroes in the classroom: last year, librarians and academics discussed Auckland University of Technology's media literacy program for teenage girls in this blog post, XXUnmasked.
Sean
Apr 16, 2011
Tony O'seland
Apr 16, 2011
Ryan Goble
Apr 17, 2011
Ryan Goble
BTW - if you ever see a discussion you REALLY want to follow just click the follow button at the bottom of the discussion - see the hand below...
May 28, 2011
Marcy Prager
Check out the slideshow to see how creating comic strips in an elementary classroom really works! The second graders are studying various aspects of Japanese culture. Sumo wrestling has been a big hit! Three Strong Women is the tall tale I chose for students to read as partners to learn about traditional wrestling in Japan. Then we used "Kids Web Japan" to learn about modern day sumo wrestling. Students also learned to draw "Hello Kitty" characters, another aspect of Japanese culture. Students synthesized all of their learning to make individual "graphic novels," modeled on the graphic novels they are reading in class. Enjoy! (An integrated curriculum is a meaningful curriculum).
http://gallery.me.com/marcyprager#100764
May 28, 2011
Ryan Goble
May 28, 2011
Pam Goble
Marcy,
How beautiful.
Pam
May 31, 2011
Ryan Goble
Mom - you can now tell Marcy "how beautiful" in her discussion above!!!! :)
Second Grade Creates Graphic Novels
May 31, 2011
Ryan Goble
Jun 27, 2011
steven houseman
Jul 10, 2011
steven houseman
Also, Ryan, I just followed you on twitter. My name is @HouseSox
Jul 10, 2011
Ryan Goble
Jul 10, 2011
steven houseman
Jul 10, 2011
Matt Madden
Jul 10, 2011
Stergios Botzakis
Thanks for the heads-up on #comicedu. I'll start using it for my tweets as well.
I'm @sbotzakis on there if any of you feel like following...
Jul 11, 2011
Tony O'seland
Jul 11, 2011
Stergios Botzakis
Jul 11, 2011
steven houseman
Jul 12, 2011
Ryan Goble
Steve make that a groovy crowdsource question and I can broadcast it - see
http://mcpopmb.ning.com/page/post-a-crowdsource
Jul 14, 2011
steven houseman
Jul 20, 2011
Jessica Gallagher
Aug 25, 2011
Jeff Brain
Sep 11, 2011
Jeff Brain
Sep 11, 2011
Molly Landholt
Oct 21, 2011
Ryan Goble
Oct 21, 2011
Tony O'seland
Oct 22, 2011
steven houseman
Molly, what grade are you thinking of using Tintin for?
Nov 8, 2011
steven houseman
I am thinking about doing a mini-lesson with goanimate.com. My thought process is that my 8th grade students could use an alternative approach to learning how to use dialogue in their narratives. Also, there is a voice option that let's you hear how someone might read your words. My urban kids and ESL students might benefit from hearing how someone might read their writing. I am hoping it would improve grammar and punctuation. Thoughts?
Nov 8, 2011
Ryan Goble
Steven, consider adding some more details to your post and putting it up above as a crowdsource question - that way your question won't get buried on the wall, you'll have a discussion thread AND it can be shared with a URL with everyone in the next CS broadcasT!
Nov 8, 2011
Marcy Prager
Steven,
I thing your ideas are great! I just finished reading how the use of dialogue can spice up non-fiction pieces of writing as well. I just retired in June, but from December to April, I will be taking over for an ESL teacher. Using and writing mini-graphic novels, as I call them, is a great way for students to show factual information!
Nov 8, 2011
Jay Hosler
One of my editors sent me the Texas Library Association list of recommended graphic novels for 2012 (Maverick Graphic Novel List). There are a lot of terrific books on the list. Make sure you go all they way to the last page where you can find Vietnamerica by GB TRan. It is one of my recent favorites.
Nov 18, 2011
Marcy Prager
Thank you for sharing this list, Jay!
Nov 18, 2011
Ryan Goble
Hey Jay - thanks for sharing that list. Don't be afraid to put stuff like that up in the discussion forum! That way it is archived and have a dedicated url we can share in the week in review! Ry:)
Nov 18, 2011
Joan Axthelm
Steven -
I teach ESL and use xtranormal.com when teaching punctuation, especially commas and complete sentences. First, I make a movie with no punctuation to illustrate how the computer won't pause unless told to do so with punctuation. After that, I show them how it can be done correctly. I have used this for a few years in a row now and have found great success with it. And the students love making the movies and sharing them. I am sure goanimate will work similarily.
I have also used graphic novels to teach dialog punctuation (many other languages don't use quotation marks - Spanish, for example, only uses paragraph changes to notate dialog). I ask students to re-tell a part of a graphic novel using traditional text. It forces them to use inference to decide on feelings and verbs to describe actions. It also forces them to use dialog punctuation whenever there is a dialog or thought bubble. And when they get to writing their own stories, it is really easy to hark back to "would that be in a dialog bubble?" when thinking when to use dialog punctuation.
I think your idea of using goanimate will be great! Best of luck!
Dec 29, 2011
Marcy Prager
Thank you so much, Stergios, for adding more titles to the graphic novels' list. I am now using Pinterest to upload all of the covers of the good graphic novels for teachers to pull of the Graphic Novel bulletin board I created. There is still a need for more "informative" graphic novels for young students. So many great titles are geared for middle and upper school kids.
If anyone wants me to "invite" them to my Global Reads' bulletin board, I will. If you are already a member, just use my name and "follow." I have a bulletin board of "Global Reads" as well.
Mar 26, 2012
Ryan Goble
Long Live Stergios! What is the url for your Global Reads BB so people can check it out?
Mar 26, 2012
Marcy Prager
http://pinterest.com/marcyprager/graphic-novels/
Mar 26, 2012
Marcy Prager
http://pinterest.com/marcyprager/global-reads/
Mar 26, 2012
Mike Mcquade
Does anyone know of the most user friendly website for students to create comics related to world history? My goal is to give the students a basic historical event summary and then have them draw it online. Something better than paint would be awesome.
Thanks,
Mike
Aug 7, 2012
Marek Bennett
Mike -- This could easily become a full-fledged discussion, but here I'll just put in my standard plug to get the kids drawing with old-fashioned pencil+ink on paper. Even without the technological apparati, they'll still be learning essential skills relating to visual & hypertextual navigation, prioritization, and project management...
You'll find some sample approaches under HISTORY on my COMICS WORKSHOP blog, including units like WWII, Ancient Maya, Medieval Europe, &c. ... Note the vital role played by contemporary graphical texts in bringing the historical period to life for the students. -- M
Aug 7, 2012
timothy shea
I will be teaching a college course, "Comics, Graphic Novels and Film" and I would love to know your recommendations, both of books to read and film adaptations to view. Thanks!
Sep 17, 2012
Ryan Goble
Hi Tim! Great question. Unfortunately, things like this - when posted on the wall - tend to get buried / lost. For that reason do consider re-posting the question up above us in the discussion forum as a crowdsource question. That way you have a dedicated URL and I can share your ? on a Crowdsource Tuesday!
Sep 17, 2012
Jeff Brain
One of my favorite books to use in teaching comics, that has great "filming" tips is Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre.
Sep 17, 2012
James Bucky Carter
Hi, all! The third issue of SANEjournal: sequential art narrative in education has published. Guest co-edited with Katie Monnin, "Visualizing and Visually Representing" features three articles and three rationales designed to help us consider the roles of comics in the classroom. Plus, it's free and open-access for anyone! Visit http://www.sanejournal.net to access articles and free professional development for you and your peers.
Jan 24, 2013
Ryan Goble
JBC - awesome & congrats. Pls consider posting up in the discussion forum so you have a url and we can share during a WIR!
Jan 25, 2013
William Zimmerman
MakeBeliefsComix.com has published a special free printable for Women's History Month at http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Printables/print.php?category=Featu...
It asks: Imagine that you could talk with any woman in history whom you admire. Who would that be and what would you say to her.
You are welcome to print it out and also pin it on your Pinterest page. Hope you will share with your students.
Mar 12, 2013
Marcy Prager
Jane, the Fox and Me: A Gorgeous Graphic Novel about the Travails o...
by Maria Popova
A tender illustrated story about acceptance and belonging.
I discovered that it is indeed the well written graphic novels that help first and second graders engage and learn to read independently, with the "love" of reading. The visuals help students connect with the text. It is well researched that visuals are the bridge to reading success. As students grow older, books do not have illustrations, the very bridge that struggling readers need! At the College Success Academy, every struggling reader has unearthed their love of reading due to the higher level graphic novels I have purchased for them. I believe that every classroom should have a shelf or two of well written graphic novels.
Dec 1, 2013
Ryan Goble
Hey Marcy, you can always post that up in the discussion forum (with a cool pic of the cover - of course) so it has a lasting URL. Thanks for sharing. RRG:)
Dec 2, 2013
Matt Finch
So you'll have seen the announcement that Marvel is finally going to give us a female-led superhero film in Captain Marvel, due July 2018.
I'm really pleased that we're going to see a woman as the lead of a Hollywood superhero franchise, especially one tied to the Marvel money train.
Stuff that may be useful if you want to do work around female superheroes in the classroom: last year, librarians and academics discussed Auckland University of Technology's media literacy program for teenage girls in this blog post, XXUnmasked.
You can read female educators and critics in a group discussion about comics for girls at Comics in the Classroom: Supporting Female Students, part one and part two. I also wrote a bit on Captain Marvel today, and on the limits of grim male superhero characters at Here Comes Your Man: Time For Some Smiling Superheroes?
Mostly though, I just want to say seriously soo coool!
Oct 28, 2014
Margaret Robbins
Hi all, FYI, I also have a blog that discusses comics, as well as graphic novels and YA novels: http://comicsandyalit.blogspot.com. Cheers, Margaret
Sep 22, 2015