as a group, boys especially struggle with reading
TRANSCRIPT
As a group, boys especially
struggle with reading.
and boys ages 8-13 are an average of 1 ½ grades behind girls in reading.
But we want everyone to be successful in school and in life…
…and reading is key to that.
Comic books are a great way to get boys interested in reading.
They are NOT “junk” reading.
They do NOT rot your brain in the same way that candy rots your teeth.
But as it turns out, reading comics was a healthy choice!
When we really look at comics, we discover some interesting things:
Comics contain the same story elements and devices as text-only stories.
• CHARACTERS
Archie Comics AND Little Women both have…
• THEME• SETTING• POINT OF VIEW• SYMBOLISM• CONFLICT• RESOLUTION
• CHARACTERS• THEME• SETTING
• POINT OF VIEW
• SYMBOLISM• CONFLICT• RESOLUTION
A March 2009 study in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy found that children who read comics show a larger vocabulary than children who do not.
Vocabulary also improves for comic book readers.
A March 2009 study in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy found that children who read comics show a larger vocabulary than children who do not.
INFERENCE:Drawing a
conclusion about something
unknown from known facts or
evidence
The skill of inference is another complex reading strategy that the child is developing.
PICTURES + WORDS + COLORS =MEANING
Com
ics
We live in a highly visual culture.
Kids play video games that require them interact with storylines, made decisions and problem solve directing the actions of their virtual selves.
Adults are constantly plugged into electronic devices where images provide more information than text.
Families Skype and Facetime rather than talking on the phone.
We are surrounded by visual cues that require our ability to ‘read’ images.
Comics also use bright colors, exciting visuals and smart story lines to engage reluctant readers and encourage them to keep reading.
Comics and graphic novels are effective teaching tools. We have 23 school teachers participating in this grant because they want to incorporate comics into their curriculum.
= longer
comic book
Is it fiction?GRAPHI
C NOVEL
What is a graphic novel?
Maybe, maybe not.
COMICS (an art form)
MUSIC (an art form)
CDs & digital sound files
comic books & graphic novels
both are formats to deliver the art
Where can you find graphic novels and comic?
SCHOOL LIBRARY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
LOCAL BOOKSTORE AND COMIC BOOK SHOP
CHECK THESE
OUT
Comics Connect, a collaborative project of the Mohawk Valley Library
System and Upper Hudson Library System, is supported by funds from the New York State Library’s Family
Literacy Library Services grant program.