1st Edition
Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels Fun and Engaging Strategies to Improve Close Reading and Critical Thinking in Every Classroom
35th Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee!
This text will allow you to harness students’ love of comics and graphic novels while increasing critical thinking and engagement in the classroom. Author Tim Smyth offers a wide variety of lessons and ideas for using comics to teach close reading, working with textual evidence, literature adaptations, symbolism and culture, sequencing, essay writing, and more. He also models how to use comics to tackle tough topics and enhance social-emotional learning. Throughout the book, you’ll find a multitude of practical resources, including a variety of lesson plans—some quick and easy activities as well as more detailed ready-to-use unit plans. These thoughtful lessons meet the Common Core State Standards and are easy to adapt for any subject area or grade level to fit into your curriculum. Add this book to your professional library and you’ll have a new and exciting way of reaching and teaching your students!
1. My Journey into Teaching with Comics 2. Defense of Comics 3. Resources 4. How to Read Comics 5. Comics as Artifact 6. Some Quick and Easy Comics Lessons for Any Classroom 7. Sequencing and Personal Interpretation 8. Symbolism and Culture 9. Tough Topics 10. Wordless Comics 11. Using Comics to Teach Essay Writing 12. Bringing Creators into Your Classroom, Being Human, Social Media, and the Emotional Impact of Comics 13. Literature Adaptions 14. Fairy Tales and Folk Tales as Artifact 15. Civil Rights 16. Making Comics 17. Refugees and Immigration 18. Social Emotional Learning and Graphic Memoirs 19. Think Outside the Comic 20. Final Thoughts
Biography
Tim Smyth is a high school social studies educator and Reading Specialist of more than 20 years who travels the country giving professional development to educators on the power of teaching with comics. Smyth was also part of a global online comics in education program through the US State Department. He has been published in many outlets, such as PBS, and he also shares many resources on his website, TeachingWithComics.com. Smyth loves interacting on social media (@historycomics) and is the founder of two Facebook education communities—"Comic Book Teachers" and "Teaching With Comics." He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his wife and three comic book-loving children.
"Comics and graphic novels are finally being appreciated for the rich literary experience they offer readers. They allow students to see themselves in literature, and to engage with diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives. The powerful lessons in this book empower educators to use the power of comics and graphic novels to reach every reader. Highly recommended!"
—Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the graphic novels Speak and Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed.
"Tim Smyth's Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels is the preeminent text for any educator or librarian working to bring sequential narratives into the classroom. Tim makes it real and makes it plain how comics can be used to reach students in ways no other medium can. Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels is an essential text for every classroom and library."
—Andrew Aydin, co-author of the graphic novels March and Run.
