{"id":4176,"date":"2022-07-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=4176"},"modified":"2023-12-15T11:46:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T16:46:53","slug":"teaching-with-graphic-novels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/teaching-with-graphic-novels\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Helpful Tips for Teaching With Graphic Novels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you think of rigorous teaching, you might not think of graphic novels right away. They seem too easy and too simplistic for any meaningful novel study, right? Well, actually, graphic novels have a lot to offer young students. <\/strong>In this post, I hope to share a few quick tips for teaching with graphic novels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"5 Helpful Tips for Teaching With Graphic Novels\" Pinterest pin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Why Graphic Novels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our students are coming into our classes with differing levels of reading ability and enthusiasm. Consequently, teachers need to be more creative and vary the media they use to reach students.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re seeing podcasts, audiobooks, and even images being used as “texts” in classrooms to teach our students reading skills at a level that’s comfortable for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graphic novels are just another tool we can reach for.<\/strong> They have a lot of advantages when it comes to engaging reluctant readers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, they’re far less intimidating than a traditional novel.<\/strong> I’ve had quite a few students who refused to participate in independent reading initially. After talking with them though and offering a graphic novel, many agreed to give it a go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weak readers often don’t feel comfortable with a large, thick book. Rather than risk struggling and failing, they just refuse to even try. But a graphic novel often makes them feel more confident in success and, thus, more likely to try in the first place.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, we know that students need to read way, way more. Their skills are so low that simply increasing their volume of reading will go a long way in increasing their overall skills, ability, endurance, and vocabulary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when it comes to upping students’ reading volume, anything counts. If a student is willing to read a graphic novel, then we should be throwing these books at him or her.<\/strong> A completely read graphic novel is way better than reading nothing at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, it’s not like graphic novels are just fluff or low Lexile language. There are so many great, deep graphic novels out there that will lead to practicing essential reading strategies and deep conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n