| Author |
Topic:
Comics in the classroom
|
rebelwookiee
Registered:
May '04
|
Date Posted:
7/31/07 10:11pm
Subject:
Comics in the classroom
|
Hello everyone. I am a High School English teacher and frequent poster on the collecting board. I am currently involved in a research project involving literacy. I am focusing on using comic books and graphic novels to promote literacy in (and out of) the classroom. I plan to have a variety of materials available to the students and am looking for some suggestions. We will be examining characters, their motivations, predicting their actions, etc. and also looking at basics of storytelling--plot, conflict, etc.
What I want to ask everyone is this: What are some titles you would suggest that are school appropriate, but appeal to a broad audience? I am biased towards superhero, sci-fi, and action comics, but for this project I need to include other types of comics that appeal to other interests. What might appeal to high school age girls? History/nonfiction fans? Sports fans? What about Manga? Basically I am looking for suggestions outside the superhero genre that I could use in class.
Just to clarify, I'm not soliciting anything but ideas for my classroom. Definitely no profit to be made...in fact I'll probably have to pay for a lot of the material out of my own pocket because our school has no money. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance for ideas!
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Katana_Geldar
Title: Former CR Tasmania, AU
Registered:
Mar '03
|
Date Posted:
7/31/07 11:36pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
|
There's some really good comics about classics, like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as well as the ancient Greek myths.
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
jacemathem
Registered:
Oct '03
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 1:28am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
- Date Edited:
8/1/07 1:35am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
jacemathem
|
Off the top of my head, you could use Marvel's recent Civil War storyline. It will provide a good topic of discussion on the subject of the superhero registration that starts the war. Plus, you can consider effects and aftermath by following Spider-man's storyline through and just after it, as he epitomizes the conflict.
Recommended reads:
TPB: Civil War (Civil War #1-7)
TPB: Civil War: Amazing Spider-man (Amazing Spider-man #532-538)
ISSUE: Amazing Spider-man #539
-----signature-----
Why are you looking at my signature? Read what I just wrote.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Soontir-Fel
Registered:
Dec '01
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 2:15am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
jacemathem posted:
Off the top of my head, you could use Marvel's recent Civil War storyline. It will provide a good topic of discussion on the subject of the superhero registration that starts the war. Plus, you can consider effects and aftermath by following Spider-man's storyline through and just after it, as he epitomizes the conflict.
Recommended reads:
TPB: Civil War (Civil War #1-7)
TPB: Civil War: Amazing Spider-man (Amazing Spider-man #532-538)
ISSUE: Amazing Spider-man #539
You're kidding right? CW was horribly written and just a big comic event that are all focused on tie ins and money.
Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Kingdom Come, and Sandman will be your best bests.
-----signature-----
Errent_Venture Wrote " Listen to Soontir-Fel for he is a man ruling over other men."
Ender_Sai wrote "In other news, I confer Modly praise on Soontir and Rogue_wookie for being superior men, worth of the title of Spartan. They, may keep their penises"
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
rebelwookiee
Registered:
May '04
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 5:48am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
Soontir-Fel posted:
Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Kingdom Come, and Sandman will be your best bests.
Those are the first things I thought of, and they're fine...but I need variety. I can't see the girls in my classes going for any of that. Some of the guys are too "rugged midwestern" for the superhero thing as well.
Thanks for the suggestions!
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
s65horsey
Title: EUC Manager
SWC Lil' Sis
Registered:
Jun '06
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 7:37am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
There was one called Alias that dealt with Wonderwoman or Supergirl after they'd left the superhero world. I'm not sure how many issues there are though. So that would at least be one from a female perspective.
-----signature-----
Sinre's Sey 
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Darth-Lando
Registered:
Aug '02
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 7:53am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
Fables.
It should be easily identifiable with nearly everybody, boys and girls. It's about classic storybook characters such as Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf, and others, all living in modern New York. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it is extremely well written.
-----signature-----
"A delayed game is eventually good, a rushed game is bad forever." - Shigeru Miyamoto
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
NYCitygurl
Title: Railroad Baroness of SFFBC, C&G, and NSWFF
Registered:
Jul '02
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 2:29pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
I'm sorry I can't suggest any titles, but I just wanted to wish you good luck with this 
-----signature-----
"We Earth Men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things." ~ Master of padawanlost, Ultima_1 and Jedimaster_JainaSolo
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
rebelwookiee
Registered:
May '04
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 8:03pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
Fables might work. Another hurdle I'm going to face is money. I'd give anything to go back to last free comic book day and pick up some more stuff. I have small classes, so I don't need a lot. Single issues aren't that hard to get cheap around here, though. The real problem is getting graphic novels/tpb's.
Anybody know a good source, like an online store, of cheap used graphic novels? Obviously I just need reading copies, not collector grade items.
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
BartSimpson-SithLord
Registered:
Jan '02
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 8:34pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
Runaways.
It's very accessible to all ages, has a very identifiable cast, and deals with issues relevant to teens in a unique way. It's also conveniently packaged in digest form.
Also: Look into the "Mary-Jane" books from Marvel. They're more romantic-comedy than Superhero. And while the most recent version, "Spider-Man <3's Mary-Jane", does feature Spidey and his career as a backdrop, it is still more like a teen comedy than anything else.
-----signature-----
Do the impossible, See the Invisible. ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWA
Touch the untouchable, Break the unbreakable. ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWA
ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWA
Smash Bros. Brawl Code: 0817-3441-6684
No. Not even in the face of armageddon. Never compromise.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
darth_paul
Registered:
Apr '00
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 10:20pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
It's fairly sophisticated and I wouldn't use it with younger students, but Maus would be wonderful classroom material with older students.
-Paul
-----signature-----
So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
jacemathem
Registered:
Oct '03
|
Date Posted:
8/1/07 10:24pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
darth_paul posted:
It's fairly sophisticated and I wouldn't use it with younger students, but Maus would be wonderful classroom material with older students.
-Paul
QFT. Volume 1 and 2.
-----signature-----
Why are you looking at my signature? Read what I just wrote.
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
LAJ_FETT
Title: Tech Admin, CollectingCCG/TCG/Boardgames
Registered:
May '02
|
Date Posted:
8/2/07 4:04am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
|
rw - check out Amazon's marketplace for used TPB's/GN's once you have some titles in mind. If the issues don't have to be pristine you might find some good deals there. There's usually a link to marketplace sales on the page with the title/Amazon price info and on the search result page.
-----signature-----
BF - 'Bounty Hunter Wars': "Don't be an idiot. Or at least not any more of one than you have to be." "All that matters is my life and my business." "I do the things I'm good at, and for which I get paid the best." http://www.members.aol.com/lajfett/
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
rebelwookiee
Registered:
May '04
|
Date Posted:
8/2/07 5:50am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
|
Thanks for the advice. I hadn't even though of Runaways, but I think it will be great. And I'll check out Amazon--the books don't have to be anywhere near pristine. They just have to be readable.
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
NYCitygurl
Title: Railroad Baroness of SFFBC, C&G, and NSWFF
Registered:
Jul '02
|
Date Posted:
8/2/07 11:38am
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
darth_paul posted:
It's fairly sophisticated and I wouldn't use it with younger students, but Maus would be wonderful classroom material with older students.
-Paul
I've read both of them twice. Really good (scary) story about the Holocaust.
-----signature-----
"We Earth Men have a talent for ruining big, beautiful things." ~ Master of padawanlost, Ultima_1 and Jedimaster_JainaSolo
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
rebelwookiee
Registered:
May '04
|
Date Posted:
8/2/07 9:26pm
Subject:
RE: Comics in the classroom
|
I read Maus in high school. It's definitely high on my potential list. I've got to find out exactly how many students I'm going to work with, who they are, and how much (if any) money is available before any final decisions. The ideal situation would be to have one of my larger classes (only about 15 kids at this school) read a variety of graphic novels and share their reading in class activities. Alternatively, I could have a group analyze the same book.
Anybody read "The Plain Janes"? I've seen references to it in my research, and I saw it at the comic shop, but I don't know much about it.
-----signature-----
|
Locked Topic |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
