Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels

by Tim Smyth

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!

Genres: Professional Development, Graphic Novels

218 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2022

Reviews

[Ellen Achey · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels, Tim Smyth says he wants this book to be easy to use and understand. His goal is not to overwhelm you with jargon, but to provide real-life examples and ideas. He absolutely holds true to this throughout his book. It is easy to read, understand, and apply. I really liked how the book was organized into manageable chapters that each focus on a different facet of how comics can enhance your classroom. Standards are integrated, but in a way that makes them seamless instead of an afterthought. Smyth willingly shares examples of his own lessons, and the work of his students and his own children in ways that illustrate the points he is making. Additionally, he provided tons of examples to use for a variety of purposes as well as an appendix with teacher guides for different comics and graphic novels.

If you have ever wanted to use comics or graphic novels in your classroom, I can’t recommend this enough.

[Tad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Essential Reading For Educators and Librarians, and enjoyable for comics fans of all stripes.

I must admit that I am THE target audience for this book- a Special Education professional who hosts a podcast dedicated to Exploring, Examining, and Elevating the Medium of Comics (on which Tim Smyth has been a guest).

That said, this book oozes the author’s enthusiasm for and vast knowledge of the subject matter. If you are already a true believer and looking for more ways to use comics in your classroom or library this book has you covered. If you know a little about comics, and consider them ‘reading’ but have not ever really considered them an ‘educational’ resource- this book will seriously expand your horizons. And if you are only vaguely aware of comics, and wonder why Graphic Novels keep popping up on the news… this book will Blow. Your. Mind.

Enjoy. Then go read all of the comics and graphic novels that he references.

[Kate Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got so many great ideas! And have already recommended it to a few educators.

[deadmensboots · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and invaluable educational resource on the use of comic books in the classroom

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for teachers and homeschoolers! The author's personal accounts (including the use of artwork his children created) are moving and inspiring, while the examples and lessons are tangible tools to assist in teaching. This book not only helps to explain how reluctant readers can become voracious readers because of being introduced to comics and graphic novels, it also shows how this type of literature spans many genres and can be used to teach multidisciplinary lessons to students of all ages.