Why Comics are Awesome!

🌟 Why Comics Are AWESOME! 🌟

I’m not just a huge fan of comics—I’m living proof of how awesome they are! 📚✨ Comics have been a big part of my life, and they’ve helped me learn and grow in so many ways! But hey, don’t just take my word for it! I’ve reached out to some amazing folks in education, comics, and retail to share their stories and show you just how powerful comics can be! 🎨💥

 

Lately, when I ask my students if they read, many say they don't; this is a big difference from the beginning of my teaching career almost three decades ago.  Many blame this shift on the current digital age and instant access to visual content that panders to the ever-shortening attention spans of our youth.  I offer a different perspective, one that is just as true now as it was 30 years ago -- some potential readers have just not found what interests them.  Providing access to engaging texts for young readers can be a challenge in a school setting.  With limited resources and curriculum requirements imposed by districts, teachers do not have time or the access to all the types and genres of books in order to pique the interest of the most reluctant reader.  Enter comic books, those "easy to read' paper books (or their digital counterparts) that are just right for young hands.  This style of writing provides stories in a myriad of genres that are of high interest to young (and older) readers.  Not only can comics hook a reluctant reader, but they can also assist the one that is struggling.  The writing style of comics is to use an economy of words that is strongly supported with active illustrations.  These illustrations help support a struggling reader that is encountering new vocabulary, or a new language, and attempting to follow a storyline.  The benefits of comics in literacy development are limitless.  Access to this type of resource is important for any young person embarking on their literacy journey.

- J. Harvey; Columbus City Schools