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Author Archives: Tracy Edmunds

What’s New in the Database – January 2014

We’ve added some great new resources to the Reading With Pictures database, including a great introduction to comics by Jessica Abel, several science comics perfectly suited for use in classrooms, and a long-form comic on copyright law. We hope these resources will help you bring the power of comics to your students.   “What is a Graphic Novel?” by Jessica Abel “What is a ‘Graphic Novel?’” is a condensed introduction to what comics are, how they work, and how to read them. Originally drawn by Jessica in 2002 for the site artbomb.net, it serves as great introduction for newcomers into the world […] Read More

Marek Bennett on the Comics Exchange Program in Nicaragua

Marek Bennett’s COMICS WORKSHOPS have provided discovery-based hands-on comics education for schools, libraries, and community organizations since 2002.  Bennett’s teaching and travel work has resulted in several graphic novels, including NICARAGUA COMICS TRAVEL JOURNAL (2009), SLOVAKIA: FALL IN THE HEART OF EUROPE (2011), and his current project with coffee-producing communities in Central America. [ www.MarekBennett.com ] In this post, Bennett describes a single session in COMICS WORKSHOP’s ongoing international “Comics Exchange” program between sister towns in New England and Nicaragua.  Using the medium of comics to make his case, Bennett presents a glimpse of some of the challenges and advantages of the comics […] Read More

Comics in the Classroom — A Chilean Adventure

by Josh Elder, President and Founder, Reading With Pictures, December 11, 2013 It began with a single email. I thought at first that it had to be some kind of elaborate scam. Why would the US embassy in Chile want to enlist me as a comics ambassador? I didn’t even know what a comics ambassador was, much less think I would be qualified for it. But Marco Castillo, the embassy’s IRC Director, assured me that they had the right guy. And who was I to argue with credentials like that? Four months later, my plane touched down in Santiago. The embassy […] Read More

Making Lesson Plans Work for All Ages

Reading with Pictures provides a place for educators and parents to share comic and graphic novel lesson plans and teaching ideas, but sometimes, you may find a great lesson plan that may not work for the age group you have in mind. I am of the mindset that you can customize just about anything when it comes to education, as long as you know your material and your audience. Educators know how to customize their materials – it’s one of the many things they do! — but homeschoolers and interested parents may need a helping hand. That’s where this article […] Read More

Racism, Critical Reading, and Comic Books: Teaching with Green Lantern #0

by Sean A. Guynes Religion, politics, sex. Don’t talk about these at work. If work happens to be school, certainly do not talk about these with your students. This cultural maxim both informs and makes sense of key issues facing American education as a national and cultural institution that prepares children for a (hopefully) bright future. How do we teach sex education–or do we at all? How do we teach evolution–should we, and if so, what about creationism? How do we teach the profound reality of race, class, and gender inequalities in classrooms that are increasingly diverse? What will our students’ […] Read More

Halloween Comics for Younger Readers

by Tracy Edmunds Halloween is almost upon us! Did you know that many comic shops are giving away free Halloween comics? There are some great titles for younger readers, including Sesame Street, My Little Pony, and Sketch Monsters. Visit Halloween ComicFest for details and to find a participating comic shop near you. Here are some more great spooky-cute comics and graphic novels for younger readers. Patrick The Wolfboy by Art Baltazar and Franco (Blind Wolf Studios) Before Tiny Titans, Itty Bitty Hellboy, and Aw Yeah! Comics, Art Baltazar and Franco created a little wolf boy named Patrick. He is a […] Read More

Reading With Pictures Rocked New York Comic Con!

I made my return to con life this year, culminating in the full four days of New York Comic Con, where I helped staff the Reading with Pictures booth. There was a great group of people promoting RWP this year – founder and president Josh Elder was there, as was artist Dean Trippe and super-intern Aliza. Rounding out the RWP group were volunteers Piera and Avery, and we had a great group of people dedicated to getting comic books into classrooms! We set up on Thursday morning, bright and early. We were located in The Block; considered by some to […] Read More

What’s New in the Database for September

We’ve added some great resources to the database this month, including a couple of videos and our new Common Core recommendations for elementary grades.  As always, access to the database is free when you register. Thanks for your support of our mission to get comics into schools and schools into comics.   The Reading With Pictures Common Core Graphic Texts List for Elementary Grades represents a large selection of the best available graphic texts for Common Core instruction, as curated by curriculum developer Tracy Edmunds, M.A., librarians Kat Kan and Rosemary Kiladitis, teacher Chris Wilson, and Dr. Katie Monnin. Titles are listed by […] Read More

Teaching Resource Highlight: The Civil Rights Movement

MARCH: BOOK ONE by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin/illus. by Nate Powell Once in a while, a graphic novel comes along that tells a story so powerful, you just have to sit still when you’re done reading it, and process everything you’ve just seen and read. Congressman John Lewis’ visual memoir, MARCH: BOOK ONE is that kind of book. Told in the Congressman’s voice, MARCH is the story of the civil rights movement and Lewis’ involvement in it. Book One takes readers from John Lewis’ childhood as the son of an Alabama sharecropper all the way through to the famous […] Read More

Writing Prompts Blog To Help Literacy, ELL Students Express Their Creativity

In its efforts to provide more writing tools for educators, MakeBeliefsComix.com has launched a new blog called Something to Write About that can be used by students enrolled in literacy and English Language Learner programs. ‘’Our goal in regularly posting writing prompts is to help students find their writers’ voices and express the stories within them,’’ says Bill Zimmerman who created the free online comic strip generator and the new blog. Here are some examples of writing prompts posted: . Through some miracle you are able to understand the thoughts and conversations of your favorite pet or animal.  The creature’s thoughts and words astonish […] Read More