Unit 3 Reflection Blog

Module 3 was geared toward using comics and graphic novels in the classroom. These tools have produced positive results for students of all reading levels. However, very few teachers actually use graphic novels today.

                According to Graphic Novels: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, “Teachers use graphic novels because they enable the struggling reader, motivate the reluctant one, and challenge the high-level learner.” Reading words and being able to comprehend a story could be difficult for a struggling reader. Seeing pictures helps them to make sense of the plot. Reluctant readers will only read if they are interested. To them, graphic novels could be more enticing than a traditional novel. As for a high-level reader, comics and graphic novels can help with writing an essay or other assignment. The article also mentions that, “We must make kids want to read before we can make them read what we want them to.” If students don’t have an interest, they won’t read. The graphic novels can be a stepping stone to more advanced readings. There have been many classics turned into graphic novels such as, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Wizard of Oz, and Robin Hood. If a teacher assigns the class the graphic novel version first, then have them read the traditional text, they’ll most likely have a better understanding of the plot, characters, and setting.

                Teachers might not use graphic novels in the class for a variety of reasons. One could just be that they’re relatively new and teachers don’t know much about them. Some educators aren’t aware of the benefits of graphic novels. Funding is another issue that could arise. Sometimes teachers have to censor these stories because parents or administration may have problems with them.

                One project we completed in this module was the graphic representation of a novel. At first, I was dreading it because I’m not an artistic person by any means. Halfway through though, I realized how beneficial it is. In order to create a graphic, you have to select which scene to show, which quotes to use, and which angles to use for the images. Those choices are what helps convey the message to the audience. By just creating a graphic, I realized how it can also help readers understand.

                Before this, I had no experience with graphic novels, as they were never part of my high school curriculum. After learning this unit, I now know what graphic novels can do for students. If possible, I’ll definitely be using them in my classroom. I’d also really like to use the graphic representation project as well.