I just received my formal observation for this year, and since my AP seemed especially impressed with my use of graphic novels, I figured it was worth a blog post.
I've loved graphic novel for decades, starting with reading manga back when I was in high school myself (this was way back in the day before Y2K if you're old enough to remember that. If not it was a land before time without cell phones when we still rode dinosaurs to school).
In all of my time as an educator I have advocated for the use of comics and graphic novels in the classroom, especially for students with disabilities. I'm happy to see public opinion and the industry taking this medium seriously. As a result there are so many amazing graphic novels out there for your students to enjoy.
Superpowers of Graphic Novels
Graphic novels are an excellent resource for supporting students with disabilities, thanks to their unique combination of visual and textual elements. In fact American Born Chinese is the first class novel I had my students read independently, rather than in whole group.
Here's why graphic novels can be so beneficial:
- Enhanced Comprehension: The combination of text and images in graphic novels can help students better understand complex ideas, themes, and vocabulary, making the content more accessible. Adding visual supports not only benefits students who struggle with visualization, but also helps students with poor decoding skills by providing context for what they are reading.
- Vocabulary development: Graphic novels often use a range of vocabulary, including complex words and idioms, which can help to improve students' vocabulary knowledge.
- Increased Motivation: The captivating artwork and engaging storytelling in graphic novels can capture students' attention and spark their interest in reading. Students who enjoy drawing, or fans of cartoons and anime love to see familiar art styles being use in their classes. The art itself can be appealing in its beauty or through the humor it conveys. I love seeing a student pause to point out a particular frame to a peer.
- Development of critical thinking skills: Graphic novels often require readers to interpret and analyze visual information, which can help to develop critical thinking skills and enhance students' ability to make inferences and draw conclusions.
- Inclusive Learning: Graphic novels can appeal to diverse learners, including those with disabilities, by offering multiple ways to access and engage with the material. It provides an opportunity for students to read independently without being overwhelmed by the number of words on a page.
Teaching With Graphic Novels
Graphic novels can be used in your classroom like any other independent or assigned reading. Personally I try to refer to manga and graphic novels the same way I would a traditional novel. I want to validate students who read them and emphasize the literary merit of the books. That being said, there are some things to consider before using a graphic novel in class.
- Choose age-appropriate material: Obviously this is the case for any assigned reading. You need to consider the age and reading level of your students and make sure that the content is appropriate. This is especially true in our current climate of book bans and school censorship. Be aware that some content may be considered acceptable in text form but not in visual form like nudity or graphic violence.
- Reading graphic novels is a skill: Some student may not have read a comic or graphic novel before. I recommend explaining panels, speech bubbles, thought bubble, and narration. I also provided example pages and explained to students which order to read the panels.
- Use graphic novels to teach complex concepts: Because graphic novels help eliminate many of the barriers faced by struggling readers. it opens up an opportunity for them to practice more complex skills. When we read American Born Chinese, I had my students focus on identifying theme and finding evidence to support their analysis.
- Encourage close reading: Graphic novels often contain subtle details and nuances that can be easily overlooked. Encourage your students to engage in close reading by paying attention to the visuals and analyzing how they contribute to the story.
- Integrate writing and discussion: Graphic novels can be a great starting point for classroom discussions and writing assignments. Encourage your students to share their thoughts and interpretations of the story, and use these discussions to help guide their writing. By the end of our unit, my students had graphic organizers filled with evidence they could use to write an essay (or paragraph for more significantly impaired students) about the themes of the book.
- Teach literary devices: Graphic novels often contain a variety of literary devices, such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and metaphor. Use these examples to teach these concepts and help your students develop their literary analysis skills.
- Promote creativity: Graphic novels are a great tool for promoting creativity and self-expression. Encourage your students to create their own graphic novels or to create illustrations for existing stories. You can also integrate some basic art analysis and practice visual literacy.
- Provide scaffolding: Even though graphic novels are much easier for struggling readers, you may still need to provide scaffolding to support their comprehension. This might include providing vocabulary lists, pre-reading activities, or guiding questions to help them engage with the material.
BONUS TIP: Look for graphic novels versions of traditional novels. You can provide these to struggling readers to support their understanding while the class reads the full novel. I'm a big fan of Manga Classics, and there are many others out there. Just search for graphic novel adaptations to find them.
Recommended Graphic Novels for Students with Disabilities
Here are some graphic novels I can personally recommend, or graphic novels that feature struggling readers or individuals with disabiltiies.
Ms. M's Recs
"American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang: This award-winning graphic novel connects three stories to explore themes of identity, assimilation, and self-acceptance, making it an excellent choice for discussions about identity and culture.
"Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi: This powerful autobiographical graphic novel tells the story of the author's childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, offering a unique perspective on history, culture, and resilience.
"Maus" by Art Spiegelman: This is perhaps one of the best known graphic novels used in classrooms. It presents the true story of Jewish family's experience during the Holocaust. Spiegelman makes the content more palatable by representing Jewish citizens as mice and the Nazi's as cats.
"Solutions and Other Problems" by Allie Brosh: This autobiography explores themes of mental health, family, and loss
through humor and vulnerability, making it a great choice for
discussions about mental health and coping strategies. Honestly I love this author's work and thins she's hilarious, but it may not be school appropriate. There's a fair amount of cursing and it references suicide. Personally I'd be okay having it in my high school class library but would not assign it.
Graphic Novels Featuring Disabilities
NOTE: I have not read these graphic novels yet so I cannot speak for their content or appropriateness.
"El Deafo" by Cece Bell: Based on the author's own experiences growing up with hearing loss, this heartwarming graphic novel offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability.
"The Oracle Code" by Marieke Nijkamp and Manuel Preitano: This graphic novel features a teenage hacker who is paralyzed below the waist. The story follows as she works to solve a mystery in Gotham City while exploring themes of disability and identity."Collapser" by Mikey Way: This science fiction graphic novel follows a young DJ named Liam who suffers from anxiety. He discovers a mysterious black hole in his apartment and becomes embroiled in a cosmic conspiracy, making it an exciting choice for discussions about science, technology, and the universe.
"Last Pick" by Jason Walz: This dystopian graphic novel imagines a world where aliens have taken over the Earth and taken everyone they deemed useful. Everyone else, include those with disabilities, are forced to live in enclosed cities, making it a great choice for discussions about political systems, discrimination, and resilience. There are sequels to this one so it's great for students who prefer to read series.
"My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders": This anthology graphic novel by various authors explores the experiences of individuals with ADHD and other developmental disorders, making it a great choice for discussions about neurodiversity and inclusion.
