Great Resources for Teachers:
WEBSITES!
Comics in the Classroom
Created by a public school teacher and comic book lover, this website includes lesson plans and book reviews as well as current news in the comic world.
Comics in Education
Created by Mr. Gene Yang himself, this website is actually the online version of his master's project! It includes great information and research on using graphic novels in the classroom, and also provides a link to his other website, Factoring with Mr. Yang, which shows just how useful and educational comics can be!
Teaching Comics
The homepage of NACAE, the National Association of Comics Art Educators. This site's objective is to be a resource where the growing number of educators in comic art/sequential art can get and share ideas. It is also hoped that educators who work in other disciplines can use comics as a way of furthering their own objectives.
First Second Books
The website of graphic novel publisher imprint, First Second Books. The site includes a section for teachers with lesson plans and activity kits for specific graphic novels.
Kids Love Comics
KLC is a blog that aims to promote quality, age-appropriate comic books available to kids through awareness campaigns, and creator tours & signings that tie in with local education and business communities.
Get Graphic!
Visit this website often for up-to-date information about Get Graphic events and graphic novel news.
Comic Book Literacy
A website dedicated to a documentary film about comics in the classroom and beyond: Comic Book Literacy. Check out the trailers, they're pretty convincing!
Diamond Comics BOOKSHELF
This website provides comprehensive information on the latest graphic novel news, interviews with professionals, new release information, best sellers, and event information.
Comic Creator
A fun tool that allows your students to create and print their very own comic strips!
Bitstrips for Schools
A website for teachers and students to easily create cartoon-form comics and characters. Includes an art library stacked with props and backgrounds and hundreds of ready-made activities. Bitstrips for Schools gives you the most fun, flexible and useful way to use comics in the classroom!
Scholastic Teacher & Librarian Guide
This guide includes a great introduction to graphic novels and their potential and also includes book recommendations for young readers, middle grade readers, and young adult readers.
Teacher Texts!
Teaching Visual Literacy: Using Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Anime, Cartoons, and More to Develop Comprehension and Thinking Skills
by Nancy Frey & Douglas Fisher.
by Nancy Frey & Douglas Fisher.
Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom
by Stephen Cary
by Stephen Cary
The Graphic Novel Classroom: POWerful Teaching and Learning with Images
by Maureen Bakis
by Maureen Bakis
In Pictures and In Words: Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study
by Katie Wood Ray
by Katie Wood Ray
Teaching Graphic Novels: Practical Strategies for the ELA Secondary Classroom
by Katie Monin
by Katie Monin
Check out your local comic book store!
Your own neighborhood comic book stores can be a great place to start your graphic novel collection AND talk to some experts about current trends and age appropriateness. Plus, don't forget about Free Comic Book Day, the first Saturday of May each year!
Check out your Local Library!
Librarians know as much as we do that graphic novels are the hot new books that kids want to read. Don't be surprised to find a large section devoted to graphic novels and comic books. Talk with your librarian about age appropriate books, or the most popular books for boys, girls, or ELLs.
School Book Orders!
Look through your school book orders and you may be surprised to see PLENTY of graphic novels for sale! I know that Scholastic book orders tend to feature one or more graphic novels in their book orders for grades 2 and up. Great deals too!