Adventures in Graphica by Terry Thompson


Adventures in Graphica
Title : Adventures in Graphica
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1571107126
ISBN-10 : 9781571107121
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 200
Publication : First published April 24, 2008

Comic books and graphic novels, known collectively as "graphica," have long been popular with teenagers and adults. Recently graphica has grown in popularity with younger readers as well, motivating and engaging some of our most reluctant readers who often shun traditional texts. While some teachers have become curious about graphica's potential, many are confused by the overwhelming number of new titles and series, in both fiction and nonfiction, and are unsure of its suitability and function in their classrooms.

Drawing on his own success using graphica with elementary students, literacy coach Terry Thompson introduces reading teachers to this popular medium and suggests sources of appropriate graphica for the classroom and for particular students. Taking cues from research that supports the use of graphica with students, Terry shows how this exciting medium fits into the literacy framework and correlates with best practices in comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency instruction. Adventures in Graphica contains numerous, easy-to-replicate, instructional strategies, including examples of how graphic texts can be used to create a bridge as students transfer abstract comprehension strategies learned through comics and graphic novels to traditional texts.

Adventures in Graphica provides a roadmap for teachers to the medium that the New York Times recently hailed as possibly "the next new literary form."

Adventures in Graphica Reviews

  • Pasquale

    This book is enthusiastically written and can be really helpful in motivating the unmotivated readers in our classrooms using 'graphica' (comic books, graphic novels, etc.). This book seems it would be especially helpful for those unfamiliar with the comic book medium, how comics work, and how to use them in the classroom.

    If you are not a comic book reader, I reccommend this book. It has many helpful resources in its many appendices to help teachers start using graphica to teach readers.

    If you were, or are, a comic book reader, this book may not really explore much new ground for you, especially if you have read "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud, which is referenced three times in this book.

  • Wendie

    Very helpful when using Graphica with my students. I'm hoping to do more with it next year. This is definitely a book you need in your teacher library.

  • Melina

    What I really enjoyed about this book (and there were many things I enjoyed about it) was the tone taken throughout. Some teaching books can be a bit (or over-the-top) preachy. This was like a good friend had just walked into the staffroom, all excited because something they tried out in class really worked, and was really fun. And that good friend really knows what they're talking about.

    I've only really started building my graphic novel collection this year, and I'm constantly astounded by the interest a good graphic novel stirs in children. This book gives me some reasons why, and even better, some ideas of how I can harness this interest to further improve the comprehension of my students.

    Highly recommend for any teacher teaching reading.

  • Colby Sharp

    This books is a must read for teachers as we are starting to see the excitement reluctant readers are have when presented with graphic novels and other graphica. We have all seen our reluctant readers go ga-ga over a Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Babymouse book. Adventures in Graphica shows you how to teach "best practices" while using graphic novels.

    My favorite thing about this book was when Terry showed you how to transfer the learning in graphic novel instruction to more traditional text.

  • Sarah Theresa

    I learned so much about the medium of comics/graphica from this resource and got some great ideas about how to use comics to engage kids in literacy.

    This book a great for teachers who know little about the medium! Also, if you are a creative teacher looking for a basis for writing your own lessons, this is an excellent resource.

  • Mary Lee

    Everything I've been doing instinctively with graphic novels is here -- clearly explained, linked to comprehension strategies, embedded in reading workshop, and backed up by research. THANK YOU, Terry Thompson!

  • Mary Beth Revesz

    A good overview of Graphic Novels and how to use them in the classroom for teaching reading. Now I need to find a book that teaches the writing of comics for elementary students.

  • Laura Crawford

    Great! Informative! And chock full of practical lessons that are easily implemented in the classroom. I am recommending this book to all my colleagues. Thank you, Terry, for all the great resources!

  • Ann

    Excellent book for teaching anything related to Graphica!

  • Shari (Shira)

    A must read for any teacher who uses graphic novels.