Comics are amazing! What is not to love about pages that are full of colorful characters and fast paced action. There are so many characters that are loved by both children and adults alike, as well as major event such as Comic Con and the enjoyment that many feel popping into a comic shop for the latest issue. The fact that comics are still being written and consumed today is a testament to their readability and connection.
Comics are a great tool to use in the library and classroom! There are a great way for students to show comprehension while using real world skills and programs as opposed to just writing a summary or answering questions.
Pixton- A program that allows you to create comics. It has lots of options for backgrounds, characters, props, speech and so much more. The only downside is that to share the final product in any was requires a pro plan. A great way to use comics is to have students illustrate different events in a story. For example. I have created the climax from the story Ghost by Jason Reynolds.
Fotojet- An online collage program. It has options for comics and quite a few layout options. While there are options that are free there are some feature that need a pro plan to be accessed. You have to upload pictures or use the stock and images and there is no option for you to easily include characters but this is good for creating story board and using dialogue. This would be a great alternative to summaries! Speech bubbles can be added to photos by going to clipart and using the embellishment feature.
Make Beliefs Comix- This site is a great starting point if you are using comics for the first time with students. It has lessons, ideas, and also allows you to choose preferred language and has language supports for ELL (EB) students. It also provides guides and instructions that are easy to use and access. It also has comic prompts to help with ideas for original comics for the kids who say they can't think of anything. There are limited character options but is a good place to introduce creating comics.
These are just a few of the awesome programs out there for you to use!
First of all, Kaitlyn, you have really mastered the art of the blog. Your blogs are beautiful works of art that are easy to access and are full of useful information! Regarding the content of your post, I agree with you that comics offer a wealth of possibilities for student learning. I grew up reading comics, and I still have a collection numbering in the thousands. I recommend comics as a teaching resource for any teacher and librarian. Your reviews of the different comic teaching options were great. Which one did you like best? Thanks for another great post! Gilbert
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