Comics in the Classroom

Helen Jones has worked in education for the past 25 years and is currently a Lecturer in Education at UCL Institute of Education. Helen is completing PhD research into children’s comics making and is the co-founder of Yo Comics!, a comics fair for and by kids.Lucy Starbuck Braidley is a former primary school teacher and, as Head of School Libraries, leads the National Literacy Trust’s Libraries for Primaries programme. She is a passionate advocate for the use of comics in the classroom and producer and host of the Comics in Education podcast, Comic Boom.

"Jones and Starbuck Braidley present a thorough and comprehensive guide to what comics are, why they belong in your classroom (yes, your classroom!), and tons of essential resources and practical activities to make that happen!"Nick Sousanis, Associate Professor in Comics Studies at San Francisco State University, USA, and author of Unflattening“This inspiring text opens up the creative, multimodal world of comics. It offers educators evidence-based arguments for integrating comics and graphic novels into their classrooms to engage young readers and writers. Enriching practical examples, text recommendations and the voices of teachers and comics creators are woven throughout. Don’t miss this!”Teresa Cremin, The Open University, UK“Comics in the Classroom demonstrates that comics are a vital tool for engaging lively classrooms. Jones and Starbuck Braidley want to ‘build teachers’ knowledge and therefore confidence’ about comics’ place in education. Through eleven thoughtful and stimulating chapters, they do just that, providing important theoretical frameworks and practical activities, as well as some useful responses to those who have not yet been converted.” Harriet Earle, Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, Sheffield Hallam University, UK“The arrival of Helen Jones and Lucy Starbuck Braidley’s Comics in the Classroom is very timely as the realisation steadily grows that comics can have a profound effect on teaching methods and on the trajectories of children of all abilities and backgrounds. The chapters are clearly written and concise, taking the reader through essential theory, powerful evidence and real-life practice. It offers not only a compelling read and a rally cry but, most importantly, plenty of practical guidance to put it into action.”Julie Tait, Founder Director of The Lakes International Comic Art Festival & Foundation“This is precisely the kind of resource that both long-time believers in the power of comics, and those committed to nurturing volitional readers and writers, building reading identities, and inspiring motivation and engagement, will treasure. Perhaps more importantly, it extends a guiding hand to those yet to recognise the full potential of comics. For anyone seeking to be evidence-informed and serious about enhancing life chances through developing literacy I would say: read this book. Let its evidence and its practical wisdom challenge assumptions, shift perspectives, and open a new horizon for what reading and writing education can be.” Martin Galway, Head of Professional Learning and Partnerships, National Literacy Trust

• 1. Introduction 2. Comics and Reading for Pleasure 3. Comics and Visual Literacy 4. Developing Analysis Skills and Oracy with Comics 5. Comics, Writing and Drawing for Pleasure 6. Thinking through Comics, or Comics as Thinking 7. Comics Across the Curriculum 8. Comics and Representation 9. Comics, Accessibility and Inclusion 10. Comics, Climate Change and Sustainable Education 11. What next?