Why Teachers Need To Embrace Graphic Novels
If reluctant readers have taught us anything, it’s that we need to reform how we teach reading —and embrace new ways of teaching the curriculum.
When I was training to become a teacher, I was told in a literacy lecture that a reluctant reader was any student who ‘does not show an interest’, or ‘who resists, reading books.’
When I heard this, I remember asking my lecturer — “Books? What about comics? Graphic novels?”
“They don’t really count” she said.
That was over a decade ago, but still many teachers (and parents) I know, hold the belief that graphic novels and comics are overly-simplified and have long been distanced to the far reaches of the classroom— and this needs to change.
If we are ever to change the pattern of reluctant readers, perhaps we need to change the pattern of the content we expect them to enjoy reading.
When teaching writing, we use so many approaches — from the early lessons of drawing in the sand with fingers, to pencil holding and fine-motor skills. We also focus on drawing pictures and graphics, as they can be writing queues to translate meaning.
But when it comes to reading, why is we repeat the same thing every time? We know that our students learn in a variety of different ways — so why is reading any different?
In Ireland for example, there are schools with whom have the same class reader is used for ten consecutive years…and growing.
The mantle of ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ is a sad excuse for denying children enriching literature — modern ways of storytelling which just so happens to come in picture form.
‘My child is just not into reading’
Any deviation from the standard textbook is only recognized if the teacher (and parents) feel comfortable with it, and see it as a superior text.
What I mean by this is quite often unless a child has read the Harry Potter series, or is embarking on a perilous journey through The Famous Five, we don’t class them as readers.
Many parents want their child to be a reader, and fail to recognize that oftentimes they already are.
It’s something I’ve heard at parent teacher meetings, mostly aimed at boys I’ll admit, that line of ‘he’s not into reading’.
It’s something I’ve had to continually point out as simply untrue.
Every child is a reader. And the child in the above example was an avid reader in class — just not of traditional books. Something those parents failed to recognize.
Because reading is not simply reneged to books. In my view it includes everything from comics to graphic novels, walk-through guides and instruction manuals.
It includes recipes, menus and game text, signs and on social media, symbols and emoticons, graffiti and signatures.
And in my experience, no child is reluctant to reading any or all of the above if that is what they are both interested in, and can also learn from. Remember when we as teachers learned there is more than one way to learn something? Why can’t there be more than one way to read something?
We all have a preference.
What even is a reluctant reader?
Before we delve into the above question, ask yourself — if a child is under-performing in Math, would you call them a reluctant learner? If their experiment goes awol, or they hate chemistry but enjoy biology, are they a reluctant scientist? Anti-science?
We assign reading as homework every night. We practice it every day, during every class. So why is it then, that when a student might not be taking to the task, or progressing in the way we think they should, instead of looking towards the process (and changing it?), we call them a ‘reluctant reader’?
As I’ve said before, no child is reluctant to engage with a text that is suitable, enjoyable and they can learn from appropriately. That familiar saying ‘a reluctant reader just hasn’t found the right story yet’ rings true — and as teachers, it’s time we diversify and find these stories.
Changing Our Approach to Reading Graphic Novels and Comics
When I was teaching 6th class, World Book Day was fast approaching. We spent the week prior preparing art lessons to decorate the school with pictures from and inspired by our favorite stories.
My students were asked to prepare a talk, diagram or performance from a story or book for show-and-tell the next day.
The girls in class dispersed into groups and hotly debated which of the many, many titles each one owned, and which they’d bring in, agreeing not to clash with their peers so we heard from a variety of titles.
The boys, however, looked a little less enthusiastic and stared blankly at me, not moving an inch.
“I don’t like to read books. I like comics” one said. The rest nodded.
“Brilliant!” I shouted, probably a little too enthusiastically for a teacher, as they looked quite startled at my enthusiasm. But I then explained how I was huge comic-book fan myself.
They looked on at me like I had several heads. A teacher who liked comics? Something was suspicious. But I explained that books, or reading, as I explained, can come in many different shapes and sizes. A story has many ways it can be told, and equally as many ways it can be read.
And just because one book or text has graphics, images or none at all, does not put one above the other in the grand scheme of things.
The important thing, I told them, was they were interested in engaging with stories — so what if we substitute Batman for Harry Potter? Katniss Everdeen in pictures rather than in words?
I began hearing of their interests — graphic novels which I had never heard of but judging from the boys’ enthusiasm, they were must-reads.
At that moment I learned that just because a story hasn’t been read by millions upon millions, or has a motion picture following it’s every chapter, doesn’t mean it’s not valid.
And just because someone enjoys reading guidebooks or tutorials, instructions, comics and graphic novels, does not change — you’re reading, and that reading is something to celebrate.
That year, World Book Day celebrated reading — and it was a huge success for my class.
There is something ingrained in our culture right now that says unless you’re reading Harry Potter series at night, and the old classics by day, you’re not a real reader.
Changing that attitude
Attitudes towards graphic novels and diversifying our reading diet are changing.
For example, writer and illustrator Jerry Craft won this year’s John Newbery Medal for New Kid. It’s the first time a graphic novel to be awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.
Graphic novels are on the mainstream radar more than ever. Take a look at the Captain Underpants series, which is not strictly a graphic novel, but the ways in which the story is told is something I think is the direction we need to go in.
Author Dav Pilkey’s work has sold more than 80 million copies in print worldwide and has been translated into more than 25 languages.
When Dav was a child he suffered from ADHD, dyslexia, and behavioral problems. He was so disruptive in class that his teachers made him sit out in the hall every day. Sounds like a reluctant reader, right??
But Dav loved to draw and make up stories, and in the second grade he created a comic book about a superhero named Captain Underpants. His teacher ripped it up and told him he couldn’t spend the rest of his life making silly books.
Fortunately, for teachers, parents and readers around the world, Dav was not a very good listener — and one of thee most loved children’s book series was created.
For Pilkey, I suspect the way in which he wrote his story — with a mixture of traditional storytelling, pictures, comics and humor —struck gold with millions of readers whose needs were met.
Whether it’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Greg Heffley, The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle or anything by Roald Dahl. A guide book on how to play Minecraft, to instruction manuals on how to build LEGO monuments, the important thing is we diversity the reader’s diet and expand their expectations of storytelling.
The titles change, the type and style of reading change, but the level of enthusiasm grows and grows.
And that’s something teachers and parents should be actively reconsidering.
If we are ever to change the pattern of reluctant readers, perhaps we need to change the pattern of the content we expect them to enjoy reading.
For the record, Harry Potter is an amazing series — and for many it gives a lifetime of literal magic. But in my view it’s by no means a litmus test for children who enjoy reading.
Every reluctant reader is just someone who hasn’t found the right fit yet. Traditional books can and will always survive the test of time — so why not look to graphic novels, and expand those goal posts?
