Comics and Graphic Novels: Honoring All Literacies

I was only partially surprised when a librarian mentioned to me that in her school, graphic novels were not seen as quality literature by some of the teachers. This discussion was prompted by a note a former student had written to her recently.

Thank you for letting me read graphic novels. They really hooked me as a reader, and now I am a great reader. I wish more people would have believed that these are the books that I could have.

"The books that I could have." That statement alone speaks to the empowerment that graphic novels can foster within a reader. We need to move past the misconception that graphic novels and comics are not valuable as literature for students.

My own son is a shining example. He's read a truckload of comics and graphic novels; he also happens to test very well in literacy (if that type of thing is important to you). This genre is not the only type of text that he reads. I'll even admit that at times we have had to gently guide him toward other genres when he is in a rut as a reader. But we all get into ruts, such as my predilection for nonfiction at the expense of fiction. Lifelong readers are able to examine their own reading habits and make adjustments.

Understanding our students as readers can help to honor all literacies in school. My son was fortunate to participate in a statewide literacy project that advocates for this type of thinking, called "Wisconsin Writes". Marci Glaus, an educational consultant with our department of public instruction, spearheads this initiative. The goal is to "provide a glimpse into example writing processes of Wisconsin writers from a variety of contexts". Below is an interview with my son for this initiative.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEE8VMogc3U]

The question remains: how do graphic novels and comics lead to empowered readers and writers? There are many possibilities...Regie Routman recently shared out a project from Winnipeg Schools. After a community-wide clean-up of plastic waste, older students created comic book superhero stories for younger students. Their hero's superpower helped address environmental problems. (Go to 4:30 mark for the comic book project.)

[vimeo 291578580 w=640 h=360]

The purpose of reading is to understand. Our understanding is dependent not just on the reader but also on the writer's ability to communicate. If visuals help in this process, I see little reason why educators should disregard any medium. What are your thoughts about comics and graphic novels in the classroom? Please share in the comments.