Teaching with Comics for the First Time

Traditional Literacy and Non-Traditional Texts in Content Area Classrooms

Authors

  • Dani Kachorsky Brophy College Preparatory
  • Stephanie F. Reid University of Montana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2376-5275.2022.5.2.64-94

Keywords:

graphic novels, comics, science, English language arts, content area literacy, traditional literacy

Abstract

This research project examines the literacy practices that developed and were implemented around the comics medium when two secondary teachers (one AP Science and one AP English) used graphic novels for the first time in their classroom instruction. Drawing from the view of literacy as a social practice, the researchers used ethnographic methods to examine the two case study classrooms. Using constant comparative analysis and interpretive analysis, the researchers identified six literacy practices the teachers used to teach with and about the graphic novels including Q&A, lecture, answering multiple choice questions, reading out loud, writing about comics, and drawing comics. 

Author Biographies

Dani Kachorsky, Brophy College Preparatory

DANI KACHORSKY is a high school English teacher at Brophy College Preparatory and an independent researcher. Her research focuses on how readers transact with multimodal texts such as graphic novels and the pedagogical approaches that support the use of these texts in classrooms and other contexts. 

Stephanie F. Reid, University of Montana

STEPHANIE F. REID is an assistant professor in the Teaching and Learning Department at the University of Montana. Her research focuses on multimodal literacies pedagogy in elementary and middle school contexts. 

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Published

2022-07-01