The Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy
Visual Artistry Unveiled: Teaching with Graphic Novels
Episode Summary
In this podcast, illustrator Greg Holfeld discusses challenges, techniques, and benefits of using graphic novels in education, providing tips for teachers and young illustrators.
Episode Notes
In this podcast episode, artist and illustrator Greg Holfeld joins the discussion on the use of graphic novels in education. Topics covered include the challenges for teachers in teaching with graphic novels, the terminology and history of graphic novels, and the features that make them an effective gateway to reading.
The interplay between text and image, pagination techniques, and the decision-making process for artists are explored. The podcast also touches on the importance of storytelling and character design, as well as tips for young illustrators. The medium's impact on motivation for reading and writing is examined, along with the potential concerns of students solely relying on graphic novels.
The episode concludes with recommendations for publishers and key tips for using graphic novels as both readers and writers in the classroom. Overall, this insightful conversation sheds light on the educational value of graphic novels and their role in engaging students in literacy.
Some topics discussed:
- 01:50 Intro to Greg Holfeld, artist/illustrator
- 03:50 Captain Congo series by Greg Holfeld and Ruth Starke - Harper Collins. School Magazine in NSW
- 04:53 Icky Sticky Summer Fly - children’s book - Poppa Hip publishers
- 06:13 Challenges for teachers in teaching with graphic novels
- 06:42 Terminology of graphic novels and comics
- 06:57 Will Eisner - the pioneer in graphic novels and the Comic Industry awards
- 07:20 Origin of the term ‘Graphic Novel’
- 07:40 ‘A Contract with God’ by Will Eisner - first graphic novel
- 08:30 A chat about the features of graphic novels and as a gateway to reading
- 11:48 Distinguishing feature of comics is the synergy between the text and the image - its up to the individual creator to work out the interplay between the two
- 14:49 ‘Mini cliffhangers’ as a technique to engage the reader
- 15:20 Pagination is very important as a technique and the hardest part
- 16:50 Start with story/layout or pictures first? Both are valid
- 18:40 The way characters are drawn - how is this used as a technique
- 20:30 ‘Monkey, Bug, Rabbit and Goose! series by Greg. Illustrators making things easier for themselves. Working out your interest
- 21:45 Decisions artist make either based on what they feel like drawing, or being limited by constraints
- 24:00 Is it the illustrator doing the inferencing?
- 25:43 The Tin Tin book, Castafiore Emerald where the characters just stay home. Perils of Pug - also stay at home book.
- 26:22 Different ways to represent text in comics, different roles of writers and illustrators
- 28:30 Interplay between pictures and text and how it supports comprehension etc. What weight do you give each?
- 30:16 Narration speeds up the story vs it can take longer with images to tell the story
- 31:09 Tips for young illustrators
- 32:22 Do you attempt story or illustrations first? - tips and techniques
- 33:38 The graphic novel medium as motivation for reading and writing
- 34:47 Is it a problem if students are solely reading graphic novels? Do they need expanding onto other texts?
- 36:17 Students creating their own graphic novels.
- 36:45 Techniques used by Charles M Schulz and his Peanuts series - simplicity is powerful
- 37:48 The basic building blocks of stories - set up, action, reaction/pay off. Then you can tell the story in different ways. Pay off creates intrigue - through how you create the pictures
- 42:30 What if students are struggling with drawing? Or with the story?
- 43:30 Classic comics are still popular
- 44:45 Graphic novels being read or written as support for new arrivals students
- 45:20 Sound FX used as a technique
- 47:20 Japanese Manga technique explained - a separate format - developed and mainstreamed before the West did it
- 48:35 Wrapping up - what would be the key tips to use graphic novels as a reader or a writer with students
- 49:00 Sharon - its about accessing and noticing
- 50:15 Greg - Be aware of the wide range - vary in quality and appeal to the young reader. KISS principle applies
- 45:20 Good publishers - Top Shelf for younger readers. First Second for upper primary to teens. No Brow for beautifully produced books. Gestalt for Australian publisher and indigenous material. Brenton McKenna graphic novels.
- 54:20 Thanks and closing remarks
And much more!
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The Teacher’s Tool Kit For Literacy is the free podcast for motivated teachers and school leaders who want the latest tips, tricks and tools to inspire their students and school community in literacy learning.
Hear from literacy expert and founder of Cue Learning, Sharon Callen, and special guests.
At Cue Learning, our literacy specialists draw on over 30 years of teaching and international consulting experience to deliver world-class learning solutions. We equip, empower and support teachers to become their authentic selves.
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