When I was in grade school I did not read a crazy amount. I would ready everything that was required and then stop. I think the only books that I ever sought out were the Harry Potter novels. I found just about everything else that I tried to pick up boring, especially any non-fiction literature. In college I started reading graphic novels. I started with fiction and then went from there. I read Maus, and Persepolis. I believe this was one of the first times that I read a book about history and war and did not want to put it down. I was learning by the words I was reading, and also getting very powerful images to read. This was very intriguing for me. A subject area in which I was never a fan finally became interesting.
I am such a huge believer in graphic novels. We will be able to hook the students in and make them want to read more. For all of the students that have a hard time reading, or are behind the rest of the class will have an opportunity to read pictures and think outside of the box. I also think that the students will appreciate the break from the normal chapter stories that they are required to read for school. I think it will help keep the students engaged in many ways.
Graphic novels can also be used in many classes other than just literature. The examples of Maus and Persepolis can be used in history classes and current events classes. There are so many different kinds of graphic novels that can aid you in just about any subject matter you are teaching.
So, my questions is: why don't more teachers use graphic novels in the classroom? Are we even allowed to teach new materials in the classroom, or are would I just have to suggest to students to look up different graphic novels on their own time?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Field Trips
In class last week we were talking about the importance of interactive learning. Kids seem to pay more attention and get more out of lessons when it is relevant to them or things they are interested in. Keeping their brains and their bodies active seems to me like the best way to teach and learn. This got me thinking, not necessarily of the younger students, but the students in 7th and 8th grade and certainly the high school students...why do they get passed on field trip opportunities?
I can remember learning about pumpkins and Halloween and then going to a pumpkin patch and seeing first hand the whole growing process that went into our fun Halloween traditions. Or learning about fishing and the spawning of salmon and then going to a fish hatchery and seeing all the live fish swimming up the ladders to get home and spawn. Or reading a novel and then going to see a play after to get a different perspective on the same piece of literature. All of these things contributed to my learning of all subjects in a fun and engaging way, then one day it all stopped.
So, my question is why do we stop going on field trips? Is it an issue of money, or do we think that field trips are only beneficial to the younger students? If we are thinking the latter, why?
I can remember learning about pumpkins and Halloween and then going to a pumpkin patch and seeing first hand the whole growing process that went into our fun Halloween traditions. Or learning about fishing and the spawning of salmon and then going to a fish hatchery and seeing all the live fish swimming up the ladders to get home and spawn. Or reading a novel and then going to see a play after to get a different perspective on the same piece of literature. All of these things contributed to my learning of all subjects in a fun and engaging way, then one day it all stopped.
So, my question is why do we stop going on field trips? Is it an issue of money, or do we think that field trips are only beneficial to the younger students? If we are thinking the latter, why?
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