I am a dreamer I love spending time in my imagination asking questions like how
my imagination asking questions like how
my imagination asking questions like how about or why can’t we just in comic
about or why can’t we just in comic
about or why can’t we just in comic books have been a perfect vehicle for my
books have been a perfect vehicle for my
books have been a perfect vehicle for my imaginations journey I mean why wouldn’t
imaginations journey I mean why wouldn’t
imaginations journey I mean why wouldn’t they be comics have brought us
they be comics have brought us
they be comics have brought us characters like Superman and better yet
characters like Superman and better yet
characters like Superman and better yet comics can ask questions like what would
comics can ask questions like what would
comics can ask questions like what would happen if Superman crash-landed in
happen if Superman crash-landed in
happen if Superman crash-landed in communist Russia instead of America how
communist Russia instead of America how
communist Russia instead of America how would that have affected his godlike
would that have affected his godlike
would that have affected his godlike powers I started reading comics at the
powers I started reading comics at the
powers I started reading comics at the age of seven we would stop at the bakery
age of seven we would stop at the bakery
age of seven we would stop at the bakery after church on Sundays and while my mom
after church on Sundays and while my mom
after church on Sundays and while my mom was waiting in line I’d walk a few doors
was waiting in line I’d walk a few doors
was waiting in line I’d walk a few doors down to the drugstore and pick up the
down to the drugstore and pick up the
down to the drugstore and pick up the latest issue of GI Joe or transformers
latest issue of GI Joe or transformers
latest issue of GI Joe or transformers from the spinner rack in high school I
from the spinner rack in high school I
from the spinner rack in high school I avoided traditional assigned texts like
avoided traditional assigned texts like
avoided traditional assigned texts like Romeo and Juliet or To Kill a
Romeo and Juliet or To Kill a
Romeo and Juliet or To Kill a Mockingbird and instead would read bloom
Mockingbird and instead would read bloom
Mockingbird and instead would read bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes in bed at
County and Calvin and Hobbes in bed at
County and Calvin and Hobbes in bed at night as a middle school teacher I used
night as a middle school teacher I used
night as a middle school teacher I used comics not only to reinforce literacy
comics not only to reinforce literacy
comics not only to reinforce literacy skills for my students but also to
skills for my students but also to
skills for my students but also to develop relationships with marginalized
develop relationships with marginalized
develop relationships with marginalized students that also didn’t care about
students that also didn’t care about
students that also didn’t care about Romeo and Juliet after that I was
Romeo and Juliet after that I was
Romeo and Juliet after that I was invited to help start a nonprofit called
invited to help start a nonprofit called
invited to help start a nonprofit called pop culture classroom where we used
pop culture classroom where we used
pop culture classroom where we used comics as a tool to ignite a love of
comics as a tool to ignite a love of
comics as a tool to ignite a love of learning for all students I’ve seen
learning for all students I’ve seen
learning for all students I’ve seen comics have a powerful educational
comics have a powerful educational
comics have a powerful educational effect and help students become better
effect and help students become better
effect and help students become better readers including myself my love of
readers including myself my love of
readers including myself my love of comics and education has also
comics and education has also
comics and education has also transformed my wife’s classroom here in
transformed my wife’s classroom here in
transformed my wife’s classroom here in a English Spanish bilingual fifth grade
a English Spanish bilingual fifth grade
a English Spanish bilingual fifth grade classroom in Boulder Colorado and
classroom in Boulder Colorado and
classroom in Boulder Colorado and recently she told me a story about a
recently she told me a story about a
recently she told me a story about a student of hers named Miguel
student of hers named Miguel
student of hers named Miguel Miguel’s warm smile and and gentle heart
Miguel’s warm smile and and gentle heart
Miguel’s warm smile and and gentle heart didn’t help the fact that he was
didn’t help the fact that he was
didn’t help the fact that he was struggling as a reader at the beginning
struggling as a reader at the beginning
struggling as a reader at the beginning of fifth grade he was barely reading at
of fifth grade he was barely reading at
of fifth grade he was barely reading at a third-grade level but just a few weeks
a third-grade level but just a few weeks
a third-grade level but just a few weeks ago at Miguel’s parent-teacher
ago at Miguel’s parent-teacher
ago at Miguel’s parent-teacher conference my wife shared that Miguel
conference my wife shared that Miguel
conference my wife shared that Miguel was now reading at nearly a sixth grade
was now reading at nearly a sixth grade
was now reading at nearly a sixth grade level
level
level filled with pride my wife turned to
filled with pride my wife turned to
filled with pride my wife turned to Miguel and said what was it that ignited
Miguel and said what was it that ignited
Miguel and said what was it that ignited this spark for you that that fostered
this spark for you that that fostered
this spark for you that that fostered this love of reading
this love of reading
this love of reading Miguel’s broad smile beamed and he
Miguel’s broad smile beamed and he
Miguel’s broad smile beamed and he looked down and said ghosts it’s just so
looked down and said ghosts it’s just so
looked down and said ghosts it’s just so good ghost is a graphic novel or a
good ghost is a graphic novel or a
good ghost is a graphic novel or a long-form comic book about a family
long-form comic book about a family
long-form comic book about a family truly learning to live in the face of a
truly learning to live in the face of a
truly learning to live in the face of a daughter’s impending death from cystic
daughter’s impending death from cystic
daughter’s impending death from cystic fibrosis earlier in the year Miguel had
fibrosis earlier in the year Miguel had
fibrosis earlier in the year Miguel had purchased his own copy of ghosts with
purchased his own copy of ghosts with
purchased his own copy of ghosts with money he had scraped together and read
money he had scraped together and read
money he had scraped together and read it over and over again at recess on the
it over and over again at recess on the
it over and over again at recess on the playground during reading time in school
playground during reading time in school
playground during reading time in school on the bus home at home over and over
on the bus home at home over and over
on the bus home at home over and over again fostered by a comic book this
again fostered by a comic book this
again fostered by a comic book this newfound love of reading combined with
newfound love of reading combined with
newfound love of reading combined with regular reading instruction from his
regular reading instruction from his
regular reading instruction from his teachers helped Miguel achieve this
teachers helped Miguel achieve this
teachers helped Miguel achieve this remarkable growth but Miguel’s story is
remarkable growth but Miguel’s story is
remarkable growth but Miguel’s story is not unique
not unique
not unique take for example Dave pinky the New York
take for example Dave pinky the New York
take for example Dave pinky the New York Times bestselling author Dave grew up
Times bestselling author Dave grew up
Times bestselling author Dave grew up dyslexic unable to read until he
dyslexic unable to read until he
dyslexic unable to read until he realized that comic books helped bridge
realized that comic books helped bridge
realized that comic books helped bridge that gap for him so he started reading
that gap for him so he started reading
that gap for him so he started reading creating comic books now he authors the
creating comic books now he authors the
creating comic books now he authors the books called Captain Underpants who
books called Captain Underpants who
books called Captain Underpants who fights against villains called professor
fights against villains called professor
fights against villains called professor peepee poopypants I just said that on a
peepee poopypants I just said that on a
peepee poopypants I just said that on a TED stage
TED stage
TED stage so on the other end of the spectrum we
so on the other end of the spectrum we
so on the other end of the spectrum we have Charles R Schwab the co-chairman of
have Charles R Schwab the co-chairman of
have Charles R Schwab the co-chairman of Charles Schwab incorporated also
Charles Schwab incorporated also
Charles Schwab incorporated also dyslexic Charles Schwab turned to
dyslexic Charles Schwab turned to
dyslexic Charles Schwab turned to graphic novel adaptations of classics
graphic novel adaptations of classics
graphic novel adaptations of classics like A Tale of Two Cities in order to
like A Tale of Two Cities in order to
like A Tale of Two Cities in order to complete his assignments and support his
complete his assignments and support his
complete his assignments and support his growth as a reader before we move on
growth as a reader before we move on
growth as a reader before we move on let’s establish a common understanding
let’s establish a common understanding
let’s establish a common understanding of what a comic book actually is a comic
of what a comic book actually is a comic
of what a comic book actually is a comic is simply a story told through
is simply a story told through
is simply a story told through sequential images and here we see a
sequential images and here we see a
sequential images and here we see a perfect example of that the text the
perfect example of that the text the
perfect example of that the text the images in the implied passage of time
images in the implied passage of time
images in the implied passage of time all work together to tell an evocative
all work together to tell an evocative
all work together to tell an evocative story comics are a natural expression of
story comics are a natural expression of
story comics are a natural expression of the human experience because all of us
the human experience because all of us
the human experience because all of us think in both words and pictures and in
think in both words and pictures and in
think in both words and pictures and in fact the first recorded instance of
fact the first recorded instance of
fact the first recorded instance of sequential art is 20,000 years old seen
sequential art is 20,000 years old seen
sequential art is 20,000 years old seen with the cave paintings and last goal
with the cave paintings and last goal
with the cave paintings and last goal France here we see the overlapping art
France here we see the overlapping art
France here we see the overlapping art the imagery used to possibly foretell
the imagery used to possibly foretell
the imagery used to possibly foretell the tribes coming hunting success or
the tribes coming hunting success or
the tribes coming hunting success or maybe just honor the animals that they
maybe just honor the animals that they
maybe just honor the animals that they live among and cherish and depend on
live among and cherish and depend on
live among and cherish and depend on cultures from ancient Egypt to the Maya
cultures from ancient Egypt to the Maya
cultures from ancient Egypt to the Maya use pictographic art to tell their
use pictographic art to tell their
use pictographic art to tell their stories and histories in the 1700s when
stories and histories in the 1700s when
stories and histories in the 1700s when the printing press became ubiquitous
the printing press became ubiquitous
the printing press became ubiquitous authors started using text and even
authors started using text and even
authors started using text and even speech balloons to communicate their
speech balloons to communicate their
speech balloons to communicate their stories
stories
stories and comics quickly became the format to
and comics quickly became the format to
and comics quickly became the format to comment on and both satirize the
comment on and both satirize the
comment on and both satirize the political and social scenes of the day
political and social scenes of the day
political and social scenes of the day in the early 1900’s the comic-book
in the early 1900’s the comic-book
in the early 1900’s the comic-book format that we’re still familiar with
format that we’re still familiar with
format that we’re still familiar with today became popular now admittedly when
today became popular now admittedly when
today became popular now admittedly when we look at today’s comics they do have a
we look at today’s comics they do have a
we look at today’s comics they do have a goofy side their supernatural heroes and
goofy side their supernatural heroes and
goofy side their supernatural heroes and fantastic storylines they can they can
fantastic storylines they can they can
fantastic storylines they can they can be a little bit goofy
be a little bit goofy
be a little bit goofy take for example arm fall-off ploy
his superpower is literally that he can
his superpower is literally that he can remove his arm and use it as a weapon
remove his arm and use it as a weapon
remove his arm and use it as a weapon gross and also a little bit confusing
gross and also a little bit confusing
gross and also a little bit confusing because what happens when he needs to
because what happens when he needs to
because what happens when he needs to remove the second arm how does he do
remove the second arm how does he do
remove the second arm how does he do that and also what happens after he
that and also what happens after he
that and also what happens after he removes it how does he actually use it
removes it how does he actually use it
removes it how does he actually use it as a weapon still trying to figure that
as a weapon still trying to figure that
as a weapon still trying to figure that out the other side of comics today’s
out the other side of comics today’s
out the other side of comics today’s comics is that they have a tremendously
comics is that they have a tremendously
comics is that they have a tremendously powerful and beautiful art form the
powerful and beautiful art form the
powerful and beautiful art form the different medium that’s used the stories
different medium that’s used the stories
different medium that’s used the stories that are told all transform readers take
that are told all transform readers take
that are told all transform readers take them on emotional journeys another way
them on emotional journeys another way
them on emotional journeys another way of today’s comics are powerful
of today’s comics are powerful
of today’s comics are powerful educational tools is by tackling themes
educational tools is by tackling themes
educational tools is by tackling themes that we all deal with in some form or
that we all deal with in some form or
that we all deal with in some form or another themes like dealing with
another themes like dealing with
another themes like dealing with personal identity and self-discovery
personal identity and self-discovery
personal identity and self-discovery feelings of other Ness
feelings of other Ness
feelings of other Ness isolation or depression and even the
isolation or depression and even the
isolation or depression and even the consequences of childhood gang
consequences of childhood gang
consequences of childhood gang involvement comics echo the human
involvement comics echo the human
involvement comics echo the human experience by providing the connective
experience by providing the connective
experience by providing the connective tissue between logic and beauty this
tissue between logic and beauty this
tissue between logic and beauty this connection between logic and beauty
connection between logic and beauty
connection between logic and beauty between story and art is one of the
between story and art is one of the
between story and art is one of the reasons why comic books are so popular
reasons why comic books are so popular
reasons why comic books are so popular from kids all the way through adults but
from kids all the way through adults but
from kids all the way through adults but it’s important to note that school and
it’s important to note that school and
it’s important to note that school and public librarians regularly report that
public librarians regularly report that
public librarians regularly report that comics and graphic novels are their
comics and graphic novels are their
comics and graphic novels are their highest circulating collections even
highest circulating collections even
highest circulating collections even more than their DVDs and as teachers are
more than their DVDs and as teachers are
more than their DVDs and as teachers are starting to realize comics possess
starting to realize comics possess
starting to realize comics possess superhuman potential not just on the
superhuman potential not just on the
superhuman potential not just on the class not just on the page but also in
class not just on the page but also in
class not just on the page but also in their classrooms the contextual images
their classrooms the contextual images
their classrooms the contextual images provided with combined with the short
provided with combined with the short
provided with combined with the short bursts of text all work together to
bursts of text all work together to
bursts of text all work together to support student text decoding as well as
support student text decoding as well as
support student text decoding as well as reading comprehension so students
reading comprehension so students
reading comprehension so students understand what it is they’re reading
understand what it is they’re reading
understand what it is they’re reading study after study goes on to show that
study after study goes on to show that
study after study goes on to show that comics improves student engagement
comics improves student engagement
comics improves student engagement reading comprehension vocabulary
reading comprehension vocabulary
reading comprehension vocabulary development and on and on
development and on and on
development and on and on and on another reason I want to talk
and on another reason I want to talk
and on another reason I want to talk about why comics are such powerful
about why comics are such powerful
about why comics are such powerful educational resources is that they
educational resources is that they
educational resources is that they inspire multiple readings let’s go back
inspire multiple readings let’s go back
inspire multiple readings let’s go back to that student who was struggling for
to that student who was struggling for
to that student who was struggling for example and say maybe he couldn’t
example and say maybe he couldn’t
example and say maybe he couldn’t understand the text at first while
understand the text at first while
understand the text at first while reading this comic so he chooses just to
reading this comic so he chooses just to
reading this comic so he chooses just to focus on the images allowing the
focus on the images allowing the
focus on the images allowing the pictures and to establish a storytelling
pictures and to establish a storytelling
pictures and to establish a storytelling mode the storytelling sequence in his
mode the storytelling sequence in his
mode the storytelling sequence in his mind so he’s a sense of what the story’s
mind so he’s a sense of what the story’s
mind so he’s a sense of what the story’s about he enjoys and appreciates and
about he enjoys and appreciates and
about he enjoys and appreciates and takes in the artwork then his second
takes in the artwork then his second
takes in the artwork then his second reading he goes back and just focuses on
reading he goes back and just focuses on
reading he goes back and just focuses on the text allowing that visual
the text allowing that visual
the text allowing that visual understanding to help him decode and
understanding to help him decode and
understanding to help him decode and figure out complex words that he
figure out complex words that he
figure out complex words that he couldn’t get the first time around the
couldn’t get the first time around the
couldn’t get the first time around the subsequent reading might spend time in
subsequent reading might spend time in
subsequent reading might spend time in the gutter which is not what you think
the gutter which is not what you think
the gutter which is not what you think it’s actually the space and time
it’s actually the space and time
it’s actually the space and time in-between panels what happens when we
in-between panels what happens when we
in-between panels what happens when we move from one image to the next there is
move from one image to the next there is
move from one image to the next there is that implied passage of time it’s fun to
that implied passage of time it’s fun to
that implied passage of time it’s fun to just spend time thinking about what goes
just spend time thinking about what goes
just spend time thinking about what goes from one panel to the next and the
from one panel to the next and the
from one panel to the next and the subsequent reading final reading might
subsequent reading final reading might
subsequent reading final reading might spend time integrating all aspects
spend time integrating all aspects
spend time integrating all aspects images text gutter storyline in 2013 I
images text gutter storyline in 2013 I
images text gutter storyline in 2013 I learned that due to the economic
learned that due to the economic
learned that due to the economic downturn the Colorado State was cutting
downturn the Colorado State was cutting
downturn the Colorado State was cutting funding for education in correctional
funding for education in correctional
funding for education in correctional facilities after hearing this my mind
facilities after hearing this my mind
facilities after hearing this my mind started to wander
started to wander
started to wander I thought about comics not just as a
I thought about comics not just as a
I thought about comics not just as a powerful educational tool that I had
powerful educational tool that I had
powerful educational tool that I had been using for decade but also as an
been using for decade but also as an
been using for decade but also as an escape as a way out it didn’t take me
escape as a way out it didn’t take me
escape as a way out it didn’t take me long to see the need and the connection
long to see the need and the connection
long to see the need and the connection over 70% of inmates that interact with
over 70% of inmates that interact with
over 70% of inmates that interact with the correctional system are functionally
the correctional system are functionally
the correctional system are functionally illiterate unable to read past the third
illiterate unable to read past the third
illiterate unable to read past the third grade level fill out a job application
grade level fill out a job application
grade level fill out a job application or even read a court summons that tells
or even read a court summons that tells
or even read a court summons that tells them when they’re supposed to show up
them when they’re supposed to show up
them when they’re supposed to show up for parole hearing
for parole hearing
for parole hearing what’s more penal institution records go
what’s more penal institution records go
what’s more penal institution records go to show that literacy education provided
to show that literacy education provided
to show that literacy education provided during incarceration goes to reduce
during incarceration goes to reduce
during incarceration goes to reduce recidivism rates which is when a
recidivism rates which is when a
recidivism rates which is when a released in Maitre turns back to jail
surprisingly recidivism rates dropped
surprisingly recidivism rates dropped from 70% to 16%
from 70% to 16%
from 70% to 16% when GED level literacy education is
when GED level literacy education is
when GED level literacy education is provided during incarceration and what’s
provided during incarceration and what’s
provided during incarceration and what’s more art programs provided during
more art programs provided during
more art programs provided during incarceration have been shown to not
incarceration have been shown to not
incarceration have been shown to not only decrease aggression but increase
only decrease aggression but increase
only decrease aggression but increase compassion and empathy for the
compassion and empathy for the
compassion and empathy for the participants as well the US Department
participants as well the US Department
participants as well the US Department of Justice states that the link between
of Justice states that the link between
of Justice states that the link between academic failure and delinquency
academic failure and delinquency
academic failure and delinquency violence and crime is welded to reading
violence and crime is welded to reading
violence and crime is welded to reading failure
failure
failure unfortunately reading ability has become
unfortunately reading ability has become
unfortunately reading ability has become a prime indicator of success or failure
a prime indicator of success or failure
a prime indicator of success or failure for today’s children and in today’s
for today’s children and in today’s
for today’s children and in today’s America inability to read all too often
America inability to read all too often
America inability to read all too often leads to prison the US Department of
leads to prison the US Department of
leads to prison the US Department of Education released a study that shows
Education released a study that shows
Education released a study that shows that two-thirds of all students unable
that two-thirds of all students unable
that two-thirds of all students unable to read at grade level by the end of
to read at grade level by the end of
to read at grade level by the end of third grade that’s eight years old
third grade that’s eight years old
third grade that’s eight years old unable to read a grade level by the end
unable to read a grade level by the end
unable to read a grade level by the end of third grade will wind up in jail or
of third grade will wind up in jail or
of third grade will wind up in jail or on welfare what’s even worse is that
on welfare what’s even worse is that
on welfare what’s even worse is that private prison companies which are
private prison companies which are
private prison companies which are publicly funded with your tax dollars
publicly funded with your tax dollars
publicly funded with your tax dollars are now researching third grade literacy
are now researching third grade literacy
are now researching third grade literacy scores and finding out which communities
scores and finding out which communities
scores and finding out which communities have the lowest literacy scores to find
have the lowest literacy scores to find
have the lowest literacy scores to find out where to build their next facilities
out where to build their next facilities
out where to build their next facilities insuring the highest population of
insuring the highest population of
insuring the highest population of inmates and profits so I thought why
inmates and profits so I thought why
inmates and profits so I thought why don’t we try comics behind bars the
don’t we try comics behind bars the
don’t we try comics behind bars the inviting storyline characters that art
inviting storyline characters that art
inviting storyline characters that art all of it the educational resource it
all of it the educational resource it
all of it the educational resource it fits this powerful need after months and
fits this powerful need after months and
fits this powerful need after months and months of researching need and securing
months of researching need and securing
months of researching need and securing funding and hiring teachers finding a
funding and hiring teachers finding a
funding and hiring teachers finding a welcoming facility here at Boulder
welcoming facility here at Boulder
welcoming facility here at Boulder County Jail in Boulder Colorado we were
County Jail in Boulder Colorado we were
County Jail in Boulder Colorado we were ready to start shortly after we began
ready to start shortly after we began
ready to start shortly after we began I visited my teachers one day when they
I visited my teachers one day when they
I visited my teachers one day when they were teaching a class in the women’s
were teaching a class in the women’s
were teaching a class in the women’s side of the jail I walked in and the
side of the jail I walked in and the
side of the jail I walked in and the heavy door clangs behind me and I was
heavy door clangs behind me and I was
heavy door clangs behind me and I was scared I didn’t know what to expect what
scared I didn’t know what to expect what
scared I didn’t know what to expect what I was going to see or hear or encounter
I was going to see or hear or encounter
I was going to see or hear or encounter I was escorted to a small classroom with
I was escorted to a small classroom with
I was escorted to a small classroom with cinderblock walls and low ceilings and
cinderblock walls and low ceilings and
cinderblock walls and low ceilings and harsh fluorescent lights the women filed
harsh fluorescent lights the women filed
harsh fluorescent lights the women filed in clad and loose-fitting beige clothes
in clad and loose-fitting beige clothes
in clad and loose-fitting beige clothes and laceless shoes they had their
and laceless shoes they had their
and laceless shoes they had their folders and they had their books in hand
folders and they had their books in hand
folders and they had their books in hand and I also noticed that they were
and I also noticed that they were
and I also noticed that they were wearing smiles they were excited to be
wearing smiles they were excited to be
wearing smiles they were excited to be there the first part of the class was no
there the first part of the class was no
there the first part of the class was no different than the book clubs I had run
different than the book clubs I had run
different than the book clubs I had run hundreds of times in my middle school
hundreds of times in my middle school
hundreds of times in my middle school class before we were chatting about a
class before we were chatting about a
class before we were chatting about a book called star gazing dog it’s a
book called star gazing dog it’s a
book called star gazing dog it’s a graphic novel about a sick man who had
graphic novel about a sick man who had
graphic novel about a sick man who had become estranged from his family for
become estranged from his family for
become estranged from his family for various reasons and the women were
various reasons and the women were
various reasons and the women were having this powerful conversation going
having this powerful conversation going
having this powerful conversation going back and forth some were arguing that he
back and forth some were arguing that he
back and forth some were arguing that he was a good father others said he wasn’t
was a good father others said he wasn’t
was a good father others said he wasn’t why was his only relation to his best
why was his only relation to his best
why was his only relation to his best relationship with the dog and not his
relationship with the dog and not his
relationship with the dog and not his daughter
daughter
daughter but he provided he brought home food and
but he provided he brought home food and
but he provided he brought home food and water and money and they could go on
water and money and they could go on
water and money and they could go on trip and and and these women were going
trip and and and these women were going
trip and and and these women were going back and forth and during this
back and forth and during this
back and forth and during this conversation I noticed that for a time
conversation I noticed that for a time
conversation I noticed that for a time these inmates these women had been set
these inmates these women had been set
these inmates these women had been set free after switching to the jaylee
free after switching to the jaylee
free after switching to the jaylee drawing lesson the women began
drawing lesson the women began
drawing lesson the women began illustrating their comics most were
illustrating their comics most were
illustrating their comics most were chatting while sketching but Amanda was
chatting while sketching but Amanda was
chatting while sketching but Amanda was singularly focused on her eight and a
singularly focused on her eight and a
singularly focused on her eight and a half by 11 copy paper intent on creating
half by 11 copy paper intent on creating
half by 11 copy paper intent on creating a universe with her pencil and paper I
a universe with her pencil and paper I
a universe with her pencil and paper I left her at it for quite a while until
left her at it for quite a while until
left her at it for quite a while until another woman accidentally bumped demand
another woman accidentally bumped demand
another woman accidentally bumped demand his chair on her way to the pencil
his chair on her way to the pencil
his chair on her way to the pencil sharpener startled Amanda blinked and
sharpener startled Amanda blinked and
sharpener startled Amanda blinked and looked up and she proclaimed oh I
looked up and she proclaimed oh I
looked up and she proclaimed oh I forgot I was in jail
silently she returned to her work even
silently she returned to her work even though her body was captive behind a
though her body was captive behind a
though her body was captive behind a steel door her mind had been set free
steel door her mind had been set free
steel door her mind had been set free through the pages of her comic it turns
through the pages of her comic it turns
through the pages of her comic it turns out that Amanda was writing a comic
out that Amanda was writing a comic
out that Amanda was writing a comic about healthy eating habits for her
about healthy eating habits for her
about healthy eating habits for her kindergarten daughter on the outside you
kindergarten daughter on the outside you
kindergarten daughter on the outside you see Amanda had learned about healthy
see Amanda had learned about healthy
see Amanda had learned about healthy eating habits through another class
eating habits through another class
eating habits through another class another program in jail and she wanted
another program in jail and she wanted
another program in jail and she wanted to share that idea with her daughter
to share that idea with her daughter
to share that idea with her daughter three super peas in a pod
three super peas in a pod
three super peas in a pod battled it out against the bad french
battled it out against the bad french
battled it out against the bad french fries in teaching this logical idea of
fries in teaching this logical idea of
fries in teaching this logical idea of healthy eating
healthy eating
healthy eating Amanda bridge with beauty and humor
despite their captivity and stressful
despite their captivity and stressful lives these inmates are learning not
lives these inmates are learning not
lives these inmates are learning not only do they write and illustrate
only do they write and illustrate
only do they write and illustrate powerful stories but their literacy
powerful stories but their literacy
powerful stories but their literacy skills are improving as well over the
skills are improving as well over the
skills are improving as well over the nearly two years of teaching inmates and
nearly two years of teaching inmates and
nearly two years of teaching inmates and correctional facilities we’ve seen a
correctional facilities we’ve seen a
correctional facilities we’ve seen a statistically significant increase in
statistically significant increase in
statistically significant increase in their storytelling ability and a 60
their storytelling ability and a 60
their storytelling ability and a 60 percent increase in their comics
percent increase in their comics
percent increase in their comics specific vocabulary learning is taking
specific vocabulary learning is taking
specific vocabulary learning is taking place
place
place comics are the vehicle the act of
comics are the vehicle the act of
comics are the vehicle the act of learning is an inherently vulnerable
learning is an inherently vulnerable
learning is an inherently vulnerable activity to learn one must step outside
activity to learn one must step outside
activity to learn one must step outside of their comfort zone and risk failure
of their comfort zone and risk failure
of their comfort zone and risk failure accepting that risk requires a safe
accepting that risk requires a safe
accepting that risk requires a safe learning environment and as you can all
learning environment and as you can all
learning environment and as you can all understand demonstrating vulnerability
understand demonstrating vulnerability
understand demonstrating vulnerability in any classroom is a threatening and
in any classroom is a threatening and
in any classroom is a threatening and scary step yet today you’ve seen that
scary step yet today you’ve seen that
scary step yet today you’ve seen that even in the crucible of jails comics
even in the crucible of jails comics
even in the crucible of jails comics have proven to be a valuable and
have proven to be a valuable and
have proven to be a valuable and effective educational tool through their
effective educational tool through their
effective educational tool through their less intimidating format with contextual
less intimidating format with contextual
less intimidating format with contextual blocks of imagery and associated words
blocks of imagery and associated words
blocks of imagery and associated words comics can transform and invite readers
comics can transform and invite readers
comics can transform and invite readers into this culture of literacy we need to
into this culture of literacy we need to
into this culture of literacy we need to stop thinking of comics as low
stop thinking of comics as low
stop thinking of comics as low literature but instead is a powerful art
literature but instead is a powerful art
literature but instead is a powerful art form that echoes the human experience
form that echoes the human experience
form that echoes the human experience capable of transforming education
capable of transforming education
capable of transforming education you
you
you [Applause]
”
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