May 30, 2008 10:51 am US/Eastern
Comics Add Excitement To Classroom Reading
HARFORD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Educators are using comic books to get kids excited about reading.
CBS
Getting students excited about reading has always been a top priority for teachers.
Gigi Barnett reports educators are now using an unusual tool to get kids hooked on the written word.
Books need good character development, a strong plot line and an effective tone and mood. These are lessons in literature that many students don't see until high school.
But the fifth grade class at Magnolia Elementary School in Harford County is learning them from comic books.
"For an average kid my age we get bored. We get excited and hyped up," said student Deshaun Osborne.
Across the nation at least 850 schools are introducing comic books into the classroom, including at least 200 in Maryland.
State School Superintendent Dr. Nancy Grasmick says the students love it.
"It challenges them to think in terms of creating their own comic books, anticipating outcome, analyzing characters. It can really be high-quality work," said Grasmick.
In comics, even the action words like "bam" "pow" and "zap" are good teaching tools.
Students learn they're called onomatopoeias, words that mean a certain sound.
And this teaching tool isn't just for boys.
Student Kerry Ingram says most people, boys and girls, don't like to read books.
"But if you have actions and all of these different things... people can learn more," Ingram said.
While comics are popular with the 22,000 students using them already, don't worry, traditional reading books aren't leaving the classroom.
That may have been a fear for parents and comic book critics.
"School has been so traditional for so long. This is providing an outlet for a different kind of learner," said teacher Alana Cassedy.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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