This one is for all the Marvel, DC, and manga fans! In this comics studio, participants learn the basics of comic storytelling – both written and visual – to bring a sequential story to life. A focus will be placed on learning character design to create a compelling and fun story!

Participants will learn to compile student work into a high-quality, larger, final anthology!

Educators will:

• Analyze graphic novels to expand their understanding of how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text.
• Be introduced to the elements of graphic novels including
  • the flow of narrative and how artists “trick” our eyes to follow the page
  • script development and how that translates to visual art
  • the concept of shape language and how that informs design
  • caption boxes and what they are best used for? (transition phrase)
  • image perspectives (establishing shot, wide angle, close up)
  • word balloons and how different shapes communicate different emotional states. (tremulous) (mumbled) (whispered) (screamed)
  • gesture and emotions and how they communicate details.
• Engage with Turn/Talk, Self-Reflection, and Share Out strategies to assess participant learning.
• Establish criteria that allows them to apply session skills and understanding to their teaching and learning practice.

YA Connections

NJSLS-VPA:

• Creating:2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
• Presenting: 5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
• Connecting:11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.’

Professional Standard Educational

• Respect: Teachers should respect and honor each student’s efforts and offer encouragement.
• Learning styles: Teachers should recognize and accommodate learning styles and abilities.
• Learning Environment: Teachers should strive to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation

Culturally Responsive Practice

• Teachers will briefly learn the history of comics and its expression as an art form but vehicle of language
• Teachers will learn about how comics can be used for ESL learning – visual language and universality
• Teachers will learn about the ways comics can be used to depict difficult historical discussions (I.E. Maus, March, Displacement)

Social-Emotional Learning

• Discuss the ways we read emotions
• Discuss the ways we use visual language to depict emotional weight
• Discuss the ways comics can be a safe way to engage in healing trauma
• Discuss the ways writing and art making are therapeutic and cathartic
• Discuss the ways comic books are a process of “dynamic journaling”

When you pair this program with Rashad Malik Davis’s workshop, he provides teachers with the in-classroom support implementing creative teaching practices, what they have learned into practice.