Anonymous
11/02/2014 22:41
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Try the series "the cartoon guide to...." And "cartoon history of..." A whole non-fiction series of comic books, if that's what you need to work on.
Anonymous
11/02/2014 22:27
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Where are they getting the comic books?
Anonymous
10/31/2014 08:43
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Anonymous wrote:I'm an English teacher, and I think your approach is a mistake. While you can widen your child's experience with various forms of literature, discouraging and being narrow-minded about the one that they have shown passion toward will hurt their relationship with you and perhaps also their desire to read.
What is the point of "banning" or discouraging comicbooks?
Do you realize how many comic books are based on mythology from around the world? Do you know how many well known writers and artists contribute to graphic novels? Do you know how many of these explore deep philosophical questions about what it means to be human?
Talk to your kids about what they are reading, whatever it is. Don't go in with an agenda.
Another English teacher here, in agreement!
Anonymous
10/31/2014 04:33
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Anonymous wrote:I'm an English teacher, and I think your approach is a mistake. While you can widen your child's experience with various forms of literature, discouraging and being narrow-minded about the one that they have shown passion toward will hurt their relationship with you and perhaps also their desire to read.
What is the point of "banning" or discouraging comicbooks?
Do you realize how many comic books are based on mythology from around the world? Do you know how many well known writers and artists contribute to graphic novels? Do you know how many of these explore deep philosophical questions about what it means to be human?
Talk to your kids about what they are reading, whatever it is. Don't go in with an agenda.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 18:12
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
I would've DIED without my Wonder Woman comic books!!!!
PhD here.
PhD here.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 17:00
Subject: Re:Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
I bought my son a National Geographics coffee table book about animals that has short, but interesting to him, passages about animals. This worked really well to get him to read.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 16:19
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
I know everything should be in moderation, but you also have to be careful in how you do that. Don't make comic books a forbidden fruit as you try to introduce your kids to other reading materials.
Long story, but the other day I had to ground my 12 year old who had hidden a real book inside a comic book (don't ask, that wasn't what he was in trouble for, it was just how he was found.)
But, my 9 year old didn't get dressed for church this weekend because he was reading his graphic bible. No naked reading, is frequently yelled by me and they get distracted while getting dressed and start to read.
My only rule on comic books is that if there are girls in them, they can't have breast bigger than mine. I'm a 32F and a runner (obviously, not a fast one, with that bounce issue). It's ok to be skinny and big boobs, but let's be realist about saving the world without wearing 2 sports bras.
Long story, but the other day I had to ground my 12 year old who had hidden a real book inside a comic book (don't ask, that wasn't what he was in trouble for, it was just how he was found.)
But, my 9 year old didn't get dressed for church this weekend because he was reading his graphic bible. No naked reading, is frequently yelled by me and they get distracted while getting dressed and start to read.
My only rule on comic books is that if there are girls in them, they can't have breast bigger than mine. I'm a 32F and a runner (obviously, not a fast one, with that bounce issue). It's ok to be skinny and big boobs, but let's be realist about saving the world without wearing 2 sports bras.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 14:37
Subject: Re:Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Read Hugo Cabret together. Your kids will love the illustrations.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 13:01
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you all for the suggestions, especially 10:06, 11:05 and 11:40 on finding more interesting titles.
I just wanted to add that the teachers had agreed with me some limitation is ideal, and I think the 8-yo's was sincere about it.
And I don't want to ban anything, just a reasonable expectation. We don't ban video games but have clear rules about them and so far so good. So I'm hoping it would work out for comics too.
What they like to read currently: Captain Underpants, Dragon Breath, Bone, Amulet, Calvin and Hobbs. They used to like Smurfs and Tin Tin too.
OP, the books you listed are graphic novels, not comic books. Bone has some pretty simplex stuff in it.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 12:54
Subject: Re:Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
My oldest and youngest struggle with LDs and 'graphic novels' are the only ones they consistently go for. When they come home from school, they're tired and, frankly, reading something of lesser interest to them is an immense struggle. At the suggestion of a neuro-psychologist, we started reading aloud to them. It's a 'family' activity. Everyone really's enjoyed it. We read for @ 30 minutes each night and then they can read whatever they want.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 12:30
Subject: Re:Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
OP, my kids love many of the same books! Though thank god they're finally outgrowing captain underpants and the Wimpy Kid. I do think that graphic novels are different from "comic books." What has worked for me is to read what they are reading. I do not like it when all they read is graphic novels and TinTin, etc. But at the same time, it WAS improving their literacy! I remember my kindergartner reading aloud, and how proud I was that she could read "blistering barnacles!"
I strongly believe in allowing kids to read whatever they want to, but at the same time I'm not happy with it being all graphic novels and comics. I can't help wondering if it will change the way they think and eventually write, if that's all they read. So what I do is get a whole bunch of novels and chapter books from the library each time we go. At some point they'll get bored with the choices they have, and will pick up something else. If not, then I will pick one that I like and start reading it aloud to them at bedtime. They will get absorbed in the story and want to finish reading it themselves.
I strongly believe in allowing kids to read whatever they want to, but at the same time I'm not happy with it being all graphic novels and comics. I can't help wondering if it will change the way they think and eventually write, if that's all they read. So what I do is get a whole bunch of novels and chapter books from the library each time we go. At some point they'll get bored with the choices they have, and will pick up something else. If not, then I will pick one that I like and start reading it aloud to them at bedtime. They will get absorbed in the story and want to finish reading it themselves.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 12:18
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
I've read that reading comics and graphic novels stimulates ALL parts of the brain. It also helps them build imagination. Drop this OP.
Anonymous
10/30/2014 11:53
Subject: Restricting Comic Books and Getting Teachers On Baord
OP here - thank you all for the suggestions, especially 10:06, 11:05 and 11:40 on finding more interesting titles.
I just wanted to add that the teachers had agreed with me some limitation is ideal, and I think the 8-yo's was sincere about it.
And I don't want to ban anything, just a reasonable expectation. We don't ban video games but have clear rules about them and so far so good. So I'm hoping it would work out for comics too.
What they like to read currently: Captain Underpants, Dragon Breath, Bone, Amulet, Calvin and Hobbs. They used to like Smurfs and Tin Tin too.
I just wanted to add that the teachers had agreed with me some limitation is ideal, and I think the 8-yo's was sincere about it.
And I don't want to ban anything, just a reasonable expectation. We don't ban video games but have clear rules about them and so far so good. So I'm hoping it would work out for comics too.
What they like to read currently: Captain Underpants, Dragon Breath, Bone, Amulet, Calvin and Hobbs. They used to like Smurfs and Tin Tin too.