Comics in the Classroom

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Comics are Everywhere

I recently took a flight with my family and had the pleasure of sitting next to my two-year-old. On each of the flights we took, he gravitated toward the “airplane book.” What he was referring to was the emergency evacuation procedures. Why did he find these so appealing?

Illustrations

The information in the trifold was presented in a colorful, fully illustrated format. This format taps into the idea that humans are inherently visual beings—about 50% of the brain is dedicated to processing visual information. It is natural for my son to notice shapes, colors, and patterns.

Illustrations stimulate this powerful visual processing system, capturing attention and making information easier to understand.

Language Barriers

The people who designed the airplane trifold recognized the fact that comics have the power to transcend language barriers, making them universally understandable. Simple symbols or expressive visuals are accessible to people regardless of language, culture, or literacy level, helping convey ideas across diverse groups. When it comes to the diverse population of passengers on a flight, comics are the best way to deliver this important information.

Relatability

The illustrations in the trifold depict expressions, body language, and settings that evoke emotions. This makes the content instantly relatable, even for a two-year-old. An image of a character with a happy or sad face can quickly communicate a mood or story, creating an emotional connection that words may take longer to convey. The connection is almost instantaneous and occurs in all ages.

They Know

The people who decided to deliver the emergency evacuation instructions in a fully illustrated format know this is the most effective way to reach their diverse audience of passengers. They know the illustrations will rope them in and the characters will illicit a connection to the information. The illustrations will have the power to speak to any language or reading level.

On a larger scale, advertising companies utilize the power of illustrations (comics) as well. Comics are already all around us, but not in the format we instantly envision. In this fast-paced, media-saturated world, visuals are the key to cutting through the noise and making an impact on consumers.

How Does this Relate to Comic in the Classroom?

When you use comics in a classroom, you can simplify complex information. Combining text with engaging visuals makes it easier for students to understand and retain what they’re reading. Each panel of a comic breaks down information into digestible chunks, which is particularly helpful for English Language Learners (ELLs) and struggling readers. Plus, the blend of dialogue, narrative, and visual elements can help students follow along and make connections more effectively than with traditional texts.

Supports Visual
Literacy

Visual literacy—the ability to interpret, analyze, and make meaning from images—is a crucial skill in today’s media-driven world. Our students are constantly being bombarded with information, and they need to learn how to navigate it all.

Comics use layout, color, framing, and symbols, which help students practice interpreting visual elements and connecting them to the storyline. By reading comics, students learn to “read” images alongside text, developing skills that transfer to other forms of media they encounter, from infographics to advertisements to digital media.

Encourages Reluctant Readers

I began creating comics in my classroom because they were able to grab the attention of some of my most challenging learners. Students who consistently refused to reader instantly engaged in reading comics.

The bright colors and often humorous approach of comics can turn reading from a chore into an exciting experience. For students who are reluctant or find reading challenging, comics provide a less intimidating format that invites them to dive in. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by long passages, they can engage with smaller sections of text paired with visuals that support comprehension and encourage curiosity.

Creativity and Self-Expression

Using comics in the classroom will help inspire students to create their own stories and imagine new possibilities. Creating comics allows them to practice writing, art, and storytelling skills in an interdisciplinary format.

You can ask students to create their own comics based on what they’re learning in science, social studies, or even math—encouraging them to think creatively and deepen their understanding of core concepts. This process nurtures students’ artistic skills and provides a new way for them to express themselves, making it especially valuable for those who find it easier to communicate through art.

Conveying Complex Messages Instantly

When I was teaching at the charter school for at-risk youth, my classroom was fraught with checked-out learners. It did not matter how animated I got with my lessons, these students would not engage. I had to find a way to deliver the information in the extremely short moments of attention I was able to grab. Comics were the solution to this problem.

Using comics in the classroom can help you communicate complex ideas or emotions in a split second. Content can be digested with minimal cognitive effort on the viewer’s part. For instance, a single image of a bird in a crocodile’s mouth can convey a mutualistic symbiotic relationship in an instant. Learners do not have to battle through words they do not understand.

Supporting a Diverse Range of Needs

When I look across my classroom, I see such a diverse population of learners. Many of my students come from different cultures and speak a different language at home. Some of my students come from homes without books leaving them ill-prepared for school. Many of these students struggle when presented with traditional textbooks and articles.

Incorporating comics in the classroom will appeal to a wide range of learning preferences. Comics are accessible to students with diverse needs. By combining illustrations with text, comics create a dynamic learning environment that supports students with different learning preferences and attention spans. This format also makes it easier for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties to engage with the material, as the visuals and smaller chunks of text reduce cognitive load and enhance understanding.

Humans are natural storytellers, and illustrations are perfect for visual storytelling. A single illustration or a series of images tells a narrative, offering a cohesive experience that keeps us engaged. This narrative element is a big part of why people enjoy comics, storybooks, and visual art so much.