From: Karen L. Simonetti <klsimonetti>
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 15:15:53 -0500

At 01:38 PM 10/6/2001 00, jeanne whitehouse wrote in part:

Well, as someone waiting patiently (not) for the Chicago Humanities Festival to begin in November, so I can hear Michael Chabon (author of -The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay- which is focused on the comic books of the yore) and as someone who often team-teaches ESL, I can attest that comics (in various formats) are fabulous tools! Obviously, they work in connecting young/beginning readers and older/accomplished readers which is an asset that I'm always on the lookout for and will utilize at the drop of a hat.

Jeanne, you summed it up perfectly: Comics are a bridge to language, expression and, I would add, culture. Perhaps my all time favorite example is the 11/8/99 "Peanuts" strip.

Sally is shown sitting writing a letter next to Charlie. The letter reads,
"Dear Harry Potter, I am your biggest fan. Would you like to come to our house for dinner?"

The next frame has Charlie saying, "Harry Potter" is a fictitious character..."

Crumbling the paper, tossing it over her shoulder, Sally says, "Some other time Harry..."

Karen Sue...now needing a Bertie Botts candy herself...

PS: Ah yes, one more thought...using comics as a reading tool for early readers is just the perfect way to incorporate reading into daily life. Remember the excitement of getting your first "Weekly Reader" or
"Highlights Magazine"? [Aargh...I've probably now dated myself.]







We have art so that we may not die of reality.
-Nietzsche Karen L. Simonetti email: klsimonetti at earthlink.net phone: 312.337.7114
Received on Sat 06 Oct 2001 03:15:53 PM CDT