Research has shown comic books can make students smarter

October 20, 2018 ( PR Submission Site ) A revolution is taking place across schools. Comic books, once disregarded as too superficial to rival the intellectual rigor of “real” books, are gaining an increased level of respectability across our classrooms. This is in response to a growing body of research which has shown comic books help increase children’s vocabulary, listening and comprehension skills: three cornerstones of early literacy development.

While comic books used to be seen as a classroom menace, attitudes are changing as more and more teachers are recognizing its value as a teaching tool in education. According to literary experts, teaching material that students are fully engaged with is not a bonus of learning to be literate, but rather an integral part of the process that should be prioritised by educators.

Given the advantages of using comics to develop literacy skills, teachers are now learning to exploit the genre as a powerful teaching resource. The pairing of visual and written plotlines in comics provides contextual tools that can help foster word recognition and also increase children’s confidence.

They also help in developing a range of crucial literacy skills, including developing an understanding of plot sequencing, as well as getting children to think critically. And, as more and more educators share their success stories of using comics in the classroom, their usage is rapidly set to expand.

Recognizing this change, content producers for children are stepping up to provide E-comics that teachers can use to educate and entertain their students. One such superhero is Aychu, an environmental warrior who loves plants, flowers and all things green.

Although she is shy, Aychu shines when she stands up for what she believes in: the environment. Guided by principles and by a strong moral compass, this “Guardian of the Green” can teach kids important moral values, as well as literacy skills.