Comics in the Classroom

Hey, I’m Jenn, owner of The Dragon!
I’m also a certified teacher, member of the Ontario College of Teachers, and a YWCA Woman of Distinction. I am passionate about kids reading, and to that end, I’m available to come to your school to survey your library collection and help you make purchases, or to conduct workshops, or to run a book fair for graphic novels.

Consultation

I am available to come to your library, at no cost, to assess your collection. We’ll talk about your goals with the section, and I’ll put together a list of books within your budget that will meet the goals of your school, and enhance your graphic novel section, resulting in higher turn rates. Purchase the books from us, and you’ll get them for 25% off retail price, with free delivery. Alternately, you can make an appointment to browse our selection at the store.


Teaching Educators

I am happy to work with educators, either one-on-one or in groups, to help you understand how to read, understand, and analyse graphic novels.

Workshops

I offer three different workshops for students and one for teachers:
Comic Imagery – students are led in a discussion to help develop their visual literacy by articulating how panels and images create ideas of time, mood, character, sound, and more. This can be tailored to any age group.

  • Being a Superhero for your Community – students are led in a discussion about what it means to be a superhero; they examine the concept of community, and then figure out how a hero could help one of their communities; finally in pairs they create their own hero, drawing it on a blank figure template, and establishing a name and powers for the character.
    • For grades 3-8
  • An Introduction to Graphic Novels – students are led through the history of comics from the first ones published in the late 19th century to today’s comics. They also learn about the basic construction of a comic and some storytelling language.
    • For grades 7-12
  • Teaching with Graphic Novels (for teachers) – not sure how to get graphic novels into your curriculum? I can walk through how to create a graphic novel curriculum, including establishing activities, writing lesson plans, and choosing texts. This workshop can be tailored to the needs of the group and the level of expertise with the medium.

Beyond this, I am happy to tailor any programme to suit the needs of your students and your classroom, whether it be centred on one book, or a thematic topic.

Workshops are available at the cost of $150 per 50 to 80 minute session. Full day sessions are negotiable. If out-of-town travel is required, a travel stipend may be added to the rate.

Book Fairs

I can attend your school with books for your students to purchase. I recommend booking the store for a 2 day book fair, which will allow students to browse the books on day 1 and take home a wish list, and return to purchase on day 2.
10% of the purchases at the book fair will be reimbursed to your school library as graphic novels and/or games.
The book fair can be combined with a workshop.
Book Fairs are available at no cost and I take care of all of the set-up and tear-down, as well as all of the sales.

Alternately, we can set up a day that your students can shop at the store with 10% of the sales being reimbursed to your school as books and/or games.

I am an approved vendor for the Upper Grand and Halton District School Boards.

Please contact jennifer@dragonguelph.com for more information on any of these programmes or availability.