The Advantages Of Adding Graphic Novels To Your Homeschool
Graphic novels are a fantastic addition to any homeschooling curriculum. You can find graphic novels for any subject or topic which makes it easy to add a few titles to your homeschooling plan.
Many of my kids favorite books have been some of the graphic novels we included in our homeschool year. Keep reading to discover all the reasons why you should add graphic novels to your homeschool as well as some of my top favorite picks for each age group.
Graphic Novels For Language Arts
You can think of graphic novels as stories told in a different writing format. This means that you can teach all of the basic elements of a story (introduction, rising action, climax, etc) using a graphic novel.
Because the stories are usually shorter than traditional novels, it can be easier to look at all of the elements of the story in one sitting.
Graphic novels can also be used to teach many literary devices such as foreshadowing, mood, and allusion. You’ll can find these literary devices (and many more) in graphic novels.
In fact, sometimes a graphic novel makes a teaching certain literary devices easier, especially for younger readers!
For example, when you are trying to help kids think about the mood of a book, it can be hard to start with the words in a novel that create a mood. If you being with a graphic novel, you can look at colors and images that help create the mood.
The more you read graphic novels and look for these elements, the easier it will be to spot them. Of course, you can always use a graphic novel curriculum guide to help you along the way.
The Advantages Of Graphic Novels For Kids
There are so many reasons to include graphic novels in your homeschool curriculum. And you’ll find terrific advantages for doing so!
Vocabulary Development
Graphic novels use fewer words than traditional books so authors must choose their words wisely. This means that writers often make advanced vocabulary choices in order to convey the emotions and plot elements.
Without realizing it, even the youngest of readers increases their vocabulary when they are reading graphic novels.
Supports Comprehension
Homeschooling with graphic novels can help aid comprehension for new, reluctant, and struggling readers because the images and text work together to tell the story. Readers are able to rely on visual clues in addition to the text to better understand the story.
But graphic novels don’t offer comprehension support only for younger readers. They are also a great options to aid comprehension for older students who are studying classical literature and/or works by Shakespeare.
The original versions of these stories can be tedious to read and understand the first time a student encounters them. A graphic novel version of these classic words can lay the foundation of understanding in a fun and meaningful way.
Improves Visual Literacy
It’s important in today’s society that we raise children who are able to think critically about images. Graphic novels help readers develop their ability to understand, create, and talk about images because images are such an integral part of the story.
Readers must pay attention to the images because they contain content that is crucial to the plot. Images can include the emotions and feelings of the characters as well as literary devices such as visual foreshadowing that provides clues and hints to the plot.
Experience Diverse Stories and Characters
Graphic novels are a great way to expose your child to diverse cultures, historical events, and real-world issues. Your student can experience life all around the globe and our historical timeline without leaving their home.
Well-chosen graphic novels will open up conversations about societal issues and help you discuss the topics that matter most with your kids. You can also select graphic novels with characters that represent a variety of backgrounds and life experiences.
In this way, graphic novels can help encourage empathy and understanding while embracing differences among people. These are the kinds of lessons that stay with students for life!
Educational Value
Graphic novels are not a genre. They are a writing format. This means you can find graphic novels in a wide range of genres, making them a great addition to any subject you are teaching at home.
You can find historical fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, realistic fiction, fantasy, and more! It’s easy to include graphic novels in your homeschool unit studies, morning basket, or literature studies.
Whatever topic you are studying, there is probably a graphic novel for it!
Favorite Graphic Novels To Try
There are so many incredible graphic novels for all ages. Here are a few of my favorites by age to get you started.
Graphic Novels for Early Readers
Graphic Novels for Elementary School
Graphic Novels for Middle School
Graphic Novels for High School
Graphic Novel Guides
Using graphic novels in your homeschool and having meaningful discussions about literary elements has never been easier.
The Graphic Novel Discussion Guides from Celebrate a Book include everything you need to explore graphic novels with your kids. Each guide includes ice breaker questions, literature discussion question, visual literacy questions, and an extension activity.
You’ll find suggested answers for all of the questions so you are never at a loss for a thoughtful response.
A Note From Jessica…
Emily has been taking book clubs with Mary for years. Mary was kind enough to share her experience with graphic novels with us, you can find more resources from her on her site: Celebrate a Book with Mary Hanna Wilson.
Mary is a writer, online teacher, and homeschool mother to four kids ranging from middle school to college. She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone of engaging and inspiring homeschools. On her blog she shares homeschooling resources, tips, and ideas as well as fantastic books lists and literature teaching tools. You can also find her in the virtual classroom leading live book clubs for kids through Outschool. When she is not teaching or writing, you can find her reading, traveling, binge-watching a show with her teens, or enjoying great conversation over a cup of tea.
I just added the Wings of Fire graphic novels to our homeschool curriculum after noticing our son’s keen interest in the image of the map at the front of the traditional books and his comments on what the dragons looked like. It is my hope that this colorful, visual option will encourage my reluctant reader to read more independently. So far it is working! This morning he got up, grabbed his book, and snuggled back into bed to read 😁
I am so glad you shared this option and offered so much information on how it helps develope Language Arts skills.
On a side note: The original Percy Jackson series is also offered as a graphic novel. The Timmi Tobbson series by J. I. Wagner also looks good.
Thank You for sharing!