Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • Login
School Management Plus: School & education news worldwide
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Leaders
    • Heads & Governors
    • Admissions & Marketing
    • Bursars & Finance
    • Staff Recruitment
    • Development & Fundraising
    • Alumni Relations
    • Communications & PR
    • Estate Management
    • School Data Management
  • Educators
    • Safeguarding
    • College Counselling
    • Online Learning
    • Early Years
    • Exams & Qualifications
    • Assessment
    • Inclusion
    • Sports and Outdoors
  • International
    • The View From Here
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum Design
    • Overseas Development
    • Staff Recruitment
    • EdTech
  • Your School
    • Are you a Kampus24 School?
    • Spotlight on a School
    • 30 minutes with…
    • Partnerships & Outreach
    • School News & Announcements
  • Jobs
    • Place a Vacancy
    • View Vacancies
    • Movers & Shakers
    • CPD
  • Video & Podcast
    • Inspiring Leadership
    • School Leaders
    • Membership Bodies
    • The ABC of Safeguarding
    • The Friday Club
  • Resources
    • From Our Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Events Calendar
  • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Associations & Distribution
    • Our Publications
      • International School Magazine
      • School Management Plus Magazine
      • Wellbeing in International Schools Magazine
      • WISEducation newsletter
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Leaders
    • Heads & Governors
    • Admissions & Marketing
    • Bursars & Finance
    • Staff Recruitment
    • Development & Fundraising
    • Alumni Relations
    • Communications & PR
    • Estate Management
    • School Data Management
  • Educators
    • Safeguarding
    • College Counselling
    • Online Learning
    • Early Years
    • Exams & Qualifications
    • Assessment
    • Inclusion
    • Sports and Outdoors
  • International
    • The View From Here
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum Design
    • Overseas Development
    • Staff Recruitment
    • EdTech
  • Your School
    • Are you a Kampus24 School?
    • Spotlight on a School
    • 30 minutes with…
    • Partnerships & Outreach
    • School News & Announcements
  • Jobs
    • Place a Vacancy
    • View Vacancies
    • Movers & Shakers
    • CPD
  • Video & Podcast
    • Inspiring Leadership
    • School Leaders
    • Membership Bodies
    • The ABC of Safeguarding
    • The Friday Club
  • Resources
    • From Our Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Events Calendar
  • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Associations & Distribution
    • Our Publications
      • International School Magazine
      • School Management Plus Magazine
      • Wellbeing in International Schools Magazine
      • WISEducation newsletter
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
School Management Plus: School & education news worldwide
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

‘Don’t be afraid to let children read comics in school’

Exposing children to a variety of books, magazines and comics can encourage reading for pleasure, writes Clementine Macmillan-Scott

Clementine Macmillan-Scott by Clementine Macmillan-Scott
June 24, 2021
in Features, Heads & Governors, Teaching & Leading
Reading Time: 3 mins read
5 0
A A
0
Linked InShare on FacebookShare on TwitterPin This

As adult readers we are safe in the knowledge that reading is good for us. And if we needed proof, a National Literacy Trust study of children reading in lockdown showed that three in five children and young people said that reading makes them feel better.

As the founder of a literary magazine for children my work is about fostering the joy children can find in reading and trying to make sure they stay hooked. I work closely with the leading authors and illustrators of the children’s book world.

I was always read to as a child and believe that this is the number one thing a parent or teacher can do to bring reading for pleasure into the lives of children. This along with our education leaders and governments making sure that books are accessible to all children (I wholeheartedly support Michael Rosen’s suggestion that children should be issued with library tickets at birth).

Reading aloud to each other is not only about that precious time spent one on one, or in the case of a classroom one teacher with a group, but a chance to bring a story to life and show children how much you, the adult, gets out of it too.

“I wholeheartedly support Michael Rosen’s suggestion that children should be issued with library tickets at birth.”

I heard an interview once with a mother of three teenage girls, the youngest was fifteen, and she said she still read aloud to them, especially when there were moments of unease or stress. It is the best way to talk to each other when you might not be able to say what you feel.

It is not only reading books together, taking it in turns to read passages and chapters, but also looking at magazines, listening to podcasts and reading comics together that can bring in those really wonderful moments, spark conversations and foster long term engagement with a subject.

A report from Egmont tells us that one third of eight to ten-year-old girls and over half of boys say they prefer magazines to books. One boy said, “Magazines make good reading because it’s kind of like reading but just with more pictures.”

This brings me to the wonderful subject of comics. Because of the graphic format which lacks daunting passages of text and instead features illustrations to delight and explain the story, they are an incredibly helpful and magical tool when encouraging a reluctant reader.

“Comics are an incredibly helpful and magical tool when encouraging a reluctant reader.”

Chris Murray, head of English at the University of Dundee says “Comics don’t harm literacy; they promote it. They involve the reader in a complex negotiation of words and images, making logical sense of the narrative and weaving the action together based on the elementary cues in the illustrations.”

I think comics should be introduced not only as reading materials in schools, but also in creative writing lessons and exercises as a way to help readers think about how stories are constructed. All you need is nine squares and a character for children to take their imagination to the page.

There are some excellent comics and graphic novels out there for all ages including The Beano, The Phoenix magazine, Illustrated Classics by Marcia Williams, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tiny Tyrant, Mother to Son Harlem Night Song,  and The Inkberg Enigma by Jonathan King.

“Comics should be introduced not only as reading materials in schools, but also in creative writing lessons and exercises.”

Recently I was told about a school who had taken the radical decision to demand that all students carry something to read in their bags, a book, a magazine or a comic. The teachers could ask to see it at any time and if the student failed to produce anything and be able to talk about it, they would get a fine!

Some may argue that this is taking the joy out of reading but I do think if we can make books and magazines a part of their lives by harnessing as many tools as possible then we have a generation that looks at the world with intelligence and empathy and has a place they can go to where they feel good.

Clementine Macmillan-Scott is the editor in chief of Scoop magazine.

Tags: commentsEnglishliteracyreading
Share1Share6Tweet4Pin1
Clementine Macmillan-Scott

Clementine Macmillan-Scott

Video

  • All
  • Video
Publications

Independent School Management Plus – Winter 2023

January 24, 2023
81
The Friday Club: Rachel Scannel, Bromsgrove School
The Friday Club

The Friday Club: Rachel Scannel, Bromsgrove School

January 13, 2023
193
James Handscombe
College Counselling

In Conversation: James Handscombe, Harris Westminster Sixth Form

January 12, 2023
151
Podcast: ABC of Safeguarding – Jo Cooke, Holme Grange School, Wokingham
Safeguarding

Podcast: ABC of Safeguarding – Jo Cooke, Holme Grange School, Wokingham

January 9, 2023
132

Latest News

Ofsted blames teacher recruitment problems
News

Teacher recruitment crisis hinders Covid catch-up

December 13, 2022
151
Teacher Wellbeing Index 2022teacher wellbeing is a big concern
Latest News

Bleak findings in new Teacher Wellbeing Index 2022

November 29, 2022
411
Wellbeing falls in early secondary
Inclusion

Young people’s ‘sharp decline in wellbeing’ during early secondary years

November 24, 2022
218
ISA Schools Awards
Latest News

Independent Schools Association announces award winners

November 21, 2022
349
Heather Hanbury likes female leadership
Alumni Relations

‘Unleash your feminine side to be a great leader’ says girls’ schools chief

November 21, 2022
144
Jim Knight, new chair of COBIS
International Schools

Lord Knight appointed as next chair of COBIS

November 14, 2022
134
School Management Plus: School & education news worldwide

© 2020 Independent School Management Plus.

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Leaders
  • Educators
  • International
  • Your School
  • Jobs
  • Video & Podcast
  • Resources
  • About

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Leaders
    • Heads & Governors
    • Admissions & Marketing
    • Bursars & Finance
    • Staff Recruitment
    • Development & Fundraising
    • Alumni Relations
    • Communications & PR
    • Estate Management
    • School Data Management
  • Educators
    • Safeguarding
    • College Counselling
    • Online Learning
    • Early Years
    • Exams & Qualifications
    • Assessment
    • Inclusion
    • Sports and Outdoors
  • International
    • The View From Here
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum Design
    • Overseas Development
    • Staff Recruitment
    • EdTech
  • Your School
    • Are you a Kampus24 School?
    • Spotlight on a School
    • 30 minutes with…
    • Partnerships & Outreach
    • School News & Announcements
  • Jobs
    • Place a Vacancy
    • View Vacancies
    • Movers & Shakers
    • CPD
  • Video & Podcast
    • Inspiring Leadership
    • School Leaders
    • Membership Bodies
    • The ABC of Safeguarding
    • The Friday Club
  • Resources
    • From Our Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Events Calendar
  • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Associations & Distribution
    • Our Publications
      • International School Magazine
      • School Management Plus Magazine
      • Wellbeing in International Schools Magazine
      • WISEducation newsletter
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us

© 2020 Independent School Management Plus.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.