[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-thewritebook-toolkit-a-whole-comics-lesson-in-videos":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Guys, this is exciting! Booktrust have worked with me to come up with a whole online class on how to make comics! I'm always wishing I could get around to more schools, so this is a huge help. There are four videos: how to make a character, tips on making comics, a walk-through where kids can make a comic along with the video, then a fun song at the end, inspired by the comic character. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/sarah-mcintyre-video/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/booktrust_comics_jam_zpsespwsunp-b5a8cb1cfe.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nThe video editor has expertly paced the tutorial so teachers can use it in the classroom. But I think people at home can get a lot out of it, too: kids or grownups! You can \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/sarah-mcintyre-video/\">watch the videos on the website here\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/sarah-mcintyre-video/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vidpage_zps8dfnhq39-4932bb06f7.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nHere's the second video, so you can get a taster. Kids find making comics fun, but it also focuses them on learning how to make a story very clear to a reader. When I lead kids in Comics Jams, I often see them coming to grips with the idea that it's not enough to have a story in their heads, but that they have to give enough clues on the paper for someone else to understand the story without them hovering nearby, explaining it. They partly learn that by drawing the comics, but also by being given someone else's comic, and seeing why it might be difficult to work out what's happening. Learning how to express a series of thoughts clearly is a great concept lesson that applies to any form of communication.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Clj-embed id=\"3060\"/>\\r\n\\r\nYou can find some more tips on leading Comics Jams \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jampires.com/activities/"\">over on my Jampires website\u003C/a> with \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/davidoconnell\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> (who does great workshops). And there's a printable guide to drawing a Sea Monkey from \u003Ci>Oliver and the Seawigs\u003C/i> by \u003Ca href=\"http://philipreeve.blogspot.co.uk/\">Philip Reeve\u003C/a> over \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jabberworks.co.uk/oliver-and-the-seawigs/\">on my website\u003C/a>. The Write Book site went live yesterday and a few people have already spotted it and seen its potential. Yay!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ClareHelenWelsh/status/598109511103184896\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/clare_tweet_zpsoykynqrn-f60506ba02.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for more under the cut!-->\\r\nAnd you know how I'm always banging on about us needing an online comics database? Well, it looks like something's starting to happen! Check out this \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/#/d/books/bookfinder/\">Booktrust Bookfinder\u003C/a> on the website. For people who have no idea what kind of comics to give kids of various ages, this could be super-helpful. It's by no means a comprehensive list, and people can question the age ranging but it's a great start, and user-friendly. I'm always meeting teachers who want to do more with comics but they don't know much about them and need help. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/#/d/books/bookfinder/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/bookfinder_zpsfphullot-bec88c34c9.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nOn the Bookfinder, you can find out about my \u003Ci>Vern and Lettuce\u003C/i> comic book:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/#/d/books/bookfinder/110/46\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/bookfinder_vl_zpsrrlxuhaj-0105635f00.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nYou can even download some pages, so you can get a feel for what kind of comic it is! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/view/31137\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/vern_and_lettuce_booktrust_zpsyatbzqmt-65c46c342f.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nI'm really excited about this \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/\">Write Book teacher toolkit\u003C/a>; I think it could become a sort of TED Talks about children's books, with good resources just clicks away from the videos. I know kids get a HUGE amount out of it when I lead them in Comics Jam sessions, and I really hope people will use and share these videos. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/booktrust_toolkit_zps6m28xkco-2741ed0b23.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nAnd explore the other resources on the site! You can watch videos by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/primary/the-write-book/Tony-bradman-video/\">Tony Bradman on rewriting fairy tales\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/writing/online-writer-in-residence/blog/592\">Laura Dockrill's tips on writing and keeping a notebook\u003C/a>. If you use our videos to come up with something creative, we'd love it if you'd share them with us! You can tweet them (or get someone to help you tweet them) to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Booktrust\">@Booktrust\u003C/a>, using the hash tag \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/thewritebook?f=realtime&src=hash\">#thewritebook\u003C/a>. (And include me - @jabberworks - I'd love to see your comics!)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/AnnaMcKerrow/status/598069603663765505\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/anna_tweet_zpsochg2v4g-fcfc917ab7.jpg\">\u003C/a> \\r\n\\r\nBig thanks to \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/AnnaMcKerrow\">Anna McKerrow\u003C/a> and the Booktrust team for making this happen!","2015-05-13T06:26:00.000Z","thewritebook-toolkit-a-whole-comics-lesson-in-videos",[],"#thewritebook toolkit: a whole comics lesson in videos!",1776628727617]