Links Here are some links that may be of use to you:

In the classroom and promoting literacy:-

Graphic Novels for Multiple Literacies Gretchen E. Schwarz In an increasingly visual culture, literacy educators can profit from the use of graphic novels in the classroom, especially for young adults. Educators need not worry that graphic novels discourage text reading. Lavin (1998) even suggested that reading graphic novels might require more complex cognitive skills than the reading of text alone.

Classics as graphic novels? Have your say! NATE news A national voice on key issues affecting English teaching. NATE is also an active member of the International Federation of the Teachers of English where it seeks to share the experience of English teachers in the UK and learn from teachers in diverse parts of the world.

Graphic novels - engaging readers and encouraging literacy Learning and Teaching Scotland The showcase resource highlights how graphic novels can be used throughought the curriculum.

Graphic Novels across the curriculum Learning and Teaching Scotland This section is based on the work of Mel Gibson, a lecturer in Childhood Studies at the University of Northumbria. She lectures in various areas concerning literacy and specialises in graphic novels.

Expanding Literacies through Graphic Novels Gretchen Schwarz Gretchen Schwarz offers a rationale, based on the need for current students to learn multiple literacies, for the use of graphic novels in the high school English class. She highlights several titles, suggests possible classroom strategies, and discusses some of the obstacles teachers may face in adding graphic novels to their curriculum.

Eek! Comics in the Classroom! Education World More and more teachers are finding that once-maligned comics, and their big brothers graphic novels, can be effective tools for teaching a multitude of literacy skills to students with a variety of learning needs.

Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Educators also see the educational potential of comics and graphic novels. They can help with building complex reading skills, according to Shelley Hong Xu, associate professor in the department of teacher education at California State University, Long Beach. She says that graphic novels and comics should have a classroom role similar to other children's literature.

Getting graphic! Using graphic novels to promote literacy with preteens and teens Michele Gorman Getting Graphic! also tackles the big question: are graphic novels, aka comic books, "junk literature for children," or do they have a "cultural and educational value and belong on the shelves of libraries across the nation"?

Comics in Education Gene Yang The potency of the picture story is not a matter of modern theory but of anciently established truth. Before man thought in words, he felt in pictures...

Going Graphic - Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom Stephen Cary Theory, research, practise, guidelines and resources for using comics and graphic novels in the classroom.

Graphic Novels and Curriculum Integration ESL Teaching in Canada "Introducing graphic novels that address history, politics, literature, or social issues in a comic style format into the school library or classroom may begin to help to bridge the gap between what students want and what schools require"

Comic Books for Young Adults Michael R Lavin "Comic books hold a special appeal for highly gifted students"

Information for Teachers and Teacher-Librarians (Canadian Website) Are you interested in resources for teaching your students: - more about visual literacy? - how to interpret the finer point of visual texts? - how to produce their own comics? EVERYTHING you need to know, or to link to.

Comic Books for Young Adults Michael R Lavin A US site that explores the use of Graphic Novels and comics to engage readers of all ages and skill levels. Provides recommended reading lists for young adults too.

Graphic Novels - a visual literary art form Clermont County Public Library "What is most exciting is that a picture language and a word language can interweave, which can't be done by either one alone." --Will Eisner

Shakespeare Learning Commons Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project The Shakespeare Learning Commons is a new resource on the CASP website that aims to be the largest collection of teaching and learning resources related to Shakespeare on the Internet. This release is a small taste of what is to come as we continue to develop resources that use adaptation theory to study and teach about Shakespeare's work and their cultural effects.

The Secret Origin of Good Readers Discusses how teachers, librarians, retailers, and publishers can work together to bring comic books into the classroom for use as an innovative and motivating cross-curricular teaching tool and a vehicle for promoting reading and literacy.

Making comics and graphic novels:-

National Association of Comic Art Educators One of the primary the goals of NACAE is to assist educational institutions and individual educators interested in establishing a comics art curriculum. Excellent links, and papers on the topic of Comics in the Classroom.

Scrap Comics Eduscapes "Let's use picture books, sequential art, and comics as tools for teaching critical thinking skills related to sequencing across the curriculum."

General graphic novel sites:-

Graphic Novel Review Site for Teens "From my subjective point of view, comics represent something between traditional art, screenplays, and films -- they're visual like art and film, but they are full of dialogue and short description like screenplays." Covers everything from superheroes to historical novels via Manga and cartoons.

Parchment of Light: The Life & Death of William Shakespeare Nick Craine (Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project) "Craine's method of depicting and adapting the life of William Shakespeare reveals a powerful and comprehensive approach to the life of the Bard, encompassing the theatre as medium (brought to life in graphic novel form), facts, conjecture, allegory, interpretation and song lyrics by The Clash."

Newsarama A great news site for all things Graphic Novel and Comic Book. The link here takes you to an article that they wrote about us.

Shakespeare in action:-

Shakespeare Day What greater role model for the people of Great Britain? Should we not have a day to recognise this home grown genius? Join the debate.

The British Shakespeare Company The tradition of open-air theatre is deeply rooted in British culture. As the leading exponent in this field The British Shakespeare Company have established major Shakespeare festivals for Brighton, Nottingham, Leeds, The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon and in the West End at the world-famous Holland Park Theatre. The team are also filming scenes from The Tempest, a major project for all involved. The British Shakespeare Company, now in its 12th year, has achieved critical acclaim for its productions throughout the country, and is Europe's leading exponent of open-air theatre.

London Shakespeare Workout By virtue of an ever burgeoning series of varied incentives, actors, film-makers alongside offenders and ex-offenders of all ages, genders, races, creeds, nationalities and orientations are given opportunities to further explore and develop skills of self-expression and jointly enhance confidence through the glorious balm which is Shakespeare's language, as well as that of other major dramatic voices and thinkers and film-makers who have been inspired by the Bard throughout time.

Shakespeare 4 Kidz For over 10 years S4K have been providing a unique insight to the world of William Shakespeare for children all over the UK and across the globe! Their acclaimed approach has proved a hit with kidz and adults alike.

Public Theater - Shakespeare in the Park Performances taking place in Central Park, New York

Bristol Shakespeare Festival Every summer, one of the UK's largest open air Shakespeare festivals takes place in Bristol. In the beautiful parks and green spaces of the city, professional companies from all over the country perform between May and August

Shakespeare's Globe Together, the Globe Theatre Company, Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition and Globe Education seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance.

Shakespeare general interest sites

Shakespearean World - Trondheim Style A site written by a teacher, for students and teachers alike.

Shakespeare Magazine You've come to the right place if you teach Shakespeare, talk about Shakespeare, go to Shakespeare productions and films, or just plain love Shakespeare. A Magazine for Teachers and enthusiasts alike.

Shaksper - the Global Electronic Shakespeare Conference The international electronic conference for Shakespearean researchers, instructors, students, and those who share their academic interests and concerns.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is considered the most significant Shakespeare charity in the world. Formed in 1847 with the purchase of Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Trust has since acquired four other houses relating to Shakespeare, for which they care, for the benefit of the nation.

Mr William Shakespeare and the Internet Aims to be an annotated guide to the scholarly Shakespeare resources available on the Internet. Admittedly, some of the resources are not so scholarly, but that's as may be. Usefulness to students (in the broadest sense) is most often the guiding principle. The truly un-scholarly sites are linked on the "Other" Sites page. One very popular feature is a listing of Shakespeare Festivals.

Internet Shakespeare Editions "The aim of the Internet Shakespeare Editions is to inspire a love of Shakespeare's works in a world-wide audience. To do so, we create and publish works for the student, scholar, actor, and general reader in a form native to the medium of the Internet."

Shakespeare Resource Center (American website) You'll find here collected links from all over the World Wide Web to help you find information on William Shakespeare. There are millions of pages that reference Shakespeare on the Internet. This site aims to make it a little easier to find your sources.

The Shakespeare Mystery Who in fact was he? The debate continues.

Interactive Folio and Study Guide for Romeo and Juliet Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project Here you'll find quite simply the most interactive and sophisticated version of Romeo and Juliet ever created. Use this as a study guide and teaching tool. Read the play, read its English source texts, read critical materials on the play, explore Shakespeare's vocabulary, and experience a full range of multi-media associated with the play.

Shakespeare Associations

The British Shakespeare Association The BSA was formed in 2003 and is dedicated to supporting people who teach, research and perform Shakespeare's works

The Shakespeare Society of Japan The Shakespeare Society of Japan annually publishes a refereed journal, Shakespeare Studies, in English.

The Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa The Shakespeare Society strives to serve the interests of a wide variety of sectors, from school pupils, students and teachers, to ordinary Shakespeare enthusiasts, academics, theatrical people and cultural workers.

Dickens

The Influence of Charles Dickens on Literature Education A superb resource page on Charles Dickens - thanks to Mrs. McVey and her 5th Graders for letting us know about it!