Art and LiteracyArt and Literacy

Ideas and information compiled for Ideas and information compiled for ACIRA and the Aiken Writing Project ACIRA and the Aiken Writing Project

by Amy Conkeltonby Amy Conkelton

Why integrate art and multimedia Why integrate art and multimedia projects?projects?

Current press statistics show that the Current press statistics show that the amount of reading done by our students, and amount of reading done by our students, and society, is decreasing. Parents are not modelling society, is decreasing. Parents are not modelling reading for pleasure as much as they might have reading for pleasure as much as they might have done in the past.done in the past.

The types of reading done are also The types of reading done are also changing. People are using more time to read changing. People are using more time to read email, web sites, and social networking sites email, web sites, and social networking sites than “books,” whether they are in electronic or than “books,” whether they are in electronic or paper form.paper form.

Causes for ConcernCauses for Concern

Gallagher, K. (2009). Gallagher, K. (2009). Readicide: How schools Readicide: How schools are killing reading and what you can do about are killing reading and what you can do about itit. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.

As published in As published in ReadicideReadicide:: ““The National Assessment of Adult Literacy The National Assessment of Adult Literacy

finds that literacy scores of high school finds that literacy scores of high school graduates dropped between 1992 and 2003” graduates dropped between 1992 and 2003” (Gallagher 2). (Gallagher 2).

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics ““The Alliance for Excellent Education points The Alliance for Excellent Education points

to 8.7 million secondary students—that is one to 8.7 million secondary students—that is one in four—who are unable to read and in four—who are unable to read and comprehend the material in textbooks” comprehend the material in textbooks” (Gallagher 3).(Gallagher 3).

““Three thousand students with limited literacy Three thousand students with limited literacy skills drop out of school every day in this skills drop out of school every day in this country” (Gallagher 3).country” (Gallagher 3).

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics ““Nearly half of all Americans ages fifteen to Nearly half of all Americans ages fifteen to

twenty-four do not read books for pleasure” twenty-four do not read books for pleasure” (Gallagher 41).(Gallagher 41).

“ “The 2005 ACT College Readiness The 2005 ACT College Readiness Benchmark for Reading found that only about Benchmark for Reading found that only about half of the students tested were ready for half of the students tested were ready for college-level reading, and the 2005 scores college-level reading, and the 2005 scores were the lowest in the decade” (Gallagher 3).were the lowest in the decade” (Gallagher 3).

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics ““The American Institutes for Research reports The American Institutes for Research reports

that only 13 percent of American adults are that only 13 percent of American adults are capable of performing complex literacy tasks” capable of performing complex literacy tasks” (Gallagher 3).(Gallagher 3).

““USA TodayUSA Today reported that 27 percent of adults reported that 27 percent of adults in this country did not read a single book in in this country did not read a single book in 2007” (Gallagher 3).2007” (Gallagher 3).

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics ““By the third grade, students who suffer from By the third grade, students who suffer from

‘word poverty’ are often at a million-word ‘word poverty’ are often at a million-word reading deficit; by the sixth grade, they are reading deficit; by the sixth grade, they are already three grade levels behind their already three grade levels behind their average-performing peers” (Gallagher 32).average-performing peers” (Gallagher 32).

As quoted in As quoted in ReadicideReadicide, according to , according to To Read To Read or Not to Reador Not to Read, from the National Endowment , from the National Endowment for the Arts (2007), Americans are reading less for the Arts (2007), Americans are reading less and:and:

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics Less than one-third of thirteen-year-olds are Less than one-third of thirteen-year-olds are

daily readers, a 14 percent decline from twenty daily readers, a 14 percent decline from twenty years earlier.years earlier.

The percentage of thirteen-year-olds who read The percentage of thirteen-year-olds who read for fun on a daily basis declined from 35 for fun on a daily basis declined from 35 percent to 30 percent, and for seventeen-year-percent to 30 percent, and for seventeen-year-olds, the decline was from 33 percent to 22 olds, the decline was from 33 percent to 22 percent. percent.

Literacy StatisticsLiteracy Statistics Among seventeen-year-olds, the percentage of Among seventeen-year-olds, the percentage of

nonreaders has more than doubled over a nonreaders has more than doubled over a twenty year period, from 9 percent in 1984 to twenty year period, from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004.19 percent in 2004.

On average, Americans ages fifteen to twenty-On average, Americans ages fifteen to twenty-four spend almost two hours a day watching four spend almost two hours a day watching television, and only seven minutes of their television, and only seven minutes of their leisure time on reading. leisure time on reading.

ReadicideReadicide Concerns Concerns ““By gearing students year in and year out to By gearing students year in and year out to

practice for state-mandated reading exams, we practice for state-mandated reading exams, we had begun producing high school seniors had begun producing high school seniors (students who now had numerous years of (students who now had numerous years of testing focus) who had passed their reading testing focus) who had passed their reading tests but were leaving our schools without the tests but were leaving our schools without the cultural literacy needed to be productive cultural literacy needed to be productive citizens in a democratic society” (Gallagher citizens in a democratic society” (Gallagher 28-9). 28-9).

ReadicideReadicide Concerns Concerns “…“…Our students are in desperate need of large Our students are in desperate need of large

doses of authentic reading—the kinds of doses of authentic reading—the kinds of reading we, as adults, do in newspapers, reading we, as adults, do in newspapers, magazines, blogs, and websites. These doses magazines, blogs, and websites. These doses need to come from a mix of reading need to come from a mix of reading experiences, from longer, challenging novels experiences, from longer, challenging novels and works of nonfiction to ‘lighter’ and works of nonfiction to ‘lighter’ recreational reading…. There is a dearth of recreational reading…. There is a dearth of interesting reading materials in our schools…. interesting reading materials in our schools…. Students are not doing enough reading in Students are not doing enough reading in school” (Gallagher 29).school” (Gallagher 29).

Because Writing MattersBecause Writing Matters

National Writing Project & Nagin, C. (2006). National Writing Project & Nagin, C. (2006). Because writing matters: Improving student Because writing matters: Improving student writing in our schoolswriting in our schools. San Francisco: Josey-. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.Bass.

““Writing is no longer only about putting pen to Writing is no longer only about putting pen to paper…. E-mail, the internet, and the fax are paper…. E-mail, the internet, and the fax are all forms of writing, and writing is, finally, a all forms of writing, and writing is, finally, a craft with its own set of tools, which are craft with its own set of tools, which are words” (NWP 5)words” (NWP 5)

Because Writing MattersBecause Writing Matters ““Because Writing MattersBecause Writing Matters makes the case that makes the case that

students need to write more across all content students need to write more across all content areas and that schools need to expand their areas and that schools need to expand their writing curricula to involve students in a range writing curricula to involve students in a range of writing tasks” (NWP 6).of writing tasks” (NWP 6).

Exploring FandomExploring Fandom

Guzzetti, B., Elliott, K. & Welsch, D. (2010). Guzzetti, B., Elliott, K. & Welsch, D. (2010). DIY media in the classroom: New literacies DIY media in the classroom: New literacies across content areasacross content areas. New York: Teachers . New York: Teachers College Press.College Press.

““Fandom, the act of being a fan, is a large part Fandom, the act of being a fan, is a large part of youth culture….One way that young people of youth culture….One way that young people formulate their identities is by associating formulate their identities is by associating themselves with the music, books, television, themselves with the music, books, television, and movies that are most relevant to their and movies that are most relevant to their lives” (Guzzetti 59).lives” (Guzzetti 59).

Fandom and Fan FictionFandom and Fan Fiction ““Fandom gives kids a way to find common Fandom gives kids a way to find common

ground with others” (Guzzetti 59).ground with others” (Guzzetti 59).

““Fan fiction is creative writing based on the Fan fiction is creative writing based on the characters or settings of books, television characters or settings of books, television shows, movies, comics, and video games….it shows, movies, comics, and video games….it is now propagated almost exclusively online” is now propagated almost exclusively online” (Guzzetti 59-60).(Guzzetti 59-60).

Fandom and Fan FictionFandom and Fan Fiction According to Guzzetti (61-2), fandom includes According to Guzzetti (61-2), fandom includes

comics and fan art, visual art depicting comics and fan art, visual art depicting characters or scenes related to a series.characters or scenes related to a series.

““The phenomenon of teenagers creating fan The phenomenon of teenagers creating fan fiction on their own is very common. Fiction fiction on their own is very common. Fiction shared online ranges from amateurish first shared online ranges from amateurish first attempts riddled with spelling and punctuation attempts riddled with spelling and punctuation errors to professional-quality work” (Guzzetti errors to professional-quality work” (Guzzetti 60). A unique teaching opportunity!60). A unique teaching opportunity!

Think it’s not rigorous enough?Think it’s not rigorous enough? ““In short, reading the cartoon is not a problem. In short, reading the cartoon is not a problem.

Comprehending the cartoon, however, is Comprehending the cartoon, however, is another matter…reading consists of two another matter…reading consists of two factors: 1) being able to decode the words on factors: 1) being able to decode the words on the page and 2) being able to connect the the page and 2) being able to connect the words you are reading with the prior words you are reading with the prior knowledge you bring to the page” (Gallagher, knowledge you bring to the page” (Gallagher, 33-34).33-34).

Fandom and Fan FictionFandom and Fan Fiction ““In the anonymous world of the Internet, teens In the anonymous world of the Internet, teens

delight in reading, sharing, editing, delight in reading, sharing, editing, commenting on, and receiving feedback on commenting on, and receiving feedback on their fan fiction” (Guzzetti p. 61).their fan fiction” (Guzzetti p. 61).

““Fan fiction accomplishes the formidable task Fan fiction accomplishes the formidable task of getting otherwise academically unmotivated of getting otherwise academically unmotivated teenagers to read and write outside school” teenagers to read and write outside school” (Guzzetti p. 60).(Guzzetti p. 60).

Writing and Fan FictionWriting and Fan Fiction ““Writing and role-playing fan fiction can aide in Writing and role-playing fan fiction can aide in

fostering and practicing students’ writing skills and fostering and practicing students’ writing skills and abilities. These include developing characters through abilities. These include developing characters through the use of adverbs and adjectives, changing voice and the use of adverbs and adjectives, changing voice and dialogue from narrator to character, crafting intricate dialogue from narrator to character, crafting intricate plots, editing, and writing in the fantasy genre. In plots, editing, and writing in the fantasy genre. In addition to fostering students’ learning and practicing addition to fostering students’ learning and practicing of these skills, fan fiction may support the acquisition of these skills, fan fiction may support the acquisition of other literacy skills.... Adolescents use fan fiction of other literacy skills.... Adolescents use fan fiction to project their identities and social affiliations…. to project their identities and social affiliations…. They create complex texts by blending elements from They create complex texts by blending elements from various genres….” (Guzzetti 64-66).various genres….” (Guzzetti 64-66).

Writing and Fan FictionWriting and Fan Fiction ““Creating fan art, comics, and animations Creating fan art, comics, and animations

through web-based programs like Scratch can through web-based programs like Scratch can help young people to develop 21st century help young people to develop 21st century learning skills,…tap into their creativity, learning skills,…tap into their creativity, practice their language and storytelling practice their language and storytelling abilities,…find their voice, and express abilities,…find their voice, and express themselves through writing…. Students themselves through writing…. Students authoring, reading, and discussing comics authoring, reading, and discussing comics learn and practice skills of debate, discussion, learn and practice skills of debate, discussion, and critique” (Guzzetti 66).and critique” (Guzzetti 66).

Writing and Fan FictionWriting and Fan Fiction Authoring comics can help teachers address Authoring comics can help teachers address

the state standards for reading, writing, the state standards for reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and develop their listening, and speaking, and develop their abilities with literary response, expression, abilities with literary response, expression, critical analysis and evaluation, and social critical analysis and evaluation, and social interaction. Producing comics has taught interaction. Producing comics has taught students vocabulary…, terms related to art…,” students vocabulary…, terms related to art…,” and helped them acquire knowledge about and helped them acquire knowledge about other countries (Guzzetti 66).other countries (Guzzetti 66).

Writing and Fan FictionWriting and Fan Fiction ““Proficient manga readers develop their skills Proficient manga readers develop their skills

with and are adept at interpreting graphical with and are adept at interpreting graphical information as well as printed texts” (Guzzetti information as well as printed texts” (Guzzetti 66). 66).

Best of all,Best of all, ““Maintaining familiarity with youth culture is Maintaining familiarity with youth culture is

an effective way for teachers to build positive an effective way for teachers to build positive relationships with their students” (Guzzetti relationships with their students” (Guzzetti 66).66).

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources The following web resources can be used to integrate The following web resources can be used to integrate

art and literacy:art and literacy: http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/ or or http://smithteens.com/sixwords/http://smithteens.com/sixwords/Use six word memoirs to integrate “real world writing” Use six word memoirs to integrate “real world writing”

and student work into teaching grammar and writing, and student work into teaching grammar and writing, illustrate someone else’s memoir and justify your illustrate someone else’s memoir and justify your illustration, generate a memoir, publish your memoir, illustration, generate a memoir, publish your memoir, organize memoirs into categories, critique them…! organize memoirs into categories, critique them…!

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://billztreasurechest.com/http://billztreasurechest.com/ Hover over the home page illustrations to find Hover over the home page illustrations to find

links, or click on the books below for a host of links, or click on the books below for a host of ideas integrating art and writing. Print ideas integrating art and writing. Print pocketdoodles, then plan and produce a pocketdoodles, then plan and produce a completed project, generate writing with completed project, generate writing with “Become an Escape Artist,” and more!“Become an Escape Artist,” and more!

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/ Create your own comic strip that integrates art Create your own comic strip that integrates art

and writing. Have students summarize, write a and writing. Have students summarize, write a procedure, differentiate information and procedure, differentiate information and produce a comic featuring only the most produce a comic featuring only the most important information. important information.

Users need not be artists. They can simply Users need not be artists. They can simply integrate their writing into the talk balloons.integrate their writing into the talk balloons.

More with MakeBeliefsComixMore with MakeBeliefsComix Users can write in English, Spanish, French, Users can write in English, Spanish, French,

German, Italian, Portuguese, or Latin.German, Italian, Portuguese, or Latin. Users can choose their characters, objects, and Users can choose their characters, objects, and

scenes. scenes. As they create a comic, they can differentiate As they create a comic, they can differentiate

between “talk” and “thought” balloons and between “talk” and “thought” balloons and integrate transitions with panel prompts.integrate transitions with panel prompts.

Writer artists can print or email you their Writer artists can print or email you their projects.projects.

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://partiallyclips.com/http://partiallyclips.com/ Described as a minimalist comic strip made Described as a minimalist comic strip made

from royalty-free clip art.from royalty-free clip art. Find art on a variety of subjects. Have students Find art on a variety of subjects. Have students

generate their own writing for the strip generate their own writing for the strip sections.sections.

Each comic is limited to three sections. Each comic is limited to three sections. Assess a chosen “clip” and add a comment.Assess a chosen “clip” and add a comment.

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://scratch.mit.edu/http://scratch.mit.edu/ Users can create and share their own Users can create and share their own

interactive stories, games, music and art interactive stories, games, music and art projects.projects.

Students can view over 2 million projects from Students can view over 2 million projects from around the world.around the world.

Users can revisit often to summarize, compare, Users can revisit often to summarize, compare, explain, and organize “Featured Projects.”explain, and organize “Featured Projects.”

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://stripgenerator.com/http://stripgenerator.com/ Users can view over half a million multimedia Users can view over half a million multimedia

strips, critique the appropriateness of a work’s strips, critique the appropriateness of a work’s title, evaluate photography, art, and a variety title, evaluate photography, art, and a variety of posted works.of posted works.

Users must register/sign in to post a comment Users must register/sign in to post a comment on works published on the site.on works published on the site.

Students could generate stories based upon the Students could generate stories based upon the usernames chosen by people who comment, or usernames chosen by people who comment, or generate grammatically corrected comments.generate grammatically corrected comments.

Teaching ResourcesTeaching Resources http://toondoo.com/http://toondoo.com/ Users can create a comic strip, book, or Users can create a comic strip, book, or

cartoon. cartoon. Posted works can be used as writing prompts Posted works can be used as writing prompts

from which students generate stories, articles, from which students generate stories, articles, sequels, prequels, and more.sequels, prequels, and more.

The site offers a video tutorial.The site offers a video tutorial.

More Teaching ResourcesMore Teaching Resources These sites are currently blocked by ACPS (as These sites are currently blocked by ACPS (as

of 10.26.2011), but teachers and parents could of 10.26.2011), but teachers and parents could work from home to see what materials might work from home to see what materials might prove useful and visit linked resources. They prove useful and visit linked resources. They are great idea generators.are great idea generators.

deviantart.com (blocked as adult art)deviantart.com (blocked as adult art) fanart-central.net (blocked as forum)fanart-central.net (blocked as forum) qwantz.com (blocked as game)qwantz.com (blocked as game)

More Teaching ResourcesMore Teaching Resources thewebcomiclist.com (blocked as game)thewebcomiclist.com (blocked as game) xkcd.com (blocked as adult game)xkcd.com (blocked as adult game)

While these sites are currently blocked within While these sites are currently blocked within ACPS, some information follows because they ACPS, some information follows because they contain elements which may prove wonderful contain elements which may prove wonderful teaching tools and writing prompts.teaching tools and writing prompts.

About deviantart.comAbout deviantart.com Allows readers/surfers/users to browse over Allows readers/surfers/users to browse over

100 million original works of art, search for 100 million original works of art, search for artists, styles, keywords, use tutorials to artists, styles, keywords, use tutorials to improve their craft, exhibit an unlimited improve their craft, exhibit an unlimited amount of art and create galleries for free.amount of art and create galleries for free.

Users can communicate, collaborate, and learn Users can communicate, collaborate, and learn from artists in over 190 countries.from artists in over 190 countries.

Users can generate a portfolio, write and Users can generate a portfolio, write and publish daily entries in a journal and more.publish daily entries in a journal and more.

About fanart-central.netAbout fanart-central.net Allows artists to exhibit works and users to Allows artists to exhibit works and users to

discuss and evaluate works. discuss and evaluate works. Submissions are pre-screened.Submissions are pre-screened. There is a limit of three submissions per day.There is a limit of three submissions per day. Each category has sections for pictures, Each category has sections for pictures,

stories, and links.stories, and links.

About qwantz.comAbout qwantz.com The site features dinosaur comics by Ryan The site features dinosaur comics by Ryan

North.North. Art can be posted and printed in not-for-profit Art can be posted and printed in not-for-profit

magazines or newspapers.magazines or newspapers. Users/readers can check out the archive for Users/readers can check out the archive for

past postings.past postings. Students could rewrite blurbs to go with each Students could rewrite blurbs to go with each

comic, use ideas to generate new writing, etc.comic, use ideas to generate new writing, etc.

About thewebcomiclist.comAbout thewebcomiclist.com A great source for finding comics on a variety A great source for finding comics on a variety

of subjects, both old and new.of subjects, both old and new. Displays links to the latest comics available Displays links to the latest comics available

from a variety of sites and the date and time of from a variety of sites and the date and time of their last update.their last update.

Users can compare comics using the Users can compare comics using the “Navigation” tool.“Navigation” tool.

The site features a ranking algorithm.The site features a ranking algorithm.

About xkcd.comAbout xkcd.com Subtitled a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, Subtitled a webcomic of romance, sarcasm,

math, and language by Randall Munroe, this math, and language by Randall Munroe, this site features interesting graphs and a variety of site features interesting graphs and a variety of topics.topics.

It is okay to reprint occasional comics if not It is okay to reprint occasional comics if not merchandizing, but attribute the comic to the merchandizing, but attribute the comic to the site.site.

Strips will translate into Spanish at Strips will translate into Spanish at es.xkcd.com.es.xkcd.com.

More about xkcd.comMore about xkcd.com The site contains links to translations in The site contains links to translations in

Spanish, German, and Russian on the “About” Spanish, German, and Russian on the “About” page.page.

““Indexed” page link shows art illustrated on an Indexed” page link shows art illustrated on an index card which could be used to model as index card which could be used to model as students plan and generate their own Index students plan and generate their own Index Card Art.Card Art.

Art, Literacy, and NetworkingArt, Literacy, and Networking If you know of other web tools which can help If you know of other web tools which can help

interested parents and teachers use art to interested parents and teachers use art to improve literacy, please share them.improve literacy, please share them.

Email Email aconkelton@aiken.k12.sc.usaconkelton@aiken.k12.sc.us.. Feedback and suggestions are welcome!Feedback and suggestions are welcome!