Multidimensional, challenging, and popular with students, comics provide an excellent way to introduce the concept of genres.

This lesson uses comic strip frames to define plot and reinforce the structure that underlies a narrative. Students finish by writing their own original narratives.

The students were starting a lesson on franchising and how it can be considered a form of entrepreneurship. We discussed the benefits and drawbacks of being either a franchisor or a franchisee. To engage the students into some heavier content I found a graphic novel, “Tales o f Garcon, The Franchise Players”, on the website Teachers pay Teachers. This was a great resource meant for business/ economics students. I found the first 2 chapters fit perfectly into an entrepreneurship course. The first chapter was a free download and examined the concept of franchising. It outlined the history of franchises, the players involved, discussed business terminology and ended in a dramatic fashion forcing the students to ask themselves the following:
• Potential risks involved in franchising
• Legalities of franchising
• Protection available to both parties

Epic Books is an online collection of over 40 000 titles of award-winning fiction, non-fiction, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), biographies, graphic novels, DIY (Do It Yourself) and more. Sign up as an educator and the account is free. Epic Books can be used by teachers and students for read-alouds, shared reading, and independent reading time. Read-to-me and audiobook functions allow for the listening portion of a balanced literacy program. Teachers can use these books as part of interactive small group instruction for specific skills or strategies. They can also assign certain books and tasks for practice to individuals or groups.

Free for teachers - you must set up the free account and add students to your classroom in order to get a class code to provide to families. Then when students have that code, they can log in from home with free access.

Spark the engagement of English-language learners or reluctant readers with the graphic novel "Maus". The visual information provided by the genre serves as a support for reading and critical engagement.

Students get the big picture of the Middle East when they read and analyze Marjane SatrapiŐs graphic novel "Persepolis".

Students develop their reading, writing, research, and technology skills using graphic novels. As a final activity, students create their own graphic novels using comic software.