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Dear Teachers, Parents and Friends,

I challenge you to set up a daily 20-minute comic strip segment during which your youngsters create a comix about something they learned or read or experienced that day. They can make their daily comix diary by using either MakeBeliefsComix or drawing their own comics with pencil or crayons.

Having a 20-minute comix diary segment each day is doable, provides creative fun, and is something that will make students aware of the power of their imaginations.

By creating comic strips, even with stick figures or with pictures cut out from magazines, students will realize that they can create stories and make art. They will learn that they, too, are capable of generating their own learning materials, their own memoirs, and that their "take" on the world is so very special - everyone sees things differently. Moreover, the process of using drawn characters and writing words for them to say or think provides a way for students to digest and integrate the key material that they are taught each day in school, as well as to reflect on their life experiences. Students will also love our new "ALL ABOUT ME!" comic diary feature.


Reprinted with permission of Richard Thompson, creator of the Cul De Sac comic strip

NOW, WHAT TO DRAW AND WRITE ABOUT?

  • For starters, why not have students create autobiographical comix strips talking about themselves and their families or summarizing the most important things about their lives? Let each student select a cartoon character as a surrogate to represent him or her. They might also summarize what their individual interests are or some key moments in their lives.
  • Maybe students create a comic strip with a new ending for a book that they've read, or an extension of the story, or a deeper exploration of a character in the book.
  • Maybe their comic is about a concept they learned in science or in social studies.
  • Maybe their comic captures an interesting conversation they overheard.
  • Maybe their comic is about something sad or bad that happened to them, such as someone bullying them. Or something special, such as a birthday wish.
  • Maybe their comic is about something fun or wonderful that they or a friend experienced - perhaps an adventure they had. Or, about a great or important memory they will never forget.
  • Maybe their daily comic contains a joke they heard or something funny a parent said to them recently.
  • Maybe they're exploring a problem at home that's bothering them, such as a sibling who's driving them crazy.

Reprinted with permission of Richard Thompson, creator of the Cul De Sac comic strip

  • Maybe theirs is a comic strip utilizing new vocabulary learned that day.
  • Maybe their comic strip is a fantasy story that arose from their imagination.
  • Or, how about creating a political comic strip commenting on some new development in government or a news event?
  • How about a comic about someone who is very important to them? Perhaps about a hero in their lives or someone whom they admire.
  • Their most embarrassing moment.
  • Their greatest accomplishment.
  • Or, a comic about a story that lingers in that student's mind.
  • A comic strip about a favorite pet.
  • A comic strip about some special family day, or a family story.
  • How about a comic about their best friend?
  • A comic strip about a dream they had, or one about a surprise they experienced.
  • A comic strip about their lives in the future - their goals, their hopes.

Have students draw or keep their comics in a special notebook or sketch pad, or place the computer printouts of the comics they create with MakeBeliefsComix in a special folder. Play some quiet music as they draw and write to create a restful mood as they create. Now, imagine the comic-filled sketch book or folder containing daily entries over the course of a year that will trace each child's thoughts and learning, that will reflect what was important to them. They'll have created a comic book diary that they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Most important, the 20-minute-a-day daily comix diary challenge gives them the chance to become creators as they find their voice, rather than just passive learners. What better gift can you give them?

Sincerely, Bill Zimmerman
Creator of MakeBeliefsComix.comP.S. If your students and you need some help in coming up with comic story ideas, you can find them by clicking on the following: