O L D E R  L E A R N E R S

SPEAKING GRAPHIC STORIES are age appropriate, high interest stories for late and remedial readers, or English language learners, from 5th grade through adult.

Graphic stories are shorter than graphic novels, have complex plots and characters, and tell their stories with limited language. This makes them excellent material for older learners, whose intellectual abilities are well developed even though their reading or second language skills are limited. We add lively and dramatic speaking voices to the graphic story, so that learners are engaged and motivated as they move through the story at their own pace.

Speaking graphic stories promote development of comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency. At the same time, the computer technology is so simple that non-technical people, non-readers, and non-English speakers can use these stories on their own.

G R A P H I C  S T O R Y  D E M O S

The Wireman comic series is written for minority teens and pre-teens who are late or reluctant readers or English language learners. The Wireman comics focus on the 100 most common English sight words, but nonetheless tell a mysterious, unfolding story.We would give Wireman a solid G rating.

This demo shows our latest version of speaking graphic stories.

Try the Wireman demo.

Return of the Exile is a web comic fantasy written for late junior high to adult. The story and language are occasionally complex and the excellent drawing will appeal to teenagers and older. We would give Return of the Exile a G-PG rating.

This demo shows our latest version of speaking graphic stories.

Try the Return of the Exile demo.

Fade Resistant is a humorous web comic written for high school age to adult, with a full range of irony, sarcasm, irreverence, and satire. The story is occasionally complex while the language is moderately simple. We picked Fade Resistant to use with adult inmates at a county jail because of the comic’s edgy humor. We would give Fade Resistant a PG rating.

This demo shows an earlier version of speaking graphic stories, in which readers play each sentence separately.

Try the Fade Resistant demo.

F O R  T E A C H E R S

We are looking for funding to develop a speaking graphic story as an educational product, complete with teacher’s guide and student workbook. In the meantime, you are welcome to try our demos with your students if you email us to tell us how it goes.

Finding graphic stories suitable for classroom use is a challenge. There are many self-published graphic stories on the web (known as “web comics”), but few with a great story, great drawing, and a G or PG rating. We look forward to a time when we can solicit original stories that conform to educational guidelines.