Calvin And Hobbes Can Come Home Anytime

 


Yesterday I checked out a bunch of "Calvin and Hobbes" comic books (written by Bill Watterson) for my older daughter's pleasure reading. However we discovered that these books have HUGE academic value. I believe that all comics and graphic novels can improve a reader's sequencing skills and/or boost creative thinking and aid in their understanding of different elements of humor. We usually like to read them just for the good belly laughs they produce. We are enjoying reading "Calvin and Hobbes" right now because of all the snowman and sledding antics in the books (great reminders of how to have creative  fun outside this winter), and also because Calvin tends to struggle to complete school assignments because his mind goes into "creative dream mode" (which Autumn can relate to). We think Calvin would have loved being home schooled.  But, we have also discovered with "Calvin and Hobbes" the need to look up more than a few vocabulary words and also to contemplate philosophical ideas or concepts. We are challenged to think. Since Autumn (my 8 year old daughter) really wanted to "get the punchline" in each strip, she was more than eager to understand the new words being introduced or to discuss a concept with me. "Why is this funny?" "What does this word mean?" "Why does Calvin say this?" "Why does Hobbes say that?" The questions kept coming and coming, but she never put the books down or lost interest. She devoured them. We learned soooo much! And since these were words or concepts that Autumn wanted/needed to grasp to understand the entire comic strip and she really wanted to learn them, she will be more likely to remember these things. We will be checking more of Bill Watterson's books out during our next library visit. You should too! Why force your kids to learn lists of vocabulary when they will beg to learn and understand it on their own in a much more enjoyable way? Learn vocabulary through reading! I just always remind the girls that no question is too small. I tell them that if they ever run into ANYTHING that they don't already completely understand when they are reading, then they should either write it down to look up later or better yet, look it up right away. At first this method seems like an interruption to the flow of your reading, but with time it becomes an incredibly rewarding and empowering. There is nothing more exciting for Autumn than to teach me something she just learned from a book.

Below is a list of just a few of the words or ideas Autumn looked up or discussed with me during her reading:
1. Why are some people bullies?
2. dictator
3. editorial slant
4. comeuppance
5. minutes (for a meeting)
6. ironic
7. pandemonium
8. alter ego
9. parallel universe
10. vindicated
11. What is our purpose here on earth? Why are we here?
12.  reversed polarity
13. adjourn
14. "read me the riot act" Where did this saying come from?
15. cultural icons
16. highbrow
17. countenance
18. visceral
19. why do we have to learn? Why shouldn't we just stay the same?
20. insubordination

Well, enough said. Autumn and I have decided to give "Calvin and Hobbes" by Bill Watterson 4 thumbs up for enjoyable educational value!