Broken Frontier

Canadian elementary school teacher, Scott Tingley, has started a website designed to help fellow teachers and parents choose comics for both eager and reluctant readers K through 8.

Tingley, a parent, teacher and a longtime fan of the comics medium, is an early years teacher in the New Brunswick (Canada) public school system and the creator of Comics in the Classroom (www.comicsintheclassroom.net). His goal with Comics in the Classroom is to share the positive experience that he’s found using comics to help in the learning process. 

“I am hoping that my knowledge of differentiated learning and my love of comics will help Comics in the Classroom visitors in the motivating and teaching of the children in your lives,” said Tingley.

Tingley’s selections run the gamut from Bob McLeod’s Superhero ABC to the older skewing Zoom Suit, aimed squarely at the PSP and X-Box 360 crowd. Along with these two, selections include Marvel Entertainment’s Franklin Richards, Lions, Tigers and Bears by Mike Bullock and the perennial seller, Jeff Smith’s Bone. These and other selections are currently featured on the CITC homepage. 

Some choices such as Superhero ABCs are simple. Others such as Lions, Tigers and Bears (an Image comic) or Zoom Suit may not be as obvious. Tingley explains, “The goal of the site is to get kids to read. Comics that have a film, television or video game look such as Lions, Tigers and Bears and Zoom Suit are great gateway books for reluctant readers.”

Tingley expects the site to grow at a rapid pace. “I may be new and small, but I am one of the few sites of this type,” he said. “The response has been very strong, but we are always looking to recommend publications that we believe are a good fit. But space is filling up.  Creators or publishers that would like their books reviewed should send review copies as early as possible.”

Tingley’s next goal is to find a sponsor to help him spread the word. He plans to offer advertising space sometime during 2006. Parties interested in submitting review copies or sponsorship opportunities should contact Scott Tingley at comicsintheclassroom@gmail.com.