Send us a text

In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani speaks with Lexie Vanderveen, a high school English teacher, about using graphic novels to hance existing memoir units. This discussion includes helpful strategies, shared successes, and lessons learned.

Send us a text

In the final episode of Season 2, Dani chats with Dr. David Low, a comics and graphic novel scholar whose research focuses on issues of identity and social justice. David shares how he came to be a comics scholar, why he believes comics have a place in education, how literature circles can be reenvisioned for graphic novels, and why graphic novels and comics lend themselves to discussion of identity and social justice.

Send us a text

In this episode, Dani chats with J. Gonzo about his career as a comic book artist and author. He shares his experiences as Chicano artist and discusses the importance of representation in the comics medium. Additionally, he shares his views on the importance of the comics in classroom spaces as well as how he hopes educators take up his work educational contexts.

Send us a Text Message.

Host Dani Kachorsky welcomes high school English teachers Shelby Stringer and Amanda Molitor to Reading in the Gutter to reflect on their experiences teaching Gareth Hinds' graphic novel adaptation of The Odyssey. The three teachers discuss why they selected Gareth Hinds' adaptation, their successes and challenges using this text in classroom, and how they hope to revise their use of the text in the future.

Send us a text

In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani chats with Brooke Feldman-Cryan, a high school English and Theater teacher, about her experiences teaching the graphic novel Maus for the first time. Brooke shares her motivation behind selecting the text as well as some challenges and successes she experienced, and ultimately, what she would require in order to teach the graphic novel in the future.

Send us a text

In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani hosts Dr. Sean P. Connors from the University of Arkansas to discuss reading and creating graphic novel memoirs. Sean shares his experiences teaching a college course focused on graphic novel memoirs, as well as a culminating experience in which students draft their own comic book style memoirs.

Send us a text

In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani hosts Dr. Daryl Axelrod for a fun-filled discussion about using digital tools to create digital comics. Daryl shares his experiences helping kids to create original comics related to science topics as well as his experiences guiding students through transmediating (or adapting) traditional texts into a variety of digital comics forms. His suggestions for teachers are practical and don't break the bank.

Send us a text

Reading in the Gutter host, Dani Kachorsky, interviews Frank Baker, author of the graphic novel, We Survived the Holocaust. In this episode, Frank discusses the importance of sharing and teaching Holocaust stories in today's day and age, as well as the importance of preparing students to be critical thinkers. Additionally, Frank shares how he was invited to share the Goldberg family's story, why he decide a graphic novel was the 'right' format to use, and what he hopes students and teachers will take from the narrative.