The Big Picture: professional development insights for using visual texts

Two-part workshop that develops professional knowledge of the power of comics and picture books in developing KS1 & KS2 literacy. Book today!

Tickets: £140 per booking

Registration: Please complete the form at the end of this page.

About The Big Picture

How can we harness visual texts to develop literacy - across levels of need - and nurture a love of reading?

Research shows that comics and graphic novels are a dynamic and inclusive format which engage keen and reluctant readers alike, while picturebooks offer rich storytelling experiences which support inference skills.

Using an expertly curated selection of quality picturebooks and graphic novels, this evidence-based, interactive workshop examines how visual texts can can support reading enjoyment, comprehension, vocabulary and critical literacy.

We’ll work from current research to provide strategies for using visual texts in the classroom to develop literacy skills in line with the key aims of the English curriculum.

Who should attend?

Primary teachers and literacy practitioners supporting KS1 and KS2, including SEND.

Course logistics and pricing

○ Format: Online via Zoom

○ Dates and timings:

• Session 1: 15.30 - 17.30 Tuesday 19 May
• Session 2: 15.30 - 17.30 Wednesday 10 June

○ £140 for a single booking

Access/Delivery Details

This training consists of two separate online sessions, delivered on Zoom. Participants must engage with both.

Tuesday 19 May: Picturebooks

• What are visual texts?
• Picturebook codes
• How pictures work
• Research underpinning picturebooks
• Picturebooks in action

Wednesday 10 June: Comics and graphic novels

• Drawing and visual literacy
• Signs and visual literacy
• Harnessing popular culture
• Critical literacy
• Comics and literacy
• Comics in the curriculum

Why attend The Big Picture?

• Develop professional knowledge of the power and importance of visual texts in developing literacy.
• Explore the evidence base for the use of picturebooks and comics with a wide range of children and young people.
• Gain confidence in embedding visual texts in the literacy curriculum, planning, teaching and learning.
• Participate in meaningful, creative, interactive activities which demonstrate the power of visual texts.
• Take away strategies and techniques to support the implementation of immediate, impactful approaches.

What will you receive?

Resources prior to the first session, to support the training and implementation.

Preparing for the session

You will need:

• A device such as a laptop with a working internet connection, camera and microphone so that you can join the training
• Access to resources on our digital learning platform (we will contact you to grant access prior to the training)
• For day 2, plain paper and something to draw with

Research and evidence base

• Our research has found that children who read comics are "more engaged with reading, regardless of their age" than those who don't (Children and young people's engagement with comics in 2023, National Literacy Trust), showing that they provide a potential route into reading for pleasure.
• Visual texts provide a route into targeted book talk, one of a number of oral language interventions, which the EEF suggests can provide "an additional six months’ progress over the course of a year".
• Picturebooks "have the potential to promote children's conceptual development while simultaneously opening their worlds in fun, engaging, and compelling ways." (Early Childhood Education Journal, 2023). They provide an effective source of inferential discussion, an important part of reading comprehension. Additionally, because they rely mainly on pictures to create a narrative, they can be used across a range of reading abilities.

About the course facilitator

In her role as Head of Libraries at the National Literacy Trust, Big Picture creator and facilitator Lucy Starbuck Braidley oversees the national campaign to ensure that every primary school in the UK has a properly staffed library. Lucy is a creator of comic books, and also the producer and presenter of Comic Boom, a podcast exploring the use of comics in education.

Why the National Literacy Trust?

The National Literacy Trust work with schools across the UK to transform literacy outcomes for every child. Based in the latest research and evidence, our CPD and conferences explore innovative best practice to help you evaluate, plan and take action to improve literacy outcomes in your setting.

How can I book?

Book your place using the form below. If you have any questions, please email ruth.king@literacytrust.org.uk