Kids Comics Lab

A creative writing class for kids where words and illustrations collide!

Course description:

This class is a professional writing program designed to inspire creativity and develop verbal and visual communication skills in students aged 8 to 14.

Through the intersection of imagination, memory, and observation, students are encouraged to experiment with illustrated writing across various genres and styles. This program includes techniques of illustration and story, character development, plotting, dialogue, revision and more. The structured, yet flexible, curriculum is adapted to the individual student.

Opportunities to practice verbal communication and presentation skills include class discussions, constructive feedback sessions, and a semester-end showcase, where each student will receive a printed class anthology containing a selection of their work of the semester.

Objectives:
- Foster creativity through graphic storytelling, illustration activities, and writing exercises.
- Encourage self-expression and confidence in artistic and creative abilities.
- Support critical thinking.
- Teach writing skills across different genres and styles.
- Teach visual literacy skills, enabling students to understand how images and white spaces can convey emotion, mood, the passage of time, and other elements of visual storytelling.
- Support leadership skills through discussions, presentations and peer feedback.

Each class is 1hr 15min, once a week, on Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
The monthly tuition covers the 18 classes of the semester.

All students will participate in the end of the semester "Comic Showcase and Celebration" where they will present their creations.

All materials included.

Join us as we explore the amazing world of comics and creative writing!

Meet your mentor:

JENNA SMITH

Jenna Smith is a writer, visual artist, freelance editor, and creativity educator. Her published work includes essays, short stories, and poetry. Smith holds a MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2024. Her artistic endeavors include digital illustration, comics, textile creations, and small-scale multimedia sculptures. As a writer-in-residence with Writers in the Schools Jenna has worked with young writers in both school placements and Menil museum visits. Jenna believes in the power of exploration and curiosity and is delighted to see students’ self-confidence improve when they learn to trust their own words and experiences to the page.