Greetings Fellow Educators!
Since its inception in 2010, Pop Culture Classroom has reached nearly 3,000 students with its educational and outreach programs—and we couldn’t have done it without your help! We’re excited to tell you about new resources available to educators who share our mission to ignite creativity through the power of pop culture.
As the Program Director for Education, I’ve been hard at work implementing the “Storytelling Through Comics” curriculum, which is available in part for free on our new website. Twenty-one teachers all across Colorado are currently using this curriculum to engage over 600 students in pop culture education. By 2015, we’ll know the results of the program’s impact—academically, socially, and emotionally—and we’ll be poised to deliver even better programming. Bookmark our “News” page for the latest curriculum updates!
Additionally, we’re excited to announce LEAD With Comics. LEAD (Literacy Education in Adult Detention) is a new program set to begin in 2015. Anyone’s life can be transformed by the educational power of pop culture—we can’t wait to share our passion for learning through graphic arts with the underserved populations who are most in need of inspiration. Did you know that inmates that receive literacy education have a 16% recidivism rate? Those that don’t receive these services are over four times more likely to end up in jail again?
We encourage you to explore the new website. We think you’ll find valuable resources, from information on how to bring PCC to your classroom to a comprehensive list of Comics We Love for family-friendly education. And we’d love to hear your thoughts about PCC’s progress! Our highest value is service to educators, students, and communities, so let us know how we can better support you with a quick email to community@popcultureclassroom.org.
Finally, you can help support PCC by reserving your tickets for Denver Pop Culture Con 2015, which will take place on May 23-25 at the Colorado Convention Center. All proceeds go towards expanding Pop Culture Classroom’s educational resources and programs.
We look forward to helping you promote literacy through all things pop culture!
Illya Kowalchuk
Director of Education