scott tingley is helping his students get excited about reading with this innovative project at Riverside Consolidated

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"The whole point is to create lifelong learners," says teacher Scott Tingley, about the website his Grade 3 class has launched.

Stacey Merrigan/This Week

Breanna, Ryan and Zackery, three of the staff members at Riverside Reads, look over the latest books for review.

In his four years at Riverside Consolidated School, Scott has frequently used comics to stimulate creative writing and drawing in his students. Some of their comics have been sent to professional comic creators, many of whom have responded with comments and samples of their own artwork.

This response, coupled with Scott's enthusiasm for both teaching and comics, has led to the creation of the Riverside Reads website.

"We applied for an Innovative Learning Fund Grant from the government of New Brunswick in August last year, and found out in November that funds were coming," he explains.

"The kids were creating projects for the site back in the fall already, so when the funds came through in February, we had projects for the site ready. But I would have done this in some shape even if we hadn't gotten the grant."

The website is more than comics. There are also book reviews by Scott's students, which he insists must be thoughtful, as well as non-fiction comics about their community, and research projects.

"A review has to be both positive and negative," Scott explains, "and the kids have to think about how the book they're reviewing relates to themselves."

There may be scoffers who think that comics have no place in schools, but Scott was himself an eager comic reader in his youth, and he says it got him into broader reading.

He has his own website, Comics in the Classroom, which informs parents, teachers and librarians about comics for both reluctant and willing readers.

"I have patience working with kids, and enjoy getting them excited about learning," Scott comments. "The kids are really excited about their website.

"They're being published not just in the halls of the school, but throughout the world. We're doing exchanges with a couple of schools in the U.S., through the site.

"It gives the kids a connection with the rest of the world, which is great for kids who want to get into writing as it gives them a taste of what's out there, and it's just a great experience for all the kids."

Scott is in his tenth year of teaching, and he and wife Nancy, also an educator, have two small children. Between his family, his teaching, and his work on websites, Scott's timetable is very full.

His class's website makes minimal use of professional help, with the technical end in the hands of David Taiaroa of Panchroma Websiute Development and Hosting, and the site's banner art created in consultation with the kids, by Eric Dyck. The site is in its infancy now, and will grow.

"So far, we know that kids who leave my class at the end of the year will still be able to contribute, if they want to," Scott says.

"So will students from other classes. I'd like it to evolve into something else, I'm not sure what yet. Nothing that works well comes quickly. The sky's the limit."

To go to Riverside Reads, go to http://rcs.nbed.nb.ca/kids/. It's worth the visit.

* In collaboration with Riverside Reads, This Week will present selected reviews, comics and writing by the students at Riverside Consolidated each week, beginning this week.