Lise Wagner

Wagner’s innovative teaching idea, “Manga for Literacy: Reigniting a Passion for Reading,” was created to counter the impact the digital age has on traditional reading and encourage middle school students to engage with reading hardcopy formats with the goal of improving declining literacy rates and increasing their interest in reading. According to Wagner, struggling readers often find dense text overwhelming, while proficient readers may lose interest as other forms of entertainment take precedence. She believes this issue is critical to address because literacy skills are essential for academic success and lifelong learning. The “Manga for Literacy” program addresses this challenge by creating a dedicated Manga section in the middle school library. Leveraging Manga’s popularity and its blend of compelling visuals and rich narratives, the program aims to motivate students to read for pleasure and build foundational literacy skills.