Author Archives: dogtrax

Scientific Method Adventure: a graphic novel review

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Yesterday, my review of a book in a really engaging graphic novel series finally hit the page at The Graphic Classroom. It revolves around a series of graphic novels called Max Axiom, who goes on adventures around scientific themes. Capstone Press, which publishes the books, also just put out a new series in which a character — Isabel Soto — goes on historical-based adventures (I sent in a review of The Great Wall of China).

As part of my review, I interviewed my fellow teacher — Lisa Rice — about using the Max Axiom graphic novel in her classroom as she was teaching our students about the Scientific Method. Lisa loved the idea and I think the use of these graphic novels opens the door to comprehension for some students (not all, perhaps).

Peace (in the books),
Kevin

Introducing: Boolean’s New Cyborg Friend

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So, here is my new character which Boolean built out of old abandoned computers that he has gotten off a site called Freejunk.. More strips are coming with her in it. Actually, in the early days of Boolean Squared, Funk the llama was an alien from outer space who crash-landed on Boolean’s lawn. But, I decided to move away from that idea and made Funk a llama who loves the music of James Brown (I still like that idea).

I guess I have slightly resurrected an early idea of Funk with Boolean’s new cyborg. I think she is cute.

Peace (in the parts),
Kevin

Imminent Return of Day in a Sentence

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I took the summer off from hosting the Day in a Sentence feature that mostly takes place here at this blog, but also travels very nicely (it packs tightly into virtual pockets) to other blogs. I’ve been the main host for some time and I started to have doubts about whether to keep it going, to be honest. (And as a back story, the Day in Sentence did not originate here — it started with another blogging friend — The Reflective Teacher — who decided to retire from blogging and he gave me the go-ahead to continue with Day in a Sentence at my blog, along with help and wonderful support from from Bonnie).

Anyway, last week, I sent an email out to the 100-plus folks on my Day in a Sentence list and asked them to take a quick survey to gauge their interest in continuing the feature and if they would be willing to take on more of the hosting duties. I was so happy that so many folks took the survey (see the results above). Clearly, we all see the value of this reflective writing and the connections that we make. Not one person said “no” to the concept of Day in a Sentence. That was a powerful statement to me.

It also helped that Bonnie and I used Day in a Sentence as a prompt at our new iAnthology networking site and folks just loved the idea and wrote such powerful reflections. It reminded me of why I got hooked so long ago.

So, here is what I think:

  • We’ll keep Day in a Sentence up and running;
  • We’ll move it from once a week to twice a month;
  • We’ll have many more guest hosts this year (thanks to all of you who offered … I’ll be in contact soon)
  • And Day in a Sentence will start up again this coming week.

If you are visiting this blog and want to host the Day in a Sentence feature one of these weeks, just let me know via the comment section here and I will add you to the eventual master list of hosts.

I like that Day in a Sentence will be on the move, traveling the world on the fuel of words!

Peace (in a sentence),

Kevin

Boolean and the Cyborg

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Here is my third installment of Boolean Squared as Boolean culls through a pile of old computers to begin building his own cyborg. Dangerous, you say? Perhaps. But comics are all about danger. Wait until you see what he constructs from the carcasses of discarded computers.

Peace (in the refuse),
Kevin

I’m a Curator — You can be, too

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Loraine County Community College Invitation Ticket
I’ve written about the upcoming National Day on Writing which is being sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (and supported by my own National Writing Project) but it is coming up soon and I want to keep getting the word out about the event. (see the flier)

Here is how NCTE describes it:

Writing is a daily practice for millions of Americans. But few notice how integral writing has become to daily life in the 21st century.To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in and help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, NCTE has established October 20, 2009, as the National Day on Writing. To celebrate composition in all its forms, we are inviting diverse participants –students, teachers, parents, grandparents, service and industrial workers, managers, business owners, legislators, retirees, and many more — to submit a piece of writing to the National Gallery of Writing.

The National Gallery is shaping up to be an interesting site where hopefully all sorts of writing will be posted and perused and show the power of our writing as a nation.

So, as part of the new venture that Bonnie and I are helping to foster — an online social space for National Writing Project teachers, mostly in the New England/New York areas which we call the iAnthology (and which now has more than 100 members) — we have created our own gallery for the National Day on Writing and are going to be trying to urge folks in our network to consider publishing some of the pieces they are developing.

It occurs to me, though, that I would love to find a way to get my students involved and I need to sort through the various release forms and think about what that would be. I know one person has set up a gallery designed specifically for graphic stories and comics, so that may be an option for us to consider (if I can get that far with my students).

And you can set up a Gallery, too, or at consider posting some of your own writing, or your students’ writing. Let’s celebrate our love of writing and show its power as a nation.

CAVEAT: I wonder how many pieces will be posted that in a multimedia format (podcasts, videos, etc.)

I do love this powerful statement from NCTE:

NCTE members value writing as a tool for learning and live the importance of writing daily.

Peace (in the sharing),

Kevin

The Disposable World

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Here is the second in my series of Boolean Squared comics about Freejunk (ie, Freecycle) and also about the dangers that are some of the older computers that we just toss into the landfills. (In fact, this series of comics was as much inspired by the Freecycle movement as pictures of landfills with piles and piles of old desktop computers).

Peace (in the waste),

Kevin

Freejunk — Boolean can’t resist

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We use the Freecycle quite a bit to get rid of stuff and to get stuff. What a great idea. But I imagine that there are plenty of folks who get a ton of junk from Freecycle because, well, they can. Here, I begin to poke fun at Freecycle as Boolean discovers “Freejunk.” This is leading towards introducing a new character to my Boolean Squared comic.

Peace (in the pile),
Kevin

Brainstorming with Students on Technology Bill of Rights

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Yesterday, I mentioned how a group of teachers at my school is working to develop a basic Technology Bill of Rights. In an effort to continue to make sure my students have a voice on the topic, I collectively brainstormed with all fuor classes yesterday around the idea.

First, we talked about the US Bill of Rights and what it means. Then, we talked about the technology available to them in our school and some ideas for increasing such opportunities in the future.

Next, we did our brainstorming for use of technology. Here is the list. You’ll notice that much of it revolves around taking care of the equipment so that everyone has equal access to it. If nothing else, our discussions reinforced in them the idea that being careful, and creative, can go hand in hand.

Obviously, this list is long and work will have to be done to winnow it down to some main elements as part of our larger discussions.

Norris School Technology Bill of Rights

  • Be respectful of equipment
  • Don’t change the settings (desktop, dock, etc)
  • Don’t be impatient (if computer is slow)
  • Put wires back in cart
  • Use appropriate websites
  • Make sure the laptops are plugged in when you are done
  • Use two hands to carry equipment
  • Make sure laptops are completely shut down before closing “the lid”
  • Be mature with things you find on the Internet
  • Don’t run with the computer
  • Technology focus on the upper grades
  • Don’t waste time (fooling around) on the computer
  • Don’t delete “history” on browser
  • Don’t look at (without permission) or delete files that are not yours
  • Don’t print without permission
  • Don’t buy anything on the Internet
  • Don’t email from school
  • Be grateful that we have technology at Norris
  • Be serious, but also be creative and have fun
  • Don’t have drinks or food when working computer
  • Keep the Cart in order (ie, laptop to charging area)
  • Don’t yank flashdrives/Mice/other out of USB plug
  • Try to avoid touching the screen
  • Don’t push and shove at the Cart
  • Be respectful of computer neighbors/environment
  • Try to save work on flashdrives
  • Don’t bang on the keyboard
  • Don’t take keys off the keyboard
  • Don’t download without permission from teacher
  • Be set up in a work space before you start working (no walking, standing, etc, while using laptops)

Peace (in the plan),
Kevin


What would you put in a Tech Bill of Rights?

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We held our first Technology Community of Practice meeting yesterday afternoon and although we did not get far with our long list of topics (everything from upgrading old software to discussing whether we begin to move from Macs/PCs to Netbooks and iTouches), it was a good beginning for a group of us who want to move technology forward at our school — for both teachers and for students.

So, we are trying to come up with a Technology Bill of Rights for our school — a sort of guiding document for using technology and equipment for both teachers and students.

We are now on our own closed Ning network as a team, starting these discussions both in person and online.

I wonder: What would YOU put into a school-based Technology Bill of Rights?

Here is what I came up with a brainstorm:

All students should have access to all technology. Make it a level playing field for everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.

Plug ’em back in! (for the next person)

If you break it or if you think you’ve broken it, own up to it and tell someone who might know how to fix it.

Don’t be afraid of the technology.

When I put out a query on Twitter, I got a few responses:

The right to keep and bear cell phones, iPods, and other personal tools for information access. — rrmurry

Everyone has the right to a safe environment. – 81teacher

One of my colleagues in our group gave us this quote to think about:

“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure.” Thomas Jefferson, 1823

Do you have a suggestion for us as we develop our Technology Bill of Rights? I would love to know what you think.

Peace (in the tech),

Kevin