Author Archives: dogtrax

NEAToday and The Amazing Adventures of Super-Teacher

Date
Posted by
Comments0

I opened up the latest edition of NEA Today magazine to find a two-page article about the use of comics and graphic novels in the classroom. I like how, more and more, these types of articles are appearing in mainstream educational magazines. The article here is layed out as a comic strip, with the character of Super-Teacher (ie, Jeff Miller from Stevensville Middle School in Maryland) showing how comics and graphic novels may help motivate young people into more reading, and thus, sharpening their skills.

The article  by Mary Ellen Flannery cites such works as Maus by Art Spiegelman and Two-fisted Science: Stories about Scientists by Jim Ottaviani as good resources. Also, they reference a site that I had not heard of before called No Flying No Tights, which may be worth a visit (leave your flying tights at home, though).

I write reviews for The Graphic Classroom, where Chris Wilson explores and understands the appeal of comics and the power of the visual with writing to connect with students. For myself, I also try to think about how graphic novel formats might make sense for young writers, too. For some of my students, when you add an artistic element to an assignment, it opens them up to creative paths that they might not otherwise venture down.

The article in NEA is not yet available online (they seem to run a month behind) but I hope you got a copy in your mailbox, too.

Peace (in frames of learning),
Kevin

PS — speaking of comics, my latest Boolean Squared ran and it is poking fun at digital immigrants/natives. See the comic.

The Poem in your Head: Animated Movie

Date
Posted by
Comments2

I am experimenting with a site called Xtranormal to see what it is all about. It’s a movie-making site in which you choose a character, type the dialogue and then have some controls over the movie screen, including the scenery, music and movements of characters. Essentially, though, the site takes your words and puts them into the mouth of one or two avatars that you choose.
It’s a bit disorientating, to be honest, but neat fun. You can then export the movie into YouTube or keep it at the site. It seems like it is all free for now, but there are hints that they will move to a pay-per-movie model at some point, so I am not sure if it is viable for the classroom.

I am working on one for the call for Year in a Sentence, just for something different.

Here is a short movie I made this afternoon called “The Poem in your Head.”


Peace (by putting words into the mouths of others),
Kevin

Sue Says: Build Your Network

Date
Posted by
Comments3

pln3.jpg

Sue Waters (whose Edublogger site is a must-read, I think) has put together a great wiki site around the concept of the Web 2.0-based Personal Learning Community. Using the results of a survey from folks in her PLC, she established a one-stop resource for folks thinking of dipping their toes into the, eh, waters.

Ideally, a supportive PLC will help guide you along in your reflective stance as an educator, writer, explorer and then provide the framework for you to be a mentor to others. Also, a good PLC provides some guiding questions about your journey: where are you going and why are you going there and what are the outcomes.

I like how Sue also included a quick set of pointers that she gathered from her own network and experiences as you begin to consider your own PLC:

  1. Start slowly and find mentor(s) to help you.
  2. Use the same username across tools
  3. Share as much as you take
  4. Ask as much as you answer
  5. Try new TOOLS before you decide they’re not worth the time
  6. Comment on other people’s blogs
  7. Life long learning is the key!

So, get your network connected! Head to Sue’s wiki for more information.

Peace (in sharing),
Kevin

Review: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

Date
Posted by
Comments4

I try to regularly submit reviews of picture books over at Just One Book, which is a fantastic site for learning about the art and literature of picture books. They recently published an audio review I did on the book, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. It’s a fantastic read about Philippe Petit’s daring escapade between the Twin Towers that no longer stand (after 9-11).

Here is my podcast review of this wonderful story.

(And here is a link to my collection of graphic novel and picture book reviews, if you are interested).

Peace (in books),
Kevin

All Join Hands (kids sing)

Date
Posted by
Comments3

I have mentioned before that I wrote a song called All Join Hands for the Christmas Pageant at our family church. This year, they decided to do something a bit different and they brought in someone from New York City who works with schools and organizations to develop original theater productions. Lloyd (the guy) worked with the kids, and then asked the entire Congregation to submit original songs and lyrics, which he took and wrote some songs for the Pageant, which had a theme of a “journey.”

In the Pageant, some folks with local connections but historical roles were sung about — including Sojourner Truth (the strong black woman who lived in a part of the town for some time); Lewis Tappan, who helped make sure the slaves from the Amistad ship had freedom after they landed in Connecticut; and Jonathan Edwards, famed leader of the religious revivalist movement who preached at the same church where we now go — and my song was sung towards the end of the Pageant. I had my father use my voice recorder to capture the songs, since I had been asked to play guitar on the songs. The song seemed to call for some sort of video, so I went and did that, too.

Here is my song, All Join Hands, with the kids chorus.

And here is the video:

Peace (in joining together),

Kevin

When the Snowman Melts

Date
Posted by
Comments3

In the days leading up to Christmas, we had substantial snow (and then, sleet, and then, rain) and the conditions were ripe for building a snowman. So, my youngest son and I went out and built a good-sized snowdude, put a baseball helmet on him and added a bucket for collecting snowball. I should have taken a picture right then and there, but I forgot. On day two, the weather turned warm and the snowman began to … droop.

Here are some pictures that are part of the PhotoFriday collective (you can join in, too).

Today … might be another rebuilding day.

Peace (in construction and deconstruction),
Kevin

Happy Stopmotion Holidaze

Date
Posted by
Comments2

In between some creative sessions in which my sons were creating stop-motion movies, I grabbed a moment to make my own holiday short. It’s called “All I Want is a Saxophone” and I grabbed an ornament off our Christmas tree for a prop.

Happy Holidays to all of my readers and may you find peace and love with your family and friends.


(if you are having trouble viewing this video, you most likely need to upgrade your Shockwave software. You can do that by going here.)
.
Peace (in the season),
Kevin

Doling out the Dollars for Days in a Sentence

Date
Posted by
Comments4

Thank you to everyone who contributed their Six Word Day in a Sentence this week. They were wonderful to read. A number of you took my challenge to use alliteration and as promised, I am presenting those folks with the first virtual printing of Day in the Sentence Dollars. I don’t recommend you use it for holiday shopping but please let us know if eBay or Amazon accepts them.

And so, without further ado, here are your six word collectives:

  • local diner mac’n’cheese – oh so delicious! — Sara
  • Christmas is coming, no more illnesses? — Amy
  • Lavishing Lots of Love on Liam. — Jane
  • sunshine sensuous Scottsdale sansstudents sanswork seriously — Lynn C.
  • Grades done, snow falling, Christmas begins. — Troy
  • Countdown to vacation; three, two, one! — Liza
  • Ice and snow assault our senses. — Gail P.
  • ill, work, havoc, innovate, tiptoe, holiday! — Joe
  • Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, work, sleep, Twitter — David
  • Summer floods the fast folding year. — Ken
  • The sun always shines on www — Shaun
  • snow
    smiles
    lots more snow
    frowns     — Elona
  • Mission Failed: No Chanukah Wrap Around — Stacey (who created a wordle of her words)
  • (A) Weekend Winter Wallop Wrecks (A) Chanukah Celebration — Bonnie
  • Winter wonderland enchants Alice, and us. — Nancy
  • Pushy parents pervasively prevent positive perceptions. – Tdawg
  • Holiday break brings rest, relaxation, rejuvenation — Karen
  • Tired teacher seeks comfort food fast. — Lynn J.
  • It’s wonderful to be on vacation! :-))))) — Nina
  • Exhausted, satisfied, excited….. holidays are here. — Anne M.
  • Soft snow slowly secludes someone seeking serenity. – Mary F.
  • And Gail D. added: Note to Self: This is the last year I head off the post office to mail gifts only days before Christmas – totally cuts into my time to wax poetic with alliterations;-)

Thanks to everyone who added their sentences this week. What the heck … you all get Day in a Sentence Dollars … I am feeling generous and infused with the holiday spirit.

NOTE: I AM GIVING DAY IN A SENTENCE THE WEEK OFF THIS COMING WEEK, but be ready for a Year in a Sentence (our annual feature) as we close out 2008. Happy holidays to all of you and your family and friends.

Peace (with sincerity),
Kevin

    Traveling in Imaginary Lands

    Date
    Posted by
    Comments1

    My students recently finished up a project around expository writing in which they create travel brochures for imaginary lands. The criteria includes: a brief history of the place, three distinct descriptions that make the land so special and a map. I love the creativity that comes through in this project and the connection between art, writing and informational text is important.

    See some of the work for yourself:


    (if you are having trouble viewing this video, you most likely need to upgrade your Shockwave software. You can do that by going here.)

    Peace (in other worlds as well as here),
    Kevin