All Blog Posts (229)

Teaching Miller's Dark Knight Returns

My colleague came into my classes today to discuss DKR, and as usual, the kids had loads of questions that led led to informative discussion about the DC Comics universe, contrast between Marvel and DC, the 1980s, Miller's unique rendition of the Batman mythos, and much more. To be honest, this is the second time I have taught this text to high school seniors and our discussions only scratch the surface of really understanding this novel. There is just so much to talk about that is… Continue

Added by Maureen Bakis on February 10, 2011 at 12:13pm — 1 Comment

Pop culture courses popular with students

From Lady Gaga to Harry Potter, pop culture seems to be popping up in universities across the country

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 10, 2011 at 11:29am — No Comments

NECAC

I am looking forward to seeing people at the NECAC in Rhode Island in March. it will be nice to meet people I see post online in person and hear them present. I am doing a lesson demonstration on The Arrival and sitting on a panel with Robin Brenner to talk about the connection between teachers and librarians when using graphic novels in the classroom. Please say hi if you are there!

Added by Maureen Bakis on January 27, 2011 at 7:26pm — No Comments

Teaching Maus- My favorite

eginning Maus this week. I already assigned Scott Russell Sanders' "Under the Influence" and since I just finished Persepolis and exploring the genre of memoir, students can build on what they know. Funniest comment this week? A students said, "hey, where are the pictures?" when I handed him Sanders' all-print essay. I replied, "in the words." This is my attempt to show non-readers/reluctant who are now loving graphic novels that other great literature and stories exist in print too!!… Continue

Added by Maureen Bakis on January 27, 2011 at 7:20pm — 1 Comment

Harvard's Graphic Novels and the Middle East Conference

Wow! Whata great program I attended at Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies last Saturday. I learned so much from all who presented and I hope I shed some light on the use of teaching graphic novels in the high school English classroom! I am really excited about the next two events where we will DRAW and meet graphic novelists. Should be fun!…

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Added by Maureen Bakis on January 27, 2011 at 7:20pm — No Comments

Teaching With The Super Bowl Ads

If you're not already aware of the web resource I maintain, Using Super Bowl Ads in the Classroom, I wanted to point you to the site. Among other things, it includes news articles to download; archives of previous year's ads; activities and lesson plans to use with students and more. Frank W. Baker, Media Literacy Clearinghouse

Added by Frank W. Baker on January 25, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments

Looking for Authors and Publishers

Call to writers and publishers in the group: I'm working with three textbook committees as we put together a series of rhetoric/readers for freshman composition and intro to literature books. We're looking for short graphic stories that are reprint affordable for possible inclusion. Suggestions and recommendations? Off-list email: oseland@nsuok.edu.

Added by Tony O'seland on January 18, 2011 at 1:39pm — No Comments

QUESTION: Favorite quotes about metacognition (thinking about thinking)

Hi Everyone,

I'm wondering who people like to reference when talking with teachers about metacognition - the importance of students (and us teachers) thinking about what we're thinking.

The Institute for Habits of Mind has a great collection of quotes about metacognition.* I'm more interested in quotes from people like Vygotsky, Dewey, psychologists, researchers and academics, as it applies to teaching…

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Added by Ryan Goble on December 7, 2010 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Independent reading list

I am psyched to see which titles the kids read and enjoy. Since I couldn't sleep due to the untimely consumption of a brownie last night, I made a list of titles with live links for the kids to click on and find more information, videos, author interviews, websites and reviews related to the title. I actually think this was very nice of me to do. I want them to choose wisely and make an educated selection so they enjoy their choice. I plan to make time in class for them to conduct book… Continue

Added by Maureen Bakis on November 23, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

Sharing the Blog love and love of graphic novels!

I am going to begin sharing my classroom activities and reflections about teaching comics/graphic novels in my blog here at MCpop. I teach 12th graders in Massachusetts. I created an English course called The Graphic Novel ---graphic novels all year, every day, all the time!!! It is a required course as part of our grade twelve ELA curriculum. Students can choose to take my course, gothic lit, global lit, poetry, or AP English. All courses are offered for both college prep and honors credit.… Continue

Added by Maureen Bakis on November 23, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

NCTE PRESENTATIONS BY MC POPPERS!

I would guess about a fourth of the MC POP membership is English teachers. That said, certainly some folks will be at the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) annual conference in Orlando, Flordia this coming weekend. If you are presenting something please comment below and let us know what curriculum you will be making POP!

In the meantime, a lot of NCTE folks on this Ning (including myself) are involved with the New Media Gallery. If you're into teaching with…

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Added by Ryan Goble on November 17, 2010 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

Survey on Professional Learning Networks (PLNs)

Hi MC Poppers (as Ryan would say)!

I hope that all is well as we get ready to close in on the holidays.

I would love to ask MCPop members to click on the link below and take a survey for me. I an doing a research project on online collaboration and would love to hear from you.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/evaluatingonlinecollaboration

You…

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Added by Stephanie Young on November 14, 2010 at 3:30pm — No Comments

What's so special about Arithmetic Village?

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Added by Kimberly Moore on November 4, 2010 at 10:30pm — 1 Comment

Ken Burns' BASEBALL repeats in November on PBS

In case you missed Ken Burns' new BASEBALL episodes when they aired September 28-29 on PBS, you're in luck: they're being repeated in November. Details below.

EPISODE:TOP OF THE TENTH In 1994, baseball faced its worst crisis in 70 years when a prolonged strike alienates many of the most loyal fans. Baseball has to rebuild. And rebuild it does, with new stadiums, an infusion of new players from Latin America and the shattering of…

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Added by Frank W. Baker on October 27, 2010 at 7:22pm — No Comments

Great Migrations: Upcoming National Geographic Series

Pick up almost ANY National Geographic publication and you will see a promotion for "Great Migration" the upcoming series (starting November 7th on the NG Channel). Seven episodes air throughout the month including a "Behind-The-Scenes" program. Read more in the November issue of the magazine. The homepage for the series describes each… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on October 26, 2010 at 9:21pm — No Comments

Creative Prompt Series at The Book Chook

If you teach kids to write, or create in some other way, you might be interested in my Creative Prompt Series. Each Friday at The Book Chook, I post a prompt that encourages kids, parents and teachers to get started with a little creativity. My latest post was about using some story elements to generate plotting ideas, but earlier prompts have used nature, a poem, a video or those two magic words, "what if?". You can link back to earlier posts via… Continue

Added by Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook on October 26, 2010 at 6:49pm — No Comments

NCTE 2010 New Media Gallery ( are you heading to Orlando?)

You’ve heard of blogs, wikis, and nings, but you’re wondering how to use them in your classroom? We have some exciting possibilities on exhibit at our New Media Gallery, Friday, November 19, 2010 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the Coronado Resort, Monterrey Room 1. Sponsored by NCTE’s… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on October 25, 2010 at 7:21pm — No Comments

HELP? - MC POP "BOOK CHAT" aka MC POP STUDIO

Thanks to everyone for the congrats on the New Baby! Y'all are very cool and kind - we're excited about Téa's arrival.…

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Added by Ryan Goble on October 25, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

What Up Téa Lauren Goble?

Welcome the smallest MC POPPER (by birth, not interest) Téa Lauren Goble born 9.25.10 at 1:21pm - 6 lbs. 15oz., 20 inches.

The first thoughts posted here on baby Téa were my personal paranoias about princess-ness - but so far she's been a sweet baby that has been keeping mommy and daddy busy. We have already noticed that Téa's a HUGE…

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Added by Ryan Goble on October 20, 2010 at 4:00pm — 24 Comments

New Interactive Comic Book for Boys That They Can Complete -- from Bill Zimmerman of MakeBeliefsComix.com

Dear colleagues,

I just wanted to share the good news about the publication of my new interactive comic book for boys entitled Your Life in Comics: 100 Things for Guys to Write and Draw. The book has pages of situations in which readers fill in the characters' thought and talk balloons and point of view. Other activities encourage boys to draw full pages of comic strips with help from word and picture prompts. The book is geared for reluctant writers ages 9-13 and is part of my body of work…

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Added by William Zimmerman on September 7, 2010 at 12:59pm — No Comments