Posts
OctoberOct 19 Sunday 08
Whoa Nelly! Colin Powell endorses Obama!
I don't usually post political stuff on here, but I'm posting this video of Colin Powell endorsing Obama for president. I'm posting this not to persuade anyone, but rather for its historical value. Here is a Bush Administration insider who says he is disappointed with …
MP3 Saturday: Buy My Car
Here's an old goodie from Walter Boyd Band that I redid with Drew when I recorded four track wonderland.
I'm experimenting with the format of this blog, so if you're reading outside the feed reader, you're getting a taste of what the new site might look like. I can't …
OctoberOct 16 Thursday 08
Andy Goldsworthy with 5th Grade
My student teacher pulled out another winning lesson plan! I'm really going to miss all her great ideas.
This time, she had the 5th grade classes make ephemeral sculptures based on the work of Andy Goldsworthy. The results were simply breathtaking. (as you can see in …
OctoberOct 15 Wednesday 08
Blog Action Day: Poverty
Its is true that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Often, when we think of poverty, we think of it "over there", like in India or Honduras. And while I agree that poverty is a global issue and places like India and Honduras need help, …
OctoberOct 11 Saturday 08
MP3 Saturday: Broken Record
The Fifth Anniversary of The Walter Boyd Band's seminal release, Mauritius, is coming up in a few short weeks. I've been working on remastering and redoing a few songs from it in addition to adding a few songs that should have made it onto the album, but just didn't …
OctoberOct 9 Thursday 08
Visions of Gehenna
I was so inspired by Warren Craghead's latest little DIY book, I just had to try to make one today on our Fall holiday. The day off actually coincided with Yom Kippur and though I'm not Jewish, I think it affected me on a subconscious level, because it turned out kind …
OctoberOct 8 Wednesday 08
MP3 Saturday: Caravan (unfinished)
This week I'm continuing on with yet another Jazz cover. (hear the last few I've done)
Caravan was one of my favorite Duke Ellington songs, but as I tried to make my own version, the solo section proved to be the proverbial biting off more than one can chew.
The song is …
My Life in Records- Chapter 2 page 26 pencils
My buffer ran out last month and September has been really packed. All I have to show for it is the pencils for this page. I've been thumbnailing and sketching away, so check the blog on Wednesday for some sketches.
I hate to drag this out another month with only 7 …
The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis receiving the stigmata, El Greco, 1585-90, Oil on canvas
Collect for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi:
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace gladly to renounce the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we …
Making Paper Quilts with Kindergarten and First Grade Students
Last week, I showed you how to make Eric Carle style paper in the classroom. This week I'll talk about how to use the paper to teach about quilts.
I start by reading Under the Quilt of Night, which is a great book about how the log cabin quilt block design was used as a …
Announcing an Anthology of Abstract Comics
Since it was just briefly announced over at Andrei's blog, I guess it is safe to say over here. . .
My third color sonnet and abstract reductos will be included in an anthology of abstract comics edited by Andrei Molotiu and published by Fantagraphics in June 2009.
There …
SeptemberSep 30 Tuesday 08
How to Make Eric Carle Style Paper
Children love the work of Eric Carle and every year I do several lessons based on his collages of handmade paper.
We begin by watching a segment from a great video called Eric Carle: Picture Writer. I highly recommend adding this video to your library if you don't …
SeptemberSep 27 Saturday 08
MP3 Saturday: My Funny Valentine
My Funny Valentine is one weird song when you actually listen to the words. I really like it, but would never sing it to my wife for fear of how it might be received.
For this arrangement, I tried to take a cue from my favorite Miles Davis album, Miles Ahead. Arranger, …
SeptemberSep 23 Tuesday 08
Teaching 3-D Drawing to Second Grade Using Wayne Theibaud
My student teacher has been teaching the 2nd Grade classes all about Wayne Theibaud's paintings. Wayne Theibaud loves using thick, brightly colored paint to make paintings of pies, cakes and ice cream.
The students began by learning how to draw basic three dimensional …
The Feast Day of St. Matthew
The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, Caravaggio, 1599-1600, Oil on canvas
Collect for the Feast Day of St. Matthew:
We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, …