Barb Designs

Food. Life. Work.

Comics, graphic novels & middle schoolers, oh my! August 15, 2008

Filed under: Teaching — Barb @ 12:01 pm
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Drawing Words & Writing Pictures

Drawing Words & Writing Pictures

This summer I was fortunate to teach a week-long camp for middle schoolers on comics and graphic novels. This was the first time that I ever worked with middle schoolers and I now appreciate that their sense of humor and adventure. They aren’t as jaded or self conscious as some teenagers can be.

We did many fun activities from the new book Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel & Matt Madden. I was impressed with the lessons in this book and adjusted them for a younger audience.

Now I want to take the class myself!

 

Teaching in the country August 14, 2008

Filed under: Teaching — Barb @ 2:44 pm
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Right after grad school, I got a teaching position an hour away from PDX at Molalla High School. I taught French, Journalism & Web Design there for two years.

The experience was interesting to say the least; I learned a lot (maybe too much) about country livin’.

Here’s my favorite story about one student in French class who we’ll call Billy.

Mme. Myers: Salut class. Today we’re going to talk about food.

Billy: Uh, Madame My-er, do the French like beef jerky?

Mme. Myers: No particularly, Billy. So class, this is a book from Balthazar Restaurant, a French bistro in NYC. Check out the photos of some of these dishes. (Holds up a photo of a scallop nestled in a delicate ring of creme fraîche and a pesto sauce.)

Billy: Um, Madame My-er, uh…what’s that?

Mme. Myers: Billy, that’s a scallop.

Billy: (pause) Ohhhh, potato!

 

The Center for Advanced Learning August 13, 2008

Filed under: Teaching — Barb @ 5:17 pm
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I will start teaching at The Center for Advanced Learning (CAL) at the end of this month. After two years at Molalla High School, this will be a welcome change.

The school has an interesting structure that other high schools are starting to consider.

  • Students come from various districts (Gresham, Reynolds, Centennial, Corbett).
  • They attend their home high school and CAL every other day.
  • They study engineering, design, medicine, IT networking, etc.
  • Learning is project-based and community-centered.
  • Students WANT to be there!