Pardon me as I date myself, but I have loved and always will love the Peanuts comic strips. The cartoons were staples of my childhood, and I have no plans to stop watching them anytime soon.
I love to see creators create, so this 20-minute video of Charles Schulz creating his famous characters is a delight.
If you need more inspiration, here’s a video of Chuck Jones demonstrating how to draw Bugs Bunny and other characters.
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In my estimation, Mark Knopfler doesn’t get the widespread acclaim he should as one of our most talented guitarists making music over the last few decades.
And Emmylou Harris is also an underappreciated gem.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy these two masters performing together in this concert from 2006.
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Much of my teen years and into my twenties revolved around music. I played trumpet from 6th grade onward–and wasn’t too shabby–I eventually learned a bit of piano–I can chord and keep a rhythm like nobody’s business–and a bit of signing.
My wife has a music degree and is an excellent flautist. And my kiddo is already falling into the world of musical theatre with all her heart.
While I’m no longer actively involved in the music scene, I’ll always be a musician and hooked on the power of music. I love it and always will, and love sharing great music I stumble upon through my yearly playlists.
Music can bring us all together and inspire us to be more than we believe. For some, it can take you outside of your circumstances into a new world filled with sights and sounds beyond imagination. A new world of hope and promise.
I’m a huge believer in keeping arts programs in our schools. My time in the band kept me sane in my middle and high school experiences. Without the connections I made and the love of music that gave me a place to go and hide when things got rough, which happened regularly as a chubby, geeky kid in the late 80s and early 90s, I’m not sure what I would have done, but it probably wouldn’t have been great.
Los Angeles Unified School District is one of the last school districts in the country to provide freely repaired instruments to its students. The Oscar-winning documentary The Last Repair Shop takes us behind the scenes of that work.
More importantly, we learn the stories of a few individuals and what music and this instrument repair program mean to them.
From a mother who works to support her family to a man who caught the fiddle itch so bad he just had to have a $20 violin from a yard sale, these stories will inspire and make you weep.
By the way, that $20 violin took Duane Michaels and his band, Bodie Mountain Express, all the way to opening for Elvis on his biggest night ever and around the world, and then took him to repair woodwinds for LAUSD students.
From the film-
In a nondescript warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain over 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of the recording capital of the world. Watch “The Last Repair Shop,” directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers.
In less than 45 minutes, you’ll see these stories and some of the students touched by this program. Music has a unique power among the arts to unite so many, sometimes without words.
We must keep music in our schools, forever.
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Set some 100 years prior to the events of our beloved Skywalker Saga, The Acolyte provides a glimpse into the world of the High Republic.
I’m hoping this series compares well to the quality of Andor. Of course, we’re getting a Wookie Jedi, which might be worth it all.
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As we depart from the nonsense that is Winter and dive headlong into pollen-filled, sinus-breaking, gloriously sunny early days of Spring, you too may get the urge to sit outside on your back deck on a Saturday morning and just chill.
Back deck sitting is one of my favorite pastimes and often when I do some of my best reading and thinking.
Sitting and chilling in my world means there will be music in the background, preferably something with a chill vibe and mostly instrumental.
I’ve been jamming on Hermanos Gutiérrez for a bit now and just loving these brothers more and more each time I listen.
Here’s their NPR Tiny Desk concert from early 2013 to give you a good intro to their music.
After reading a comment on that particular video, I found another band with similar vibes called Khruangbin.
This trio from Houston, Texas, is heavily inspired by 1960s and ’70s funk and soul from, of all places, Thailand. That musical passion has taken them on a journey that, these days, incorporates music from Spain, Ethiopia, and the Middle East.
Yes, they exude cool.
Add these two groups to your early weekend morning chill vibe. You won’t regret it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If you’ve enjoyed the insights and stories, consider showing your support by subscribing to my weekly newsletter. It’s a great way to stay updated and dive deeper into my content. Alternatively, if you love audiobooks or want to try them, click here to start your free trial with Audible. Your support in any form means the world to me and helps keep this blog thriving. Looking forward to connecting with you more!
In today’s digital age, educational resources have expanded beyond textbooks to include diverse mediums like YouTube videos. A prime example is the video “Every Political Ideology Explained in 8 Minutes,” offering a succinct overview of various political ideologies. This blog post aims to guide high school civics, history, or government teachers on how to utilize this video as a discussion starter in their classrooms.
1. Pre-Viewing Preparation:
Before playing the video, it’s essential to establish a foundational understanding among students. Teachers should:
Briefly Introduce Political Ideologies: Explain the concept of political ideologies as systems of beliefs that shape individual and collective political stances.
Set Expectations: Inform students that the video provides a brief overview, encouraging them to seek deeper understanding through class discussions and further research.
2. During the Viewing:
As students watch, they should be encouraged to take notes. Teachers can provide a guided worksheet that includes:
Key Terms and Definitions: Such as conservatism, liberalism, socialism, etc.
Critical Thinking Questions: Like “What are the core beliefs of each ideology?” or “How might these ideologies impact governance?”
3. Post-Viewing Discussion:
This is where the magic happens. Teachers can facilitate discussions by:
Breaking Down Ideologies: Discuss each ideology presented in the video. Encourage students to express their understanding and ask questions.
Comparing and Contrasting: Have students compare ideologies, discussing similarities and differences. This can lead to deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Real-World Applications: Relate these ideologies to current events or historical instances. This connection helps students see the practical impact of these ideologies.
Debate and Role Play: Organize debates or role-playing activities where students defend or critique various ideologies. This exercise enhances understanding and empathy.
To deepen understanding, teachers can assign activities like:
Research Projects: Students can research a particular ideology in-depth or study a political leader associated with an ideology.
Creative Presentations: Encourage students to create presentations or infographics about different ideologies.
Field Work: If possible, arrange visits to political organizations or invite guest speakers representing various ideologies.
5. Critical Reflection:
End the unit with a reflective exercise where students:
Reflect on Personal Views: Encourage students to ponder how their personal views align or differ from the ideologies studied.
Discuss the Role of Ideologies in Society: Facilitate a conversation about the impact of political ideologies on societal development and individual lives.
Conclusion:
“Every Political Ideology Explained in 8 Minutes” serves as an excellent springboard for engaging students in the complex world of political thought. Through this video and subsequent activities, students can develop a nuanced understanding of political ideologies, enhancing their critical thinking skills and preparing them for informed citizenship in a diverse world.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If you’ve enjoyed the insights and stories, consider showing your support by subscribing to my weekly newsletter. It’s a great way to stay updated and dive deeper into my content. Alternatively, if you love audiobooks or want to try them, click here to start your free trial with Audible. Your support in any form means the world to me and helps keep this blog thriving. Looking forward to connecting with you more!
Do you remember the old Sesame Street song that encouraged all of us to sing a song?
C’mon, if you’re the same vintage as me, you know what I’m talking about. This one?
Ah, a stroll down memory lane. On that note…
What if you didn’t sing a song but just had to sing one note? I imagine it would go something like this…
Louie Zong asked his viewers to send in a single singing note and received over 200 responses! He then organized and assembled these notes, keeping them as true to their original form as possible, and added some beats, creating an entirely new song from their community’s voices.
We’re wrapping up the 2022-2023 school year, and several teachers in my district are continuing their journeys into deeper learning.
Rather than freaking out and focusing on end-of-year testing that means nothing (you know I’m right), I’m working with several 8th-grade classes on worthwhile projects.
One class is designing tourism resources for Bardstown. If you’re not familiar, the tourism industry is HUGE in this area thanks to two things: history and bourbon. Kentucky tourists spent $5.9 billion in 2020, and many of those dollars can be traced to bourbon tourism.
Students are working in groups to create materials for different tourist destinations in Bardstown. They got to choose the location, the format for their materials, and how they will ultimately present them.
Let’s connect this work back to the 4 Shifts and how we’re using it to foster deeper learning in classrooms:
Deeper Thinking and Learning
Students are researching famous local places. Some of them are taking tours after school hours, conducting interviews, and doing independent research
Students are discussing what information needs to be included in their information. What should be in a brochure? What do we need to mention in a video?
Authentic Work
Students are using design tools that are used in the real world to create and publish their work: Canva, YouTube, CapCut, etc.
Could these projects be used as part of a tourism promotion? Perhaps. This work will likely be a “first draft” of a potential business or tourism department collaboration.
Student Agency & Personalization
Students chose the format and tools.
Students chose the topic
Technology Infusion
Any technology usage is secondary to the research and information presented. Technology is merely the tool conveying the message, not the message itself.
I could go on, but I’ll save a further discussion for the project completion. Suffice it to say the kids are very interested in these projects and what they are learning about their hometown.
Student work on a brochure for a local restaurant
I came in to assist in the combination of technology with content. Students are creating on different platforms and need to tie the information together. Several have made videos that we’ve uploaded to YouTube. We created QR codes and added them to the brochures. We’ve used royalty-free music for the videos. Some students even used AI (yep) to help write the script before recording voiceovers.
My point for sharing this work is this: diving into deeper learning can be fun for you and your students. Will some resist? Yes. Will some still find ways to disengage and not really accomplish anything? Yes.
But it’s all part of the adventure of learning. For them, and for us.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If you’ve enjoyed the insights and stories, consider showing your support by subscribing to my weekly newsletter. It’s a great way to stay updated and dive deeper into my content. Alternatively, if you love audiobooks or want to try them, click here to start your free trial with Audible. Your support in any form means the world to me and helps keep this blog thriving. Looking forward to connecting with you more!
