Know Gimmicks

gimmick ˈɡimik/ noun

a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

synonyms: publicity stunt, contrivance, scheme, stratagem, ploy;

informalshtick

Every Marvel movie features snappy quips, and one of my favorite lines from Captain America: Civil War comes from hero Falcon, when he and Bucky first run into Spider-Man:

ca-cw-gimmick

Gimmicks have a long history in comic books. Specifically, let’s look at comic book gimmick covers. Like any good “publicity stunt,” gimmick covers draw attention to sell more comic books. Typically these specific issues celebrate milestone anniversaries, debut series, or other special events.

The good folks at Comic Book Resources (CBR) recently shared their “All-Time Greatest Comic Book Gimmick Covers,” and you can read about it right here.

In this list, you’ll learn all kinds of neat history and trivia, including what made these gimmicks special. Behold covers with poly-bagged pop-ups, glow-in-the-dark skeletons, embossed chromium and/or foil, die-cut claw marks, bullet holes, and more.

wolvie-gimmick

My favorite is the Superman “Colorform” cover, where you can create your own battle scene using the reusable plastic pieces. (iPad got nothin’ on Coloforms.)

superman-lobo

Gimmicks are fun, but they can also go horribly wrong. To wit, CBR contributors also compiled the “All-Time Worst Comic Book Gimmick Covers,” which you can read here if you dare.

crazyman-gimmickbad6a

These unfortunate “shticks” include lenticular artwork, face-shaped die-cut covers, duplicate monochrome colors, Magic Eye illusions, body heat-sensitive “thermochrome,” and more bullet holes.

gimmickbad0c deathwatch.jpg

Gimmick comic book covers have mostly disappeared, but new ideas (or old revivals) pop up from time to time. The same is true for educational gimmicks. Teachers must be vigilant in protecting their students (and themselves) from too many gimmicks, fads, and ploys.

What are some of these educational gimmicks? For a start, take a look at the following graphic highlighting “20 Years of Educational Fads,” put together by Te@cher Toolkit (“the most influential blog on education in the UK”).

20-years-educational-fads

You can read more here about each gimmick, myth, fad, and/or hearsay, and see how much you agree.

Such new (or repackaged) educational ideas begin as noteworthy or eye-catching. A financial boost often jumpstarts such initiatives. But eventually the dollars dwindle away, followed by fading enthusiasm and support. Given the effort and time spent by various stakeholders, you can imagine the subsequent feelings of resentment and distrust.

Please note that I am not poo-pooing all gimmicks. After all, I’m the guy who forked over cash to get this hologram-highlighted wrap-around cover:

And this foil embossed beauty:

avengers_vol_1_369

And even this one:

tick days of drama.jpg

(Yup, that’s a special #0 issue mini-comic glued to the cover of the #1 issue regular-sized comic.)

Gimmicks can be good for a laugh. And sometimes they are a breath of fresh air. Used right, gimmicks can make cute mementos, quick distractions, and useful object lessons.

Nevertheless, it’s important to distinguish between a novel trick (that’s fun for a little while) and a credible research-supported practice (that stands the test of time).

What about you? What educational gimmicks have you enjoyed, advocated, and/or suffered?

Summer Break 2016

Time for another summer break from blog posts at Teach Like a Superhero!

Hit the beach and hang ten!

surfing superheroes

We’ll be back for “back-to-school” season with news and resources celebrating superheroes and teachers.

Until then, follow our Facebook page and take a look at some highlights from the previous academic year:

What’s in a Name? – How should students address teachers?

Ms. Pronunciation – How should teachers address students?

Spoiler Alert! – Whether it’s a movie, a comic book, or the classroom, a spoiler can sabotage true enjoyment and engagement. So how do you teach students without spoiling them?

Secret Hideout – Where do you go for peace, quiet, and rejuvenation?

Word Balloons – Comic books use creative ways to convey voice tone. How does your voice sound in the classroom?

Silent Issues – How much do you communicate without making a sound?

Reboots and rebirths are all the rage this year in comic books. Use the summer to recharge for your students in the fall!

(Starting NOW!)

marvel-now-cropped-183913

Ms. Pronunciation

It’s graduation season, that wonderful time of year to commemorate scholarly success.

As an added perk, I get to dress up like a superhero. (One of my students even said I looked like a Hogwarts professor – Wingardium Leviosa!)

Power Professors . . . Unite!

Besides Halloween, when else can someone strut their stuff in a color-coordinated, velveteen-trimmed billowy costume (i.e. regalia) without receiving strange looks? It’s like academic Mardi Gras.

That’s Mardi Gras, pronounced “ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä.” In New Orleans, pronounced “awr-lee-uhnz,” or “awr-leenz,” or “aw-linz,” depending on your demographics.

Pronunciations are important. How important?

With comic books being a visual medium, readers may have seen a superhero’s unique name for years but never heard it spoken out loud. When we hear the audible title, the correct pronunciation can be surprising.

Take DC villain Darkseid, for instance. First introduced in 1970, this big baddie predates the Star Wars movies by several years. But his name is pronounced “Dark Side.” (For the longest time, I thought his name sounded like “dark seed,” which is more menacing in my opinion.)

Namor-Sub-Mariner

Or Namor the Sub-Mariner. When I see his name, I still hear it as “submarine-r,” sounding like the underwater vessel with an “r” at the end. (Like a trucker who drives a truck.) Actually, the name of Marvel’s first mutant got its inspiration from the Coleridge poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” and the emphasis is on “mariner” like a sailor or Seattle baseball player.

Here is an article about commonly mispronounced superhero names. And we haven’t even talked about folks like Ra’s al Ghul, Ka-Zar, and half the Green Lantern Corps.

Next year’s classroom portraits

Let’s not forget about all kinds of odd-sounding objects, too, like the Crimson Gem of Cytorrak, the Eye of Agamotto, or Thor’s mystical hammer Mjolnir.

Mispronunciations are not a problem exclusive to fictional characters. All kinds of comic book creators have hard-to-pronounce names (Quesada, Nicieza, Madureira, DiDio, Lee).

In fact, during the ’90s Marvel produced an official pronunciation guide for many of their writers and artists:

Marvel pronunciation

Most of this tongue-twisting is light-hearted. But think of more serious repercussions in education.

graduate-student-woman-think-graduating-look-empty-area-isolated-white-background-asian-beauty-53035960

Witness the blushes and giggles (or worse, the cringes and frowns) at a graduation ceremony. What should be the triumphant celebration of a student’s academic career becomes an uncomfortable, clumsy moment.

Consider the same unfortunate effects in the classroom. How many students shudder at the sound of a teacher messing up their name during roll call? This occurrence is not limited to back-to-school season, either. Some botched names continue unnecessarily for months.

Here’s an interesting article by Ed Week about students and educators raising awareness and appreciation for diverse and difficult names. Titled “Mispronouncing Students’ Names: A Slight That Can Cut Deep,” it tackles a lot of issues you may not even consider when reviewing your classroom roster.

What’s the worst way someone has mispronounced your name? How do you handle it as a teacher?

Hopefully not like this:

Here’s one strategy I learned to use in my teaching:

During the first days of school, I have my students complete a handout sharing different bits of information. One line on the form asks students to write their names as they are phonetically pronounced, as well as what the student would like to be called.

This may seem like overkill, but it comes in handy and reduces one more hurdle in promoting positive student-teacher relationships.

For instance, is Cara pronounced “Care-uh” or “Car-ah?” Since I read her information sheet, I already know. I’ve also had students that go by middle names, initials, or something different than what’s written in their official records.

I’ll be ready when I have Mr. Mxyzptlk in class. Will you?

mxyzpltk

Teacher Evolution

Don’t get riled up by this blog post’s title.

We’re not talking about Charles Darwin and biological evolution. Although if you’re into that stuff, you can find all kinds of humorous imagery like this:

TrEvolMug

And if you like teacher accessories, you can snag this image on a mug, t-shirt, apron, mouse pad, and more HERE.

The type of evolution this post deals with is that of teachers (inspired by superheroes, of course).

YouTube user (and movie fan) Burger Fiction has put together some nifty videos highlighting every film and television appearance of various superheroes.

The most recent hero featured in these videos is Marvel’s Captain America, which you can watch here:

You can find similar “Evolution of . . .” clip collections celebrating heroes Iron Man, Superman, and Batman. Each video includes vintage footage and obscure appearances alongside iconic sequences (live action and animation alike).

What I find most significant in these highlight reels, though, is the ongoing development and expansion of each character over time. Like these heroes, effective teachers undergo change and growth through the years.

This is where the term “evolution” truly applies, going back to the word’s original meaning in the mid-1600s. Thanks to the Online Etymology Dictionary, we know that evolution’s English origins arose from Latin “evolvere,” meaning “to unfold, open out, or expand.”

This same evolution process occurs for both teachers and superheroes. And the parallels don’t end there.

cap am images

Like Captain America above, many teachers would rather forget some of the earliest footage of their work. Everyone looks back at their initial efforts and cringes at what they see:

Sluggish transitions.
Awkward pacing.
Stilted dialogue.
Clumsy execution.
Poor methods.
Novice mistakes.
Cheesy humor.
And outdated fashion and technology, of course.

But observe what happens when the years go by. As time advances, so do your abilities and confidence. In fact, the most recent footage is downright awesome and exhilarating.

Am I talking about superheroes or teachers here? It doesn’t matter.

Be brave and dig up old footage of your teaching. Take a quick look and notice how your teaching has unfolded, opened up, and expanded.

Watch a more recent video of your teaching and be encouraged by your growth. And if you find you still exhibit cringe-worthy tendencies, challenge yourself to fix those bad habits.

If you need inspiration or ideas on “teacher evolution,” here are a couple of useful articles: one dealing with National Board Certification, and another focusing on a teacher’s journey of “personal transformation” that includes burnout, pink slips, and awards.

Evolve your teaching. You don’t need a multi-million dollar Hollywood budget, either. Just the guts to get better.

superhero evolution

Super-Souvenirs

Last time we talked about lessons learned from conventions, whether the audience is teachers or cosplayers.

I nearly forgot one of the best rewards of attending conferences and meetings . . . the STUFF!

The swag . . . the loot . . . the prizes . . . the souvenirs.

This past weekend I participated in a state teacher conference, and I got a few of the usual convention freebies — posters, books, pens, highlighters, candy, a shirt, and more. Someone I know even won a free corn snake!

Take me home!

The best convention prize I ever got was a children’s book about Buzz Aldrin, signed by the astronaut himself!

buzz book

This very same weekend I came home and took my family to Marvel Universe Live! (Think “Disney on Ice” with superheroes on motorcycles and high-wire acts.)

MUL_05_web bikes.png

The show was full of explosions, stuntmen (and stuntwomen), along with cheesy comic book dialogue. Best of all, it’s the only way (so far) you can see live-action Avengers fight alongside live-action X-Men and Spider-Man.

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My kids loved the show (me and the wife, too), and they also loved the souvenirs. Just like conferences and conventions, this event had gobs of stuff to take home. Such trinkets cost money, though.

But where else are you going to get an exclusive Marvel Universe Live! Prelude Comic Book?

prelude comic

Or giant-sized Program Book (with embossed cover)?

mu_live_program book

Or Captain America Boomerang? (It works, too . . . in theory.)

boomerang

Or official Marvel Universe Live! cotton candy (with superhero mask)?

cotton candy.jpg

My family bought all of these beauties – BONUS!

Another lesson learned from this weekend is that teachers give their students an array of souvenirs over the course of a school year. And I’m not just talking about content knowledge.

Every year, I ask my pre-service teachers to imagine their students at the end of the year. In an ideal world, what will those kids be like? What skills will they possess? What traits, habits, and feelings do they have?

Elementary school pupils running outside

I’ve written about this before in a more scholarly setting. To be brief, the new teachers end up with a short list of about ten items. The same types of traits and skills always emerge.

Teachers want students who are . . .

Critical Thinkers
Creative
Problem Solvers
Caring and Kind
Hard Workers
Curious
Lifelong Learners
Collaborative
Effective Communicators

And students who possess solid content understanding, of course.

School routine

Souvenirs are an important part of comic book conventions, education conferences, superhero stunt shows, and even school classrooms.

Some are free. Others are pricy. Cost does not always correlate with value.

What are your classroom’s best souvenirs?

Consider what “souvenirs” you provide for students over the course of the year. Make sure they are treasures that last a lifetime.

marvel souvenirs

Con Season

This blog post is unique because I’m writing it from San Diego, where I’m attending a convention.

sdcc

No, not THAT convention – San Diego Comic-Con International – although the Convention Center is just across the street.

sandiegoconventionctr

The above photo is what the Center looks like this week. During Comic-Con, it appears more like the photo below:

san-diego-the-first-ever-comic-con-got-seriously-weird

Or this one:

sdcc-cosplayers-25697

Or this one, if you’re lucky:

Avengers_Age_of_Ultron_SDCC_2014_panel

Like I said, I’m not lucky enough to be in town the same time as Comic-Con. But I am lucky enough to be at a convention with hundreds of other educators.

This particular “con” is focused on accreditation of teacher preparation programs.

The topic may sound dryer than San Diego heat, but it’s not too bad. Most sessions are led by educators, who know a thing or two about engaging a crowd of semi-disinterested individuals.

Here are three take-home lessons I’ll share with you (and take home from California):

No excitement here.

1. A convention center without fans, celebrities, and cosplayers is like a school building without students, teachers, and staff. A brilliant building with fancy facilities is a wonderful thing to behold; but it only makes a difference when it hosts a crowd of excitable and exciting characters.

2. What convention are you attending next? I’m not talking about a district-required in-service necessary for churning out continuing education credits.

Seek out a teacher-focused conference or convention that expands your network of colleagues, refines your thinking, and builds on your repertoire of strategies. Better yet, sign up to SHARE a session or workshop with your professional peers.

More excitement here!

3. Someday I hope to visit San Diego again and attend Comic-Con. Until then, here are some conferences I’ve attended (or will attend) recently. Check one out, if you’re interested. Or find something else that more closely matches your field of expertise.

-Kappa Delta Pi International Educational Honor Society Biennial Convocation

-National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference

–International Meeting of the Association for Science Teacher Education

-Kansas Association of Science Teachers “KATS Kamp” Conference

-Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Spring Conference

Where are you going?

You don’t have to attend a “con” somewhere far away or expensive. Most of those I go to are within driving distance, and many times you can pay a discounted fee to attend only part of the convention. In most cases you get what you pay for, though, and it’s healthy to expand your horizons beyond your home district or state.

Find a super group of teachers to encourage and educate you – and you can do the same for them. They’re waiting for you!

legion at table

Word Balloons

The latest superhero flick is Deadpool, which is making news for its “hard” R-rating for humor and violence.

If you don’t know much about Marvel’s “Merc with a Mouth,” here is a fun tutorial courtesy of artist Ty Templeton.

deadpool-four-panels-websize

The movie itself is doing great commercially and critically, even getting approval from Betty White herself.

bettywhitedeadpool

I’ll bypass seeing the film in theaters, waiting for a toned down, broadcast-friendly version on TV. (But from the sound of things, a cleaned-up edited version would last about 15 minutes.)

The “sound of things” is actually the topic of this blog post. Specifically,

What is the sound of your voice?

We’ve talked before about the importance of what teachers say in the classroom (namely questions). But it’s also important to consider how you say it.

What’s your tone of voice when you talk in class? How loud? How fast? How much variety?

In comic books, characters speak in “word balloons” (or “speech bubbles”), and it’s fascinating to notice the unique techniques creators use to convey dialogue on the page.

variety-of-speech-bubbles

Just like people, comic book heroes have unique voices, and letterers (the folks who draw word balloons) often use specific styles for particular characters.

For instance, Deadpool always speaks (and thinks) in yellow word balloons. No one is sure what it’s supposed to sound like, aside from a mix of sarcasm and crazy.

deadpool-yellow-boxes

Take a moment and consider what your words would look like if someone drew balloons around them.

Are you snarky to the point of annoying? (Do you need to tone it down?)

deadpoolyellowdisplay

Or maybe you’re more robotic, like the android Vision. (Should you add more emotion?)

VisionBuckler1972 2

DC/Vertigo’s Sandman hero Dream (a.k.a. Morpheus) talks in wavy inverted speech bubbles. (Are you putting your students to sleep?)

Sandman1

Or does your voice reflect the tenor of Ghost Rider, Marvel’s Spirit of Vengeance? (To quote Educator Harry Wong, remember to stay “calm, real calm.”)

ghost rider balloon

Some teachers start quiet and docile, not maintaining healthy classroom boundaries. And then when students get too far out of control, these teachers release a verbal attack like Marvel’s Inhumans hero Black Bolt. (Deal with the small things sooner, so you don’t have to explode.)

bolt 1

Eric Wong at the Sequart Organization wrote a nifty article about the different ways comic books communicate sound. As you examine these examples, think about the sounds in your classroom. What is helpful? What is hurtful or distracting?

Teachers should record their classroom instruction and interactions from time to time. You don’t have to sit down and watch an entire lesson. Just listen to a few minutes and notice what your students actually hear.

Acknowledge the fact that nobody likes the sound of their own voice. (Blame science.) But who cares? Either out loud or in your head, ask yourself,

“What can I do to sound better?”

Here are some ideas:

1. If your voice is monotone and flat, study television news anchors to learn about adding variety in pitch. (And drink more coffee.)

2. If you have a tendency of erupting, take a deep breath and stay calm (but firm). (And eat more chocolate.)

3. If you have a snarky streak, save it for open mic night at the comedy club. Students respect teachers who show them respect first.

solid word balloon

So whatever kind of “word balloons” you use in the classroom, make sure they fit the space and focus on learning.

word balloons

What’s in a Name?

Keen-eyed readers will notice that this blog has recently changed its official name from Teaching is for Superheroes! to Teach Like a Superhero! (The exclamation point remains!)

Not that big of a change, really, except that the new name rolls off the tongue a little more easily. Another change is the primary web address: http://www.teachlikeasuperheroblog.com. This new URL is not very short, but it gets to the point.

(I tried a shorter address, but “www.tlash.com” sounds like an eyeliner product. And a good of an excuse as any to share this meme inspired by Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

If all of this http://www.mumbo.jumbo stresses you out, don’t worry. The old web address, http://www.teachingsupeherheroes.wordpress.com, still works and will lead you right back here.

This post is not just an announcement about blog name changes.

Let’s talk about names of superheroes and names of teachers.

I remember two things from my very first teacher back-to-school in-service meeting. The first memory is a litany of details regarding health insurance and employee benefits. The second memory is our assistant principal reminding us all that we are “Mr. Smith,” not “Smith” or “Mr. S.”

His point was to start the school year establishing a professional identify and requiring our students to address us as such. It may seem like no big deal for a student to abbreviate your name (“Mr. B.”) or leave off your honorific (“Bergman”). Some teachers may even welcome such nicknames to foster a more relaxed classroom environment.

But we must always be careful to not get too comfortable with our students. Stop and consider the range of impacts this lackadaisical habit could impart.

I’m sure I’ve allowed my students to call me all sorts of things and get away with it. But it does help to maintain a level of respect among everyone – teacher to student, student to teacher, teacher to teacher, student to student, and more.

Proper names matter among superheroes, too, and not just with maintaining secret identities. Personally, I cringe whenever I read superheroes calling each other playful nicknames.

They’re heroes, not BFFs!

Superhero nicknames have long been a staple in comics. Witty banter and clever monikers keep the “funny” in funny books, after all. And it helps convey some characters’ personalities.

Wolverine, for example, with Colossus:

And here (off-panel) with Professor Xavier:

The best name-caller, of course, was Stan “The Man” Lee, who was so proficient he even came up with nicknames for his real-life co-workers (e.g. Jack “The King” Kirby, “Jazzy” Johnny Romita, “Merry” Gerry Conway, and many MANY more right here).

Like any good joke, though, overuse of superhero sobriquets can get tiresome. Especially among champions who should focus their attention on more important things – like fighting bad guys and saving the world!

What’s worse, many of these affectionate nicknames can actually undermine the job of life-risking heroics.

“Spidey” for Spider-Man works fine for his hip quippy character; but take a look at other heroes and their less-dignified labels:

Batman = “Bats”

Superman = “Supes”

Green Lantern = “GL”

Ugh. Apparently, characters in the DC Universe have a thing for abridging names. Marvel nicknames, though more colorful, can still cheapen a heroic legacy.

The Mighty Thor = “Goldilocks”

The Hulk = “Ol’ Greenskin”

Iron Man = “Shellhead”

Captain America = “Cap,” “Winghead,” “Star-Spangled Avenger”

We come back to Captain America because it’s maybe the clearest example of a noble hero who’s legendary status is downgraded by casual familiarity. And it’s not just by fellow heroes, but even by us regular citizens.

Call me a Stick-in-the-Mud (“Bromidic Bergman”), but superheroes deserve a little more formality. The same goes for teachers. Although it may seem cool for kids to use teacher nicknames, be careful with letting things get too capricious or contemptuous.

So whenever you hear a student or colleague refer to you as “Mrs. T” or “Thompson” or “Yo, Teach,” gently remind them how they can address you more properly.

Just remember, it’s not “Mr. F.” It’s Mr. Fantastic.

And it’s not “Incredible;” it’s Mr. Incredible.

And it’s not “Marvel;” it’s Ms. Marvel.

Actually, the original Ms. Marvel goes by Captain Marvel now.

But never “Cap.”

Dress for Success

Back to school time is here, which means families are filling department stores to find the best bargains. But it’s not just students. Teachers are also looking to stock up on supplies and spruce up their wardrobes.

Take a look at a typical “Back To School” advertisement or website and you’ll see gobs of superhero clothing and accessories. Superheroes are famous for how they look just as much as they are for what they do.

The good folks at Newsarama recently listed their “10 Best Live-Acton Superhero Costumes” and “10 Worst Live-Action Superhero Costumes.”

Here are some helpful lessons teachers can learn from these lists:

#1 – Maintain Functionality

Many of the “Best” costumes work because they look like something you could actually see in real life. Rather than adhering too closely to garish comic book colors or styles, the designers keep things grounded and user-friendly.

Teachers should consider their daily tasks and possible actions, then dress appropriately. Fabric that breathes, stretches, and covers is a must, along with some comfortable footwear.

Comfortable shoes, yes, but NO SNEAKERS (unless you teach gym). Strapping on a pair of Asics Gel Virage 4 shoes is the quickest way to ruin an otherwise perfect teacher outfit.

Asics-Gel-Virage-4-Green-orange-White-Grey-Black-Silver-Red-Blue-Fluorescent-JYLRM

(It’s called “business casual,” NOT “business triathlon.”)

If you need super-supportive shoes that are also subtle, take a look at this list provided by We Are Teachers (although I squirm at the sight of #10). This focus on footwear leads us to another lesson from live-action superheroes.

#2 – Focus on Simplicity

A quick comparison of the “Best” and “Worst” film costumes reveals a glaring difference in details. In many cases, the outfits in the “Worst” category are just TOO MUCH.

Resisting the impulse to add another buckle here or kneepad there, the “best” outfits keep it simple. By doing so, these film versions highlight key elements that evoke iconic imagery. In some cases, this means ditching the costume and favoring functional garb (see #1 above) with hints of style and symbolism.

Teachers are iconic, and their choice of clothing should reflect their critical role in society. Instead of chasing the latest fashion (floral vs. geometric print, fat tie vs. skinny tie, boot-cut vs. skinny jeans), focus on conveying an image that is classy and timeless–just like good teaching.

In case you think it’s passé to stick with the basics, take a look at two USA Today articles about teacher attire. One is from 2003, the other from 2012.

Despite being nearly a decade apart, both articles list some of the same “Should’s” and “Should Not’s” for teacher apparel and appearance. Neat and clean are always “in.” Spaghetti straps, tight tops, short bottoms, excessive piercings and tattoos should stay out of the classroom.

#3 – Lean toward Conservative

We’re talking clothing here, not politics. (Vote your conscience.) In discussing attire, teachers should consider how to keep the focus on learning as opposed to fashion.

Whenever you struggle with what to wear, here are several mottos you can remember: “Dress older.” “Dress like your boss.” “Dress for the job you want.”

“Teacher” is not the first profession that comes to mind.

These sayings will help with decisions as you stand in front of your closet. Skewing conservative also works as you stand in front of the bathroom mirror. Just like excessive makeup on movie superheroes, teachers with too much mascara will likely turn off their students.

#4 – Tone down the CGI

‘Nuff said.

Hopefully these Hollywood examples will help teachers consider their choice of classroom attire. For anyone wanting more ideas, check out this Education World article discussing jeans and flip-flops, or this About Education blog with useful guidelines, especially for younger teachers.

And remember: Save the cosplay for your pets.

Summer Break 2015

It’s that time again when T4SH takes a short break during the summer months.

A break from lengthy blog posts, at least. Look for resources, updates, and links via Facebook while you’re chilling out poolside, beachside, or inside.

Time-traveling X-Man Bishop proves that blue jean cutoffs NEVER go out of style. Just beware that nasty tan line.

BONUS! Here are some blog highlights from the past academic year, if you need something to review and recharge your mutant teaching energy:

Teachers for Hire – Research and statistics on teachers’ time and money.

Question(s) and Answer – Resources and strategies for asking good questions in the classroom.

Flex Plan – Movie studios plan superhero movies YEARS in advance. How far into the future should teachers plan lessons?

Fantastic Teaching – Timeless traits of effective teachers, inspired by Marvel’s First Family.

Weird Superpowers – Superman has some weird superpowers. What’s YOUR weird teacher power? (Hopefully it is not fake-super-flabby-arm.)

Take time this summer to work on your beach bod AND your classroom prowess.

Educatio!

	Bizarro Blues… on Looking Up
	Bizarro Blues… on Extreme Makeovers
	Bizarro Blues… on Weird Superpowers
	Bizarro Blues… on Secret Hideouts
	Talk with the Hand (… on Silent Issues

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What is the sound of your voice?

“What can I do to sound better?”

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Let’s talk about names of superheroes and names of teachers.

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#1 – Maintain Functionality

#2 – Focus on Simplicity

#3 – Lean toward Conservative

#4 – Tone down the CGI

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