Author: mh

The unestimable sweetness of fifth graders

mh

Yes, I said once that 'I don't understand' fifth-graders. And I think I still don't. I related many anecdotes of my difficulties. But they're sweet, nonetheless. The way they all eagerly contributed to ideas when I asked them to pick a title for their story. It came time to vote on the ideas ... and… Continue reading The unestimable sweetness of fifth graders

Watching kids watch each other’s animations

mh

I made "Mr. Turtle Gets Sick" with a class of second-graders in Chapel Hill 4 and a half years ago. And every time I go into a new classroom, those kids watch "Mr. Turtle", too, so they have an idea of what this project is like. It makes me really happy to think that after… Continue reading Watching kids watch each other’s animations

The overnight train from North Carolina to Florida

mh

We did an Amtrak trip from central NC to Orlando. Let me first say - the train (trains) weren't all that late! Wow, Amtrak! I know that's a rare thing for you, so I thought I'd give credit where credit was due. First, we took the Piedmont train out from central North Carolina. This is… Continue reading The overnight train from North Carolina to Florida

Last messages from my animating kids

mh

I like to finish each film with 'Last messages'. I did it first with "Mr. Turtle Gets Sick". I came up with the final thoughts myself. But this time around, I thought I'd ask the kids, and this is what they came up with.. The second-graders who made "Mr. Glump and the Poisonous Pond": Algae… Continue reading Last messages from my animating kids

Animations with kids and old Eurovision songs

mh

I've had a song from the 1989 Eurovision stuck in my head. As I was editing/fixing/polishing/rendering the animations for McAllister Elementary, I listened to it on repeat, as I do, making handy use of the YouTube refresh button. It was still on my computer when I dashed to McAllister the very day before our viewing… Continue reading Animations with kids and old Eurovision songs

The train in Pakistan is faster than Amtrak

mh

Did you hear that, Amtrak? Okay, it's not always faster, but just lookie here: The train in Pakistan goes from Rahim Yar Khan to Karachi in 10 hours. That is 386 miles, or 621 kilometers. Meanwhile, I have been on the "Carolinian" between Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington D.C. about 50 times. The route, which does… Continue reading The train in Pakistan is faster than Amtrak

Me and Anne Shirley teaching: Animations with Kids

mh

I just finished re-reading Anne of Avonlea (the sequel to Anne of Green Gables.) In that book, Anne is sixteen-and-a-half years old and starts teaching, and of course, she becomes the best teacher the kids ever had. I always liked reading this book. I loved reading about Anne as a teacher. Except this time when… Continue reading Me and Anne Shirley teaching: Animations with Kids