Technolandy

Day 29 (of 2025/26) #toontuesday adults love comics too – so start reading them!! Thanks @cbcbooks

A face for radios- but somehow I did not get left on the digital cutting room floor: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPl6wPmDskJ/?igsh=MXA5NjNrM3FqMnhnZQ==

This week I have (again) been wondering synthesizing and pondering the value of more comic books (graphic novels for those still worried about what the colleagues are saying) in our readers portfolios… But of course, we have some pauses to consider… what to read and the always having over our head: $

So, I’m going to rant before I do a boring (education piece) about the value of using single strips to spark debate, discussion and engage philosophies!

One of my (many) faves to discuss via Bill Watterson – yeah, in university I argued that Watterson and Gary Larson are the philosophers that will have courses dedicated to study and unpack their art… 

Gary Larson likewise generates conversations…  as Gary himself points out, this image was supposed to be black and white, and the colour chosen by the publisher ruined the message:

Original:

Poster had that penguin a different colour… already standing out in a crowd and ruining … everything… 

So, let’s explore some daily comics that might spark a connection or synthesis for you as well… via gocomics.com my daily list

I love the blend of old and new – and how the front page changes over time – I’m definitely more familiar with Shoe, BC and Doonesbury than Get Fuzzy (only got to see that when I visited family in the states) and Pearls Before Swine and Pickles…

And then I go to my preferred reading pattern… love starting with For Better or For Worse because Lynn Johnston has re-run the story in sequence but with some edits/updates to be more appropriate to our time (but not adding in cellphones which would’ve solved a variety of conflicts:

Great share about using critical thinking skills and being mindful of the media presenting information to you – AI ads may be bad…. Siblings are worse…

Garfield – while I don’t expect a lot of ‘deep thoughts’…;

Gotta respect a series that is almost as old as I am – the jokes remain reliable for a usual chuckle… 

And Bloom County – Berkley Breathed was never afraid to be a little controversial in this one or the spinoff Sunday series: Outland  

And not afraid to break the 4th wall as today’s episode led us to consider: what if cartoons know they are in a show??

And I enjoy Calvin and Hobbes still being on loop – kinda like Friends, The Office, Gilmore Girls etc – comfort media. 

The eternal hope of many of us – that our homework would be completed by someone other than ‘us’ (or was it just me who kinda hoped the school might suffer a mysterious fire some weeks) Even as an educator trying to bring in (and use) “Calvin” into education – he definitely inspired some work and shares around PBL and GeniusHour.

Then I shift to the other ‘Current Runs’ (yes, Garfield still is being produced… but I still consider it a living legend of the genre)

Frazz: 

Some great student/school quips throughout the series… 

It’s been interesting seeing Luann slowly grow over the decades… 

From elementary to secondary to college – great to see the slow growth and evolution of Luann and friends (and family)… decades of growth stretched out…  and now a possible multiverse journey…

And Gary Delaney and Gerry Rasmussen have been very gracious with their time and art by giving me permission to use some of their earlier strips in my presentations (screens and writing and so much more)

And the joys of growing up – both as a kiddo and as a parent.

So many more to explore, including thefarside.com 

SO  many good take aways and one shots… there is a reason why The Far Side was legitimately THE reason I chose a particular newspaper… and the pressure of that is also why both Gary Larson and Bill Watterson had to take sabbaticals. 

And as he shared in the Prehistory of The Far Side… humour is in the eye of the beholder… and often some get comments like “You’re sick…” which was the comment his main publisher said moments before signing him to a contract… “…I love it” often follows – but admittedly some push boundaries and not everyone is comfortable… 

Boring part:

Now, in contraction (possibly) I also joined a Solution Tree session doing a webinar on the Science of Reading and PLCs at work… 

Science of Reading + Science of Implementation (Better Together )

I do like that they reinforced that knowledge  ≠ understanding. 

“There is a profound disconnection between the science of reading and educational practice. Very little of what we’ve learned about reading as scientists has had any impact on what happens in schools because the cultures of education and science are so different.” – Dr Mark Seidenberg

Definitely interested in the ‘valid and reliable school wide reading data’ part as I am being heavily influenced by a provocateur pondering “to what end… how AND why”

But more of a focus on Leading a Learning community – great emphasis on Self Sufficient teacher leaders vs outside expert…

Foundations: 

Hmm interesting section on “what teachers want”

1. What is phonics
2. Why is it related to reading
3. What is the scope and sequence of how can we assess it
4. How can we teach it

Maybe because I was learning education during the big Phonics vs Whole Language debate, and my whole language mentor explained very well why we teach phonics… but not only phonics… 

Final Thoughts:

Just thinking that comics sometimes help readers find connection and reason that helps accelerate and bringing meaning to reading… as I say, I see little examples of fan fiction based on Fountas & Pinnell backline masters, and it it ain’t making you read well beyond bedtime with a glowing screen/flashlight under the covers… it ain’t making a good reader…   Sure, you need to learn to read before you read to learn, but we can’t forget (or pretend it doesn’t matter) to add in some joy and choice along the way.