Ben Slavic

Name: Donna Oreja Job: To listen and hear everything Likes/Dislikes: soft music/loud music Fear: not being able to hear anymore Problem: has an ear infection Secret: is getting pierced

This 1983 video is interesting to watch. It is such a fine support of what we very often forget that language acquisition is completely in the domain of the unconscious mind. (It even talks about my heartthrob language learning approach from the very beginning of my career that I had to give up because it didn’t fit in schools,

Alisa sent this: https://qz.com/957043/learning-a-second-language-isnt-just-good-for-your-brain-its-good-for-democracy-too/?utm_source=atlfb

This one has a great problem and is an excellent choice for a story because it is so simple in its overall concept: Name: Earth Job: Home protector Likes/Dislikes: water/plastic Fear: Might disappear Problem: Shakes when angry Secret: In love with an angry red planet

The biggest deal in working with the Invisibles and especially with the individually drawn characters is that the teacher RESONATE with the character. Why do a story with a boring character that you don’t care that much about? In fact, we can say that a lot of stories by CI teachers don’t get off the

Philip Smith in Ireland shared some great stories he had created with his class using one word images last spring. Here is another one from his files, for those planning on using the Invisibles this fall. Worth noting is the nice inclusion in the body of the text of drawings. Notice that Spike’s small size

Here is a little star that we made a story out of in Ann Arbor, MI. I used it because I was drawn to the star’s secret but as the story developed it went in another direction, involving another star and the Petit Prince, which was just fine because the back-of-the-page is only there to

I would not use this one because in spite of the great artwork the back-of-the-page information is not cohesive, doesn’t gel to make an interesting character: Name: Lavon Job: Teacher Likes/Dislikes: Buttermilk Fear: of flying Problem: none Secret: wants to be an actress

If I were standing in front of my class with a stack of these individually created characters, it would be hard for me not to pick this one. I would make the story out of his fear. It’s a wonderful idea for a story: Name: Short Cut Job: He works part time at a gift

This is another example of a character that would be easy to do a story about. Generally with these images my mind and heart “glom” onto one aspect of the character, in this case its fear: Name: Bob the Trash Can Job: Trash Collector Likes/Dislikes: Pizza and kittens/mean girls Fear: people will think he stinks

Clyde the Cloud shows us how the best characters are usually the simplest. I am immediately drawn to Clyde’s problem: Name: Clyde the Cloud Job: Shader Likes/Dislikes: Wind Fear: Sun Problem: When he cries people go inside Secret: He wishes he were cotton candy

Dana Miller-Kitch is the person taking the position I had in New Delhi at the American Embassy School this year. Tina and I got to spend some quality time with her in Philadelphia chez Dick Detwiler this summer. Some of the same kids who launched the Invisibles as 6th graders will be able to finish their middle