Comic Book Creation - Spring 2014
session 7
We had a good work session this week! The students are making progress as we near Brain Power Con (BPC), which will be on May 16th.
The students worked on their presentation plans and costume plans for BPC. Please take a look at the costume plan handout in the students' folders for the guidelines on what they can and cannot bring. Thank you!
Please encourage your students to keep on writing, drawing, and coloring so they can meet their deadlines! Here's our production status update: we have two finished comic books, two comic books being colored, several being sketched, and a draft or two being reworked still.
I can't wait to see everyone's completed comic books! Brain Power Con should be a comically good time!
The students worked on their presentation plans and costume plans for BPC. Please take a look at the costume plan handout in the students' folders for the guidelines on what they can and cannot bring. Thank you!
Please encourage your students to keep on writing, drawing, and coloring so they can meet their deadlines! Here's our production status update: we have two finished comic books, two comic books being colored, several being sketched, and a draft or two being reworked still.
I can't wait to see everyone's completed comic books! Brain Power Con should be a comically good time!
SESSION 6
We had a great session! Everyone had their folders, and we were able to pick up with our comic books right away! Thank you, comic book ninjas! Also, I would like to give a shout-out to Noble for bringing in a comic book to share! The book provided a lot of great examples of interesting illustrating techniques.
I very much enjoyed being able to work with everyone one-on-one for a little while. Here's an update of our company production: we have one finished comic book (!!!), one comic book being colored, several sets of panels and covers that are being sketched and/or inked, and a few scripts that are diligently being reworked into bolder, stronger stories.
We are down to our last two sessions! Throughout the next month, I will visit with the students to make sure they have everything they need to complete a successful comic book. I encourage them to come see me during lunch/recess time if they need anything!
By the May 2nd session, it is my hope that everyone is coloring their panels and putting the finishing touches on their books.
Our last session is our mini comic con, Brain Power Con! Keep working hard, and get excited!
I very much enjoyed being able to work with everyone one-on-one for a little while. Here's an update of our company production: we have one finished comic book (!!!), one comic book being colored, several sets of panels and covers that are being sketched and/or inked, and a few scripts that are diligently being reworked into bolder, stronger stories.
We are down to our last two sessions! Throughout the next month, I will visit with the students to make sure they have everything they need to complete a successful comic book. I encourage them to come see me during lunch/recess time if they need anything!
By the May 2nd session, it is my hope that everyone is coloring their panels and putting the finishing touches on their books.
Our last session is our mini comic con, Brain Power Con! Keep working hard, and get excited!
SESSION 5
Several cluster members are now comic book artists! Please continue with the process of sketching your panels and cover with the blue Copy-Not pencil, regular pencil, and then ink pens. Come get your pens from me when you are ready!
Students who are not ready to sketch their final panels must have completed storyboards for our April 4 session.
Please bring in your folder on April 2nd! Thanks!
Students who are not ready to sketch their final panels must have completed storyboards for our April 4 session.
Please bring in your folder on April 2nd! Thanks!
Session 4
Please remember, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you complete the clusterwork and bring in your folder on Wednesday. Students who do not do the assigned clusterwork are not ready to participate during our cluster time.
Students should have first draft scripts and storyboards completely finished. Students should start sketching their final panels with the provided blue Copy-Not/Col-Erase pencils.
For our next session, students may bring in comic books or strips to share with the cluster. Please make sure these items are appropriate for school. Folders are DUE WEDNESDAY, 3/19.
Students should have first draft scripts and storyboards completely finished. Students should start sketching their final panels with the provided blue Copy-Not/Col-Erase pencils.
For our next session, students may bring in comic books or strips to share with the cluster. Please make sure these items are appropriate for school. Folders are DUE WEDNESDAY, 3/19.
Session 3
We had our first Student Staff Member Meeting. We talked about our goals for the remaining sessions of our cluster. Please remember, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you complete the clusterwork and bring in your folder on Wednesday. I need time to prep your materials for Friday.
We worked on finishing our first draft scripts. Some students were able to peer edit each other's work while others started working on their storyboards.
For our next session, all students must have all character sheets, first draft script, and storyboards complete before they can start their final panels. Folders are due on Wednesday, March 5th. Thanks!
We worked on finishing our first draft scripts. Some students were able to peer edit each other's work while others started working on their storyboards.
For our next session, all students must have all character sheets, first draft script, and storyboards complete before they can start their final panels. Folders are due on Wednesday, March 5th. Thanks!
session 2
Our comic book creators are doing GREAT so far! I was very impressed with the characters that the students developed as part of their clusterwork.
This session, we honed in on what we want the topics of our comic books to be and identified the story elements of our comics: the students should be able to tell you about the conflict their characters will face and how the characters will resolve the problem.
CLUSTERWORK: Students will write the first draft, or script, of their comic book. They received specific instructions on what information needs to be included and how all that information should be formatted. Additionally, the topic slip and story elements sheet should be complete. FOLDERS DUE Wednesday, 2/19.
This session, we honed in on what we want the topics of our comic books to be and identified the story elements of our comics: the students should be able to tell you about the conflict their characters will face and how the characters will resolve the problem.
CLUSTERWORK: Students will write the first draft, or script, of their comic book. They received specific instructions on what information needs to be included and how all that information should be formatted. Additionally, the topic slip and story elements sheet should be complete. FOLDERS DUE Wednesday, 2/19.
Session 1
New Student Staff Members received their Brain Power Comics company contracts! Students started brainstorming their comic book topics. We played a game of superhero Guess Who? to gear us up for creating our own comic book characters. That was great fun! I am super excited to work with my new cluster. I have a feeling great things will come of this semester.
Clusterwork: Please complete the brainstorm sheets for your Main and Supporting Characters. You may bring your folder to me as soon as you are finished. I need all folders by February 5th, please.
Clusterwork: Please complete the brainstorm sheets for your Main and Supporting Characters. You may bring your folder to me as soon as you are finished. I need all folders by February 5th, please.
FALL 2013
Below are the session recaps from the first ever Comic Book Creation cluster.
SESSION 6
We've started gearing up for our mini comic con, Brain Power Con! Student staff members received guidelines for a costume contest! Please note, we will not be out-of-uniform; we are simply adding costume pieces to or on top of our uniforms. Student staff members should plan to dress up as a character from his or her brand new comic book.
Each student staff member received the list of publication deadlines today! By Monday, 11/25, students should have all their pages and cover inked. Please bring them in so they can be published in book format!
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Each student staff member received the list of publication deadlines today! By Monday, 11/25, students should have all their pages and cover inked. Please bring them in so they can be published in book format!
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session 5
This week we learned about inking our pages, and we brainstormed questions to email to Marvel Comics' Stan Lee.
We are in crunch time!! Each student should be working on illustrating their pages.
Students MUST have their folders present at each session. Thank you!
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We are in crunch time!! Each student should be working on illustrating their pages.
- Blue and regular pencil drawings should be complete by Friday, 11/8, so I can give students the calligraphy pens for inking.
- Inking should be complete by Friday, 11/15. Show me your pages on Friday so I can give you the cover page.
- Once you receive a cover, please show me the design in blue pencil on Monday or Tuesday.
Students MUST have their folders present at each session. Thank you!
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session 4
We had a lot of fun this week! Finally, we have started on our final version of our comic book pages. We learned about the "old school" process of producing pages, and we will actually be using a similar process.
Each student received a light-blue "Copy-Not" pencil to use for the first step in the process. Please help your student keep track of his/her pencil so it can be returned to me when we are finished--thank you! (The gollum wants them to take care of its preciouses!)
We have our next session in one week on Friday, November 1st. Please, please, please don't forget your folders! My hope is that the students will have all of their panels sketched out in light-blue by this time. Students who are ready to move ahead may trace their final decisions in regular graphite pencil. We will pick up from here on Friday.
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Each student received a light-blue "Copy-Not" pencil to use for the first step in the process. Please help your student keep track of his/her pencil so it can be returned to me when we are finished--thank you! (The gollum wants them to take care of its preciouses!)
We have our next session in one week on Friday, November 1st. Please, please, please don't forget your folders! My hope is that the students will have all of their panels sketched out in light-blue by this time. Students who are ready to move ahead may trace their final decisions in regular graphite pencil. We will pick up from here on Friday.
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session 3
We worked with a partner to proofread and edit the first drafts of our stories. Students checked to make sure the stories made sense, had all the necessary elements, and used proper punctuation and grammar. Our stories are shaping up quite nicely!
Please make sure your student finishes his/her clusterwork! For us, publication is a step-by-step process. A student cannot move on if the work is not finished, and I do not want anyone to fall behind from session to session. I am more than happy to work with students during recess. Students can also request to work on my clusterwork during lunchtime study hall.
CLUSTERWORK: Students received blank comic book panels to draft out how their stories will progress from panel to panel. Using their first draft scripts, students are to transfer all their information to the panels. As this is a rough draft, students only need to make a few notes, use abbreviations, sketch stick figures, etc. to PLAN out their comic book pages. We will work on the final panels next session. Folders are due Oct. 23rd.
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Please make sure your student finishes his/her clusterwork! For us, publication is a step-by-step process. A student cannot move on if the work is not finished, and I do not want anyone to fall behind from session to session. I am more than happy to work with students during recess. Students can also request to work on my clusterwork during lunchtime study hall.
CLUSTERWORK: Students received blank comic book panels to draft out how their stories will progress from panel to panel. Using their first draft scripts, students are to transfer all their information to the panels. As this is a rough draft, students only need to make a few notes, use abbreviations, sketch stick figures, etc. to PLAN out their comic book pages. We will work on the final panels next session. Folders are due Oct. 23rd.
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session 2
We are well under way with work for our comic books, and I'm feeling great about meeting our deadlines for publication!
During our session, we worked on developing supporting characters and identifying the story elements for our comics. The student staff did really great work! Also, thank you to everyone for bringing in your folders!! I was able to distribute everything very quickly.
CLUSTERWORK: Students will work on their First Drafts of their comic books. I provided an example and plenty of lined paper to create this script-like document. (If you need more lines, use notebook paper!). The draft should feature the cast of characters you have already developed, and it should follow the story elements you outlined during our session. Remember, your draft/script should contain enough content to fill about 4 to 5 pages of panels. I will collect folders on Wednesday, Oct. 9th.
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During our session, we worked on developing supporting characters and identifying the story elements for our comics. The student staff did really great work! Also, thank you to everyone for bringing in your folders!! I was able to distribute everything very quickly.
CLUSTERWORK: Students will work on their First Drafts of their comic books. I provided an example and plenty of lined paper to create this script-like document. (If you need more lines, use notebook paper!). The draft should feature the cast of characters you have already developed, and it should follow the story elements you outlined during our session. Remember, your draft/script should contain enough content to fill about 4 to 5 pages of panels. I will collect folders on Wednesday, Oct. 9th.
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Session 1
I'm so excited to work with the Comic Book Creation cluster students! During our first session, the students were introduced to our "company structure" and we talked about what we're going to accomplish during the next eight weeks. We even started creating a GIANT comic strip. We also took our first step toward writing our own comic books: selecting the topic!
CLUSTERWORK: Students will work on "step 2" during the off-week. In their folders, they have a worksheet to guide them through brainstorming their main character! I will collect folders on Wednesday, Sept. 25th so that we have them for Session 2 on Friday.
CLUSTERWORK: Students will work on "step 2" during the off-week. In their folders, they have a worksheet to guide them through brainstorming their main character! I will collect folders on Wednesday, Sept. 25th so that we have them for Session 2 on Friday.