My Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Features

March 28, 2011 in Education, History, Writing with 25 Comments

Two of the best pieces I’ve had published appeared as full page features in Sunday editions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The first article highlights how Harry Houdini became the 1st international superstar and specifically details some of his appearances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Amazing to imagine him leaping into one of the Three Rivers or hanging from skyscrapers in a straight jacket.

The more recent feature is all about using pop culture in education to better connect with students of all levels and disciplines.

Click on the links to check them out. I hope you enjoy reading them.

25 Responses to “My Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Features”

  1. The Hipster March 28, 2011 at 9:39 pm #

    I’ll have to come back to read them, but congratulations on the fine accomplishment!

    Reply
  2. Rob Shepherd March 29, 2011 at 2:08 am #

    Congrats!

    Reply
  3. Kerry Meacham March 29, 2011 at 7:02 am #

    Hey Clay – Nice article on edutainment. My dad was a teacher, and was one of the good ones. He taught math, and constantly used baseball analogies of batting averages to field geometry in making points (that was when baseball was king). I’ll bet you got some really bad comments from people about how you are dumbing down the education system. What they don’t realize is that if you don’t connect you can’t teach. Nice job.

    Reply
    • educlaytion March 29, 2011 at 12:06 pm #

      Thanks a lot Kerry. I know those students studying baseball averages for your dad were excited about the numbers, way more so than if they had been handed a sheet of figures. I did expect a lot more negative response but have been pleasantly surprised so far. I’m even getting opportunities to write and speak because of the Pop Teacher idea. Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  4. ReadyWriting March 29, 2011 at 11:47 am #

    Seriously, I can post the article to MySpace but I can’t tweet it? Post-Gazette needs to get with the times! Excellent article, btw.

    Reply
    • educlaytion March 29, 2011 at 12:13 pm #

      Well, thank ya kindly Lee! I just looked at that and you’re right about no visible Twitter button. That’s whack.

      Reply
  5. writerwoman61 March 29, 2011 at 1:34 pm #

    Congrats, Clay…really enjoyed the Houdini piece!

    Wendy

    Reply
  6. kristinherdy April 12, 2011 at 11:15 pm #

    I’m reading a mystery novel right now about Houdini, so, I’ll have to check that piece out.

    Secondly, I read the edutainment piece and nodded along. I don’t really realize I’m doing it, either, but my students respond positively and we show a ton of clips in class. Interpersonal communication would be pretty dull without movies, TV, music, restaurants, ads, viral videos and other examples I use.

    Great stuff

    Reply
    • educlaytion April 13, 2011 at 3:31 pm #

      Cool Kristin. We’ve gotta connect more. I don’t bump into too many fellow Pop Teachers so easily!. Thanks for reading. And Houdini is fascinating. What book are you reading?

      Reply
      • kristinherdy April 13, 2011 at 3:35 pm #

        it’s called The Last Illusion – about his New York police headquarters handcuff challenge and more. It’s just a fictional work, but I’ve liked other things the author has written.

        you’ve got a new reader, for sure :)

        Reply
  7. Tiffany A White June 13, 2011 at 2:29 pm #

    Very nice, Clay!

    Reply
  8. Texanne July 29, 2011 at 4:17 pm #

    I read the article in the Gazette–interesting take on a growing problem. Though many of the problems that face our kids today live right in the house with them, I’d say we do have problems in the educational system, too. For one, thing, it’s too monolithic, but that’s another discussion.

    Using pop culture to connect to kids? Years ago, I taught swimming. Not impressive at all. But there was a principle that my instructor, who was a high school teacher, taught us: teach from the known to the related unknown. In the pool, we started with breathing. In the classroom, you start with TV. We don’t have TV in our house, so you’d have to start with graphic novels, but the idea is the same.

    Glad to see a real teacher stretching out the way you do. :)

    Reply
    • educlaytion July 31, 2011 at 12:40 am #

      I really appreciate you reading the article and leaving a thoughtful reply. Connecting has to happen before anything is most effectively communicated. Lots of ways that can happen but we should always be thinking.

      Reply
  9. torcon1 August 8, 2011 at 12:15 pm #

    Outstanding reads on both topics!!! Congratulations on some “legitimate” writing ;-) Tweeted!

    Reply
    • educlaytion August 8, 2011 at 3:19 pm #

      Thanks a lot! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Very encouraging.

      Reply
  10. Amanda Rudd August 31, 2011 at 1:59 pm #

    Hey, Clay! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Check it out: The Versatile Blogger Award

    Reply
  11. ceciliag October 17, 2011 at 11:33 am #

    Hi, I have just come across your blog, out of the blogosphere, and as well as being slightly alarmed i am intrigued.. looks to me like you are having heaps of fun! awesome c

    Reply
    • educlaytion October 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm #

      Thanks for that! Slightly alarmed is probably a common enough response :-) I’d love to hear more about that.

      Reply
  12. laurenrantnrave December 4, 2011 at 12:34 pm #

    I’ve given you the Versatile Blogger Award, I know this is a familiar feeling for you but you are getting it again! http://reinrantnrave.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/versatile-blogger-award-giddy-and-full-of-gratitude/

    Reply
  13. sonja (@awestintx) January 11, 2012 at 12:50 pm #

    Really really good – as a teacher and a parent this was good on so many levels. I have encountered more than my fair share of teachers who are stagnant and sedentary in their style and they are just spinning their wheels and don’t know why…these kids are moving through information at lightning speeds and lecturing style teaching isn’t cutting it for them anymore. I am sure you have read this since it has been around awhile, but I go back to it often when discussing this very thing:
    http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/prensky%20-%20digital%20natives,%20digital%20immigrants%20-%20part1.pdf

    Reply

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