Recently, I had the chance to spend an entire week doing a residency at Geyser Rd. Elementary in Saratoga, NY. The theme of the residency was writing and illustrating with technology, and I spent the majority of the time working with the fifth grade classes. (I did, however, get the chance to meet all the other students in the school at least once.)

For tools, we worked with Google Sketchup, ArtRage, and Microsoft Publisher and I was amazed – astounded! – at how quickly these kids picked everything up. (Sketchup is a tool I’ve been using a lot in my own work.) After a brief intro the first morning, they were off and running..

By the final day, I was happy to learn that many of them had already downloaded the free software on their computers at home and were making even cooler stuff.

A residency like this doesn’t happen without the help of a lot of people, and I’d especially like to thank Jim Nair and Lorraine Montgomery for getting the labs ready, Mr. Reilly, Mr. Pollicino, Ms. Demick and especially Mrs. Leal for all her hard work pulling everything together.