Whenever I have a birthday, I like to assess where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. So with the Fourth of July Weekend coming up, what a perfect opportunity to let the music help us to figure out what America really is. Hope you’ll join me!

Middle School Mysteries

Episode #3 Trailer

What do ska, blues, jazz, girl groups of the sixties, punk, roots, and lo-fi have in common? They’re all part of my story this week for the latest episode of my MUSIC MISCHIEF MIXTAPE! All music is played under permissions granted under Creative Commons licenses. See each link for details and to support these independent artists: 1. Theme Song: “Someone Else’s Memories” by Revolution Void *CC BY 3.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Revolution_Void/The_Politics_of_Desire/revolution_void_-_03_-_someone_elses_memories 2. “Falling” by I Am Not Lefthanded *CC 3.0 BY-SHARE ALIKE* Link: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=2364 3. “Future Ghosts” by Static in Verona *CC 4.0 BY-SHARE ALIKE* Link: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=50150 3. “Keeping Time” by Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents *CC 3.0 BY-SHARE ALIKE* Link: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=12863 4. “Laughing Along” by Square People *CC BY 3.0* Link: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Square_People/Mysteries_and_Secrets_Unzipped_Soundtrack/Square_People_-_Mysteries_and_Secrets_Unzipped-_Soundtrack_-_02_Laughing_Along1 5. “Turn to the Blues” by The Stacy Jones Band *CC 3.0 BY-SHARE ALIKE* Link: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=26997 6. “Little Black Balloon” by Fog Lake *CC BY 4.0* Link: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fog_Lake/Virgo_indigo/Fog_Lake_-_virgo_indigo_-_07_little_black_balloon 7. “Heaven Knows” by Taylor Casey *CC 4.0 BY-SHARE-ALIKE* Link: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=46940 8. “El Cha Cha Man” by Les Juanitos *CC BY 2.0 FR* Link: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Juanitos/Exotica/juanitos_-_02_-_el_cha_cha_man

Future Ghosts

What do ska, blues, jazz, girl groups of the sixties, punk, roots, and lo-fi have in common? They’re all part of my story this week for the latest episode of MY MUSIC MISCHIEF MIXTAPE! Episode #2 drops on Friday. See you then!

Episode #2 Trailer

It’s the very first episode of my MUSIC MISCHIEF MIXTAPE! Come join the mischief as I spin awesome tunes to tell my story. All music is played under permissions granted under Creative Commons licenses. See each link for details and to support these independent artists: 1. “Someone Else’s Memories” by Revolution Void *CC BY 3.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Revolution_Void/The_Politics_of_Desire/revolution_void_-_03_-_someone_elses_memories 2. “Typewriter” by Mise Darling *CC BY 4.0* 3. “In the Driving Wheel” by Punk Rock Opera *CC BY 4.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Punk_Rock_Opera/Punk_Rock_Opera_Vol_II/Punk_Rock_Opera_-_Punk_Rock_Opera_Vol_II_Album_-_05_In_the_Driving_Wheel 4. “Infinity” by The Midnight Sons *CC BY 4.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Midnight_Sons/Decartes/The_Midnight_Sons_-_Descartes_-_05_Infinity 5. “You Got to Feel it Tonight” by Lorenzo’s Music *CC BY-SA 3.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lorenzos_Music/Just_Had_To_Let_You_Know/Lorenzos_Music_-_Just_Had_To_Let_You_Know_-_01_You_Got_To_Feel_It_Tonight 6. “Nevermore” by The Freak Fandango Orchestra” *CC BY-SA 3.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Freak_Fandango_Orchestra/Love_death_and_a_drunken_monkey/02_-_Nevermore 7. “I’m On My Way” by Cullah *CC BY-SA 4.0* https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MC_Cullah/Cullahmity/10_-_Im_On_My_Way

Punk Rock Opera

It’s a trailer for my brand new music podcast! First episode coming next week! *Theme Song “Someone Else’s Memories” by Revolution Void shared under Creative Commons License CC BY 3.0 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Revolution_Void/The_Politics_of_Desire/revolution_void_-_03_-_someone_elses_memories#.Xuq3ewpYcdE.link

Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!

Music Mischief Mixtape (Trailer)

In this super-sized episode, you’ll get to hear wonderful written responses by some of my awesome seventh grade students.

Time Travel Cooking!

What did joining the Pit Crew of my daughter’s high school marching band teach me about your independent reading assignments? Find out in this episode!

Pit Crew

In this episode I share lyrics to a song I’ve been writing on and off since 1995!

Silent Swim

Learn about: 1. Your host. 2. How listening to this podcast can help your grades in Mr. D’s English class!

Welcome to Mr.D’s BETTER WITH MONKEYS ENGLISH CLASS PODCAST!

I’ve been a middle school teacher for 23 years. Usually, when I tell people what I do for a living, they offer their condolences. I’ve come to the conclusion that it takes a certain kind of person who chooses to weather a storm of hormones. Meet me in my middle school mania for candid, eye-opening, irreverent conversations with my colleagues and actual middle school students.