RainbowsWithinReach

Response to Process vs. Product

2012-02-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

I am so fortunate to visit in and out of buildings, programs, schools, centers and libraries! [You know, "Have guitar, will travel!"] There's always something new to see and with my blog(s) and Pinterest now, I have a platform for sharing what I observe on the road.

My recent article over at our collaborative blog, PreK+K Sharing, has stirred up a LOT of comments, feelings and insight regarding the creative process and children. For me to receive a dozen comments on a post is AMAZING!! But to be approaching two dozen lengthy responses in a couple days really turns my head around! To read the heart felt expressions written in the comments department is incredible.

One teacher left this sentiment, "Great post on a very conversational topic! I got into trouble in the very first school I worked at because I put children's art into the take home folders that wasn't "perfect". Those pieces were removed and replaced with carbon copy art work."

I have a feeling that she's talking about this sort of snowman work, where the head is floating precariously away from its foundation. Perhaps this is the sort of project that would have been deemed unacceptable for the take-home folder in her first place of employment? If you work with young children, are you ever tempted to 'tidy-up' or 'fix' the child's actual effort for a better response from home?

Here's a heart-breaking response written from a parent's perspective:

"I love your article, process is the only way to recreate children who are courageous enough to be creative...when my daughters were in "middle" school they were in an art class and asked to create a certain type of picture, they both worked very hard and were very proud of their accomplishment....unfortunately their art teacher didn't view the art with the same lens...my girls never tried the creative process again, art needs to be a process of wonder not a grade to fit the criteria of someones agenda."

This response from a favorite Art teacher really concerns me dramatically:

"Kids don't like when their work looks DIFFERENT, and I swear it's this whole "teach to the test" mentality. Everyone needs to pass the test. There is a right answer and a wrong answer. If their artwork looks like the teacher's then they're doing the project right. If their work looks even a teensy-weensy bit "off", it's wrong. Kids are intimidated by Art---if they can't draw, they aren't good. That is why I make SURE that I do TONS of different media (weaving, clay, wire sculpture, collage, scribble, splatter, cute, glue, drawing, etc) so that the students see that they are successful in SOME SORT OF MEDIUM, not just drawing.

I understand their frustration, and I understand HOW they got to that point, unfortunately. I've seen a huge shift in creativity in the past few years, since the FCAT (in my state, fill-in-the-blank-with-your-state's-version-of-the-standardized-test-here) has pressured SO many students to come up with the RIGHT answer. Students don't think analytically anymore, they're totally product-oriented. It's a sad transition. (edited for brevity..... there's more to read in her comment)

I knew that it was very different for 'me' to be expressing an opinion in my article, and I anticipated that there would be a variety of responses to my examples, but I can promise you that I had no idea to anticipate the types of responses that have been shared to this point. I am so proud that Amy Ahola started my engine with her kick-off with her article, "We Love Paint" and then held my hand behind the scenes to help me step-it-up on the issue. It seems there's plenty of room for conversation here.

Little Red Paints her Sleeves

2012-02-02T21:57:00.001-05:00

All this talking and blogging and thinking and writing
about 'painting' reminded me of the UFO
(UnFinished Object)
that I never quite got finished-up sharing on here.

**If you missed my lengthy, first-ever, op-ed piece yesterday on
Children + Art: Process vs. Product
you're just a click away from PreK+K....

The discussion after my observations has also been fascinating!!!
I'd welcome your participation + insight over there.
Please come share your experience with:
children, paint, Art and creativity!

This is our little princess, "Little Red" playing with paints.
I'm LUV'ing getting to watch her expression with our time together.

--Give me a minute and I'll do a flash back and show you how and why this all got underway.

Really what I wanted to convey here is the great delight of a three year old
when given permission and opportunity with paint.

YES!!!!! Purple would be fun here, too!!!!!

Here's the link back to the first part of this chapter.

It has to do with a thrift store oxford button down shirt to match GeeGee's new vest!!

                                                             Get out your paints!!!!
                              Have fun together!!!

                                                                     -- Debbie --

HEARTS + ARTS!!! Collaborations + AHA!

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING DAY!!!!!!
I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH!!!!!!

Six months ago I was determined to 'learn' how to connect my little-blog-in-the-cave
to the wider world. Today's a RED letter day on so many levels!!!!

Today is all about the power of the ARTS!!! Today is my monthly installment over at PreK+K Sharing..... and I'm on a bit of a rant on the ARTS: "Process vs. Product." Here's the link to that article -- for my insight, training, bias, experience + opinion.

Amazement #1: I have started a collaborative blog with over thirty 'authorities' each contributing an article every month. WOW: PreK+K is growing crazy!
Amazement #2: I have been adopted into a sorority of sorts -- all bloggers on kids, crafts, Arts, parenting and they're HIGHLY organized as you'll see.
Amazement #3: I can copy + paste enough HTML code to participate in this amazing fund raiser for the American Heart Association!!!!!!

Now sit down for an amazing story on the power of the Arts!

Today's post is one of love and courage. It's the story of hard work, collaboration and imagination. The story is that of a sweet four year old with a heart-story of her own. It's the story of Ellie-JO!!! The specifics are here to get acquainted.

She's been through numerous open-heart surgeries with more on the horizon. She needs our help.

Over 70 bloggers have come together on behalf of Ellie and so many others with heart-stories. We have created a collaboration of HEART Art projects to inspire. There are over 100 hearts in an e-book collaboration brought together from the brilliant mind of Jamie over at Hands On as We Grow (that's her link above with Ellie's story)..... who just happens to be related to those big bright sparkling eyes above.

Jamie's timing was 'perfect' in asking for heart project contributions as I had just been given those amazing heart-shaped DREAM catcher-weavings from my friends in Kindergarten over in Caitlin's classroom, following my Author-Visit to their elementary. Caitlin blogs over at Kindergarten Smiles. Here's a reminder photo, but you can go back in time to my article on Martin Luther King, Jr. to see more.

Over 100 such ideas have been brought together as a thank you for your $5.00 donation to the American Heart Association in an 'eBook-version' or it is also available as a softbound book for your coffee table.

Here's a look inside at just a few of the ideas you'll see featured from fellow bloggers.

Here's where you contribute 5 dollars to the American Heart Association and you receive the e-book:

Or here's where you purchase a soft-bound version -- of which $5.00 is donated to AHA.

US $20.00

Order the Printed Version

Or you are most welcome to make a 'direct-donation' to the American Heart Association in any amount you choose!!!!

Craftprojectideas.com is contributing $1 for every ebook sold this month!
That means in addition to your $5 donation by purchasing the The Heart eBook, Craftprojectideas.com will donate another $1 on your behalf (up to $500!)! Hop over to the Craftprojectideas.com Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Craftprojectideas) and tell them a BIG THANK YOU for being so generous!

Giveaways are going to be happening every day from now until the 14th! There's more than one some days, so be sure to check them all out! These giveaways are from The Heart Project Bloggers who are very generously donating their projects (from The Heart Book!), or something related to their heart project. There are also a couple special giveaways from Melissa & Doug, Fudoo Boards and CraftProjectIdeas.com! Be sure to check back each day to enter that day's giveaways!

Fundraiser Auctions:

♥ All proceeds of each auction will go to the AHA ♥

Melissa & Doug - 4 Trunki with Teddy Bear Auctions!

Fudoo Boards - 3 Fudoo Board Kits for Auction!

Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10

hands on : as we grow	♥	A Little Learning for Two	♥	Among Many Blessings
Angelique Felix	♥	At Home with Ali	♥	Broken Treasures
Busy at Home	♥	Busy Kids Happy Mom	♥	Carrie Saindon's Photo Journey
Child Central Station	♥	Classified: Mom	♥	Classroom Magic
Creative with Kids	♥	Creativity My Passion	♥	Critters and Crayons
De Tout et de Rien	♥	Dilly-Dali Art	♥	Dinosaurs & Octopuses
Excited 2 Learn	♥	Hand Over the Cookies	♥	Handprint & Footprint Art
Happy Hooligans	♥	Heart Journey	♥	Imagination Soup
Jamie's Jumble	♥	Kitchen Counter Chronicles	♥	Kreative Resources
Let Kids Create	♥	Little Illuminationss	♥	Living Montessori Now
Loudness of the Lambs	♥	Love and Lollipops	♥	Mama, hocemo nesto da pravimo
Mama Pea Pod	♥	Mama Smiles	♥	MemeTales
Messy Kids	♥	Mindful Meanderings	♥	Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Mommy Labs	♥	Mommy Perks	♥	Mum Paints Lives
Mummy Mummy Mum	♥	My Creative Family	♥	NurtureStore
One Artsy Mama	♥	Peace Love & Rainbows	♥	Play Dr Mom
Putti Prapancha	♥	Rainbows within Reach	♥	Reading Confetti
Ready. Set. Read!	♥	Red Ted Art	♥	Sense of Wonder
Share & Remember	♥	Stacy Molter	♥	Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Teach Preschool	♥	The Artful Child	♥	The Chocolate Muffin Tree
The Craft Barn	♥	The Educators' Spin on It	♥	The Golden Gleam
The Imagination Tree	♥	The Iowa Farmer's Wife	♥	The Joy of My Life
The Kids Fun Review	♥	The Outlaw Mom Blog	♥	The Preschool Toolbox
The Seeds Network	♥	Toddler Approved

******That's the list of all the blogs who have contributed a heart or two to the collaboration -- complete with a direct link to their site!!!! Our fun-goal is to see if we can raise $1000 by Valentine's Day with our collaborative efforts. How can you participate? Of course through your direct support, but also by pinning and tweeting and sharing these links with your friends.

I'm so glad that I have been able to come out of my cave and contribute!
--Debbie --

MidWinter Inspiration......

2012-01-31T15:13:00.000-05:00

Symetrical Snowflake Study: Black + White Images

I'm a child of the midwest. "Who's your daddy?" and being a Hoosier at heart are my upbringing. A whole adult lifetime of Ohio winters, punctuated with a couple snow-seasons in Wisconsin and one SERIOUS winter in Minnesota -- years ago, makes me feel like an imposter in all of this southern Florida sunshine, day after day. I'll bask in the projects of the children and remember those good ol' days.

Looking for other winter time fun?

Here are a few more ideas I've observed during my Author/Illustrator school visits:

Mitten Craft

Snowmen Writing

Penguins!!!! with link to 52 page Penguin FREEBIE!

Open-Ended Painting Process!!! LINKY PARTY!!

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh HAPPY-HAPPY DAY!!!!!
Our new collaborative blog, PreK+K Sharing is hosting our very first blog-hop linkie party....... AND its on one of my ALL time favorite topics: PAINT + PAINTING!!!!!

You simply must book-mark this post, because our host Amy's Amazing Article is AWESOME!
So get yourself some paint and let's get started!!!!!

RAINBOW: What's not to LUV about BRAND NEW PAINT SUPPLIES!!!!! ORGANIZED!!! Paints that are Organized!!!!

Preschool Painting at the easel: BOLD strokes!!!! Awesome color!!!!

The old elementary school Art teacher in me gets so excited to see the displays of children's Artwork on my 'music-lady' visits to schools + centers, back and forth across the country side. I LUV to see the BOLD strokes captured forever in the completed paintings!!! LUV these mono-chromatic easel paintings!

Preschool Paintings in study of Pointillism Technique

WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA FROM LOUISIANA!!!!! They are in the midst of all things letter "P" right now -- which would certainly include Painting with a capitol letter P, but how about Pointillism? Would you have thought of that lesson -- within the lesson? I got to see these completed paintings above, hot off the excited paint dabbers during my visit last week!

Toddler painting done at the easel!!!!

Toddler paintings using a race car + the color blue!!!

Toddlers (or da big kiddos) never tire of running a car through paint!!!

Talk about cause and effect!!! And they LUV to see the tread marks in the wake!

Head Start children paint over their names with delight!

These children in a New York Head Start program were given a paper to paint, that was already adorned with their name in big letters -- which receed happily into the background in the midst of the happy painting process. All that time to see the letters in your name! AWESOME!!!! Subliminal message: tee hee!

The children in Thibodaux, Louisiana were 'exploring the concept of snow' in the humid 80 degree January morning of their 'winter' through their paintings of mixed media captured below.

It was so much fun to be on my typical "Pinterest Prowl" (that's where I arrive early for my school visits to document what I find of interest in the building) and what do I see layed out on the PreSchool floor? A great big drop cloth and inviting spaces for painting -- for when the children FIRST WALK IN THE DOOR!!!!

What a GREAT way to start the day!!!!!! I'm here at school + I'm ready to PAINT!!!!

Ya wanna know what I ADORE about these projects?

Birthday cakes made out of rolled marbles through paint?

What's not to LUV -- right?

What I LUV is that teachers, Miss Danielle + Miss Sharronda have made their own fun!!!

Don't you just LUV combining the PROCESS within a FUN PRODUCT????
Are you eager to start planning for spring? UMBRELLAS!!

[I'll be working and working and working on this post, so come back later once its finished!!!]

+++++This post is being created for the VERY FIRST LINKIE PARTY EVER over at PreK+K Sharing!!!!!!!!!! Amy has written an amazing article of ideas for using paint with children and we are so eager to have others link up their ideas to this L-O-N-G running initiative on PAINT!!!!!! Just click on our button below -- to be transported over to the store-house of all sorts of incredible and inspiring ideas on: ALL THINGS PAINTING!!!! Come get inspired and leave your links to inspiring ideas as well!

Paper Plates + Zoo Animals

2012-01-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

How about these creations for your ZOOOO Unit?
How many take a field trip to the zoo at the end of the year?

Preschool Giraffe Zoo Craft: painted paper plates, spots + goggle eyes

Get thee to the dollar store and purchase several stacks of paper plates with a lip..... maybe you can even find some shallow paper bowls for a similar concept. The wigglie eyes are always a favorite detail in these types of projects -- so pick up a couple packs of those, too, while you're out!

These spotted creatures would be the PERFECT project to combine with my picture book, "Tall Giraffe." Click over here to see those details on my website: Rainbows Within Reach. Do you remember my promo code....... for ordering any time in the future? I try to remind you from time-to-time. My promo code is the word, GREAT, as in 'Grass Roots Efforts Are Terrific!' You save 10% upon check out at my web, so remember those 5 letters!

Here's a peak at a few of those interior pages. There's also a CD insert of the song included!

"Tall Giraffe" picture book to song by that same name, by Debbie Clement. Photos by niece Kelly + friends trip to Africa.

While you're thinking about zoo animals, remember enough plates for the zebras!!

Preschool Craft Zebra-Zoo Projects: cutting zebra stripes

Did you have a chance to see the various "LION" images from my visit to the VPK site in FL recently? You can just scroll down a couple of days or feel free to click right here. The images and the projects are awesome, but the story is what will captivate your heart. You owe it to yourself to read the transformation of one child by love.

-- Debbie 

Best Practice in Preschool

2012-01-28T23:30:00.000-05:00

Visual Schedule for PreSchool Activities

"I'm glad I'm at school today!"

Arriving on location to a 'new-for-me' school I'm so excited to have the time to go from room to room to see how things are organized, see how the day unfolds, see the projects that have recently been completed.

This is a visual schedule for one room here in Florida at VPK. Love the description, the little clock, the time frame and the photograph -- all 'clues' into how the day unfolds, what comes next, running a smooth day and building consistency and trust in the process...... all supports to children's sense of anticipation, what-comes-next and ease with transitions + the children's planning. KUDOS!!

Click back here to see a visual schedule for younger children, from my recent NY visit.

Traditional black-board: opportunity for fine-motor fun in preschool!!!

As I'm buzzing about the program taking a look at as much as I can, the children are already arriving and having fun creating some original work on their traditional blackboard. Letters being written and little creatures taking shape. ALL at the same time!!!! LUV me some opportunities for cooperation! Plenty of chalk and a big enough blackboard: TA-DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have opportunities to CHOOSE fine motor fun -- available in a heartbeat, strengthening all of the muscles in the process.

-- Debbie --

The LION Lady? A Miraculous Tale

2012-01-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Preschool LION craft, built on paper-plate with construction paper manes: curly + straight styles.

I will remember forever the telephone conversation that started off,
"Are you the LION Lady?"

It was in the last century. Truly. I was on a land-line, old school phone, the kind that attached permanently to the wall, remember those? It is a story that will forever warm my heart. It's a story that literally ended up on Oprah's Medical Miracles, while she was still on the air. Those of you who have 'seen' me in person at a conference have quite possibly heard me tell the story.........

Curly lion's mane craft. Gotta LUV those whiskers!

Once upon a time at the birth of a little baby-boy there were many emotions. Upon his birth he scored such a low Apgar score that his parents were counselled by the hospital staff not to hold him, but instead to place him immediately, forever and permanently into an institution. They were told he would never __________ (fill in the blank.) He would never sit up. He would never speak. He would never walk. In their informed opinions: He would never. Never ever. Never.

Handprint lions with paper-plate heads, embellished with scissor-cut manes + pompom noses

But the parents knew that option of institutionalisation was not for them and they hugged him tight and took him home to love him. Sure enough, he didn't hold his head up. He didn't sit up. Milestone by milestone he didn't. For years, he didn't. It seemed that the experts had been correct. The milestones came and went and he "didn't" -- the distance between his peers was dramatic.

Then one day the heroic daddy in the story was able to run in the Boston Marathon -- as a testament to what can be accomplished. He was interviewed on a good morning Boston TV show. A super-duper specialist got ahold of the family to say, "I have new insight. I have an idea and I believe that I can help, based on your eloquent description of your son in your interview. I think there is reason for hope."
And the miracle of transformation began.

Happy-lion Handprint with written label

The mommy on the phone had called to ask me if I ever 'do' birthday parties. My initial response was "No, there's not enough time." But I have a hard time saying no -- so I kept rambling, "I only get involved in birthday party fun, for families that have a child with special needs -- as there are fewer appropriate options for them."

So the mommy excused me from participating, but asked if I had time to hear her story. She told me of their family's journey. She told me about her son. She went on to say the words I will remember forever:

"Lion Lady, I just got a note from my son's speech therapist at school and it says that the 'ROAR' at the end of your Lion Song is our son's first spoken word.... HIS FIRST, SPOKEN WORD!"

Without pausing for a second: my response?
"So when's the birthday party?"

Paper plate lions with magic marker 'coloring' complete with the ever-popular google eyes and marker smiles!

You just never know when you're shopping at a re-sale or thrift store, when you're going to pick up a something oh so amazing, a something oh so spectacular: a little miracle-for-a-dollar!!!!

I found my infamous lion's mane at a Bexley resale, consignment shop -- hanging right there on the Halloween costume rack, right there on East Broad Street.

Yes, it's actually a dance tutu made of multi-colored netting!!!

[I always tell the teachers that any tutu meant for around a child's middle will fit nicely around your face.... and that observation always gets a chuckle.]

Debbie Clement, the "Lion Lady" with thrift store tutu-mane for $1.00 miracle.

I bought my mane and went on to I compose one of my favorite and simplest ditties, "LION PROWL" based on Dr. Pam Schiller's insight regarding the whole topic of delayed gratification. [Her thoughts on that subject as I remember them, can be the subject here for another day.] I just knew at that moment as I clutched that tutu to my heart, that every child that ever saw me in my 'tutu-mane' would want to roar -- just as soon as they saw me. So I designed the song so the children would have to 'wait' to roar. Three full verses of waiting!!! DELAYED GRATIFICATION, indeed!!!!

Little did I ever, in my wildest imagination suppose, that my dollar investment would motivate an amazing 'mini-miracle' of its own. That my dittie would be the motivation of a nearing-his-sixth-birthday child to want to

R.O.A.R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

......... listen for that roar...........................

But roar he did!

I made it to their home in Westerville Ohio, just a mere ride around the outer belt of 270 to arrive at their family room transformed into the most jungle-i-est of jungles you can possibly imagine.

Everything about his sixth birthday was on a lion theme. All five of the party-goers (friends from his class of buddies with special needs) were decked out in lion gear costumes while garlands of vines hung round the room filled to over-flowing with 'therapy' tools tucked neatly into corners for the party festivities.

The special activity of the afternoon was for each child to spread icing on a personal over-sized, gigantic cupcake and then sprinkle coconut 'manes' round the lion's face they would create with Peanut M+Ms.

I get goose-bumps just typing out the story. You can imagine my delight walking into a school last week to find all of these lion projects. Every one unique. Every one smiling at me as though to ask, "Are you the Lion Lady?"

We 'sang' together that afternoon long ago, "listen for that roar:________________."

He defied every initial professional prediction.

They proved wrong every one of those initial specialists.

The window of opportunity slipped open a crack and he

ROARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lion loved doubly, filled with grace!

Never say 'never' to a family filled with love.

When there's plenty of love and plenty of grace?

That makes room for a miracle.

****Always believe that there is a rainbow within reach!!!!!

--Debbie --

The parents are the heros in this story, along with their support team of many specialists.

Now you know why I have such an amazing collection of lions as a Pinterest board.

For another heroic story of parenting a child-turning-adult with special needs, click back here to meet Eric. I am the 'conduit' in that story because of having made a House Ten illustration for my picture book, "Red, White and Blue"..... which was inspired by the events and aftermath of September 11th.

Eric is fascinated by all things fire-station: fire truck, fire-bells, fire house, firemen, fire hoses, fire sirens. He is the official mascot for 'House 10' in Orlando. We met last year.

This post has been linked to other blog hops and linkies at RedTed Art Blog, Nurture Academy. Sunday Showcase + Family Frolics. This has also been added to the permanent linkie party over at The Mommies Made me Do It! for all sorts of birthday party ideas! Now with other Fun Lessons at MamaSmiles and JDaniel4's too -- with special permission.

Letter Recognition + Fine Motor

2012-01-25T18:40:00.000-05:00

"M is for Mosaic" Preschoool Art Project: 'tiles' of color glued to names

We are back in the car, on the road, traveling "home" ........which in my vagabond life is more of a concept than a destination. (Is that kinda profound? Or maybe I'm just getting a tad slap-happy and can't tell the difference between philosophical and silly.) 'Home is when I'm with my honey.' We are so fortunate that we have made the opportunity to support one another in our endeavors. We are still in the first half of our 7 week road-life, vagabond. Send no snail mail. LOL.

The conference in Baton Rouge was A-MAZ-ING!!!!!! Despite a technological challenge in each of my presentations -- I had a blast!!!!!! Reading through my evaluations -- so did those in attendance. Happy participants can apparently forgive a CD that skips in one presentation and a laptop that 'stops' in another...... as long as there is lots of engagement. Ah, technology. Special thanks to my tech-angels who came to my rescue -- in the nick of time. Many thanks to Pat in real life who had a magic wand, and Pat in heaven who orchestrates nonsense just to see if I'm paying attention. Life is seldom perfect, keep smiling and carry on!

These are collages I've assembled from my recent "music-lady, author/illustrator" school visit last week. These are from my second VPK in Florida -- which is "Voluntary" Pre-Kindergarten. Little ones. Little wonders.

I LUV the name MOSAIC pictured up top.
M is for MOSAIC!!!
Isn't that a brilliant idea? They were big, bigger, and biggest -- depending on the name of the child and that would have been a lesson within the lesson. Glued bits of precut paper squares to letters from construction paper on paper roll lengths. Got it?

They were glorious decorating the room!!!!!!!!

Now, I have to plan to arrive early enough, that before I set up the space for our concert time together, I allow for enough time to go dashing through a building to snap up as many pictures as I possibly can to share here and on through Pinterest. I am so glad to give you an opportunity to look over my shoulder on these amazing visits!

Letter M traced with Macaroni pasta for sensory integration + letter recognition!!

And I don't believe I've seen letter "M" as a study of macaroni previously? Not even on Pinterest?? This may not be the very first place on earth to trace M in appropriate pasta, but the first for me to see it..... and truth be told? It made me giggle. ENJOY!!!

The Letter M studies remind me of the recent Letter Q's I saw at my first VPK visit -- before the holidays. Click here to go see those in all of their glory and to see how I used the word 'quixotic' in a post. You know I work at these little snippets, right? LUV the sensory exploration for these children as they get acquainted with letters.

*******As to other bits of trivia that entertain me on L-O-N-G road trips? I have indeed surpassed the 100,000 page view threshold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Party in the clubhouse!!!! Shaking PomPoms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah Teaching Blog Traffic School!!!!!!!!!!!! At some point I need to go back and see how many page views I had in the first 3 years versus the most recent 6 months. You would be astounded -- I know I am!

Edible Snowman Science at PreK+K

Today over at PreK+K Sharing, Laura has such a clever round-up of all things snowman. It's worth clicking over -- just to see her oh-so-cute, melting snowman, edible science experiment!!! Such fun!!!

Proudly linked to: Thrifty Thursday. TGIF at LivingIntentionally.

Snowmen Writing

2012-01-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

Snowman writing project for book, "Snowmen at Night"

Right this minute I'm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!!

Returning to their state Department of Education Early Childhood PreK +K Conference. Last year I was the keynote and the response was so positive -- they've invited me back! This is my third year in a row to be here -- so I've got friends!!! People who know me! People who have been using my work!!!! It's so awesome to have a fanclub and be greeted with hugs and stories. I'm able to blog thru Allen's router on his phone. Technology is so awesome -- when it works.

My workshops are this afternoon, so there's a quiet moment currently. Enjoy these awesome writings from Gator Run Elementary. Isn't it fun to read these writings?

Did you get to see my earlier post on "Snowmen at Night"? There are some clever snowmen paintings from wee ones. Just click right here to go back to those ideas.

Mittens + More Mittens

2012-01-23T03:30:00.000-05:00

Mitten Art project: Construction paper, squares of colored tissue paper, cotton cuff

A WHOLE BULLETIN BOARD OF COLOR!!!!!

Winter-time Bulletin Board of Colorful Mittens

From the hallways of Gator Run Elementary.

Art Appreciation + Application

2012-01-22T14:44:00.002-05:00

Do you love this work? I DO!!!!

The ol' Art teacher in me just smiles so widely at seeing this sort of work in the hallways!
Can you name the artist for whom this work reflects their style?

Back a few decades ago when I was the elementary art teacher for a brand new building K through 6th grade, these pieces could have been displayed outside of my room. Have you thought of the name?

First name: Piet.
Dutch painter.
Non-representational, later termed: Neo-Plasticism.
Remember your Art History class?

Need a first letter?
M

Collage of four different student's Mondriaan creations......... AWESOME!!!!!

MONDRIAAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
of course!!!

Younger children could use this conceptual approach for a study in primary colors.
Or how about geometry?

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

****Here's the direct Wikipedia link if you're looking for examples and specifics.

++++Here are some direct links from Pinterest.
First Mondriaan.
++++Secondly below are some amazing projects from Small Shop.

Source: google.com via Ginger on Pinterest

Source: smallshopathome.blogspot.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Milestones, Momentum + Motivation (Music + Moi)

2012-01-21T12:16:00.001-05:00

MILESTONE!! Today's a MILESTONE!!!!!!!!

According to my analytics, this is my 1,500th post to my blog!!!!

How happy am I today?
I am also sneaking up to my first 100,000th unique page-view! It would have been a bit too amazing for words to hit both on the same day, but I'm a happy camper: I am something of a numbers geek. And several of you know how easily I am entertained.

WELCOME!!!! I am also approaching my thousand-th 'follower' thru Networked blogs. Big party when that happens!! [You may need to have a blog to know how much fun these milestones bring.] **You could really help and click that 'follow' button -- just left, over there in the sidebar. Pretty please?

How do you get to 1500 blog posts?
How do you get to 1500 of anything? The answer? One at a time obviously. Over time. Adding one after another. Then another and one more. Staying the course. Perseverance. Will power. Showing up.
I read somewhere that 80% of bloggers lose interest and quit adding to their blog in less than a year's time. It's that old 80 - 20 rule. You know Pareto's Principle. Here's the link to that wikipedia explanation.

Today I'm having a 'spike' in my readership....... that's because my fairy-blog mother Charity over at "The Organized Classroom Blog" gave me a supreme Saturday shout out. Turns out that I got my homework turned in on time for Teaching Blog Traffic School!!! YIPPEE!

WELCOME!!!! I'm a music lady. Now I'm a nationally award winning author-illustrator of picture books, too!!
For fifteen years I've promoted the concept, "Have guitar will travel." As I type this post, my hubby is driving us on yet another of our infamous road trips. Today we are headed from southern FL to Louisiana.... New Orleans is our first stop. There's a school that has lured me to them with the promise of a personal "King Cake" in honor of my visit. Yup. I go where I get invited. Laptop perched in my lap as he drives onward.

Baton Rouge Keynote 2011: 'Filled with curiosity' (From my book, "You're Wonderful")

From New Orleans we'll head to Baton Rouge, where I have workshop presentations for their State Department of Education's Conference. Last year I was their keynote!!!! There have been so many requests, I get to return! It was an anonymous participant in Baton Rouge that wrote on my evaluation,

"She's changing the world -- one song at a time."

Today's a day of yippee-skippy, PomPoms shakin', oh happy-happy, joy, joy, joy!!!!

Morning Keynote: Gatlinburg Tennessee

A few snippets about me.
1. Here's the post about the dozen things I feel about Music as Motivation. AWESOME!
2. Here's the amazing post about Hajar + her response to my first picture book.
3. Here's the catalogue of posts about my day in Reggio Emilia ITALY!!!!!!!
4. Here's the post about the 'rules' in Kindergarten.
5. Here's the post about my linkie party for all ideas Martin Luther King, Jr.
6. Here's the post about all things polka-dots, complete with 'process' ART ideas.

7. Here's the post to my tutorial on making a lady bug puppet on a black glove.

8. Here's my post to my tutorial on making a goldfish puppet on a paper bag.

9. Here's my post where you can get a FREE Mp3 of my "Monster Spray" song.

10. Here's my post to the RAINBOW team handprint color theory fun.

11. Here's my post to the RAINBOW painting gift from Natalia.

12. Here's my post to why I'm all excited about 12/13 and 13/12

It is to Charity that I owe the concept and encouragement of the launch of our new collaborative blog for the betterment of children EVERYWHERE!!!

13. Here's my post to getting a FREE Mp3 of "Eating Healthy" -- if you follow "PreK+K Sharing"

I'm going to be working on this post for a while, but I need to upload it due to the unforseen nature of the internet from our car...... come back later and it will be all bright and shiny and the links will be hooked up!

Snow People LUV!!!

2012-01-20T07:52:00.003-05:00

What's not to like about snowmen?
Or in this politically correct era: Snow People?

Here's a collage of some delightful 'people-of-the-snow' from the hallways of Gator Run Elementary. [Yes!!! I'm still documenting that amazing day. My heart is still all warm 'n fuzzy from all of da LUV packed into my 'Author-in-the-Schools' visit. Did ya read my earlier, oh-so-sweet post about the "Rainbow Child" and our time together? I'm still thinking about that interaction and the impact teachers have on their students.]

LUV me those buttons!!!!

LUV me those smiles!!!!!!

Now granted, these snow-people are from children in southern Florida. I heard on the news last night that 35 years ago there was indeed actual, factual snow in southern Florida..... but my guess is that most of these children have not had first hand experience with packing and rolling snow. Just a guess.

Last week I also had a school visit to PREschool, my second VPK in Florida!!

Look at these BEAUTIES!!!!

Hand painted at the easel!

So few things I LUV more than children's artwork.

Look at the amazing diversity of these YOUNG children's interpretations.

I learned that these paintings were created in response to the picture book,

"Snowmen at Night."

My dear friend, Mary Jo Huff, nationally known story-teller and amazing power-house of an individual, was just talking about this very same book in her article over at PreK +K Sharing, our new and ever-so-amazing collaborative blog. Click right here to see her references and to get the link to Steve Spangler's snow concoction to connect the dots between snow + science + literacy + Arts!

**** Yes, of course I have a Pinterest board on all things "Snow People" since I have a song by that name on my second album. Click right here to go to my ever growing 'board' of all things connected to snowy day people making. There's a snowman pizza that would be super fun!

Amy's got a linkie over at Child Central Station and I linked my article to the other ideas accumulating over there.

++++++++Now I'm happy to get this article linked up over at our collaborative blog, PreK+K Sharing, for our very first hosted LINKY PARTY on ALL THINGS Paint and PAINTING!!!! Click on the button below to be taken directly to the article amassing amazing ideas on painting with children.

Penguins + Freebies!!!

2012-01-18T10:19:00.001-05:00

LUVing all things winter?
Are you wearing long underwear and shivering???
Or perhaps you're down under frolicking in the heat....................

No matter where you are its always fun to learn MORE about penguins!!!

Penguin Art Project: created in 'torn paper' open-ended style to adorn writing of facts learned from science + reading

Look at these happy little creatures created from torn paper.
These beauties were hanging in the hall last week at my amazing author-visit to Gator Run Elementary -- in southern Florida, where the weather has been in the 80's and I'm wearing flip-flops. These awesome pieces included 'reports' below the artwork -- extending the classroom learning.

I realize that you can't quite get the 'size' of these creatures from the collage, but one of the things that made me giggle, is that one child's penguin would fill the ENTIRE piece of 9 by 12 blue construction paper: from edge to edge to edge and stapled right beside that one was another with the subject that was all of about 3 inches tall barely -- with the teeniest, tiniest torn pieces of paper.

LUV LUV LUV that every response was deemed appropriate!!!!

Every student has succeeded in this effort, each one is COMPLETELY unique!!!!!

FREEBIES!!!! WHAT ABOUT THE FREEBIES??????

Penguin Freebie Printables: 52 pages of fun (ABCs, 123s + Valentine's Day)

Our kind and generous friend Carolyn has created a FIFTY TWO page 'game' of all things penguin: ABCs penguin, 1-2-3s penguin AND VALENTINE penguins!!!!!!!!

All you have to do is click over to PreK+K Sharing to her post for a simple download.

ENJOY!!!!! And thanks Carolyn for SHARING!!!!!!!!!

"I Have a Dream!" [Linky Connection]

2012-01-16T11:49:00.002-05:00

Gator Run, FL signing: I Love YOU!

Years and years ago, long before I would ever envision the concept of blogging, I had an invitation to River Rouge, Michigan. It was an amazing day in every respect. The director of the center had written a grant for my performance. I have no photo of the story I will attempt to weave.

River Rouge is at the bottom of the American Dream. It is 'below' the lowest entry point of the American dream. To say that the area is one of vast decline is an understatement extreme. I will remember forever singing to the hundreds and hundreds of children brought to the center for our time of interaction and joy.
It was a melting pot for every minority looking for a beginning.

As is my usual habit, I concluded our time together by singing my anthem of self-esteem, "You're Wonderful." The lyrics of which conclude: 'and dreams.' The very child immediately in front of me bellowed out, "I HAVE A DREAM!" It was one of those occasions when time stands still for a few heart-beats so that you can gather your thoughts sufficiently to record the moment forever in your heart.

This young girl, hair lovingly braided with colorful beads and bright baubles into a magnificent pattern of love, looked straight in my heart and said it, "I HAVE A DREAM!" At the time I thought, Dr. Martin would be so proud, so relieved. So relieved to know that you have hopes and visions and dreams beyond this immediate crime-riddled, decaying setting. Kindle those dreams and care for them sweetheart. Dream large and vast dreams.

So jump back to the current day. Exactly one week ago I was the guest in Weston, FL -- a world away from River Rouge, a universe away. Yet I'm still singing the same anthem of self esteem. Look at the amazing gift I was given by my mature kindergarten friends on this occasion. These dream catchers were woven with care and exhuberance.

We owe it to every child from River Rouge to Weston to dream big dreams.... to give the very best to every child.

These dream catchers were the amazing creations of Caitlin Clabby's Kindergarten children. Caitlin also keeps a blog of their adventures together and her inspirations for children over here at Kindergarten Smiles. She has all sorts of ideas to share. Aren't these absolutely amazing? I LUV each and everyone!!!!

That's Caitlin on the left, helping to lead all of those kindergartners in learning my newest picture book, "Red, White and Blue." I am showing everyone how to sign the word for 'flag.' We are a couple verses into the song.

Looking in their hallways after we were all done, these were the images outside of the Art-room.

I think that these might have been an assignment to create a 'bumper sticker' for MLK day.

I've been looking around the web for ideas for teachers to help with these HUGE lessons -- especially for little ones. My favorite 'pin' is the one that has been re-pinned a gazillion times I'm sure. The one with the eggs on the plate. White egg shells. Brown egg shells. Cracked open???? ALL the same! Simple? Yes. Very simple? YES!!!! I think simple works with little ones.

Source: thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com via Paula on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Debbie on Pinterest

****Editor's note. Since the original publication of this article I found this crayon image over at Pinterest and wanted to be certain to have it housed here with all of the linkie ideas accumulating. Yes. They are all flesh. Period.

What ideas do you have? I just decided that this is the critically important type of 'lesson' that needs all of us working together. Yup. You guessed it. LINKIE party!!! Let's have a catalogue of LOTS of ideas. Lots of ages -- even. If you have a blog post that is specific to the ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- either to his work specifically, or to the concepts of teaching diversity and acceptance, please link them here..... the only stipulation is to to into your post (new or old) and add a shout-out to this URL, to help circulate your ideas with the other. Thanks for following thru.

I've added this post to the Thrifty-Thursday link-up over at Playing with Words 365. I've also added it to Toys in the Dryer's link-up. It's over at Link&Learn on No Time for Flashcards.

Happy Birthday: Daddy + Martin

2012-01-15T08:07:00.000-05:00

Today's my daddy's birthday. He shares his exact date of birth with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My dad is eating his 83rd cake today. Martin would be 83, too -- in a perfect world, but we're here on Earth. Both men, daddy + Martin, worked for the betterment of people, all people. Both had a pulpit, a platform to speak to the gathered crowd. Both shared dreams of a better world for each inhabitant.

I grew up in Indiana. I started elementary school in Batesville, IN. [I can see in my blog-analytics that I have occasional readers here from Malaysia, South Africa, Chile, Australia and the like. Indiana is in the mid-west. Batesville is a very small town. Back when I was in first grade it was a mecca for the area only because it had a public swimming pool, but trust me -- in the grand scheme of America it's pretty small potatoes.] That's how I grew up. Amid an over-whelmingly homogeneous group of agricultural folks, folks who looked just like me.

Kindergarten Debbie w bangs

We moved from Batesville when I was poised to start fifth grade. We moved to the BIG city of South Bend, Indiana -- home of Notre Dame University. We arrived round about 1967. America was broiling with change and movements. We moved to da 'west side.' I can distinctly remember our arrival to the big city being immediately punctuated with gatherings of fellow clergy families and church goers having pot-lucks together, sharing meals, we kiddos playing charades under my mom's guidance....... all in an effort of church-going inter-racial interaction to instill a sense of unity. To me, it was as though we had landed on a foreign planet, no longer did everyone look just like me, but dad insisted.
That was the era of singing, "Kum ba yah."

Those pot-luck meals were a cultural awakening. On many levels. There were people of every shade and hue. Every gradient between black and white. This. was. a. first. It's one thing to sing "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world" in Batesville's Vacation Bible School -- where everyone was a shade of white: porcelain white, whiter-white and tanned white..... it's quite another thing to break cornbread and sing together -- with so many skin tones holding hands gathered round the table.

Time after time we went. Dad insisted. West-side unity. Eatin' and prayin' and playin'.
Kum ba yah. Ebony and ivory.

Artwork from Gator Run Elementary FL

That rag-tag group, from diverse churches, ended up "marching" together -- in unity. Our family was suddenly swept into what would be labeled the civil rights movement. From cornbread and casseroles to marching the west-side streets toward downtown. Dad insisted. I remember being scared. I remember some taunts from the sidelines, but mostly I remember staying very close to my family and our new friends as we walked, as we marched. Staying close to dad.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could report how those potlucks transformed South Bend and made for an oasis of acceptance and equality? In truth I entered Washington High School on the west-side as a freshman and that spring our campus was over-run with actual race riots, the hostility had grown over heated between the rainbow-hues. The longest corridor of lockers through the building had become a gauntlet for the stand-off. A tautly horrid scene from our own version of "West Side Story" where the toughs of one color lined the lockers and faced down the toughs of the other -- every morning before the first bell. Growing in numbers. Seething hostility in utter silence. Daily escalating tensions. Mounting animosity awaiting a spark.

Soon those hallway corridors were complete with helmeted police officers with dogs and mace. By Friday I sat locked into Mr. Warren's Advanced Algebra classroom listening to the eruptions on the other side of the door. We were locked in for our own protection. That would have been a fast-forward to the spring of 1972.

Dr. King had already perished well before that time. What had been learned by that point in history? How long would it take to 'act' the lesson of our Bible-school song? All I know is that I wanted to stay home from school, but Dad insisted. I was one of four or five to show up for '2XY = Z' that morning. Few other parents felt the same way apparently? Mr. Warren actually brought a photo album of his wedding pictures to share -- as he didn't anticipate teaching anything about equations that volatile spring day.

I had been voted to represent my fellow freshman as a class officer. As a 'leader' I was automatically part of a small group, think-tank retreat on sensitivity and diversity that took place off at a city park, during the days the city our closed school in the hopes of calm returning. All in an effort to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. That gave me a chance to see hostility up close and personal, but under professional guidance I also participated in discussions and exercises that led to actual conversation, interaction and growth. Somehow we finished that school year -- with police in their flack jackets and billy clubs ready, learning our algebra and biology. Shoulder to shoulder.

Red and yellow, black and white. Precious.

Source: mrsbrownart.com via Crystal on Pinterest

****I've been thinking a lot over the last couple of days about the role of parents in the teaching of acceptance and diversity to their children. I had a lovely cyber-chat with Crystal as she wrote her blog article on this very topic for our collaborative blog PreK + K Sharing last week. Click right here to see her many suggested resources suitable for the classroom.

What I know for sure (channeling Oprah when I type that) is that my dad lives a life of respect for every one of God's children. I saw that from the moment I could see. My father demonstrates on a daily basis a kinship and honoring of his brother. He put his belief into action with our transition to the 'big city.' He put theory into practise. He insisted. ALWAYS.

One of my favorite MLK quotes is this one.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

My dad is the son of an Indiana farmer, for whom hard physical labor was how daily bread was earned. My dad has always demonstrated deep respect for every street sweeper in his midst. He shares a kinship with the honest worker. We didn't grow up among the Beethovens and the Shakespeares. I learned that sense of respect at his elbow at a very young age. I do believe that all the hosts of heaven and earth pause and say, these men have dreamt dreams and did their jobs well.

Happy birthday, daddy!! Happy birthday Martin!!

++++Be sure you come back tomorrow on the National Observation of Dr. Martin's contribution.
I have some great pictures to share. ++++

A Rainbow Bouquet!!!!

2012-01-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

Did you follow that photo collage story?

Let's rewind with a few words.

I had the unique opportunity to visit my blogging cyber-friend's school in southern FL.

Denise, of Sunny Days in Second Grade

made all of the arrangements for me to come as an 'author-illustrator' to Gator Run Elementary.

She was so clever to set up the schedule to have her own 2nd graders come to my last presentation.

After six groups of singin' + dancin' I might have lost just a tad bit of my steam........

Then just before our seventh and final fun of the day..........
Up comes one of her sweeties and hands me an empty vase trimmed with a pink polka dot ribbon.

And one-by-one her students each come forward to add a single stem flower to my empty vase.

Yup. That's me. I was squeezin' my lips together, when it dawned on me what was happenin'.
(Didn't think I should start crying right then and there.)

                 There are all sorts of analogies:
                                  about needing all of the colors -- to make a rainbow.
                                               Or each unique snowflake being a special treasure.
                                                       Or every flower's need to contribute to a bouquet.

          It's at moments like now, reflecting on the experience that I long to be a poet.

Every school visit I make is unique.

I'm pretty certain I've received flowers previously.

But you can bet the farm:

this is the first time to watch the bouquet emerge as a collaborative project right before my very eyes!!!!

EVERY SCHOOL VISIT I ARRIVE AS AN EMPTY VASE.

It's the colors of the children's participation that make the bouquet: marvelous and beautiful.

Who thinks of such a unique grand finale???

Denise. That's who!!

Resolutions in the Hall

2012-01-13T22:35:00.002-05:00

What are your resolutions for this New Year?

How are you doing on your goals??

Have you taken the time to write your goals down?

Are they measurable?

Are you making progress?

Do you make 'micro-movements' daily?

The concept of 'micro-movements' is a term I learned from my favorite author, SARK. Even teeny-tiny baby steps add up over time!!

I just LUV getting to see work on display!
I had 'seen' this idea on Pinterest earlier,
but seeing the actual students goals in person?
You guessed it! PRICELESS!!!

****The concept of encouraging children to dream BIG is explored in depth over at our collaborative blog,
PreK + K Sharing today by author Bill Corbett.

His article is pivotal for anyone working with children.
Click right here to jiff over to his insightful ideas.
Visualization.
It's never too early to start leading children toward their optimal DREAMS!

*********Speaking of dreaming big and collaborative blogs,
just today on Friday the 13th I have been added as a contributor over at:

I'm really learning about reaching out, collaborating, spreading the LUV + working together!Special word of thanks to Deanna Jump at Mrs. Jump's Class blog, for the invitation!!!Let's hear it for new learning curves in the New Year!!!

RAINBOW LUV!!!!!!

2012-01-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

Imagine my myriad-array of feelings upon this type of greeting. ELATION!!!! DELIGHT!!!

It is a true joy to walk into a building and know that my arrival has been anticipated.

What a treasure: the invitation. What an awesome responsibility: the time together.

"Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive, and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done." -- Benjamin E. Mays

"You are an unrepeatable miracle." --Diane Roger

Imagine all of those unique hands being traced, then cut, then glued!!

Each one unique and precious, each one special.

Combined together to give the entire spectrum.

A mosaic of the individuals as one.

"Each human in uniquely different. Like snowflakes, the human pattern is never cast twice." --Alice Childress

"There are many WONDERFUL things that will never be done if you do not do them." --Charles D. Gill

"One of the marks of a gift is to have the courage to fulfill it." -- Katherine Anne Porter

"What you will do matters. All you need is to do it.
-- Judy Grahn

                    "Everyone has a unique role to fill.
                     Everyone, including you, is indispensable."
                                                                                  -- Jean Renoir

"If it doesn't absorb you, if it isn't any fun, don't do it."
-- D.H. Lawrence

"What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?"

-- Robert H. Schuller

"I dare you, while there is still time, to have a magnificent obsession."

--William Danforth

"If the love of what you're doing exceeds the labor of doing it... success is inevitable."

-- Bob Beers

"And will you succeed? Yes, indeed, yes indeed!

Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!"

-- Dr Seuss

"How do you want to be remembered?" --Kobi Yamada

***All photos captured during my recent Author-in-the-Schools visit to Gator Run Elementary in southern Florida. Photos and arrangements made by Denise of Sunny Days in Second Grade fame.

First Grade FUN!

2012-01-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

FIRST GRADERS!!!!! To start the day! Maturity. Sophistication. Capability. Vocabulary. Interest. It's such a treat to work in the elementary schools. I'm always thrilled to work with 'the big kids.'

Before I type one more word. Let me point out the obvious. Well at least it's obvious to me!!! Take a look at that first picture. The clock on the wall says 8:20 and we're already well underway. YEAH! (That's my only adjustment with elementary schools. LOL. They expect me to get underway prior to 9:00 a.m. Hurray for public school teachers who 'function' before 9 -- on a daily basis.)

Let me also take a minute to point out another detail in this first picture. Even MORE obvious to me. That fellow stretching behind my 'captains.' That fellow is my husband. The splashy "Mr. Debbie" as he is affectionately referred to periodically. He is the man behind me. Quite literally. He has my back. Again. Literally. At this moment, captured forever in time, he is changing the batteries in the remote control that is hooked to my CD player. We realized they had abruptly died during the sound check well before 8:00 a.m. He has tracked down new batteries and gotten me up and running in the nick-of-time. YEAH ALLEN!!!!!!!!!

Here we are working together to grasp the concept that I am the one who made the illustrations, the quilts which become the pictures within my picture books. It amazes me that even after mature first graders 'see' the actual, physical quilts -- right beside the open book...... that even as they leave, one little fellow said to me during the transition out the door, "But who makes the pictures in your books?"

People always ask me what age group my materials are intended to serve. A very reasonable question. I don't have a simple, straight-forward answer.

I design my songs for children. I don't really focus on any given age to bracket. I know that first graders are just as eager as three year olds to be engaged with music. The arrangements lend themselves to participation -- from simple toe tapping to knee-drummin' to full body jumpin'. Those skills translate slightly differently from preschool to elementary, but not dramatically so.

I'm certain I select a slightly different play list for two year olds than one I would design for second graders..... thinking as I type, now. I don't know that it's so much the selections chosen that are different, as it is the tone of my interaction and presentation that is different. I need to give this some more thought to articulate.

I think all children respond to enthusiasm. They all respond to engagement and interaction. Eighteen months or nine years. Children appreciate the invitation to participate. They all know sincerity when they see it. They each are grateful to know that laughter and fun are ~~allowed~~ encouraged and expected. It's my experience that children respond when invited. My music is for children.

The Impact of One: A Tearful Tale

2012-01-09T22:04:00.000-05:00

This is a true story. A tearful tale.
It's also the sweetest of all experiences.

Once Upon a Time......

there was a sweet kindergarten child who was excited and looking forward to school.

One 'Magic Monday Morning' there was to be an author/illustrator coming!

She learned all about the author. She learned of the illustrator's love of color.

She learned of her affection for rainbows.

So before that Monday morning ever came to pass?

She prepared.

She asked her teacher for materials to prepare a gift.

A painting.

A rainbow. Many colors.

Monday arrived and she was able to give her original artwork to the illustrator --

to keep forever!!!

They posed and smiled together before the fun began.

They sang.

They read.

They danced.

They used sign language.

It was indeed a magical morning.

It was also over all together too soon.

Forty five minutes?

It seemed they'd just begun?!?

In the transition of saying good-bye to 80 kindergartners, it would have been very easy for the polka-dotted lady to 'forget' to say good bye to the young artist, but there was an adult tap on her orange shoulder in the midst of all the hustle-bustle of lining up.

As the author turned around......... she saw tears.

Great big crocodile-kindergarten tears.

Sincere, genuine heart-felt tears.

The kind of tears that keep educators forever working with children.

The magic moments of Monday were about to transpire.

They were the kind of tears that bring you to your knees.

Literally.

The kind of bury your head in my shoulder and hug-tight tears of kindergarten.

The kind of "I don't want to let you go" type-of-tears.

The kind of tears that say without words: you made a difference to me.

And soon that same teacher-without-a-name came and took the painter by the hand and led her away.

I was the lucky one.

I got to hear the teacher saying,
"Don't worry honey, we will always have her books in our room.
MizzzzDebbie will always be a part of us."

Tears + Hugs = RainbowsWithinReach

And soon it was lunch time and then more students and more classes.

The day was all over and I was in the parking lot nearly ready to sit down,

when that same tap of that un-named teacher hit my shoulder again.

There she was, after her last duty-of-the-day, with her own cash rolled up in her warm hand, chasing me down in the parking lot to make good on her promise.
"I NEED your books for our room!!!!!!"

The things we do for love!!!

It reminds me of my mentor-Mimi and her favorite quotation:

Never under-estimate the power of forty-five minutes....
the power of forty-five minutes
amplified through a teacher's preparation + a child's anticipation.
If all those tears were possible with this brief time together,
do the math on your impact with your students.

Natalia. Your rainbow is forever stored in my heart, too.
PRICELESS!!!!

Now let's reverse engineer how all of this amazing-ness took place.
I've been working to get my blog connected to a wider audience.
I learned of Teaching Blog Traffic School and signed up!
There in the secret clubhouse I met Denise of Sunny Days fame.
Low + behold!!!
It would happen that Denise teaches in a school just minutes away from where we would be 'camping' in a time-share in southern Florida and we had the opportunity months and months ago to figure all that out and begin dreaming-of-this-day!
So Denise went to her principal and they began the work necessary to create a schedule of my seven presentations for their students from the Kinders through Denise's mature second graders.
Our fairy-blog mother would be so proud!!

That's Denise on the left in the picture. She further introduced me to Caitlin of Kindergarten Smiles fame -- that bright smile on the right. How fortunate for them to be in the same building and be able to support one another in all of their efforts. I think the picture conveys just a tad of our excitement to meet in person. It was Denise that captured the pictures above, the ones worth a hundred thousand words.... for which I will always be grateful! Thank you!

In a school of this size, to move 27 classrooms of children through a library, there is a mastermind at work in the front office. I take my hat off to administrators and principals who are flexible to make a day of this magnitude happen. There are schedules to tinker with, recess to rearrange, lunch times to tweek. Special thanks!!! You stand high and proud, above the crowd.

STICK YOUR NECK OUT!!!!!
Make a difference!!!!!

-- Debbie --

If you were touched by this story, would you pin it, or tweet it or share it thru your fave option?

It seems I'm fortunate to have these sorts of stories to share on a fairly regular basis, how about becoming one of my followers? Those options are up above in the sidebar. THANKS!

Paradise + Perfection!

2012-01-08T21:50:00.000-05:00

If you had eight hours to spend in paradise, would you go?

If someone called and offered you a quickie-cruisette,

with a mini-day on an island -- would you pack?

I think you know what I said to that tele-marketer.

How many shades of blue can you count?

We cruised through the night.

I saw the sunrise through our porthole.

We were on the island after a scrumptious breakfast.

We were onboard our snorkel adventure in another heartbeat.

Bucket list!!!! Number one at the top of my bucket list!!!!!

Going snorkeling would even qualify with the IRS as a business expense -- I'm pretty certain.

Wait till you see my next picture book.....

you'll understand what I mean.

No more clues.

Well..... maybe one more clue:

My advice?

When the telemarketer calls with the option of a cruisette -- ask if you can please stay on the island for a night or two, before returning to real life.

Pretty please?

Wrapping up: Reggio Remembered

2012-01-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

It's time to wrap up my Reggio images. My memory card is nearly emptied....

[Reminder: I took all of these photos last spring, during my amazing European Author Tour to four US Army bases as a portion of their "Month of the Military Child" celebrations. Two of the bases were in Italy, with one base just about 90 minutes away from the most amazing field trip of my life!!!! An entire day spent touring two brand new national ECE Centers in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. We were able to tour the two programs in exchange for my performing for the Italian children.]

There were drawings everywhere...... and I do mean everywhere. Hallways were filled to the brim with bulletin boards of every sort of artwork imaginable.

How cute are these 'numerals?'

A few more collages of one amazing day of observation!!

Spring Easter Celebration: assemblage of snippets!

It's time to conclude these flashbacks. Wrap it up.

I want to share some random images from around the building.

Large motor room rocking horse parade + climbing block structures.

An entire box of over a dozen 'play' irons.

Little napping bunks: like the Seven dwarfs in action.

One final set of images: ceilings, floors, recycle bins.

It was the day of a lifetime.

It's such a treasure to re-live it here with those of you reading along.

*****If you are interested in seeing all of my posts that show the various details of this amazing day, they are all catalogued under the label "Reggio" and you can click right here to bring all of the articles together at one time.... for your reference and inspiration.

I've added this post to the Thrifty Thursday link-up!

Yet More REGGIO!!!!

2012-01-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

When you think Reggio, you think art materials, right?

RIGHT!!!!!

What I LUV'd about being able to walk through the hallways + classrooms in Italy?

I LUV'd getting to see so many demonstrations of ideas!!

Everywhere you looked were yet more ideas.

Ideas.

Documented ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!

I attempted to translate the labeled words on the photographs of the encircled children.

Nido = Nest

Reggio Observations Continued

2012-01-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

My return-to-Reggio retro tour continues.

[I am making my way through my camera's memory card -- of images that never got shared here last spring.]

I LUV these sculpural collages that were child-created from up-cycling various bits 'n bobs from the recycle bin. These 'shape-people' were actually fairly large scale. I'm not sure that the photos capture just how large they were in real life. I can just envision the smiles and cararderie and gales of laughter as the children worked together to create this cast of characters. This classroom was for the 'older' children and the work on the walls was much more sophisticated.

Seeing these shapes 'come-to-life' reminds me of the geometry paintings I captured here in the states on the easels. Click here to go back to that post.

I have a hypothesis that this next photo-capture is probably a 'homework' assignment.

This collage is a delightful combination of media to portray the four seasons.

My thought that it may have been created at home with parental supervision is based on the premise of the inclusion of the family photographs. These were on display in the hallway -- outside of the classroom. Each child had a similar style project.... with the four triangles representing each season.

Another hypothesis on my part. I think this next one may be a sign-in attendance chart.

What I know for certain, is that this graph has taken much time + focus to create!!!

Reggio Handprint Sunflowers

2012-01-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

Handprints here, handprints there..........

Happy handprints everywhere!!!!

This mural in Reggio combined the 'sunflower' handprints of the children with those of the staff and mingled them all together on to one super-big mural of welcome-to-spring.

Look closely and you'll see a photograph of each artist in the center of the flower.
What a great detail!!

Here's the color scheme devised (with glitter) to create 'snowflakes' in NY.

I think the detail of adding the photo-face in the center sweetens the project, like a cherry on top!

Reggio Italy: Portfolios

2012-01-03T17:30:00.000-05:00

While dashing through the ECE programs in Reggio Emilia, Italy last spring, it was all I could do to keep my camera clicking at the speed of sound -- with batteries and memory card cooperating. There were images in every possible direction that I wanted to document.

As we explored one of the "Art" rooms I was fortunate to stop and think to capture some images of the children's individual portfolios stacked neatly in a corner on the counter top.

As you can see, each child in the class had a delightful presentation of their first name and a painted work-of-art on the tag-board like front cover of their portfolio.

I wanted to spend all morning pouring over the specific pieces inside each portfolio, but time was of the essence and all I could do was swoop into one collection and snap a picture of the pieces on the top. BEHOLD!!! The work of Alessia.

Reggio Emilia Tour Continues

2012-01-02T10:48:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to my 'retro-Reggio-tour'
Join me as we take a quick look through two different, brand-new, nationally run programs in Reggio Italy.

I was fortunate enough to have one day to 'tour' two different programs in Reggio. They were nearly an hour's drive apart. An ocean away from the programs I consider home. It's awesome to contemplate the similarities between the programs I visited on this spring day In Reggio and US sites where I am invited. It's awesome to see the similarities!!!

Isn't it fun to see how we all use hand-print and handprint art as a foundational springboard for Arts exploration? This time the handprints are collaborating to make a map of Italy! The map is obviously a cooperative project of 'mature' hands.

Here's a look at wee little Italian finger-paintings. I dare say, you'd be hard pressed to identify children's finger painting in the USA versus those in Italy or those in Australia or Chile. I know that these are 'reggio-finger-painting' explorations because of the Italian labels above the finished work.

If you're on a scavenger hunt searching for handprint projects, click here for my recent post on COLOR THEORY -- the coolest idea since sliced bread from NY.

Or this click will take you to my Top 10 viewed idea on handprint snowflakes.

Tomorrow I've got a peak at some of the Reggio children's Art portfolios.

Must pull them together. Sweet covers with just a quick glimmer inside.

Healthy New Year + Childhood Obesity

2012-01-01T09:26:00.001-05:00

We interrupt this flash-back Reggio Emilia tour in Italy to wish you + yours a Happy and HEALTHY New Year!

As you may know, I have gathered up some of my very bestest + most talented friends and launched a collaborative blog entitled, PreK+K Sharing, where we each write one article per month -- from our own perspective to 'share' with the wider world.

TODAY is my day to kick off the new month and the whole NEW YEAR and while we're all thinking about fresh starts and dedicating ourselves with new resolve, I have tackled the challenging topic of childhood obesity to address -- in a FIRST THINGS FIRST modality -- over at the collaboration.

One contribution that we can all make is to dedicate ourselves to getting up and getting active.
I'd really like to go even further in supporting you in your efforts to do that, so over at Prek+K I am offering a free Mp3 of my hit movment song, "Eating Healthy" to those who take the extra initiative to officially follow our new collaboration!!! All you have to do is click-on-through right here to read some amazing -- and heart breaking statistics on the epidemic of childhood obesity and get jazzed about stemming the tide. Make a difference in the lives of the children you serve!!!! Make sure that your day is filled with upbeat activity, movement, fresh air, jumping and crunching on a whole rainbow-of-colors of veggies.

Reggio Emilia, Italy (Tour + Ideas)

2011-12-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

REGGIO, ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just realized that I s-t-i-l-l have oodles of photos of my field trip day through Reggio that have never made it to the light of day. It seems a fitting way to conclude the year... remembering highlights from this spring.
A day of delight! A dream come true!! Pinch me!!! A day in: REGGIO!!

There's a Three Stooges sort-of-Debbie Clement story about my day in Reggio and our getting seperated and totally lost from the caravan. Happy ending? We eventually arrived at the pre-arranged school, hours late, but in the nick-of-time.

Here's what the drive looked like from Vicenza to Reggio... rolling hills, farms, small villages.

[Maybe I need to back up, just a tad, for any newbies just landing here for the very first time.

I'm a "music-lady" evolved into a picture book author/illustrator. My newest picture book is entitled "Red, White and Blue" and is a patriotic tribute to our country based on a song I wrote immediately after 9-11. As a result of my book, I was invited to Europe to tour four US Army bases in Germany + Italy, to sing with the children of our troops stationed abroad and present staff development workshops. Our base outside of Vicenza Italy is about 90 minutes from Reggio. Arlana Young, the brilliant organizer of my tour was able to create an opportunity for her staff + MOI to tour two sites in Reggio -- in exchange for my presenting a concert for the Italian children.... there ya have it, the Reader's Digest version!]

Let's start with our arrival to the brand new building of the state-run program.

This AWESOME fence with the bright colored pencils greeted us bordering the sidewalk up to the entrance.
I had to peek thru the little gap in the fence to grab the pic of the playground.
Everything: brand sparkling, shiny + new.

Here's the towering + brilliant entry-way. Two stories high.

Covered with professional enlargements of original children's drawings.

Can you spot the child's drawing taped to the wall? (It's just to the lower right of the big painted heart.)

I have a previous post with several other additional examples of the children's art, turned into two story murals...... clickback here to see the amazing school bus and others.

Here's another example that hadn't been in the previous post.
This is the original drawing, taped to the wall -- right beside the enlargement.

These are 'subtle' in their coloration, but large in their presentation.

Here's a brighter selection:

Taking the speedie-quick-time tour (since we were so late, since we were so lost)

the first thing that I noticed in the hallways, was the sheer number of photos of the children engaged in a variety of activities.

I get the words: giochi, diversi, materiali, farina + luminosa. I get their engagement!!!

These are obviously photos of little ones exploring at a light table.
This collage of photos is under glass in a display case.

Don't ya just LUV how everything is labeled?
Even if you can't read or understand Italian, it's awesome -- isn't it!

Isn't farina like grainy cream-of-wheat? Look how amazing the work!

I think this is going to take several more days to unwind all of the rest of the pictures and my observations from one incredible day.... stay tuned. I'll stay focused on Reggio for the next couple of blog installments. Focus!

Prego!! In the meantime you're welcome {Prego: my one Italian vocabulary word which indeed means 'you're welcome' and was the singular most repeated word we heard in our ten days in Italy} to dig through the ten earlier posts already catalogued from this spring by clicking right here.

Black -n- White Fun!!!

2011-12-29T18:22:00.003-05:00

You know that I like happy colors, right?

Do you know how much I like black + white?

The straight edges are little boxes for lamps, that I photographed in a gift shop this afternoon.

The 'looser' flowing stripes are t-shirts and tank tops that I grouped together in the same shop.

I was having a ball.

Then I spotted a few polka-dots.

It's been a good day!

Color Theory Hand Prints

2011-12-28T18:47:00.001-05:00

HOW AWESOME IS THIS??????

Do you see how this was accomplished?

Two children needed.

Two primary colors of paint -- one color per child.

The magic happens with the thoughtful 'application' of those painted hands + the cooperation (over-lapping) of the partner handprints.

The children have to patiently 'apply' each of their painted hands according to some adult direction (so that the paint mixes.)

Placing their second hand 'over-top' their partner's hand print.....
makes for the magic transformation!!!

These beauties were on display in the hallways in New York during my two day residency earlier this month. The beauty of being 'on site' for two days is that I really had enough time to take a look in the individual classrooms and go up + down the halls to see the work that had been produced prior to my arrival and 'document' it to share back here at blog central.

The perfect combination of enough space available on my memory card, with enough battery power in my camera and just enough minutes to run like a wild-woman, through the building during every 7 minutes transition between my concert performances with the kiddos, allows me to share what I saw...... and I saw a LOT!!!

This lesson is an absolute cake-taker!!!!

Here's another example:

I speak a lot on the importance of 'delayed gratitification' in my presentations to educators.

According to my dear friend, Dr. Pam Schiller, children who can 'delay-their-gratification' are demonstrating the number one predictor of lifetime success. That old expression "patience is a virtue" has statistical validation according to the research experts.

This 'project' is the perfect example of a project to help stretch a young child's ability to 'delay gratification.' DAP in action!!!!! (that's Developmentally Appropriate Practice.) Given a young child and paint on their hands -- with an empty piece of white paper nearby -- what is the natural inclanation of a young child? TO GO WILD!!!!

Painted hands + empty paper = let me go!!!!!!!!

With this project the teacher is asking the child to 'control' all of that excitement and anticipation and enthusiasm to participate in a shared learning, a shared demonstration -- with an exciting outcome in the process. Learning to control our enthusiasm and direct our excitement is the hallmark of growth and the foreshadowing of success. I LUV this lesson!!!!

Let the Linkie-LUV begin! I shared this first over on Thrifty Thursday's linkie party!

This post is also over at TGIF's Linky Party #10!!!

***I'm now adding this post to our very first, ever LINKIE Party over at PreK+K Sharing, our collaborative blog, now hosting a monumental array of ideas on: ALL THINGS PAINTING!!Just click on our button below -- to be transported over to the exhaustive selection of ideas using paint! Come get inspired and add your articles as well!!!

The Doctor is IN!

2011-12-27T18:41:00.001-05:00

How's this for a dramatic-play learning center?
Print-rich indeed! LUV it!!! Just needs the kiddos!!!

Looks like our friend there has had some surgery or needs some -- I couldn't decide which?
Clever attention to detail with the movable sign and the "Doctor Duck" book handy-dandy.

(From my two day residency earlier this month..... thought you'd get a kick out of this one!)

If we're going to prepare children for the bigger world around them, the world that is ever changing, one of the easiest ways is to enrich their early world with 'dramatic play' opportunities. Times for them to 'try on' different roles, different hats.... to PRETEND!!!!

I grew up in a world of make-believe and pretend. We grew up in an era where we threw a blanket over the dining room table and it became a submarine -- because we said so. We didn't often have props for our dramatic play. That blanket and our imaginations were the key!

I grew up in a 'black and white era' -- the photos of my childhood are all in b+w. I tell the students on my author visits that I grew up before color was invented! That's pretty accurate!!! Here I am in my very best 'pretend' a.k.a. "dramatic play" costume.

Little Debbie immersed in dramatic play!

That's me in my mommy's shoes and wearing her hat and gloves -- let's you know just when I grew up! The glove era!! I'm ready for an adventure. I credit my rich formative years with giving me the imagination to choose to begin writing and recording original children's songs at the age of 40. I credit my rich imagination with giving me permission to begin writing a blog at the age of 51!! I can't wait to see who I am -- when I grow up!!!

I work hard here at blog-central to bring you glimpses of my creative process and the amazing sites I see during my school visits and travels. I just did a whole review of my time in Reggio Emilia, Italy! Click right here if you'd like to see the catalogue of those posts. I work EXTRA hard to bring color to your day. Please come back often. Or pop over HERE to see my collection at Pinterest if you really want inspiration!!! (I now have 2,572 followers of my colorful, visual collections. I've done a lot of homework for the ECE community -- take advantage of it!)

My latest brain-storm on behalf of the ECE community has been the launching of our BRAND, NEW Collaborative blog over at PreK+K Sharing. We have over 30 amazing authorities on all things Arts, Mental Health, Classroom, Special Needs and Parenting; authors, bloggers, teachers and performers contributing a new 'article' once a month -- so you have brand new ideas and inspiration on a daily basis!!!! You must check out this newest resource! You are entitled to a FREE Mp3 of one of my songs by following this link to my article on childhood obesity.

All this talk of 'pretend' seems like something Charlie Brown and Lucy would appreciate.

Speaking of Charlie Brown....................

I saw this image in the morning paper while on our cross-country trek, earlier this month.

We really haven't figured it all out yet, have we?

We need more voices advocating for children, for their precious early years.

We need more voices clammoring for resources to be focused on these without a voice.

We need to give our VERY best to children in their foundation years.....

Giving them plenty of opportunities for dramatic play and all of the other basics!

It's time to speak up -- where ever + when ever you have the opportunity!

*****I've added this post to Deborah Stewart's linkie on Dramatic Play over at Teach PreSchool. Click here for a ton of inspiration + ideas.

New Years Resolution Preview

2011-12-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

These days to wind up the year are golden in my life.
As long as I can remember this has been a week of 'vacation.' A week of hibernation. A week of reflection. A week of planning. A week of joy. Pure gold.

All through school and then college, and then teaching and even now -- as a small business owner (author/illustrator/music-lady) this has been a week of break. A week of vacation. A week of reflection. Finals complete. No papers to write. No presentations to make. Choose an era. This week has always been filled with a 'break-from-routine.'

All of the memories of the celebration captured in my heart. Some years had movie-marathons in pajamas. Other years there were fires in the fireplace after watching the girls ice skating on the backyard skating rink. A couple of adventures to warmer climates. Always a week to look forward to, to ponder, to savor, to restore + rejuvinate.

DeLorean Time Capsule: Noelle + Sarah Olympic preparation

So here we are again.

The presentations are complete. The concerts are finished.

A week of pure gold!!

Now it's a week of planning.

A week of looking forward.

A week of consideration.

A week of goal-setting.

A week of resolve.

I've learned so much in the past several months about the world-of-blogging.

It's going to be fun to move into a whole new year with an infant set of new skills, willing to grow.

So what will my resolve for this new year involve?

This week, TODAY, I have begun my next picture book!!!!!!!!

It seems reasonable to think that I could get one quilt per month accomplished.

Sixteen months = sixteen quilts = thirty-two pages = one picture book.

While I sit here with the potential of every possibility hovering brightly.........

How about some more specifics:

Be grateful, be appreciative, express thanks!
Look at my day from a "pinning-perspective"
Write my blog posts from a 'resource' perspective
Drink more water (aim for increasing intake weekly)
Eat more 'whole' foods: read VEGGIES
Put more snail mail into mail-boxes
EXERCISE: be diligent, be ruthless, dare I say, "Just do it!"
Follow up with seeds planted: make more lists
Take more pictures!!!!! Get some clip-art! Put it together!!!
GET MY NAEYC PROPOSAL IN ON TIME!
Connect to more bloggers, more cyber resources, continue to learn
Contribute to our collaborative "PreK+K Sharing"

That's my Debbie's Dozen Resolutions

I've gotten into this list-making mood, prompted by a linkie-party!!!

It's taken HUGE HUGE HUGE amounts of ~~risk~~ growth, to put this out there for the whole world.

Pop over to "Live, Love, Laugh Everyday in Kindergarten" to see what others are planning.

That's the motivation of the linkie party!

I've also added this to the Blog-a-holic Janurary Linkie party!!

Shhhhhhhh. Don't tell, but my lucky thirteen is to open a 'store' at Teacher's Pay Teachers.

Missin' My WEE Wonders

2011-12-25T22:40:00.001-05:00

This is my first Christmas to be geographically apart from my Wonder-peeps. Needless to say, I've been missin' them like crazy all day. I probably didn't need to tell you that, did I?

With the powers of Skype we were able to 'scrumble' each other through the computer screen -- which is no where near as much fun as scrumbling in person. (I probably didn't need to spell that one out either, did I?)

To keep myself busy I decided to spend time searching thru photos.

This is probably the point where you chuckle to yourself and say something profound like, "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, now does it?" Fun times, indeed!!! Could these people be related to me? Ya think?

While I'm reflecting on my family, strewn across the entire country.... I'm proud to report that I remembered to take pictures just days ago when we gathered together in Georgia with my parents, sister Rebecca's family and Noelle + Zac (our daughter & SIL.) I'm going to include those snaps for my immediate family's enjoyment. Feel free to look over my shoulder while I get them organized here in my scrapbook.

Mom, Dad, Zac, Noelle, moi + Allen

Dad, Mom, Zac, Ramon, Noelle, Justin + Kelly

Do you remember that my niece Kelly married the dashing Ramon this summer? That's my nephew Justin, Kelly's brother -- home with us this season from his teaching responsibilities in Portugal. So this photo showcases 3 of my parents 5 grandchildren -- on the couch -- and the two adoring spouses perched behind their leading ladies.

Most of the above plus sister Rebecca, Allen is photographer

Justin + introducing Joana

The timing of this extended family rendez-vous was centered around our having the opportunity to meet Joana. At the time that I took this photo, I was still sworn to secrecy. At this moment everyone but Joana was aware that Jusin had an engagement ring in his pocket and was about to pop the proverbial question. They met in Joana's home country of Portugal -- and this was Joana's first trip stateside. Her English is amazing, which is terrfic, since our Portugese is non-existent. She was doing well to keep up with all of the who's whos, let alone the family antics. She's from a small family.

Everyone from above plus Dale, my BIL, front right happy smile.

Wallace family, not making traditional bunny ears, but rather reindeer antlers

What finer American 'institute' to introduce Joana to than Cracker Barrel?

Justin, Noelle, Kelly, Joana, Zac (photo-shop Ramon into snap)

All of us were acting as though we had swallowed the proverbial canary..... it was so hard to keep from smiling tooooooo brightly, since we were all 'in' on Justin's secret. I'm happy to report that she said "YES" and I am now at liberty to share 'the rest of the story' here with my extended family. Happy times!!!!

The blessings of the season are profound. The depth + true meaning of the season are amplified thru the prism of being with and being separated from those that we love. Go scrumble someone that you have within arm's length.... and then be very grateful that you can.

Here's a 'review' photo from last Christmas, when we had both daughters, both SILs AND the WonderPeeps all together in one spot. This is the most recent 'Four Generation' photo that we have. A true treasure!!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.......

2011-12-24T20:27:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know how I feel about imortalizing hand-prints, right!

How about a handprint wreath?

What a great way to incorporate EVERYONE into one project!

LUV collaborative projects!!!

A 'sweet' candy cane, open-ended, always successful.

1. Red construction paper cane base

2. Tissue papers: red + white to 'glue' randomly

Candy Cane Collage

Looking for fine-motor fun for next year?

Be sure that you pin this image as a reminder!!

This tree project above could easily be adapted for younger fingers, and instead of 'cutting' snips to brighten the tree, they could be torn bits.

++++ Speaking of hand-prints and how 'handy' (LOL) they are for creating projects to keep FOREVER........

Click back here to see more examples of the hand-print 'snowflake' ornament idea.

Consider making an instant 'heirloom.'

Blue Christmas: Re-Run

2011-12-23T23:06:00.001-05:00

One of the best things about the 'discipline' of keeping a blog, is that it really does become a chronicle of your journey. I've been wrestling with what to post today. My last entry has already climbed well into my Top 10 list, because it is just the type of 'content' that teachers are looking for: Graphic Organizers + Foldables = HOT commodity! It's taken me months of 'learning' to figure out how to create such a post. If you came here today hoping for more of the same, another teacher grand slam -- turn back now. Flee. Run for the exit. The pendulum is about to swing.

If your life is set in the midst of a Martha Stewart-Norman Rockwell sort of backdrop, click away now and head to your nearest up-beat blog address, one chock full of recipes with cranberries, family crafts with cinnamon, and grandiose pine swags of decorating ideas complete with tinsel tutorials. My writing today is about to get real. [I promise that the next post will swing back to happy-happy + upbeat joy, so please do indeed come back.]

BUT. If your life is not of that glossy magazine-ilk. If you have troubles. Or issues. Or conflicts. Or frustrations. Or challenges. Or bad news. Or divisiveness. Or struggles. Or loss. Or heart ache. Or concern. Or agony. Or wounds. Or questions. Or searching. Or good-byes to articulate. Stay tuned. You've come to the right spot.

I am going to re-post my entire entry from exactly two years ago.... I'm not sure that blog-experts would approve of such a cut & paste, but that's my plan. It's an old post that hardly any one read back then, because I had no readership really. Be fore-warned: It's a strong post. I wrote it right before my second diagnosis of Breast Cancer -- which makes it all the more poignant reading it now. [CUE: Heavy-duty fore-shadowing, indeed... I wrote the original post exactly one week before the mamo that sent everything into tail-spin, the sequel.]

I only keep one blog. Consequently this one's a patchwork quilt of my time as a survivor of various life 'train-wrecks' punctuating an overall life of contribution, creating and caring. One side of my world informs the other. But today I pause to acknowledge that life is not just one big long parade of polka-dots and smiles. Planet Earth.

It's been a long two years. A second diagnosis of early Breast Cancer. Bilateral Mastectomies. Complications (you don't even want to go there with details lets just summarize by saying) INFECTIONS. Fired my surgeon. Got new specialist, new hospital. Frozen shoulder. Months and months and months and months and months of painful physical therapy to be able to lift my dominant hand over my head. Lymphedema (again in the shallow end of that pool, too. I have much to be grateful for on the BC continuum.) Kinesio-taping for months on end. Lymphedema sleeves and gauntlets -- stares and insensitivity from waiters and miscellaneous total strangers -- oh, and pain, did I mention pain? -- and a constant revolving door of medical appointments. That was the year of 2010.

FLASH-FORWARD. 2011. This was the year I lit a candle on Easter in an Italian cathedral. Truly. In. Awe.

Duomo di Milano, Italy: Easter Candle Prayers -- Mine lit for the CURE

Tonight. I just read that one of my dear "Team January" surgery-sistahs received the news earlier today that her BC has metastasized in various places through-out her body. Stage IV. [There is no stage 5.] She is a HUGE influence on our team -- because of her brilliant support from her medical training she informs all of us, but more significantly her impact on us is because of her enormous heart, kindness and sense of humor. She's young, with her first born daughter's wedding on the horizon. Tonight I also read of another Team January member who received her prescription for anti-depressants earlier today. Are the two related? You do the math. Mets are everyone's worst fear. TAK (pseudonym) received the news today. The news NO one ever wants to hear on December twenty-third. Falalalala-lalalala? Really?!?!
It was TAK's announcement that jogged my memory about my earlier post: "BLUE CHRISTMAS."

My Angel "Saint"creation, forever watching-over-me

It's a tough road. This post is dedicated to all of my BC ~~sisterhood~~ familyhood. [I miss my dear friend Saint so very much. Whole families grieve, not just we sisters.] My earlier writing which follows this ever longer-intro, is probably all the more appropriate now, than I realized it would be when I wrote it two years back. Perhaps this will be my annual Dec. 23rd post? Something in the vein of a "Yes, Virginia tradition."

Certainly there is pain beyond BC. I dedicate this particular post to everyone who is hurting, like my grandma-friend who has just received the news that her unborn grandchild is not likely to survive being born. Yes, this post is for everyone who has lived thru the fires of this life (the actual burning down your house kind with a lengthy ICU stay as my brother experienced this year + the try-your-soul, refining types) the tragedies, the set-backs -- all of which become magnified at this time of year in the face of the Hallmark Channel's non-stop happily-ever-after of sappy-endings marathon.

Light a candle. Say a prayer. You are loved through-out this human soup of life's experiences. Loved with a power only imagined and possible by a Creator capable of sculpting both the Grand Canyon and the daisy. You are loved. You are loved by a Maker that harnesses the power of an infinite universe of twinkling stars to the specificity of a sand dollar washing up at your feet as you walk the relentless and thundering surf.

You are loved in the midst of it all. That to me is the miracle of this season. We can lift one another up by listening, by being available, by caring, by our mere presence being the present.... even when there are no words, or perhaps especially because of the times there are no adequate words. Whether with a hug in person or a message through cyber space, we can impact the lives of others. I offer you my experience as an example of the goodness of grace abounding. I 'sit' in solidarity with those experiencing blue. There is indeed strength in tears, but especially in blue tears.

Dec. 23, 2009

What a blessing. What thoughtfulness. What consideration.
Tonight our church hosted it's first ever "Blue Christmas" service.

It was soft.
It was deep.
It was compelling.

The chancel was darkened except for blue lights illuminating the altar and numerous simple white candles twinkling. The music was presented by a trio, accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar.

It was quiet.
It was moving.
It was healing.

The poinsettia tree was already in it's place of honor, but the focus was much more subdued and it literally stood in the shadows.

The readings selected spoke of 'seasons: a time to weep' and 'deep speaking unto deep.'

It was a blue service. For those grieving, for those in the midst of loss. For those having a difficult time embracing the traditional ebullience of a hyper-over-produced Christmas, which can be a criticism for even the church.

It was a blue service. For the lonely. For the broken. For the forgotten. For the exhausted. For the searching. For the despondent. For the struggling. For the weary. For the lost. For the displaced. For the angry. For the frightened. For the drifting. For the seeking. For the depressed. For the hurting. For the fractured. For the aching. For the mourning.

The pastor spoke of the strength and value of tears -- especially during this season. He addressed loss. He spoke of 'missing gifts' when a loved one is no longer in our midst. He preached about being brought to your knees with questions and searching hearts..... how such times may be when we are most seeking answers and ready & available to listen.

He spoke of consolation.
He spoke of lighting your candle against the darkness.
He spoke of yearning.
He spoke of sorrow.
He spoke of heart break.

It was tranquil.
It was serene.
It was peaceful.

It was very possibly one of the most meaningful worship services I have ever attended. I sat there thinking what a gift for our congregation, for our community. I sat there with tears streaming down my face for most of the service. Gentle tears of acceptance. Gentle tears of peace.

It was gentle.
It was at the same time hopeful.
It was powerful.
Strength from weakness.

As we walked across the dark parking lot on our way to the car, I was thinking how I could possibly convey the simplicity, the majesty and the ringing truth.
This season is so hard, for so many.

I wished that every congregation would host such a service. A 'blue' Christmas. I was thinking of a picture to post here, on this thread. A single candle?
Just as I was considering the options I saw the license plate on the car parked next to ours.

SRVIVOR.

I pray that you will embrace your survivor-hood status and that the season at hand brings answers as you seek -- sometimes on your knees, sometimes while sobbing, that you are loved with a depth beyond your understanding. I pray that you know that you are never alone. I pray that our community offers you strength. I pray that this season offers you a moment of reflection. I pray this season brings you hope -- even in the broken-ness which is ours.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.
Strength and courage.
Strength and courage.

Thank you divine angels for leading a worship committee to have the insight to create an entire service of dignity and quiet for us to collectively mourn our losses. May you bring comfort and consolation to those who are in need here in our community. May we raise one another up, by sharing our losses, our sorrow, our weariness..... dividing it by our sharing it. May you shower us with the gentle healing of our acknowledging our blueness and may that healing give You glory.

xx00xx00xx00xx

Strength and courage.
Strength and courage.
Strength and courage.

[I originally wrote this post to go on the Stage IV thread at BCO in the Discussion Boards in a section entitled "Women of Faith" -- and I copied and pasted it from there into my blog.]

Tenn IRA + Graphic Organizers

2011-12-21T18:33:00.000-05:00

It's time to attempt to get caught up on the back-log of
so many experiences saved on my memory card.

Here I am in Murfreesboro, TN.

Just a couple weeks ago.

I had two workshop presentations for their International Reading Association.

We women-of-the-headwear posed to show our zip.

These are some some of my workshop participants,
caught in the act of participating!!
This is my first workshop:
"Lyrics to Literacy: Read a Song & Sing a Book"

Now back to the exhibit hall... wait till you see these!!!

The Foldables Exhibit was right around the corner from my booth in the exhibit hall. I never had a chance to speak with Dinah. Our presentations and exhibit times were apparently overlapping? I can tell you that her 'booth' was hopping, and I mean non-stop! Teachers were in a constant clamor and the flash-bulbs were poppin'!! BTW: Here's the direct link to Dinah's website... remember to tell her that I sent you!

I took the following pictures (from her TONS of examples) to honor my promise of providing more support to my readers. I know that these will bring new visitors from Pinterest! [Please become a 'follower' thru your fave avenue: FB Networked Blogs or Google Friends.] I just knew these examples were going to spark all sorts of teacher imaginations. I think they speak for themselves. I took photos in an effort to share ideas for different age groups and grade levels. Which style will be your favorite?

These ideas are for the big kids!!!!

Palindromes, INDEED!!!!

This would be an awesome possibility for an older student's first major book report! It would be so easy to 'adapt' these flap-categories to suit your needs depending on your grade level -- for older or younger students. There could also be more or fewer categories (flaps) as per the need of any given student or book summary. How clever to have the student's illustration continue from flap-to-flap!

Two thumbs up!!!

This pink foldable wins on so many levels. I can really 'see' this as a personal dictionary of sorts.... with new vocabulary words being added over time and complete with definitions! It would be fun to have the student add an illutration to their new entry.

I thought that the "Little Red Riding Hood" captured in the example below, could work especially well for my Kindergarten friends. Long term readers know that I'm all-about helping every learning style -- about every child getting the support they need to grasp information, subjects, new concepts. These 'foldables' offer all sorts of manipulative + kinestetic feedback and potential. Whoooohoooooo!

Teachers, these get your motors running, don't they?

I can envision creating a more 'permanent' fold-able in the style of the "Little Red Riding Hood" example and using post-it-notes to personalize subsequent books + stories to follow this same breakdown review. What a perfect way for sequential learning to be broken into smaller chunks for retention and review.

Dr. Danny Brassell's son creating a photo-dictionary of vocabulary.

Today over at our collaborative blog, Dr. Danny Brassell has an article on how parents can help support their children in their language acquisition -- building their vocabulary -- all in a help to support their child's future reading efforts. His article dove-tails nicely with these foldables. Which to me, are all also all about "doing-whatever-it-takes" to reach each student, each child. Click here to read Dr. Danny's thoughts, his article has that same mantra: whatever-it-takes. His is the type of article I think you'll want to copy for your files.

My second workshop was a big hit, literally!! I presented all of my 'big hits' -- my original songs for children -- perfect for "brain breaks" with even sophisticated, mature students.

Then back to the exhibit hall for some

more signing + personalizing of my picture books.

Click here to read the synopsis of my first picture book, "You're Wonderful" for which I am author + illustrator (plus publisher + composer -- as the book is based on my original song by the same name.) The post has some amazing student created artwork in response to my quilted illustrations, from my Author-in-the-Schools visits.

Consider these foldable inspiration ideas and Dr. Danny's article an early holiday gift. I know that you'll be pinning-the-dickens out of these photographs!! What an amazing resource we have in Pinterest. What an amazing resource we have in fellow bloggers!!

Now that you're home for some much needed vacation time, you can brainstorm all the possibilities of these 'foldables' combined with Dr. Danny's insight. I promise I'll be on the look-out for additional brilliance in my travels. Thanks for stopping through.

The Letter Q: Quixotic!!!

2011-12-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

I am so fortunate to get to see excellence in action.

I am often invited to places that squeal EXCELLENCE from every corner.

Take a look at four 'projects-of-the-week' from Carlos' folder introducing him to the letter Q.

Then let me see your smile!!!!

Behold: excellence and the letter Q!!!!!!!!

It all starts with letters.

Success with letters!!

Bringing letters a sensory interpretation?

PRICELESS!!!!

Here's a previous post, still in my Top 10 list on sensory integration using cornmeal. Click here.

Quixotic = Exceedingly Idealistic

Quixotic = Lofty romantic ideals

Quixotic = Extravgantly Visionary

What quixotic plans do you have for the New Year?

If you like these letter Q possibilities, may I suggest you click over here to see this post with

"M is for Mosaic + Macaroni"