Snowmen in Texas, Friendswood Texas!

Snowmen in Texas? 

Which part of Texas has snowmen you ask?
 Not just snowmen, but LOTS of snow PEOPLE?

Why, FRIENDSwood -- of course! 

I know! Because I saw them with my very own eyes.
I just made an Author/Illustrator visit and was overjoyed at their projects. 
Let's start with these gems! Snowflakes + writing! 

Here's what the whole winter bulletin board looked like.

These snow folks know the need of a good scarf!
There's a lot of cutting in this project.....
and many ways to tie a scarf. 

And here's one portion of the over-sized snowman bulletin board of these happy characters in all of their glory. 

Now a look at some more projects that combine art with writing. 

This first one is a craftivity that explains how to build a snowman. 

The booklets are stapled at the top and open below to see the hand-written instructions and Texas insight for snowman building tucked inside. 

These snowmen paintings provide a backdrop for original poetry. 

Look at all of the details in these scarves and hats!

Buttons! Coal mouths. Even ear muffs! 

Now I have some snowpeople that combine the creative creation side with MATH!

"My snowman is _____ cubes tall."

"My snowman is _______ cubes tall."

These next TRULY unique characters were created at home as homework assignments. What a fun connection between home and school.  

Look at the details that parents have helped supervise.

Look closely.

They are built on three paper plates stapled together. 

EASY PEASY!! Lemon Squeezie!! 

This final chart is the favorite part of my roaming the hallways in Texas. 

What an awesome idea to chart actual life experience. 

"Have you ever made a REAL snowman?" 

A small percentage have sealed the deal. 

Do you realize that I'm a Pinterest Princess?

I'm nearing 100,000 followers.

SERIOUSLY!

I have a Pin-Board dedicated to "Snow People."

Come follow me at Pinterest for all of the goodies I can find in one place!

--Debbie--

I conclude today with an 'experiment' gone AMUK. Below you will find a happy little three minute slide show of my visit in Friendswood filled with a couple dozen AWESOME photos set to one of my own instrumentals. It will truly make you smile if you have a couple more minutes. It is my first time using an application called "SmileBox." I have seen others use this format on their blogs, and without checking with my braintrust, I just jumped in and made this delightful scrapbook.

Here's my experience. It was VERY easy to navigate and create the glimpse you'll see below. HOWEVER, I would NOT recommend to anyone that you join SmileBox. When I downloaded their program to my laptop, it 'high-jacked' my computer's tool bar -- obviously without my consent. This is such a HUGE nuisance. I am in OH right now and hubby/tech consultant is in FL. We tried over the phone to sort this out. An hour later, I still don't have 'my' tool bar back. I have complained in all caps and many exclamation marks but have not received any actual support from their support team. 
BOO HISS SmileBox. How dare you! Two thumbs down. WAY down. 

Personalize a free photo slideshow

President's Day Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning! 

What do you know about this approach to learning? 

I'm learning a whole lot myself!
Click here for a whole explanation of the PBL Approach at Edutopia.  

I have had the great good fortune to spend time in kindergarten recently, where the PBL approach is being explored with vim and vigor! 

With my 'Author/Illustrator Day' to their school on their horizon, 

they investigated Veteran's Day through the prism of my picture book,
"Red, White and Blue." 

Take a look at their patriotic investigation. 

Ramp up your own approach in time for President's Day. 

The anchor chart above was the backbone for the learning that unfolded over weeks of dynamic classroom investigation and instruction. It was still on prominent display in the hallway in time for my arrival. Actually the entire wall was one big anchor chart of learning. (Ohio is one of the few states left that still have many schools that have half-day kindergarten, so you'll notice each chart is duplicated: a.m. + p.m.) 

Surrounding the anchor chart were AMAZING flags created by small groups within the kindergarten program. Lots and LOTS of flags!

Imagine over-sized American flags created by kindergartners, gracing every single inch of public space in an elementary school: bulletin boards and walls alike. THEY WERE EVERYWHERE! 

Flags in every possible combination of media. 

Flags made digitally on the computer. 

FLAGS! FLAGS! FLAGS!

I'm telling you. 

When my friends in Hilliard get on a subject they REALLY explore!

RIGOR! RIGOR!! RIGOR!!!

Following the collaborative flag making work, the kindergarten children proceeded by studing my picture book and in that model, make their OWN picture book -- complete with their own illustrations!

They had it completed prior to my arrival....

and they were SOOOO excited to share it with me. 

You're going to LUV LUV LUV these! 

My friends in Hilliard, OH know how to take an idea and run with it!

Here's a glimpse at a response earlier in the year created by first graders in their study of my picture book. On the left you see the quilted illustration that becomes the 'end-paper' of my book -- where the illustrations are made from fabric. On the right you see the construction paper response from the first graders. These were made on September eleventh of this school year while I was in their midst in Door County, Wisconsin. 

After the students shared their 'book' with me the very next item on the agenda was for them to 'perform' my song for me!!! Just prior to my arrival they had invited all of the Veterans in their school family to come for a grand performance..... so they had given much preparation. Singing my song for me--the author/illustrator/music-lady was just the cherry on the top of months of learning about America, our flag, our history and what makes us great. 

What?!?! You don't know my song? We must remedy that right away. Here's a YouTube video filmed in Illinois at their annual Reading Conference where I presented workshops. The teachers are learning the sign language as the song unfolds.

Here's a look inside my book! 

YES!!! 

I made the illustrations from fabric as small quilts!

YES!!!

I included all of the bits and pieces in the book that teachers have asked for!

If this is your first visit around here, let me tell you that I'm a Pinterest Princess! 

I have a collection of all things patriotic to support your use of my song. 

I have 465 ideas already pinned and awaiting your search. 

Click right here to go to my "Red, White and Blue" board at Pinterest. 

At the end of last week I installed the code, 

so that if you hover over any picture on my blog you can pin it easily. 

Please-o, Please-o, Please-oooooo Pin to your heart's content. 

I now have over 90,000 followers at Pinterest!!!

I'm so grateful for every pin you add out there to the wider world. 

Of course you can always order the picture book directly from my website. 

My growing TpT Store

Or if you are already shopping over at Teachers Pay Teachers today, I have my books listed there as well. I have my books on sale today at TpT..... so hurry because I'll have to ship it to you. If you need the song and sign language chart IMMEDIATELY you can get the digital file with Mp3 versions of both the song and its instrumental accompaniment from TpT as well. 

If you're up for a new shopping adventure, come visit our EARLY EDUCATION EMPORIUM -- brought to you by the authors of our collaborative blog PreK+K Sharing! The digital version is available right here in my own personal EEE! Check out all of the other resources under our umbrella! We are looking for other contributors to the EEE and you have the unique opportunity to list as many items as you'd like for free -- now until the end of June. Come on over and explore!

-- Debbie -- 

Snowflake RoundUP: Arts + Fine Motor

WELCOME!!! The series continues! 

FINE MOTOR LEADS TO FINE ARTS: 

Installment #42, The Snowflake Edition

Click here to see the whole series.

This week I have oodles of images to share. Few words. 

In 'real time' I've just arrived in Friendswood, Texas! 

I'm here for tomorrow's school visit, 

hosted by the miracle-in-the-makeing, Barbara Gruener. 

Yes. The same Barbara who has survived a head on collision exactly two weeks ago at the hands of a drunk driver. 

To see the photos of her car is to truly have evidence of miracles. 

Barbara is the author of the blog 

CHARACTER COUNTS. 

We've been plotting and planning today for over a year.

I'm so glad that I was able to give her a gentle hug. 

She won't be able to participate in the day's festivities, 

but we are FOREVER grateful for her emergence back to life. 

Now, back to fine motor fun. 

This week it's all about snowflakes. 

I'll add some words later, but I think you can get the idea.

Bulletin Board of Painted Handprint "Snowflakes" 

Bulletin Board of "Written" Snowflakes on Friendship

Here's the evidence of a quick hop to the Dollar Store. 

Here's what two dollars can get you. 

Pipe cleaners + beads = Snowflakes!

Symmetric Snowflakes 

Paper Snowflakes

-- Debbie --