Sunday, March 30, 2014

Preschool Excellence: Author Visit Performance & Preparation

Debbie Clement Performs at Preschool!

DATELINE: DENVER! Early Education Excellence to share! 
We're back home in our adopted palm trees and sunshine! I finally have some time to share some of our recent fun-on-the-road. Earlier this month we were in Denver long enough for me to present at two ECE conferences and spend quality time with our Rocky Mountain WonderPeeps (grandchildren.) How blessed am I? 

We had planned sufficiently ahead to get on the agenda for our very own preschooler's calendar. The invite went out far and wide to join the fun! The 'sleeps' until the big show were dutifully counted and the plans were made. 


Preparation for Painting: Creating a Personalized T-Shirt via RainbowsWithinReach

Let me show you the idea that was hatched in response to my Valentine's Day school visit in FL. There the teachers and parents had the children create personalized Tshirts in honor of my first book, "You're Wonderful." What a brilliant idea! Now to spread that brainstorm! Here's what there beauties looked like.

Personalized T-shirts for "You're Wonderful" by Debbie Clement
Flashback to the Florida t-shirts! 
Under the watchful eye of our daughter-in-law, we recreated the same experience for our WonderGuy. I hope that you will ultimately be able to use and replicate this concept at your site, for your Wonders. I started off by drawing a template to be personalized. {Theoretically this is in a pdf format and I will ultimately list it above in the FREEBIES section. First I have to make a 'girl' version. Patience. I know. I know.} Take a look! 

Preschool Personalized Tshirt Painting via RainbowsWithinReach

As you can see, we had fun creating a Denver Bronco version. 
I got to cheer. He got to paint. A fun time was had by all! 
Tempra paint was used for the clothing choices, plus the word 'WONDERFUL'  was also painted letter-by-letter. Then permanent markers were used for the addition of the facial features, but I forgot to take any pictures of that later excitement.

Next mommy-Megan scanned the dried painting into her computer and added the border element to the design in that format.  She knows just the product to make these REALLY work. I can't remember why, but she told me it best to use the DARK choice. (If you look in the lower left hand corner below, it says: DARK. This is item #3279 and purchased at most craft type stores.) 



She has been making personalized 'onesies' since the kids began arriving, so she's a pro by now and had much insight. This is a full sheet iron-on 'decal' ready for application to the prewashed t-shirt.

Personalized Tshirt Painting Ready for Iron-on Application via RainbowsWithinReach
The completed 'personalized t-shirt decal' ready for ironing on! 

Personalized Tshirt Painting Ready for Iron-on Application via RainbowsWithinReach

And with that we could all go to bed for our final 'sleep' before the fun launched! 

Welcome Debbie Clement

Here we are during the infamous introductory stage of our time together. 
{Yes. Those are the two youngest Clements in our tribe of WonderPeeps.} 

The theory was that Duncan might actually do the intros. 
In the end Ms. Cindy, the center director did all of the honors. 

Welcome to Preschool Performance with Debbie Clement

It was too funny when she said, "I'd like you to meet Duncan's grandmother." 
He looked up quickly and corrected Ms. Cindy and said, 
"That's GeeGee." 
We all giggled, waved at each other and began in earnest. 

Welcome Author-Illustrator Debbie Clement to Preschool

I got my first decade or two of experience spending about 90% of my time with preschoolers. 
Now that I'm an 'author-illustrator' I get the VAST majority of my invitations to elementary schools. 

Having the opportunity to return to my 'roots' is an honor and a delight.
No matter the location, I invite the participants to 
"Close your eyes for the next surprise!"  

"Close your Eyes for a BIG Surprise!" Author Visit with Debbie Clement

There are MANY surprises!!! 
I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite. 

Preschool Author-Illustrator Performance with Debbie Clement

All too soon the fun together is over and I get to tour the facility, with the intention of sharing some of their Early Childhood EXCELLENCE with you here. There was so much to see, my camera could barely keep up with my snapping! Here are a couple of the views of the reading corners delineated with delight.

Preschool Classroom Reading Corners via RainbowsWithinReach

This one just screams spring to me! 

Reading Corner in Preschool Setting via RainbowsWithinReach



Reading Corner in Preschool Setting via RainbowsWithinReach


Reading Corner in Preschool Setting via RainbowsWithinReach

Look closely at this amazing side of this length of the classroom. You will see there on the far left of the photo an INCREDIBLE original 'Mondrian' hangs joyously and was created by the youngest children in the entire program! Utterly glorious. The teeny children created their own single-color paintings on clear acetate notebook shields. Of course you can see that they used the primary colors for this experience. The collaboration was then taped together with wide black tape. VOILA! Mondrian! 

Mondrian Collaborative Painting in Early Preschool via RainbowsWithinReach

I will need to add this idea to my Earlier Art History 101 article. 

Art History 101: Art Projects for Early Elementary via RainbowsWithinReach

If you are an Art History Appreciator, you'll want to check out the follow ups: 102 & 103

Art History 102: Elementary School Response to the Masters via RainbowsWithinReach

Art History 103: Early Elementary Projects in Response to the Masters at RainbowsWithinReach

Look at this sculptural idea for your sensory table! 
Fill it will strips and stripes of construction paper. 
Add some scissors and glue sticks.......... 
Stand back and see what unfolds! 
LUV LUV LUV LUV LUV it!! 

Open-ended, PROCESS art: YES! 
Fine motor development? YES!!! 
Use up your bits and scraps? YES!!!! 
PERFECTA! 

Sensory Table filled with strips and stripes of paper, scissors & glue sticks! (via RainbowsWithinReach)

I know that you like to see how your peers organize their classrooms. 
That article on classroom organization is #2 on my All Time Hit parade of most viewed articles. 
How cute are these individual student notebooks? 
Standing at attention, waiting additions! 


While I have your attention, I think you'll want to know three more links for this time of year. 
Here's the one with dozens and dozens and dozens of Spring Arts Ideas. 

Spring Arts and Inspiration via RainbowsWithinReach

This is the RoundUP of all things Mother's Day (Preschool + Kindergarten Ideas) 

photo of: Mother's Day RoundUP of Resources: Bloghop + LInkie at RainbowsWithinReach

And finally, here's the link to my "End-of-the-Year" RoundUP

photo of: End of Year Rhymes + Keepsakes RoundUP via RainbowsWithinReach

Have a great week! 
Hope that I have added some inspiration from my travels! 
By all means, can you help a girl out?
Please pin generously at every visit here. 
My invitation to present in Denver was as a result of my presence on Pinterest! 
Your pin really makes a difference!
Thank you!  



As a footnote, for anyone reading this in real time! I received a coupon from Shutterfly that is good today 3/30 until midnight. You get to choose your FREE gift from Luggage Tags, a photo magnet and personalized address labels. I am obsessed with these tags! Can't wait for them to come! Use the promo code: PICKME for your freebie! 










Custom Luggage Tag
View the entire collection of cards.





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