October 29th A Day with Mr. Greg and Debbie Clement: Nashville!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 

October 29th! 

Nashville!!! 

There's something *EPIC* in the making! 

You want to be part of this historic day! 

A FULL DAY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH 

MR. GREG & DEBBIE CLEMENT!!!

REGISTER HERE

Once upon a time I visited 

Mr. Greg of Kindergarten Smorgasboard fame---- 

at his school. 

A fun time was had by all! 

Whenever we get together we wear our very best..... 

our best hats and our best smiles! 

One year rolls into the next and I just keep finding him -- 

even if he changes schools. 

Every year I look forward to my grand, official welcome. 

We always remember to pose before the day gets started.

The two of us have a mutual admiration society! 

He has used my books (and songs) with his monsters and then with his mustaches.

Mr. Greg has his students create original 

and authentic art work in response 

to my picture books! 

These next pictures are in my power point presentation

as an example of fostering creativity and originality.

I could write volumes on "AUTHENTIC" art..... and I have previously. 

What I absolutely LUV is how completely unique and original 

each and every masterpiece turned out. 

Give them the materials and time and stand back. 

It is a VERY big deal, when I finally arrive 

for our big day together! 

I LUV LUV LUV being part of the morning message!

And then blink and the day gets started in earnest. 

I may or may not be just a tad excited!

My goal is that students get excited about meeting 

an author/illustrator. 

I've shared some glimpses into Mr. Greg's room in the past. 

I know how you like to take a gander into other classrooms. 

This puzzle idea is beyond precious. 

What an amazing way to connect home and school. 

I'm ALL about hopes and DREAMS! 

Seeing these spelled out is so insightful. 

You know how some people are by nature 'over-achievers.' 

Mr. Greg is one of those. 

Truth be told, I may be as well.

He has such a HUGE heart for his students. 

Just as importantly his heart is huge for his teaching peers.  

When Greg invited me to launch his second day of professional development -- 

I was ALL in!

{register here} 

Peanut butter and jelly. 

Glitter and polka dots. 

Brass tacks AND inspiration. 

BRING IT ON! 

Behind the dreamers are the list makers and the i dotters. 

Fortunately for the two of us, 

there is another duo offering lots of support.

Here's a peek at how the day will begin. 

Click right here to see the full agenda and all of the details. 

Blessings + Praise Report! THE most incredible week: EV!ER!

#BLESSED #GRATEFUL #FORTUNATE! #INCREDIBLE 

This has been an incredible week, truly one for the books! One for the blog! It has been one moment for the highlight reel after another. Superlatives. Dreams coming true -- right before my very eyes! 

On Monday I returned to St. Paul in Westerville, OH. I have made an annual visit for at least the last decade! Good friends. Always a highlight of the year. This year's visit was amazing in every way -- except that my camera had a mind of its own and there are so few images to share. This is a first and thank goodness I had my phone charged! 

Look at this amazing Kinder-graph! 

Every month, a different one of my original songs introduced. 

And just before my May arrival, the kinders voted on their favorite! 

It was a close run-off between "Red, White and Blue" and "Calamity Sam"

but the Kinders chose SAM as the winner for this school year!

So humbling to see my participation for an entire year!

HALLELUJAH 

I've seen many schools have wrapped up for the year,

but just in case you are still in learning mode, 

these two songs are ready for you in digital download.

No sooner had I caught my breath from my kinder-fun, 

it was on further north to the Lorain County JVS {Joint Vocation School.} 

How amazing to be the FINAL TWO HOURS of the senior year, 

for these upcoming ECE professionals. 

***From Kinders-to-Seniors in the blink of an eye. 

Their amazing teacher had written the grant, that in addition to our spending time together, every one of the 45 students received some of my materials! What a great way to start a professional library! I LUV when folks plan ahead and everyone benefits.

HALLELUJAH!

To say that we had some quality interaction barely touches the level of enthusiasm of our time together! So happy to have new followers on Instagram. This is our equivalent of the Ellen 'us-ie' posted on Twitter not that long ago. 

No sooner did we get checked into our RESORT room in anticipation of OAEYC, than I got the news that Maria over at KinderCraze had published her article of our time together earlier this month. Having the opportunity to be the focus of Maria's insight and generous talent when it comes to photography is a certain highlight! 

HURRY right over to her blog article, where we are giving away my first two books.
It is a very simple process to enter to win. 
I will be certain to sign and personalize the books for the winner! 
Here's a peek as we compare my original quilt to the illustration within 
"You're Wonderful."  

Thank you Maria, that in the midst of your final wedding plans, 
you took the time to highlight our time together. 
I know that I will add new fans as a result of your kindness. 
HALLELUJAH!

Then it was full speed ahead to OAEYC!
It was a challenge to fall asleep: my heart was so full of gratitude. 
It was such a thrill to open my eyes and see my Mentor-Mimi!

Do you think it is possible that she's just had her 80th birthday? 
The woman is a veritable power house of inspiration! 
Having her hugs and support means the world. 
So thrilling that we could both be on the stage for #OAEYC2015.

The entire three days of OAEYC was a blur of joy and happiness.

It was like "old-home-days" from dawn till dusk. 

The first day was spent in the booth meeting dear friends old and new. 

I had the opportunity to peek in on the BIG stage 

in preparation for my BIG DAY!

It has been my dream since I started my rainbow-travels

to have an opportunity to take the BIG stage at OAEYC.

A mere 18.9 years later? 

MY DREAM COMES TO FRUITION! 

THE BIG STAGE! 

Tech support! 

My mentor AND a sign language interpreter!

Be still my heart! 

       

   

The reason that I have all of these great photos (and a gazillion more) is that our daughter Sarah was there to capture the whole thing! I am so tickled to relive the fun through her lens. Just as soon as I was all done the two of us celebrated by jumping into the ball pit! 

HALLELUJAH!

So an update on the so-proud-of Sarah-Story! 

You may have seen the update where she earned the Younique incentive trip to Jamaica. 

While she was helping hold down the fort in my booth, she received the unofficial news that the corporate office at Younique is going to reach out to her to be a speaker at their upcoming national convention! 

HALLELUJAH! 

When I tell you that she is a duck to water with this company, 

I kid you not! 

Right now. 

For May, there's a 'manager's incentive' being offered. 

The company is giving a $500 cash bonus for elite GREEN status. 

In Sarah's world right now a $500 'BONUS' is like winning the lottery!

Only this is not through luck, but effort. 

She hasn't earned it yet, but she is well on her way, 

with a week left. 

She applied my make up and the big experiment was to use the new Younique Lip Stain! 

It lasted at least five hours from her application. 

It's kinda like painting it on. 

I have opened a 'new' Younique party on Facebook. 

*I am wearing "Sultry" lip stain!

Every purchase through my party eeks Sarah closer toward her lottery bonus.  

Thank you for all of your continued support and encouragement as we navigate through turbulent waters. 

Our goal is to keep our heads up + focus on all the good!  

This week has had only one day of utter 'testing' and six days of glorious celebration. 

HALLELUJAH!

Dr. Jean: Mentor and Moments -- NCaeyc

This is my 19th year of happy-music-lady-wearing-polka-dots-

on-the-road-author-illustrator-presenter-RainbowWoman-

have-guitar-will-travel-changing-the-world-one-song-at-a-time!

This is also my sixth year of blogging and sharing my travels, experiences and insights. I am making a conscientious effort to do a better job of 'reporting' from the amazing places I get to experience. This past weekend was my 31st state for a professional presentation!!! Yeah, North Carolina! You're with the majority now! 

Which makes me so happy!!!!! 

Friday. Dateline: Raleigh, NC. 

Raleigh Convention Center.

NC-aeyc.

That's me playing my own version of "Where's Waldo." 

I like to call it "Defining Debbie." 

Did you 'find' me? 

The public art in the building was seriously AWESOME! 

Now here's a sneak peak into my first workshop presentation. 

We are discussing {and acting out} 

the concept of "proprioception." 

We are freezing frozen, working on balance 

and learning where our bodies are in space: 

~~ ALL AT THE SAME TIME! 

Do you think it looks like some amazing early childhood professionals live in North Carolina? I'd be happy to let my WonderPeeps in any of these classrooms! 

It 'used' to be I was over-the-moon when a participant left feedback on Facebook. 

Sometimes there would be a happy post to my personal page, and occasionally folks would make their post to my FB Fanpage! 

BTW. I just hit 5,000 followers over there! [I have to give a whole big bunch of thanks to my daughter for helping me keep that network 'alive' and growing. TY Sarah!]

I think this is the first TWEET where someone has given a shout-out! 

From a conference. With a picture anyhow.

How awesome is that?

Glad that I'm growing on Twitter, too! 

My goal for the conference was to get a picture with Dr. JEAN! 

Immediately after my presentation on Music and Movement, 

after I am ab.so.lute.ly melted, I leapt at the opportunity.

This was just moments before her conference keynote. 

Can you spell: standing-room-only?  

I was DILIGENT in taking notes while Dr. Jean spoke. 

I have three specific 'take-aways' for you. 

Here's number 1! 

"In our efforts to give children the things we never had....let us remember to give them the things we DID have." ~~ Dr. Jean

Dr. Jean told the poignant story of asking her graduating kindergarten grandson if he had gotten to play "Farmer in the Dell" during his kindergarten year. 

His answer? "What's a dell?" 

No he had not. 

Dr. Jean went on at length about giving children what we DID have growing up: 

Experiences. Songs. Rhymes. Finger plays. 

She spoke of our need to help the pendulum swing back to play. 

She received resounding applause! 

The title of Dr. Jean's keynote? 

"Kids Just Wanna Have Fun (And teachers do, too!)

There were 1200 people in attendance. 

Everyone got two paper plates.  

You do the math! 

Now imagine Cyndi Lauper's pop-rock track thundering. 

Dr. Jean had 'all the smart people' standing. 

She led paper-plate aerobics. 

Crossing the midline. 

Following directions. 

Positional words. 

Dr. Jean Take-Away #2: 

"Learning takes place on your feet, not your seat!" ~~Dr. Jean 

I know. I know. I'm a "music-lady"........... 

but I was an elementary school Art Teacher first! 

Fine motor and Fine Arts go hand in hand. 

I have FIFTY articles on my thoughts on that matter. 

Here's the Golden Anniversary Summary Issue Article.