Family Turkey Art Projects

Gobble. Gobble. Gobble. 

Turkey time is almost here. 

Take a look at these 'family-homework' projects!!

These were happily displayed on the walls during my kindergarten 
Author-Illustrator school visit on Long Island. 

I think that you can tell that the parents really DID get involved. 

These are multi-media delights! 

I'm glad to see that the students were active in the coloring and, or painting aspects of these efforts. 

It's something of a 'sticky-wicket' to give projects that are to be 'family-centric'. The assignment has the potential to become battle of the mommy-crafters, leaving the kindergarten child completely on the side line, merely cheering on their ubber-ambitious parent. 

So begins the parental competition for the best science fair project in junior high. How do you direct the parents in your room, to assure that such projects have ample student input? Do you veterans of the classroom have suggestions to share with my readers? I'd LUV to hear from the experts on this issue via the comment section below. 

This final entry strikes me as a happy balance of kinder-coloring and parental bean application. 

Pulling these photos together was fun to see the variety of materials used and their application. How much pressure is on the parents for this type of assignment? How much fun does the family have together? What's the best way to invite parents to direct their children to work together on such a project? Inquiring minds want to know! 

Turkey Time RoundUP 

I had an earlier article this week with ALL sorts of different turkey projects. You'll LUV all of the inspiration I rounded up there for you. 

-- Debbie -- 

My little store over at TpT has my original children's songs in zipped files as Mp3s.

My anthem of self-esteem, "You're Wonderful" would be the perfect contribution to your family festival Thanksgiving feast. Have tissues handy. It's emotional for the parents to be on the receiving end of all of that expression of joy. 

Creating Art in Response

It's WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!!!!!  

These first two photographs are of my picture book "You're Wonderful." 

That's my first-born in a sense. My first picture book, created in response to requests from teachers who had fallen in love with the original children's song that I had written earlier by that same name.

Way back before email, I used to get handwritten notes from teachers asking for a chart of the sign language for an upcoming performance. I'd get a post card from a music teacher wishing for the music notation. I got letters asking for the song's musical arrangement without my singing along. More than a few people wanted a copy for Kindergarten karaoke!!  It started to sound like a project -- getting these resources together. It started to sound like a book!!

After receiving rejection letters from every publishing company I sent the manuscript to for consideration, we took out a loan against our home and evolved into our own publishing company, too!!! You, too, can be an author/illustrator!!! It just depends on your credit score. LOL!!!! I made my illustrations for the book from fabric as small quilts. My quilts offer the perfect opportunity for a look at all things geometric..... an exploration of shapes and patterns.

One of my favorite parts of the NAEYC gathering last week, is hearing from my fan club. 
I got to see Polly from West Virginia and she shared the most amazing story of their children singing my You're Wonderful 'anthem' for their end-of-the-year graduation ceremony. 

She went on to tell how a daddy 'surprised' his wife and young son by sneaking into their big event in his military fatigues -- having just arrived back to this country from his deployment abroad. "You're Wonderful" has been described by some as a three tissue finale. Just imagine the response of the audience to see the daddy greet his newborn babe in mommy's arms for the very first time, while the preschool performers were singing and signing, 'That means we're wonderful, that means we're marvelous, that means we're beautiful and magical and filled with curiosity..... and DREAMS!"

Gives me chills just typing her retelling of the story. A Kodak/Hollywood moment to be certain.

Now that I have more readers here, I thought I would dig back in my blog-journal and share this most amazing response to my illustrations and bold fabric designs. These individual 'quilt' squares pictured here were created in Amityville, NY by kindergarten students -- in anticipation of my author visit to their K building, under the direction and guidance of their brilliant Art teacher. [If you have another minute click back to this orignal post to see more!! Or this one has my impressions after lunch and yet more photos. If you want to read my post on setting up an author visit, that is captured here.]

Each child was to choose 3 different colored squares to build their project. The amazing art teacher then mounted each of 330 finished squares on a fourth square to 'frame' their finished work. (You can see the LUV and significance of glue as portrayed in this student's work above -- LUV the symmetry!!)

 

The quilt squares of each class were then mounted on colored butcher paper.

Here's what one portion looked like for my arrival to their gym!!!

Here's the YouTube video that was filmed during my performance in their gym that morning -- the video features our singing of my song "Glad I'm at School" and their amazing energy and the collaborative artwork art quilt created in Amityville.

Their collaborative community quilt was somewhere between 25 and 30 feet long! It was about 8 feet high. Now that's a WONDERFUL collaboration!!

Here's another YouTube video, but  this one is indeed of the singing of my song, "You're Wonderful" as captured in California in a literacy program where the mommies are learning English and learning to read too, using my song as their vehicle. That makes it coast-to-coast!! Go ahead, take out a loan on your house! Amazing things can happen as a result!

Most schools this week will be using my newest book, "Red, White and Blue" the national INDIE award winner, in their observation of Veteran's Day... but it's been fun to show you where it all began!

****I've added this post to a LINKY Party over at Toddler Approved. One of my favorite author visits was to a 'Mommy-n-Me' class of toddlers. It was amazing to see the not-yet 2 year olds signing to my song!!

Toddler Approved chose this blog post as their favorite!!!

Long after the fact, I've chosen this as one of my personal favorite posts of the year and have entered this is a HUGE end-of-the-year round up of creative bloggers over at Creative Kids Connections.

I've added the post to the very first linkie-party for Teaching in Room 6!!! She has asked teachers to share their "Go-To" book. Obviously as an author/illustrator, I never leave home without my own work!

 Now added to year-long linky on all things Children's book related at The Educator's Spin on It!

Added to Ways to Play, Create a Reading Addiction, click here.

"Glad I'm at School" by Debbie Clement

Drumroll please. Here's the newly revised, updated, edited and titled version of my visit to Northeast School in Amityville on Long Island. While my film expert buddy & friend, Shawn Likely was editing the collage of my professional presentation -- I asked him to add some bookends to either side of the video footage filmed in the gym concert with my kindergartners.

Now forever after there will be a video documentation of the awesome 'quilt' work created by the students under the direction of their art teacher. Thanks Shawn. Thanks Northeast. THANKS!!!!

***** Click "here for a "Linkie Party" being hosted by my friend & fellow blogger, 'Learning Ahoy!!' where there is a post asking teachers for a favorite song for use in the classroom.

Departing the Big Apple

Well, now I'm nearly an entire & complete month behind on all of the excitement of my travels & fun. I'd better get these farewell photos added so that I can always remember the enthusiasm of my hostess, Nili on my downtown New York City excursion. Thanks, Nil-dog. You made the whole morning memorable in every way. You made it happen and simultaneously you participated. Thanks for the invitation. Thanks for connecting the dots. Thanks for getting the ducks in a row. My hat it off to you.

***Folks I go where I get invited. We make it work. We figure it out. Let me know. I'm willing. Have guitar -- will travel!!

WonderFUN! WonderFUN!!

How terrific to drive across the country and find wee wonders who respond just the same as my wee wonders "back home." Blink your eyes, click your heels and wind-up the fun. Location. Location. Location.

I've come to the conclusion that location is one of the least significant of the variables. Children are the significant portion of the equation. Where they are seems to be inter-changeable. Smile & jump. Freeze and giggle. The specifics aren't as important -- as the joy.

Quilt for "Red, White and Blue"

Sometimes a morning goes flying past at such speed that I hardly have time to keep up with myself and all of the excitement unfurling in real time. When the NYC morning's young 14th St. Y preschool class emerged from the elevator I was so excited that I completely forgot my role as documenter slash blogger. There's no explanation, other than I was thrilled with their emergence into my presence. They came roaring across the lobby like a herd of buffalo. There were a couple of flags in the group and the teachers were carrying this child created quilt in honor of my new picture book.

I LOVE this quilt project. I LOVED it so much at the time that I totally forgot to snap any pictures, as it was time to get the party started and begin our singing together. Nili was clever enough to send me a digital postcard of the children's work long after I'd returned home to the midwest.

What I particularly appreciate about this effort is that you can clearly see that the children created the squares themselves. Ric-rack and tissue paper, cellophane & card stock, wrapping & scrap book papers......... all tied together with magic marker love. Child created in it's authenticity, yet a masterful masterpiece of mastered methods. Are you feeling the love?

Back to Bloggin': NYC

The last couple-a weeks have truly been a blurr, even by my standards. As I type, with laptop in the car (yes, I promise I AM the passenger) we are departing Ohio for the last time as residents..... officially beginning our status as FL residents -- for at least the snowbird season, whatever that means. We are at this minute treking south thru the Carolinas on route to a family Christmas celebration in Augusta, GA. A four generation Christmas.

Yet when I left off here, in blogland, I was just showing you around in a fully decked out Little Italy. So rewind the sands of time and let's get back there. The Big Apple. Beginning of Dec. Welcome to the 14th St. Y -- where I am being hosted by Columbus transplant Nili Talis of former Bexley JCC staff status. Nili has long been a supporter & encourager, saying repeatedly that it was time to get me into the big city...... so she talked up my unique skill set and here are a few of the faces from our morning together.

That first picture is the two of us, captured on Nili's phone and sent out to our mutual world of FB friends -- to announce my real-life visit was about to unfurl. I'm not sure who was the most excited? Nili or moi?? It is such a thrill to go half way across the country and encounter dear people from a former chapter of my life & see where they engaged in now. Pinching myself.

NYC: Little Italy

I am now officially 16 days behind in reporting on my travels, the sites and the excitement...... which makes the memories all the more delightful to reflect upon. From our adventures out on Long Island, we then traveled back into the BIG Apple in anticipation of my final stop of the tour. Our hostess for the evening is the director of the 14th Street Y, with her loft home, situated right in the heart of Little Italy. The weather was crisp, reminding us that it really was December as we walked the couple blocks between their place and a scrumptious Mediterranean-style restaurant. Enjoy the sites of Little Italy in December.

Flags Fly for Freedom

These were the flags flying-high on our route out of NYC and out to Long Island. Each sight evokes it's own sense of gratitude and acknowledges the sacrifice of those who have actively served our country. It's a good feeling to see the flag in such a variety of settings. Makes me smile to consider the small contribution my song and new picture book, "Red, White and Blue" may add to the landscape over the years ahead. We each must contribute our piece of the puzzle. It's such an honor to have this opportunity to share my work. I feel so very fortunate.