Memory Card Monday

Look what I have stored in my camera's memory card!!!

Stained glass windows made for my recent author-illustrator-visit, under the guidance of the Art teacher at Clyde Elementary..... because they know just how much I LUV color!!! (These were displayed on the cafeteria's windows to the great outdoors and they did indeed shine for my visit!)

                   Science and math through out the hallways!!!

Fellow authors & their pop-up books!

Memory card meltdown.

Must download.

Must pin.

Must make Monday memory card make-over.

Kreative Kinder-Karing Klass

Every building that I get to visit wearing my author/illustrator hat, is always my favorite one, in real time.
Every classroom where I get to sing + share my original children's songs is the very best one -- while I'm there looking into those eyes. Yet every now and again I get to observe something truly unique. Something amazing. Something brimming with joy. Something incredible beyond the norm. Now that we live in a world of Pinterest, I can pin these places of pluck. I can pin this passport to pretend. I can preserve this place that proves powerful. I CAN PIN!! I can allow the bigger world to look over my shoulder and meet a professional who opens his wallet to put his $$ where his heart lives. Welcome to just such a place.

Look around at the details of this kindergarten classroom of Mr. Mussel. I know that I shouldn't have 'favorites' but I think you can see why I'd want to send my grandchildren to this classroom. It sings. Every corner has details befitting an educational foundation of brilliance. Here's the child sized author chair, pictured below, where the star of the day gets to be throned for sharing. (I understand that there was a kind benefactor to find funding for the chair pictured below, after Mr. M had already made the commitment to hire a professional artist to come adorn the walls of his domain -- all from his personal budget.)

While not knowing the exact source of this frog's thoughts, I learned that it was part of a handout that Mr. M received at a Dr. Jean workshop he attended at some point in time. There was no author quoted in the compilation of educational thoughts.... so we'll just guess that it's a very wise frog thinking that thought! ***You just knew he'd be a big fan of Dr. Jean -- didn't you? [Click here to see my thoughts on getting to hear Dr. Jean out in Vegas this past summer at the international "I Teach K" Conference held annually by Staff Development for Educators.]

This tidbit below is the motivational 'championship' inspiration that is painted above the child-sized bathroom that is within the classroom. As a big fan of all things "dream" I was especially drawn to this pithy thought. It does indeed take a team, a village -- all of us to get traction and make progress. Pop back in tomorrow to learn more about the having of dreams and the making of progress toward them!!! I have a little gift of my sleeve for all of my readers.

Here's a close-up of Mr. M's own canine cop captured to calm:

Can you name this famous school bus driver? She is ironically from a previous art-installation over at Vine Street Elementary school building, which was demolished to bring together the new building and combined staff of Clyde Elementary. It was a mammoth mural. Mr. M's parents had it photographed and then reproduced in a smaller 'portable' banner like product. In the process the bus was able to have it's school name digitally altered to reflect the changing times. So yes, originally it was painted onto the cinder block walls, but now it is leaning against the wall, up near the ceiling, above the built in cabinets.

Here's a peek into that amazing bathroom. Seriously it's art was such a smile-maker!

How do you respond when someone says, "You remind me of our bathroom?" 

Upon seeing the sunshine and growing garden details -- I'm honored!

What's a kindergarten-klass without a kissing hand?

Author Visit: Too Much Fun!

AUTHOR VISIT Day #TUESday!!!!
Every day that I work with children during my author visit, I attempt to remember to tell them, "this is my job." I even go on to say, "people pay me money to share my ideas with students." I think it's important to tell children the truth. They may somehow jump to the conclusion because I am having so much fun that I just like to 'pop' into schools and enjoy myself...... and while that is true, the other fact is that I am the poster child for doing-what-you-love. Yes, folks I get paid to have this much fun  

Tuesday we put the crazy socks away and got out our happy hats!

Here's the lucky ducky, favorite-fliers -- with their selections just before heading out the door for home. I wish that there was an audio file of that little character in the front row. His deep chocolate eyes looked into mine and I swear to you he said, "I wish you knew how much having you here means to me." I think he went on to say, "I want to be like you when I grow up," but it was just too hard for me to hear him through the tears in my eyes.

Folks. This is why you take the time to write grants and sell candy bars and jump through all the hoops necessary to arrange for 'people-of-the-Arts' to interact with your students. It gives them -- the students, another vision. A vision of what they might like to do when they grow up!!! A vision of who they might one day become. That's why I tell them that this is my job. This is why I tell them that people pay me money. This is why I make merry and bright. This is why I pinch myself in the morning.

C.E.S. Author Visit!!!

It's a pretty brilliant administrator that plans my author-visit in such a way as to get it off the ground with an all school 'rock concert' kick-off and then orchestrates the visit together in such a way that there's enough time to get 'up close & personal' for individual grade level "workshops." In this first picture we're playing the game "Find the Quilt." I have a couple backdrops hung and my original illustration-quilts hanging for the children to see how quickly they can match my book's illustration to its original artwork. As you may be able to grasp from the picture -- they're pretty quick!

We have forty minutes together for each workshop and I have three picture books to share. That's just enough time to insert one of my own original children's songs between each book. I choose a VERY active song to insert between sharing my books and the question & answer periods that unfold as we take an up-close look at each project. Here, the big kids are 'freezing frozen' -- as part of our study of alliteration and self/body control. Big hit!!!

I am stationed for the two days in the school's music room. This is the hallway art, just outside the door.

Here's an entire couple of classrooms full of DREAMS (in sign language) from my book, "You're Wonderful."

As promised to my friends on Pinterest...... I will be documenting my visits with an eye on ideas that will be of interest to the visual nature of that sharing opportunity. Who follows the 'bucket-filler' program? You've got to know that I love a bulletin board that includes the use of a rainbow!!!

The mascot for the school is: Clyde Elementary School Fliers. So there are more than a few airplanes in the building!!

The Art room invitation!!! "Art: it's outta this world!"

Here's a fall orchard in bloom amidst the kindergarten classrooms!

That's some sign language for the phrase, "I love you." Which is a pivotal phrase in my picture book "Red, White and Blue." All of the classes have been well prepared prior to my arrival and so they're especially excited to perform for me!! They were kind enough to schedule my visit around my Ohio availablity, but it was fun to know that they are preparing for their upcoming parents program -- which is going to feature a patriotic theme.

That's some afternoon 'freezing frozen' used as a brain break mid workshop. 

There are lots of 'firsts' with this visit. Pictured below are the lucky 'first-day' winners of my books. Principal Peggy had the idea to seek funding to be certain that there would be some happy owners of my work. This is the end of our first day celebration with those shiny smiles that were chosen at random and the book that they will be taking home as their own!!! Talk about lucky-ducks!!! Maybe I should say 'flier favorites?'

Aliteration, Writing & Posing

The teachers found plenty of willing volunteers to help me on the 'stage.' That last picture in the series is the enthusiastic kindergarten class. We gave permission to make the funniest face possible. What do you think?

Vine Street Elementary

It's a happy reunion at Vine Street Elementary (Clyde, OH) with Principal Peggy..... everyone's favorite principal. The gym fills up with the students ready to "Celebrate" the conclusion of a week's worth of testing. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. My appearance was a school wide surprise. I was sworn to secrecy and not even the teachers had a clue. This was my third visit in the last five years and we had a rollicking good time in the gym. You wouldn't have believed the acoustics!! The teachers were easily brought into all the fun. Now you see why this is one of my favorite visits.

This will no doubt be my last Vine Street appearance as the building will be torn down at the end of next year. Principal Peggy and pals will be moving to an all new building!!