The Great Higgeldy of '09

Here we have captured pictures of my great Scottish circle dance, "Higgeldy Biggeldy." Since everyone was seated at round tables, we had each table's participants circle-round their own spot, which worked out perfectly. Such fun. Patterns, sequencing, crossing the mid-line with our feet, all of that good active-learning material within the context of a group gross motor dancing game. Later on in the afternoon we got to 'freeze frozen' in our animated aliteration action. That's Carla, owner of my orginal cassette, doing her best Bulwinkle the Moose freeze. Rumor has it that I may get an invitation up to that portion of the state -- later this year. Now that would be fun!!

Jazzy Friends

"Step, step, jump, clap, bop!" We're gettin' all jazzy together. Feelin' the beat....... following a gross motor pattern, a la Macarena or the Bunny Hop from another era all together. And then I bet you can figure that last picture. It's me, happy Debbie in the middle of my "Piggy Rap" in the midst of the third little piggy, that's piggy number three.

****My new vest of the summer made it's Ohio premiere. The fellow in the elevator sporting a tank top with tattos on every square inch of visible skin said he thought it was "festive." I told him that's the EXACT word that my family uses to describe my wardrobe choices. So before I even got underway -- I had a smile on my face from ear-to-ear.

You're Wonderful..... Indeed!

At this point of the afternoon my captive audience is learning the sign language to my song & book, "You're Wonderful." The last two pictures are creating a 'pattern' of motions for the music in the coda-ending. We spent the day talking about the significance of crossing the midline to strengthen pre-reading skills.

OH Head Start Institute

Here's the real-reason that we left Shangrala-la-Land. How exciting to be selected to deliver the keynote address and general session to launch our state of Ohio's Head Start Fall Institute. Fun to be back in the land of the Buckeyes (even after our heart-breaking loss to USC over the weekend.) We met to launch the new year. We met to get excited about what we can collectively bring to our classrooms and in the process, celebrate what we bring to our respective communities. We met to sing. We met to dance. We met to laugh. Here we're getting ready to sing my title track, "Celebrate."

*****You know I have a member of my fanclub in the audience when she tells me that she has one of my original cassette tapes!! I'm thinkin' that has to be about 13 years old. As I remember there were only 200 of those ever made...... a real collector's item, now. LOL.