#TeacherFriends Twitter Chat on Project Based Learning with Todd Wanerman 1/27

Tuesday! That means time to gather with your #TeacherFriends on Twitter! 

Tonight we will take a look at #PBL or maybe that acronym hasn't stuck with you yet? Project Based Learning! What does that term mean to you? How do you integrate a 'project' approach into your setting? Come tonight to learn from the experts! Yes, the best hour of professional development you can get in your jammies, takes place on Twitter! Come for the support, return for the sharing!

We welcome our newest-to-Twitter #GuestEduCelebrity, Todd Wanerman to the spotlight, tonight at 9 PM EST. Even though Todd is on the west coast, he plans to arrive in time for Early Birds at 8:30 EST, so that he can get his feet wet at the slower pace. Arrive early for a slower pace and 'easier' interaction. Get your questions answered about using Twitter, while the speed is on calm. The chat heats up at 9!

I met Todd at the Redleaf Press Author's Reception at NAEYC last fall in Dallas. He had no Twitter account at the time, but that didn't stop his enthusiasm from wanting to learn a new social network and join us to share his expertise. What better place to begin than together with his #TeacherFriends! {click the pics to go learn more about Todd's books over at Redleaf.} 

                           

As always, there will be PRIZES! Todd will be giving away one of his books! My fellow hostess' friends and I also give away prizes! In order to win, you must enter your name and email address on our Google Doc that will be tweeted through out the evening's chat. 

I'm happy to have my work represented at Redleaf! My music is incorporated into this compendium on movement in the ECE classroom, by Connie Dow! Included in this dance encyclopedia is a two disc set of my songs and their instrumentals. 

One of my favorite "Project Based Learning" school visits involved a kindergarten classroom that used my picture book, "Red, White and Blue" as the focus of their study. Many patriotic elements emerged in their study. I have shared examples of their approach in this earlier article. 

With President's Day around the corner, this would be an awesome song to include in your next PBL focus. Both the picture book and the immediate digital download are available at TpT. 

Brain Resiliency: Building Better Brains!

It's Tuesday! Time to Tweet with Teachers! 

What? Don't 'get' Twitter? 

Have we got the chat for you!  

A PRACTICE Twitter Chat!

Tonight marks the ninth Tuesday in a row, where we have been 'practicing' chatting together with our #TeacherFriends. 

We have had between 50 and 100 fellow teaching peers meeting, tweeting, supporting each other, in real time every week. 

Let's just say, it/the chat/your twitter stream -- moves fast!

I LUV LUV LUV Michaele's analogy of a dinner party! 

You're not going to get every tidbit of all of the contributions in real time. Unless of course you're bionic. 

Never fear! Kim of "Educators Spin on It" has taught us how to 'storify' the chat. Here's the entire conversation from last week when we discussed classroom design under Erin Klein's direction. 

Now the happiest part of this story is unfolding in real time as I type. Our guest tonight is Deborah McNelis of "Brain Insights." Guess what? She's sitting in our little living room in real, actual time! I could call out her name, but she's editing her next project for Redleaf and I am not going to disturb her. We totally need to take a picture of ourselves together! That's on the agenda for today! Promise! We totally forgot last night when we went running down to our sunset and nearly missed it! 

Join us! You'll be glad you did! You'll learn some of the recent brain research as it relates to resiliency and you'll learn how to chat on Twitter. PLUS! You'll build your PLN {Professional Learning Network} for your future growth and development by meeting and following some Teacher Tweeps! Join us. You know you want to! 

"Teaching in the Digital Age" Tweet with the Author!

TONIGHT'S Tuesday Teacher Twitter PRACTICE Chat with Author Brian Puerling, 

"Teaching in the Digital Age."

Who knew that our practice chat would turn into a weekly gathering of like-minded, newbies to Twitter? What fun to introduce the reluctant to the entire universe in a hashtag! By popular demand our growing tribe has asked for a weekly format of interaction. 

That has upped the ante and we are now moving forward with a Mystery #GuestEduCelebrity that will be interviewed weekly. Did I mention that there are prizes? AND certificates!!! It is not a prerequisite to be in a photo with me, to be our guest, but it certainly helps! 

Meet Brian Puerling! Tonight's authority on technology in the classroom! We met just barely 10 days ago at ETSU where we were both on the agenda as presenters. There's a long amazing {God-wink} of a story about how his in-laws have a cottage two blocks from our summer haven, but that had nothing to do with his selection for tonight's participation. Behold Brian! 

Participation in our PRACTICE chat tonight, 7/29

 enters you into the random drawing, 

where one lucky TWEEP will 

*W*I*N* 

a signed copy of Brian's book!

Why yes. Redleaf is his publisher! 

Why yes. 

We now realize that we have both been at the annual Redleaf author's breakfast!

Continue humming the "It's a Small World" soundtrack. 

Here's a screen shot of what my Twitter home page looks like. 

See up there in the top of the bar where it says: 

Search Twitter. 

It is gray. 

That is where you type: 

#TeacherFriends. 

Hope that helps your entry into our chat. 

Just keep refreshing the search function, 

to see more tweets as they unfurl. 

------------------------------------------

Just so you know....... 

I have been in the PLANNING mode for our continued 

PRACTICE chatting into the future! 

Here's the outline for the next five segments in the series. 

Mark your calendars now! 

Just in case you missed last week with Greg Smedley, 

we have the brilliant +Kim Vij creating an encapsulated version of the chat. 

Here's last week..... so you can see all of the awesomeness that was shared. 

*** WARNING!!! It will take you an hour to read through the entire chat! 

The good news? 

You can 'follow' participants, RT their thoughts and go to the hot-links that were shared, directly from the storify version below. 

A couple of final thoughts from MOI regarding this week! 

Tonight I will be giving one lucky winner {chosen at random} my two digital files, especially appropriate for back-to-school. These files each contain two Mp3s of each of my two 'classic' songs, plus pdfs of the sign language to support their use. 

One of the questions we discussed in last week's chat was about room arrangement and furniture. 

I quickly tossed in the link to our 

WOBBLE SEATS. 

Let me give you that link one more time! 

If you click the picture below, 

you'll go back to the blog article where I talk/share about them at length. 

Happy Birthday, Show-n-Tell Linky!!!

Family Concert Kick-off: Wright State University. Oct 2011.

 TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Let's have a party!!! A linkie party!!!!!

This has been an amazing year! Light the candles!!

 Milan, Italy -- Conclusion of my European tour of US Army bases this spring.

It's been a party, literally around the world this year!!!!

Leading my songs in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

The party continued at Redleaf Press, with the release of our new collaborative project, "One, Two, What Can I Do?" Three hundred pages of dance and movement ideas written by Connie Dow, based on two albums of my original music -- including TONS of never released instrumentals.

Those are my CDs pictured on the cover!!!

Speaking of collaborations!!! Speaking of gifts!!!
I was gifted with the brilliant idea to launch a collaborative blog. (Thank you Charity at The Organized Teachers Blog for the biggest gift of the year!) Have you seen the amazing collection of authors over at PreK + K Sharing?

The other stupendous, amazing, HU-MONGO news of the year was my winning of the National INDIE Award of Excellence for my newest picture book..... five years worth of work on my quilt illustrations for "Red, White and Blue"  recognized as a WINNER! 

 

ANOTHER HUGE GIFT TO ME?
The Visual Learner???

The Creation of Pinterest!!!!!!!

I claim Pinterest as my personal present!!
Luv me some 10,000 pins!!!!

Those are a few of the highlights of my professional year. What I've learned about blogging in the last several months could fill a book. I've reached out. I've joined support groups. I've listened. I've learned. I've worked hard to be a greater resource. The most fun + learning I've had is hopping from blog to blog in the infamous linkie party format.

I invite you to join my personal celebration.....introduce yourself to my growing readership! Show off what's happening at your blog, in your classroom, in your living room -- at your program. Share a success. Showcase a previous post that deserves some further readership. Have a party-post we can join? We'll put on party hats and hop right over.

If you decide to link up, please be so kind to include a link back here to party central.

                                             Click here for links to my European adventure.
                                             Click here for links to my REGGIO tours.
                                             Click here for links to my interview with Connie on dance & movement.
                                             Click here to read about my newest picture book!!!
                                             Click here for my Pinterest account!!!!

******As my present to you?? Just a reminder that the eternal promo-code at my website is always "GREAT" which stands for 'grass roots efforts are terrific.' Whenever you use the promo-code your entire order of my products: CDs, picture books + DVD will be discounted by 10% -- tell your friends!!!!

******As your present to me? Please 'follow' my blog thru FB's Networked blogs or Google Friend Connect. Both grids with easy instructions are in the upper left sidebar!

I've added this post to a linkie over at Educator's Spin On It.
This Linkie is part of the ULTIMATE Link-of-all-linkies!!!! Hosted by our friends at Teaching Blog Addict!

NAEYC Celebrations!!!!

It's a REDLEAF PRESS PARTY!!!!!

It's a "One, Two, What Can I Do?" Party!!!!

It's a HIGHLIGHTS HIGH FIVE PARTY!!!!

It's a get-interviewed-for-radio-telecast party!!!!

It's a BIG-APPLE Hug Fest Party!!!!

It's a Donna Wittmer & Dr. Alice Hong Hug Party!!!

FAME & Enrique Feldman

WELCOME, ENRIQUE!!!!

Friends + Readers, I'm THRILLED to have the opportunity to introduce you to another member of the creative-community-at-large. Enrique is celebrating the release of his first ever 'guide-book' for the early childhood educational community. This man is hard to pin down to any singular discipline, as he's a power-house of ideas on all things 'creative'.  He's equal parts mentor, inspiration, musician, writer and friend. What a pleasure to interview this world class Artist.

To begin with Enrique, how about a quick summary of your background, and let my readers in on some of the diverse pieces of your professional quilt. Start at the beginning, please.

"As a student at the University of Arizona I studied to become a band director and I did that, having been the Assistant Band Director at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the Associate Director of Bands and Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Arizona from 1992 - 1997. However, I always remembered an experience as a student at the University of Arizona with the Early Childhood Music Lab. That experience stayed with me and in 1997, I resigned from the University of Arizona and founded the F.A.M.E. Foundation: Fostering Arts-Mind Education Foundation, my non profit organization."

Yes, that's when we were first introduced to each other, just as you were launching F.A.M.E.  Explain an overview of the 'templates'  you designed that we used when training teachers -- all the way back at the beginning.

"I authored "Life Learning Techniques" which have been recognized as successful by the National Endowment for the Arts and which have been used with over 40,000 children and families in multiple states in the U.S. and in Mexico. The work I'm involved with regarding children and teachers has become a movement, a revolution as I collaborate with other foundations and other artists like Debbie."

It's exciting to see how F.A.M.E. has expanded over the years and continues to grow!

                                                                NAEYC Presentation: CELEBRATE!

"My perspective is unique in that I have travelled so much and continue to work with children from different cultures and backgrounds. What I see is a growing number of adults who are increasing their awareness related to the importance of the Arts and the importance of finding our inner child again, not just to improve our practice, but to elevate how we live. This is the essence of my work as an Artist."

I think the readers would get a kick out of knowing what else you continue to juggle artistically. Share just a snippet of that work if you would.

"As an Artist today, I'm a film composer and performing artist, having gone back to my roots as a pianist and vocalist. My most recent film as a composer, Gun Hill Road, is in theaters and will be on DVD and Netflicks soon. I've also been fortunate to have been nominated for 2 Grammy's and I feel blessed to be engaged in areas that I have a deep passion for as both an educator and personally in my artistic endeavors."  

Congratulations!!! You've always got a lot going on. Now please let's focus on your newly released book from Redleaf Press!!

 "Living Like a Child a handbook and guide for teachers, parents and anyone who works with young children. The book is focused on both techniques and concepts to improve how we as adults can connect with children and in the end connect with ourselves and other adults. Even though the material in the book is research-based and comes from over a decade of work in the field, the book itself is intended as a fun and inspiring read.
 

There are many techniques described in detail in the book, so anyone who reads it will have plenty of 'take aways.' While the focus is on early childhood, this book would help anyone who teaches improve their craft. Specifically, the book describes the importance of using abstract and linear questions as a bridge to critical thinking skills and how to use improvisation based on children's responses as a bridge to creativity.

The book also describes how to engage the different learning styles along with teaching in both width and depth. Additionally, how to use music is addressed in detail. My favorite chapter is the final one titled "An Invitation to Live in the Eye of the Storm." This relates to how we can stay relaxed and focused in what is sometimes a storm of energy and also related to personal challenges we all face."

I've always enjoyed your technique 'Surfing the Words' captured in the photographs above of your reading to the children. How can non-musicians implement these strategies found in your book?

"Actually, this book is geared for folks who aren't musicians. It's really for the everyday teacher and parent who want to be more artistic in their approach and interactions. There are so many ways the techniques can be used, from breathing and relaxation games -- to strategies to improve how young children focus -- to music with literacy approaches -- to games where we actually 'become' words and emotions with our bodies. Everything is very engaging. It's all a lot of fun!"

You're such an inspiration. Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

"Yes, I have many, but one of my favorites that we still use on our certificates for the teachers who go through our professional development is the following anonymous one."

                                                                 Enrique's Classical CD  

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, all your thoughts break their bonds; and you find yourself in a great new and wonderful world.”

With that in mind, I invite you to join my new educational and revolutionary group on Facebook titled "Living Like a Child". It already has many wonderful video's, quotes and advice related to early childhood education and living like a child. I hope to see you there!



When is your next opportunity for teachers-at-large to see your ideas in action?


"The next big opportunity is my presentation at NAEYC is Orlando. I know your fanclub will be excited to see your contribution within the FAME format as well, Debbie. It's great to have the expanded workshop format and we're up first thing on Wednesday morning beginning at 8:30!"


See ya there!!!! As always, I welcome questions in the comment section that follows this post. I'll get your thoughts & queries for Enrique's feedback & response in a follow-up in the future.

******Click here to see an earlier post on FAME Foundation.
******Click here to see other NAEYC presentations where Enrique + I have presented together:
               NAEYC Washington DC: Post one     Post two     Post three
               NAEYC Dallas: Post one   Post two

Movement & Dance Part 5

Ladies and gentlemen!!!! I bring you the final installment in this particular portion of my interview with Connie Dow, author of Redleaf's "One, Two What Can I Do?" and national expert on movement and dance for young children. Connie is giving us her 7 benefits of including these art forms within your school day in response to a question posed by Vanessa Levin. The question stems from how to encourage teachers who may feel silly in front of other adults. Connie is taking the time to outline the significance of movement + dance in the hopes that if teachers realize the comprehensive benefits that are possible, they will be willing to engage in some 'sillyness' for the sake of optimizing their time with children.

Take it away Connie, we're ready for number five!!

5^th Benefit:  Emotional Growth

Also From NDEO:

Dance promotes psychological health and maturity. Children enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and others through creative movement.  A pre-school child enters a dance class or classroom with a history of emotional experiences.  Movement within a class offers a structured outlet for physical release while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself and others. Dance fosters social encounter, interaction, and cooperation.

6^th Benefit:  Creativity

 Could nurturing the creative side of our children be a key to the future success of the United States?  There is no question that education in the U.S. is in need of some serious revamping.  As stated in the 2007 report of a comprehensive study of the American workforce,  “Whereas for most of the 20^th century the U.S. could take pride in having the best-educated workforce in the world, that is no longer true.” In proposing solutions, the authors of the study point to the development of creative thinkers as one of the keys to success:  “Seeing new patterns and possibilities is the essence of creativity . . and creativity, innovation, and flexibility will not be the special province of an elite. 

It will be demanded of virtually everyone who is making a decent living, from graphic artists to assembly line workers, from insurance brokers to home builders.”

The creative arts, by definition, nurture this aspect of the developing child.  Movement specifically allows students to approach tasks “through the body, or kinesthetically,” and come up with new answers.

Connie, you know how I feel about creativity!!

7^th Benefit   The Whole Child

Dance, as an art form and physical activity, is part of the education of the whole child.  The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

 believes a comprehensive approach to learning recognizes that successful young people are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, motivated, civically inspired, engaged in the arts, prepared for work and economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond their own borders.

ASCD calls on parents, educators, policymakers, and communities to join forces to ensure our children become productive, engaged citizens. Our children deserve an education that emphasizes academic rigor as well as the essential 21st century skills of critical thinking and creativity.

Take us home, Connie!! Wrap it up for us!!! Go Connie, Go Connie!!

Developmentally appropriate practice dictates that we educate the whole child.  Furthermore, academics and physical activity are not mutually exclusive.  A number of researchers have found that regular physical activity contributes to improved school performance. As neurophysiologist Carla Hannaford states in her book Smart Moves:  Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head: “because movement activates the neural wiring throughout the body, the whole body, and not just the brain, is an instrument of learning.

I hope this blog entry has provided lots of food for thought, and reinforced your instincts to bring the delightful arts of creative movement and music to your learning environment!

Keep on dancin’,

 Connie

I have just added this article to the link-up being hosted by "PreK+K Sharing" on all things to encourage children to be ACTIVE!!!