Warming up the Crowd

Back to the main library in Mansfield -- for some more glimpses into what their summer reading program looks like! Everybody's ready and excited! We're waiting for the arrival of a few more participants to join our fun! So we are playing a few rounds of 'follow-the-leader' to see how quickly they can respond to directions. A little whoop-whoop and some crossing-the-midline joy.

I've written previously about the benefits of crossing-the-midline and how those choreography moves can help the young child wire up their brains in anticipation of reading glory ahead. Read here for some previous insight.

Group after group continues to arrive. These are the 'big-kids' in my experience, so my mind is going through all my various possible selections to focus on. I LUV having maturity in the audience. That opens up all sorts of possibilities for the presentation. In my latest evolution as author/illustrator I am gaining comfort with sharing my materials (songs & books) with the 'big-kids.' Their responses thrill me -- with both their insight and the level of their curiosity.

Get your hands up in the air. Show me some enthusiasm. Pump 'em up!! Some more crossing the midline is always a great way to get those brains functioning on optimal thrusters!

Now one for posterity: CHEEEEEEEESE!!! Show me those pearly smiles!

 

This is the right theme for this audience.

Many stories indeed. It would be fun to listen in on several.

I'll just have to entertain myself by writing their stories

in my imagination.

*******Remember that through the entire month of September I have a promo code for you to receive 20% off the cover price of my book, "Red, White and Blue" -- which does indeed include a CD copy of the song & it's instrumental version inside the back cover. Use the promo code: RWB911 at my website and you'll be ready for Veteran's Day on the horizon.

Sept 11th Picture Book

September 11th. 2011. Today is the tenth anniversary of what no one had ever imagined in their worst nightmare. We have had ten years to ponder and make sense out of this most senseless day in my mortal memory. What sense is there? There are no words adequate to quantify the loss on that day. There are no words. Like other events in Camelot we will remember where we were and how we learned what unfolded.

The staggering loss of life is one grievous toll, but the unfathomable loss of innocence is what wracks an entire nation, an entire planet, a decade later. My heart is full as this day gets underway. I personally have decided to leave the television turned off as the visual memories are already seared into my brain. [I am one of those creative types who is easily overwhelmed by the nightly news & have learned that for myself, I must carefully ration the world's horrors to 'protect' my optimal functioning.] 

Instead I will contemplate what I have personally contributed to the making of peace. I will contemplate the power of my book. I will contemplate the power of the Arts. I will consider the power of children and the hope that they offer -- even in the face of the unthinkable. [After all, it is the children that provide potential to improve upon this experience of our sharing Planet Earth -- peacefully and together.] I will contemplate the power of my book for all patriotic moments: Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and the morning pledge of Allegiance -- it could be the perfect contribution for any and all of these.

It is those young & innocent children for whom I first wrote my simple dittie, "Red, White and Blue." Written so that together we might have some means to remember what we hold dear about this amazing and diverse country of ours. Written in that time of crisis. Written with the assumption that one day we would have an observation for the tenth year anniversary. We would persevere. As would our flag. Waving flags and the vast history those colors represent. Perseverance. Surviving. Keep it simple.  

Children + Song + Flags + Hope = Debbie's contribution.

Then somehow, somewhere in the midst of these past ten years I learned how to become an author/illustrator!!!! What would you begin if I could promise you that in a decade it would bring fruit? That's probably the topic for an entirely different blog-post. The truth of the matter? Get underway. Begin. Start. Move. Make a list. Take a step. Trust. Believe. Just do it!!

Today I can sit here on another singular, spectacular, sunny, September morn and see the very first evidence of my idea taking root, of a contribution being made, of a book making a difference. These first pictures are from my summer library programs for the Richland County library system, in and around Mansfield OH.

That first picture was taken in a small town Americana-library housed in the basement of the village post office. Here I am sharing my labor-of-love. I am sharing with children what it takes to make a book. In my case: fabric and guts. Plus the biggest gift of all for a cancer survivor? The gift of time. I am sharing with them that we who survived that day ten years ago owe a debt of gratitude to those who have gone before us. We make payment on the debt by using our talents and capabilities for the service of our wider world. Here we're using sign language to convey the other significant lyric in the song, after red, white and blue comes I love you.

                                       

It doesn't matter if we don't know how to get things done when we begin. We still owe it to ourselves and our communities to get underway. Volunteer. Seek a mentor. Ask questions. Attend a seminar. Learn. Use your talents. Expand your capabilities. Stretch and Grow. 

When I began the quilts-as-illustrations for the book version of "Red, White and Blue" I didn't even have any idea of what all 16 quilts subject matter would include. I knew I needed 6 'flag' quilts: 4 verses + the book's cover + the endpapers = six. That left me with 10 more images to conceive and create. Yet I began. I knew that I wanted my book to be about the diversity of our country -- from the diversity of our geography to the diversity of our people. 

So one of the first quilts I made was of a small village, Ephraim WI. I'd learned that the word Ephraim translates from Moravian to the word 'peace'. A suitable place to begin. Iconic two white churches on the hillside and red & white striped awning for Wilson's ice cream parlor. (That's us together with THE Wilson family -- my BCO/Breast Cancer buddy Saint -- whose gift of time was all together way too short IMHO.) From that extreme microcosm village-America I next began the quilt of the big city. 

It wasn't until last summer, watching the Bailey's Harbor Fourth of July parade, five years after I'd first begun the quilts, that I had the brainstorm that the image of fire trucks was the perfect complement to the big city quilt & to reference the events of September 11th in an 'appropriate' manner for children. Every child is fascinated by fire trucks. Our community helpers. Those who respond when we need help the most. How had it taken me five years to think of that connection?? No matter. When I was ready to begin that quilt the inspiration came barreling down the parade route, in the form of a 911 painted boldly on the front bumper. This quilt is the one that I frequently share with children, with students. That illustration out of all 16 quilts, is the one overt reference to today, to September eleventh. Here it is just getting underway.

Now to contemplate the power of the Arts. It was my song, "Red, White and Blue" that directed a community to unite together last year for Veterans Day to honor the military families in their midst and the Veterans years of service. This year they will have the book to share as a part of their new and ongoing tradition.

It was the song and it's book version which inspired Carie to direct her kindergarten students to create a flag-esque quilt from construction paper that covers the gym wall -- all from marbles rolling through paint.  This is the mammoth project created by one who teaches K-kiddos now, but had served nine years in the Army previously and had a year stationed in Iraq. A truly amazing story of being heroic and being inspired by a book. Watch the YouTube version of Carrie's class singing and signing last spring.

It was the book that powered the USO style tour to Germany & Italy where I met our military members stationed abroad and sang with their children, the children of our troops during Month of the Young Military Child. My mind is still spinning at this opportunity. I am both grateful and humbled to have had the amazing good fortune to have traveled and shared this project abroad. Feel free to read the 39 posts here on my blog of that two week adventure earlier this spring.  [It was while in Europe that we had THE most amazing encounter with the LUV of America in Verona, Italy during their re-enactment of the US liberating them.... you can read that account here.]

This picture above is probably my all time favorite photographic image. Me-on-the-move with two uniformed daddies -- one holding the original quilt and the other soldier holding my open book (endpapers showing) with an adoring and onlooking toddler-daughter looking up in awe to her papa as I introduce the project to all the families gathered together. We are in Italy and we have just shared a meal together. Beyond my wildest imagination a year ago. The power of the Arts. The power of the book.

Yet there are limits to self-publication, when I am the complete creative staff AND the entire marketing and sales departments all rolled into one. This song & book, book & song of mine are still very much a 'word-of-mouth' enterprise. I have to remind myself that It is still a toddler. It hasn't yet celebrated its first birthday. It has not yet started to walk on its own. Receiving the national INDIE Award of Excellence was another exhilarating step forward.

What possibilities lie ahead? My responsibility this summer has been to reach out & get connected to a broader blogging educational community. As a result I have received an email that "Red, White and Blue" was used in Florida on Friday of last week, as they sought permission to circulate their video to the school's website. And I know that my book will be part of the second grade's efforts in Texas on Tuesday as they perform for their PTA. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think YOU can!!! You can tell others of this effort.

Here's a quilt created in the BIG Apple, NYC, last winter in anticipation of my author visit to the preschool right in the heart of it all. This quilt was created by young hands of 3 & 4 year olds.

I will spend this day of observation taking a deep breath. I will spend this day in appreciation for the freedom that I have, that has been crafted by the effort of so many, which needs constant protection. (Click here for my Freedom isn't Free post which chronicles my son-in-law's return from one of his numerous deployments. He is today, now as I type, again in a place I can't spell, far far far from his family. I just received the text message from my daughter that she's fractured her foot. Life goes on with challenges, doesn't it?)

I will spend this day in prayer for those who work to keep us safe: our community helpers, our first responders and our military members here and abroad. I will pray for the many families whose world was irrevocably shattered a decade ago. I will spend this day using my talents. That is the one contribution I can make. That is the one way that I can stand up to terrorism. It is that I can stand up & stitch together my own unique capabilities. I will stand up and be counted. I will stand up and attempt to find teachers in search of this resource. I will stand up and put my capabilities to work. I will stand up in an act of hope. I will stand up in the hope that our children will improve upon this world of ours -- because we have taught them well.

This photo composite was created from my illustrations by Sunny Days

This photo composite was created by my friends at Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Children + Arts + Songs + Books + Literacy = HOPE

[Editor's note from 9-11-12. This song is now available in a digital download format. I am now a participant at Teacher's Pay Teachers where you can immediately purchase and use the song in Mp3 format. Click here.]

In my efforts to learn to 'market' to a wider audience I have learned much about connecting my blog to others. I have learned about linkie-parties. Right this minute Denise of Sunny Days-in-Second Grade is hosting a group link up of ideas that teachers are using to observe 911. I know you will find additional inspiration by going to her blog post. This is her classroom of children and their heart projects created at the end of last week. Go to her post to learn what the children have written on the back of the hearts.

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To me one of the amazing posts in the Sunny Days link-up is from a third grade teacher in Illinois, who devised a project with her class and the fellow third grade classes to have each student write 25 words to describe September 11th. (This was the number 3000 -- total lives lost, divided by the number of students working on the project.) Her project is described here on her blog, Lifelong Learning. The words were written to create two Twin Towers, to graphically demonstrate what was lost, with the power of words. Please take a moment to read on her blog what all was involved in the creation of this effort.

These photos are from the amazing blog, Lifelong Learning.

And show the 3rd graders twin towers and 25 words from each student. Please take a moment to read on her blog what all was involved in the creation of this effort. I know that I'm moved at the very thought. What difference can you make?

Just do it.

****To ORDER a copy for your collection, please follow this link to my WEBSITE!!!!

Movement & Dance Part 4

Learning. I'm learning! This summer I've spent learning. Learning about how to connect my blog to a bigger world. I still have a lot to learn! Yet my efforts are working!!! Welcome to my slice of the rainbow!! If this is your first visit -- I'm so very thrilled that you've found me, found us!! We're in the midst of an awesome interview with Connie Dow, author of  Redleaf's "One, Two What Can I Do?" and national expert on dance + movement for children. 

Connie is in the midst of sharing her 7 benefits of incorporating dance + movement into the lives of children. (I personally feel these are benefits for the whole of the human species, but we won't split hairs here.) 

Connie, thanks for being so patient with my blogging format. Please continue.

2^nd Benefit: Curriculum Enrichment

"One example of how movement can easily align with the Core strategies is to be found under the Learning and Experiences and Environment category:  Children learn best through play and concrete experiences that are tied to familiar aspects of their world.  Through movement, children can experience a concept in their bodies and learn the concept kinesthetically.  (See the earlier example about learning the concepts of opposites in a game about fidgeting by clicking here.)

Another example from this Learning Experiences and Environment category from the Core Knowledge and Competencies points to the importance of nurturing curiosity, thinking, and problem solving skills.  Movement activities are the perfect forum for imaginative play and individual and group problem-solving tasks

Ohio’s Early Learning Content Standards can also easily be addressed through movement specifically for dance in the ODE Fine Arts Academic Content Standards, one of the benchmarks for Kindergarten is for the children to: 'Invent movement phrases that use the elements of dance, space, time, force, and body.'

Movement time is learning time, and can be used to teach virtually any subject, crossing all learning domains. Movement can supplement another lesson, and can be used in short bursts, in transitions, and in games to get the children settled down for a quieter activity, as well as an entire lesson built around a theme. Simple and inexpensive props, such as streamers, scarves, simple costumes, music and other art forms can be incorporated along with movement."

Tell us more!! Tell us more!!! Go Connie, Go Connie!!

3^rd Benefit:  Physical Development

"Movement development in young children mirrors brain development in infants.  There is a body of work on this subject called Brain Dance, being developed in Seattle by Ann Green Gilbert.  Her basic premise is that through a specific series of simple movements, we can tap into the parts of the brain that are stimulated in the same order and patterns as they were during brain development. Green Gilbert is a proponent of using these movements as a kind of brain/body warm up, one or more times a day, before a test, when children need a break, etc., and as a way to get the brain stimulated and the body moving.

Movement activities can make the learning of motor skills, such as marching, hopping, jumping, galloping, sliding (sideways galloping), and balancing fun and enriching.  And, once the children have mastered a skill, such as marching, you can use the elements of dance (the body, time, space, and energy), to create tasks around that motor skill, which helps reinforce the skill, and taps into the imagination as well. 

Taking the simple movement of marching as an example and using the elements of dance, you can say,  “Can you march backwards, sideways, low, high, in a circle, swinging your arms, could you march with only one foot?  What is that called?  Can you lie on your back and march with your feet?  Your arms?   Can you march making lots of noise with your feet?  Can you march looking like you are making a lot of noise, but being as quiet as a mouse?"

Guided movement fosters total body fitness. Young children are naturally active, but directed movement/dance present opportunities to expand and explore movement possibilities and skills. In addition, physical activity is always part of programs in the fight against obesity, such as the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative.

According to the website of the National Parent Teacher Association, despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.

National PTA President Anna Weselak, says “Children who are physically active do better in the classroom. The research tells us that even if it means a reduction in class time, providing more time for physical activity can lead to increased test scores.”

 Whooohoooooo we're on a roll now, give us just one more for today, Connie!!

4^th Benefit:  Social Development:

From NDEO, the National Dance Education Organization:

Movement is a good arena for children to work on problem-solving skills, cooperation and taking turns, listening and understanding, and working together as a group. Dance fosters social encounter, interaction, and cooperation.  Children quickly learn to work within a group dynamic.  Movement is communication, and many children may find movement time as their time to shine."

Wow!!! Are you smiling? I am!!! Thanks for this installation, Connie. Your concluding benefits will be posted tomorrow, in the words of my father, "God willin' and the creek don't rise."

The two of us are working diligently behind the scenes to polish off our NAEYC workshop outline. We only have a 60 minute slot which has the potential to make us a tad bit crazy. Having this conversation in the midst of our planning is a huge benefit to us. Thank you for your participation.

One more thought as I wind up this post. Today as I opened my email I received word that my song/book "Red, White and Blue" was ordered yesterday by these three amazing programs: Congregation for Humanistic Judasim of Fairfield County in Connecticut, The Children's Learning Center of Cartersville, Georgia AND the Imagine-osity Family Home Childcare & Preschool of Decatur, Alabama. Do you realize how thrilling that is? That's a lot of diversity in my inbox!! Makes my heart do leaping and sideways galloping -- known to some as sliding.

Thanks so much to my blogging buddies & mentors for holding my hand as I venture forward into the brave new cyber frontier on the horizon. As a result of all of your nudges & encouragement I have a much wider audience and children from Connecticut to Alabama will benefit. Only in early childhood could you craft a word like Imagine-osity for your business name!!!! [Honest-to-goodness, people I didn't make that word up! I think I need a trip to AL!]

P.S. The pictures of me-in-action in this post were from a library performance in Richland County, Ohio earlier this summer. Who knows how many times I've made the circuit for them? That's a library system that knows how to throw a summer reading program. I had 12 performances in 4 days time!!! 

****Remember, through the entire month of September, all orders of my newly award winning INDIE Award of Excellence picture book, "Red, White and Blue" can receive a 20% savings off the cover price by using the promo code: RWB911 at my website.

Teacher Training/Sharing

After the communal concert, we regrouped and had time for teacher training -- with me sharing some of my latest ideas and encouragement. Here are a trio of enthusiastic teachers demonstrating their form on, "Ride My Bike." We're all in agreement that a minute goes a long way: core training, indeed. Last but not least are the classroom pets from Brittany's room. As our time together concluded she shared that she was the student who was honored with the scholarship in Akron, from their AEYC two years ago, when I presented the keynote (small world alert!) Today was my 2nd "cancer-versary" and the evening gathering where Brittany was honored was just after my initial diagnosis and surgery. She remembers being a part of one of the very first groups to tie a ribbon on my BC (Breast Cancer) scarf. Today was a walk down memory lane in more ways than one.

Bring on the Preschoolers!

What exactly does a group of 80 preschool children look like, you ask? Here you have it! All gathered together in one old-fashioned, wooden floor gymnasium. Eighty preschoolers, one "performer" in polka-dot, asymetrical skirt, a guitar and the top favorites of the Debbie's Ditties collection. (When I was walking down the hall, one of the children said to her friend, "There goes our performer for the afternoon.") How do you spell fun? To add to the excitement, the local TV camera crew was on hand..... including a pre-tip-off interview of me. Wonder what I have to do to track that down??

ARTS: WOWOW!! Mansfield

Have I mentioned that I have the 'best' job?? I get to go to the most amazing places. Today I was at the Early Learning Children's Center in Mansfield -- for a return concert. You know that you're in a place that loves art, when the school gym has 23' high hand-painted dinosaurs on the wall. I had enough time before the afternoon concert to take a little tour down the hallways. The third picture is a 'moveable sculptural-wall.' Soooooooooo cool. The very definition of cool. The 3D pieces, shapes/colors all had massive strips of velcro and can easily be repositioned on the velcro-matic wall. Space. Shapes. Movement. How much fun is that, if you're in preschool? And take a look at that final bulletin board: celebrating Dr. Seuss in such a child friendly, open-ended, appropriate art-project manner. Three stars before we even begin!