October 29th A Day with Mr. Greg and Debbie Clement: Nashville!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 

October 29th! 

Nashville!!! 

There's something *EPIC* in the making! 

You want to be part of this historic day! 

A FULL DAY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH 

MR. GREG & DEBBIE CLEMENT!!!

REGISTER HERE

Once upon a time I visited 

Mr. Greg of Kindergarten Smorgasboard fame---- 

at his school. 

A fun time was had by all! 

Whenever we get together we wear our very best..... 

our best hats and our best smiles! 

One year rolls into the next and I just keep finding him -- 

even if he changes schools. 

Every year I look forward to my grand, official welcome. 

We always remember to pose before the day gets started.

The two of us have a mutual admiration society! 

He has used my books (and songs) with his monsters and then with his mustaches.

Mr. Greg has his students create original 

and authentic art work in response 

to my picture books! 

These next pictures are in my power point presentation

as an example of fostering creativity and originality.

I could write volumes on "AUTHENTIC" art..... and I have previously. 

What I absolutely LUV is how completely unique and original 

each and every masterpiece turned out. 

Give them the materials and time and stand back. 

It is a VERY big deal, when I finally arrive 

for our big day together! 

I LUV LUV LUV being part of the morning message!

And then blink and the day gets started in earnest. 

I may or may not be just a tad excited!

My goal is that students get excited about meeting 

an author/illustrator. 

I've shared some glimpses into Mr. Greg's room in the past. 

I know how you like to take a gander into other classrooms. 

This puzzle idea is beyond precious. 

What an amazing way to connect home and school. 

I'm ALL about hopes and DREAMS! 

Seeing these spelled out is so insightful. 

You know how some people are by nature 'over-achievers.' 

Mr. Greg is one of those. 

Truth be told, I may be as well.

He has such a HUGE heart for his students. 

Just as importantly his heart is huge for his teaching peers.  

When Greg invited me to launch his second day of professional development -- 

I was ALL in!

{register here} 

Peanut butter and jelly. 

Glitter and polka dots. 

Brass tacks AND inspiration. 

BRING IT ON! 

Behind the dreamers are the list makers and the i dotters. 

Fortunately for the two of us, 

there is another duo offering lots of support.

Here's a peek at how the day will begin. 

Click right here to see the full agenda and all of the details. 

Blessings + Praise Report! THE most incredible week: EV!ER!

#BLESSED #GRATEFUL #FORTUNATE! #INCREDIBLE 

This has been an incredible week, truly one for the books! One for the blog! It has been one moment for the highlight reel after another. Superlatives. Dreams coming true -- right before my very eyes! 

On Monday I returned to St. Paul in Westerville, OH. I have made an annual visit for at least the last decade! Good friends. Always a highlight of the year. This year's visit was amazing in every way -- except that my camera had a mind of its own and there are so few images to share. This is a first and thank goodness I had my phone charged! 

Look at this amazing Kinder-graph! 

Every month, a different one of my original songs introduced. 

And just before my May arrival, the kinders voted on their favorite! 

It was a close run-off between "Red, White and Blue" and "Calamity Sam"

but the Kinders chose SAM as the winner for this school year!

So humbling to see my participation for an entire year!

HALLELUJAH 

I've seen many schools have wrapped up for the year,

but just in case you are still in learning mode, 

these two songs are ready for you in digital download.

No sooner had I caught my breath from my kinder-fun, 

it was on further north to the Lorain County JVS {Joint Vocation School.} 

How amazing to be the FINAL TWO HOURS of the senior year, 

for these upcoming ECE professionals. 

***From Kinders-to-Seniors in the blink of an eye. 

Their amazing teacher had written the grant, that in addition to our spending time together, every one of the 45 students received some of my materials! What a great way to start a professional library! I LUV when folks plan ahead and everyone benefits.

HALLELUJAH!

To say that we had some quality interaction barely touches the level of enthusiasm of our time together! So happy to have new followers on Instagram. This is our equivalent of the Ellen 'us-ie' posted on Twitter not that long ago. 

No sooner did we get checked into our RESORT room in anticipation of OAEYC, than I got the news that Maria over at KinderCraze had published her article of our time together earlier this month. Having the opportunity to be the focus of Maria's insight and generous talent when it comes to photography is a certain highlight! 

HURRY right over to her blog article, where we are giving away my first two books.
It is a very simple process to enter to win. 
I will be certain to sign and personalize the books for the winner! 
Here's a peek as we compare my original quilt to the illustration within 
"You're Wonderful."  

Thank you Maria, that in the midst of your final wedding plans, 
you took the time to highlight our time together. 
I know that I will add new fans as a result of your kindness. 
HALLELUJAH!

Then it was full speed ahead to OAEYC!
It was a challenge to fall asleep: my heart was so full of gratitude. 
It was such a thrill to open my eyes and see my Mentor-Mimi!

Do you think it is possible that she's just had her 80th birthday? 
The woman is a veritable power house of inspiration! 
Having her hugs and support means the world. 
So thrilling that we could both be on the stage for #OAEYC2015.

The entire three days of OAEYC was a blur of joy and happiness.

It was like "old-home-days" from dawn till dusk. 

The first day was spent in the booth meeting dear friends old and new. 

I had the opportunity to peek in on the BIG stage 

in preparation for my BIG DAY!

It has been my dream since I started my rainbow-travels

to have an opportunity to take the BIG stage at OAEYC.

A mere 18.9 years later? 

MY DREAM COMES TO FRUITION! 

THE BIG STAGE! 

Tech support! 

My mentor AND a sign language interpreter!

Be still my heart! 

       

   

The reason that I have all of these great photos (and a gazillion more) is that our daughter Sarah was there to capture the whole thing! I am so tickled to relive the fun through her lens. Just as soon as I was all done the two of us celebrated by jumping into the ball pit! 

HALLELUJAH!

So an update on the so-proud-of Sarah-Story! 

You may have seen the update where she earned the Younique incentive trip to Jamaica. 

While she was helping hold down the fort in my booth, she received the unofficial news that the corporate office at Younique is going to reach out to her to be a speaker at their upcoming national convention! 

HALLELUJAH! 

When I tell you that she is a duck to water with this company, 

I kid you not! 

Right now. 

For May, there's a 'manager's incentive' being offered. 

The company is giving a $500 cash bonus for elite GREEN status. 

In Sarah's world right now a $500 'BONUS' is like winning the lottery!

Only this is not through luck, but effort. 

She hasn't earned it yet, but she is well on her way, 

with a week left. 

She applied my make up and the big experiment was to use the new Younique Lip Stain! 

It lasted at least five hours from her application. 

It's kinda like painting it on. 

I have opened a 'new' Younique party on Facebook. 

*I am wearing "Sultry" lip stain!

Every purchase through my party eeks Sarah closer toward her lottery bonus.  

Thank you for all of your continued support and encouragement as we navigate through turbulent waters. 

Our goal is to keep our heads up + focus on all the good!  

This week has had only one day of utter 'testing' and six days of glorious celebration. 

HALLELUJAH!

Teacher Twitter Tues: Guest MysteryEduCelebrity Greg Smedley!

YES!!! Our Teacher PRACTICE Chat Marches On!

We have been having a RIOT of fun, learning how to chat together on Twitter. Tuesday night! 9 PM EST. Our latest addition is to *PLAN* to have moderators on our hashtag #TeacherFriends beginning at 8:30 for the newest of the newbies. 

Each week has brought more and more TWEEPS and lately it has felt like a cross between fireworks and a High School Class Reunion. You just have to know ahead of time that there is absolutely NO WAY that you can keep up in a chat room when over 50 people are chatting/typing/Tweeting at the same time! You learn to surf the waves of tweets. {Then you read the 'storified' version after the fact to see everything you missed.} 

HERE'S THIS WEEK'S BIG REVEAL! #MysteryEduCelebrity! The very amazing, creative @GregSmedley of Kindergarten Smorgasboard fame. Yes. He's just had surgery on his knee. Yes. He is still on medication. Yes. He promises to share secrets!!! Plus some lucky winner will walk away with his brand new product for back-to-school! YES! I have been to make an author/illustrator school visit to his school two years in a row! 

Our sweet hostess, Maggie of Maggie's Kindergarten has Tweep Tips to share today. You need to go over to her blog, to see her other Tweep Tips! 

Kristen, another hostess has a VERY insightful article, 

"So you think you want to join a Tweet Chat." 

She outlines her thoughts on TweetDeck. Click her blog button to go learn her insight directly! 

To give total newbies a head start for the chat...... 

We moderators put our head's together and decided it might help newbies, 

to have an 'open-book' chat, 

with the questions ahead of time! 

Here ya go. 

For those of you who like to plan ahead! 

9:00pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends! WELCOME! Where do you live? What do you teach? Have you chatted with us before? Are you a #TCV {TwitterChatVirgin: giggle}

9:06pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Q1: When does school start? When can you get into your room? What's your #TPP {TeacherPetPeeve} about setting up your space?

9:12pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Q2: Where did you go to college? What's your alma mater? What was your mascot? Taking classes now? Extended degrees?

9:22pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Q3: Do YOU buy school supplies for your classroom? How much do you spend? Do you get a contribution from school?

9:33pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Q4: What advice would you offer a new teacher for the #BTS {Back-to-school} season? Favorite BTS read-aloud? Resource?

9:41pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Q5: Please share the 'furniture' set-up for your space. Tables? Desks? Centers? What would you like to introduce/try?

9:50pm · 22 Jul 2014

#TeacherFriends Time for #SnT {Show-n-Tell} Give us your own blog, IG, Pinterest, FB, connections. ANY blog article for BTS. Use bitly!

We're doing everything we can think of to support + encourage! 

Here's what the storified version of last week's chat looks like. 

You can follow fellow teachers right from the storify.

Special thanks to +Kim Vij who puts it together. 

Meanwhile. In real life, we are back to northern WI to our haven-on-Earth for the remainder of the summer season. We flew in yesterday, requiring three flights, followed by a 3.5 hour drive to our peninsula! This past weekend has been filled with dreams coming true.

I FINALLY met Jack Hartmann. Music POWER House. This is the two of us, upon arriving at ETSU for their Early Childhood Conference -- during the sound check. Jack was kind enough to let us use HIS equipment. Good people! 

As if that wasn't enough excitement...... I then got to meet and later have dinner with the music brains and heart behind the original four "Pete the Cat" books! Michael Levine is truly an awesome individual with a fascinating story to share! Yes. We truly did have gen-u-ine fun! 

Then finally on Day #3 we had a harmonic convergence!

All three of these uniquely capable music-peeps..... 

all on the stage at the same time! 

I 'found' myself tagged on Instagram. 

Super thanks to Kristie for remembering to tag! 

Sorry to Jack that my enthusiasm covered your face: oops. 

Speaking of Instagram. 

Are you following me? 

Tomorrow I have taking over the feed at BonBon Break! 

This is totally a new concept to me. 

I have complete instructions. 

Wish me luck! 

It's gonna be a B*I*G Tuesday for moi on social media!