Spring's the Thing!!!

It's here!!!! It's SPRING-time!!!!! 

The season of new beginnings!!!!!
(For my readers sharing my hemisphere, that is... I'm so ego-centric: LOL!)

I'm creating this blog post to inspire and share.

In my travels as a "Music-Lady" making 'author/illustrator' visits to schools, centers and libraries -- I get to see all manner of amazing work in my adventures.

Look at this bulletin board idea!

I could have had that in one of my round-ups for all things 'fine motor leading to Fine Arts!!'

What a great way to encourage scissor activity for young hands!!

There you have it!

My version of the Birds and the Bees......

from last spring's art festival in Ohio!

This bouquet was professionally framed and under glass, hanging in the program director's office...... obviously a gift of love from an earlier spring. What a great idea for a mother's day present. Or a gift for GeeGee, Nana, Mimi, Grandma, Grannie et. al. Hint-hint.

Rembrandt in the making.

Spring = smiles!

Spring = butterfly!!

Spring = Happy flower!!!

I had posted this footprint sun collaboration earlier, but felt it was needed in this collection.
Truly a classic and oh-so-simple. Simple always 'works.' Simple is great in the spring!!!

Looking for Rainbows?

I had an entire blog article FILLED with Rainbow ideas last week!

Just click here for all of those ideas + projects.

 

Here's a 'family tree' I saw recently at South Daytona Elementary.

Their kindergarten classrooms were adorned with permanent brown trees.

This one was 'blooming' with family leaf collages.....

made at home under the watchful eyes of parents.

 

Here's an Easter Egg collaboration from last spring.
This HUGE effort was one I saw during my tour through Reggio Emilia, Italy.
If you're looking for all 18 of those earlier articles click here.

Take a look at these child-created flowers:
Petals.
Glue.
GO FOR IT!!!!!!

LUV that the children have been given the independence to create their own projects!!!
That's a pretty amazing continum of response.


I'd be so delighted if you'd 'pin' your favorite spring idea.
That will help bring these projects to a wider audience searching for inspiration.

Thanks for your help!!!

Did ya LUV these?

I have another installment of ideas here in a future issue.

Just click here.

-- Debbie --

I created this post to support my blogging friend Mary who is hosting her FIRST linky party.

Want lots of ideas?

Want to add your post to her collection?

Then hop right over to Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives.

Fine Arts from Fine Motor, Part 7

WELCOME BACK, FINE MOTOR FRIENDS!!!
Welcome to the Kid's Co-op blog hop!!

It's Friday!!!!

That means all things 'fine motor' with a look at 'Fine Arts.'

This makes the seventh installation in the series.

Let's get this party started!

First: prepare the materials to encourage exploration.

Let's look at fingers having fun with tissue paper!

This is a mature three year old at work.

LUV the concentration.

LUV the arrangement and use of colors!!!

Open ended!!!! Process!!!!!

All success -- all along the way!

Here I am with my 'grandma' hat on..... 

with my WonderPeeps at the Conservatory.

All things: butterfly!

Awesome professionally, pre-made colorful butterflies prepared with scratch-off layer.

This set of hands are two years older.

Look at the confidence in this approach to the same project!!

Clothes-pins to be  decorated with magic-markers.

Goldfish crackers in a baggie to become wings.

Half of a pipe-cleaner for antennae.

Crayola Glitter Pens.

SQUEEEEEEEEEZE!!!!!!!

And another opportunity to explore with tissue paper!!!!

Variation on the theme presented above.
 

Whether in your classroom or your family room there are oodles of opportunities to include materials that afford working those fine motor muscles. Last week I had those photos of the awesome 'Lite Brites' and here are some glorious 'pegs' that also make an excellent chance to think numeracy while exercising those fingers.

Here's a collage I created after one of my 'Author Visits' to a Preschool here in FL earlier this year.

I just LUV the way these 'mosaics' turned out.

Pre-made stencil letters and lots of little squares of construction paper.

Remember!!!!! Always have the children see YOU writing!!!! LUV this idea of having the kiddos 'sign-in' their votes on the question for the classroom!!!

ALWAYS have the children see you recording their thoughts to share with others!

You simply must go back and see the first articles in the series! 
Just click right here to see all of the series.

                                                                                    -- Debbie --

Fun with Father: Bulletin Board

These beauties were on the Bulletin Board at the Twinzees Preschool....

from my visit north just recently. 

These delightful footprints were just outside the door 
of the very youngest kiddos: the just about 3's.

If you look closely in the picture above, you'll see some "daddy 'n me" photos --

they were just beginning to add the pics-from-home......

what a great way to add zip to the fun footprints!!!! 

What an awesome way to tie little birdies to home!

 

 

Footprints on your heart!!!
You don't need to make a bulletin board's worth,
this would be such an endearing idea as a greeting card!
(Would be just as heart-warming for a grand-dad, step-dad, uncle or next-door-neighbor helping friend.)

 And how about that headline? 

Some day..... I HOPE to fill your shoes! 
[I dearly LUV seeing the word: HOPE.] 

Sweet, sweet, sweet!!

Come back tomorrow! I've got some joyous hand-prints!

-- Debbie --

One of my FB fans asked for an idea for their upcoming 'day-with-dad' and the request jogged my memory about this clever concept.
I am always so delighted to hear from folks!
Even more delighted when I have an idea-to-share.

Reading Rocks our School!!

Here's just a couple of the display boards from the Illinois Reading Council fun of last week.

I thought they might give you some ideas for bulletin boards. 
Not to mention they're full of color AND celebrate reading -- 
Two of my favorite things!!  

 

-- Debbie --

FOLDABLES: Graphic Organizer Examples

                                                        

Looking for supportive approaches for your kinesthetic students? Need a hand's on approach for your written projects? WELCOME!
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS "FOLDABLES"

My #1 read article of-all-time,

is this post from the time I presented at the TN- IRA conference!

It turns out that teachers are crazy-WILD about foldables!!

Guess where I just presented? Another IRA event!!! 

This time I gave workshops for the state of Illinois -- IRC.

GUESS WHAT I FOUND??
JUST FOR YOU!! 
New ideas!!! 

Graphic Organizer 'foldable' examples from Dinah Zike

I went prowling the exhibit hall in search of the Dinah Zike booth.
This woman is obviously the QUEEN of da foldables. 

Here's her website -- where you can learn her approach 
and see her products in detail! 
Some day I'll meet this woman in person.  

I just know all of these images are going to re-charge your battery.
Be certain that you go to her website to learn her approach to this kinesthetic learning opportunity.

LUV me some Onomatopoeia!!!!!
I promised to keep my eyes wide open on your behalf....
and I LUV to be able to deliver on a promise!

These next two remind me of little foldables we used to make when I was in elementary.

They had flaps that you lifted.

We called them fortune tellers and Cootie-catchers.

Now taken from the playground to the classroom!!

I'd be grateful if you'd 'pin' your favorite idea.

I think Dinah would be grateful for the traffic we'll send her as well.

I only get credit for photographing + sharing her ideas.
Now you put your 'spin' on these concepts in your classroom!

If you want to do some time travel into the future, click here to hop to a display of children's foldable reports I photographed during one of my spring Artist in the Schools visits. 

Student Reports as Foldables

Here's a peek at my concluding workshop.

I had extra helping hands to catch my enthusiastic participants in action!!

Here's my 'photographer' that captured those participants!!!

It's Carie-the-Kindergarten teacher!!!

Carie was a help in every way. 

She's the amazing dynamo who served 9 years in the Army, 

prior to taking over the reigns in kindergarten. 

She's the one who created the amazing collaborative quilt in response to my picture book, "Red, White and Blue."  

You really need to treat yourself to the series of articles I wrote last year, after meeting Carie.

Here's a snippet of the quilt her K-kiddos created.

***I am now an 'Amazon Associate' which means whenever you click from my blog to Amazon and do some shopping -- you are adding to my retirement account. SO GRATEFUL! 

I've done some window shopping and have gathered up a LOT of foldable and graphic organizer resources for you. ENJOY! 

-- Debbie -- 

EDITOR'S Note from the future: I now have a little store over at TpT where I am uploading my original children's songs in zipped files with Mp3 versions and support materials. Swing by and pick up your FREEBIE. Follow my store so you'll know when I upload new projects and hold sales. 

This post has been added to Laura's Link-up on all things 'Foldable' over at Corkboard Connections.