Childhood Obesity: My Pledge + Progress

OBESITY.

Childhood Obesity. 

An alarming reality that is sweeping the nation. 

In America? 

One child in five is 'officially' overweight by the time they reach kindergarten.

[Source]

As I travel and present at conferences around the country, I am occasionally able to sit in on the presentations of others. While in Georgia for GAYC, I was able to listen in recently and SEE the slides shared via the CDC on the growing trend in America toward the ever-expanding rise of obesity across this country. 

Take a look for yourself. These maps are truly disturbing.

Take a look at where the stats begin in 1985.

Then compare the stats every 5 years. 

Alarming. Disturbing. Downright distressing. 

You can go directly to the CDC to see each map closely. 

Now look at this century.

Believe it or not -- it gets worse. 

A LOT WORSE! 

2005. 

AND YET STILL WORSE! 

2010. 

After 'seeing' these maps at GAYC, I developed those two slides above to include in my own powerpoint presentation a week later in Richmond Virginia. I am a visual learner. SEEING all of this visual 'evidence' was a game changer for me. 

For at least the last three years I have been GIVING workshops entitled: 

"Stemming the Tide to Childhood Obesity: Let's Get Moving!" 

I have been inciting my participants to get up and get moving. To get heart rates up. To drink more water. To dance throughout the day. I have even included poignant stories as illustration to bring home the need for more 'active' lesson plans. 

[Spoiler alert: I am on the verge of securing my very first, real, blog sponsor! I'm so excited, because it is a product that will directly connect to this issue of obesity and contribute to getting kids moving. STAY TUNED. I will insert the link just as soon as the ink-is-dry! Hopefully I can get all of my ducks in a row by NAEYC. Come visit me in booth #1213 to see for yourself!] 

For example. While in Arkansas last fall, one of my participants came up to me afterward to share that she had a student so morbidly obese that no other child 'picked' her in the classic game "Duck, Duck, Goose" because the little girl could NOT get up off the floor fast enough -- every one of the other children, as the 'duck' child could run all the way around the circle before the heavyweight goose-child could rise up. The teacher went on to lament that the obese girl regularly came to school with FOUR cupcakes in her lunchbox. INCREDULOUS! FOUR cupcakes?!?!?!

I asked the teacher if she had relayed her caring concerns to the parents. This well meaning teacher said "No." She didn't think that was professional/appropriate on her part, since the child's weight didn't deal with academics. Suffice it to say. We had a heart-to-heart. I challenged this caring teacher to share her concerns with the parents and to address the cupcake-issue head on. 

I wonder if she gathered the courage? What would you do? As educators, as caring adults, we need to be concerned about the WHOLE child. 

Nearly two years ago I wrote an article for our collaborative on this topic. You can click over to "PreK+K Sharing" to read my thoughts as 2012 was launched. It's awful to know that things are only worse these many months later. 

Now. Here's where the rubber meets the road. Let's get personal. 

Do you know your own BMI (body/mass index)? 

Click right here for your specific calculation.

Take a look at mine as summer began.

As summer began, I was at my Highest.Weight.Ever = 153.4 pounds. 

{That is the most I have ever, ever weighed. 

Nine months pregnant with my second child I was 153 pounds even.

Trust me. I remember.} 

My name is Debbie. 

I am a 'stress' eater. 

I am a sluggard.

I can easily be happily entertained with a laptop for hours on end.

Internet connection? Make that ALL day delirium! 

Immediately after the GAYC presentation I calculated my BMI.

Truth? Hard truth. I realized that my own BMI at my highest weight was literally at THE crossroads between normal weight and OVERweight. 

Lightbulb moment.

Today. At 146.4 I'm headed in the right direction. 

So begins the next chapter of my adventure: 

BMI WAKE-UP CALL! 

We have moved. Literally. Houses. States.

Everything's NEW and SHINY in our newly painted, new-to-us home. 

Our development has a communal work-out room. 

Can you see where I'm going with us?

A TREADMILL! 

An ocean shoreline beach! 

It's time to make daily activity the priority.

***I have a pledge to make. This is important stuff. 

If you leave a comment below this article and tell me truthfully that you have calculated your own BMI, if you include your email address, I will send you an Mp3 copy of my song

"Eating Healthy."  

This is a whole new era.

If you're following me on Instagram, you already know I have my first iPhone!  

It turns out that 'moving' is good to get one MOVING. 

All of this carting of boxes and sewing of curtains and walking about the house, putting things away and thinking up new projects is good for the scale,

which tis good for the BMI. 

Yesterday was finish-and-HANG-the-curtains in my 'studio' day!

OH yeah! LUV me my IKEA fabric! 

   

Speaking of IKEA fabric......

Our bedroom is the most kinda-sorta 'finished' of our little haven. 

From just the right angle it looks like everything is in place! 

But if I allow you another glimpse, 

you'll see the project that still awaits. 

I literally have an empty canvas that is calling....... 

It's 36 by 36" and I have an idea percolating. 

I also have a full week before I fly out to my next journey.

The thing about blogging, even photography in general...... 

You get to edit. Crop. Fix things by where you focus. 

Let me explain. 

Part of 'creativity' is allowing yourself sufficient time in the muckin' about phase. 

Look at our bathroom, now that I have the curtains altered and hanging in place. 

Here's a look at reality, just outside the frame..... 

....... I did move the vacuum cleaner and curtain remnants, 

but hopefully you get the idea. 

Focus on what is looking good! 

Remember when you are reading along on someone's blog and have the sinking feeling that your room, your kitchen, your children, your life will never look that "pulled together" ~~~~ that there is always some serious editing and staging that goes into any given finished blog article. Trust me. I know! 

My new friends on Instagram are just having the first peek at a couple of my favorite earlier projects that are DIY in nature, easily 'replicated' and hopefully provide some inspiration. I promised I'd provide the links here. My HAPPY mixed media collage is already hanging in our front foyer. So this place feels like 'home.' 

If you want to see that unfold in real time, go back to this link to see the messy, happy fun I had. Or better still, just click back earlier this summer, to see how this project incited a whole cyber project without my even knowing it. Talk about the power of the internet! 

Now shift gears to a very sentimental piece. 

My 'angel' project is especially near and dear to my heart. That is what I painted upon the death of my dear friend 'Saint.' Engaging in a creative activity during such loss was therapeutic. Seeing her brightly restored, with flair and hair, everyday offers me hope. I know she watches over me. You can go back in time to read about our relationship as fellow Breast Cancer survivors. 

Note-to-self: That's a book I need to write, all in one place. The woman was heroic in her battle. The connection between the two of us was worth distilling into words. 

Here is the progress as documented on that Easter weekend between her passing and the funeral. Only Pat would have the perfect timing and to leave Earth in the midst of Easter weekend. So fitting. So Pat. So fortunate to have met and spent quality time with her. 

Now. Back to 'real time' and the unfolding of our new little place. This marks a whole 'nother level of fun ahead. I had been seeing the cyber-ads for a site called Zulily. I have taken the dive into understanding what their concept is all about. Deals. Sales. Price slashes. If you see it, you'd better order it, before it is no longer available. 

We needed an area rug for our dining room area. I searched on Zulily. I found something terrific. I didn't order it at that moment because I got distracted. It was 'gone' by the time I remembered a couple of days later. AKKKKK. VERY fortunate for me that just a week later, they had a different set of area rugs deeply discounted, because I found the RUG OF MY DREAMS at a crazy low price I could afford. I had learned my lesson! I ordered it immediately! 

LOOK AT MY NEW HAPPY RUG!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Perfect BEYOND words for our happy house! 

My happy rug marks a new evolution for my blogging/pinning experience. 

Moving forward, as I have time, I will occasionally be pinning directly from Zulily to my newest pinboard entitled: 

"Shopping, Sharing, Saving"

And here's the full disclosure:

I'm an affiliate. 

When you make your first purchase at Zulily as a result of one of my pins, I get a thank you gift credit.

How cool is that? 

I thought you'd like to see the dining room as it is now!

Thanks to IKEA for the light fixture, red shelf and curtain fabric. 

Stay tuned for the 'make-over' on this mirror. See the bad spot? 

That was a crazy long ramble about my progress on the theme, 

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" 

I want to be a great-grandma! 

That means I want my BMI in the healthy range.

That means I need to "Move more + eat less." 

I want to have time and space to be creative.

I am heading in the right direction for all of the above.   

Preparing for Veteran's Day Observance: Author School Visit

Author-Illustrator School Visit: South Carolina

Those of you that know me, know how much I LUV LUV LUV making my visits to schools wearing my author/illustrator hat. Every visit is unique. Every visit is tailored specifically to the school and their needs. Every visit is special to me. EVERY visit. Having said that? 

I absolutely ADORED my recent school visit in South Carolina! I got to work WITH the students in response to my picture book illustrations....... see what these first graders came up with while I snapped photos! The photos that follow are of what I will loving remember as my first 'artist-residency.' Different that my assembly presentations. INCREDIBLE! 

There were MANY things to LUV about this particular visit! For one thing, I was being hosted by my dear friend Della Johnson, who I see out-on-the-road at conferences as she is a frequent presenter 'on the circuit.' Way last summer Della invited me to join her in collaboration for a presentation at NAEYC next month! 

These are the hands of her students -- hard at work! 

Our NAEYC workshop is: 

"Making Stories Unforgettable by Integrating Music, Drama, Dance and Art."  

Thursday morning, Nov. 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30! 

Room 204C 

Mark your calendars now! 

Our time together included me giving 'assembly-style' presentations in their multi-discipline space for all of the kindergarten classes in the building and then a second hour long assembly for all of the first graders. 

None of that was the least bit out of the ordinary and we had a fantastic time together, with me introducing everyone to each of my three picture books, punctuated with an active one of my song-dances in between the more sedentary presentation of the books. 

I pretty much have that down to a science and can hit plug-and-play. 

What was absolutely different and incredibly powerful and unique? 

We designed my time in their presence to include a visit to Della's classroom where together the two of us directed her students to create 'quilt squares' (from construction paper) in response to the quilted illustrations I made for my book, "Red, White and Blue." 

Here's all of us posing with the amazing work....

Not quite finished, but well underway in the time we had available. 

Della has intentions to take these and create a class 'quilt' in time for Veteran's Day. 

Here's a peek at what my picture book looks like. 

This is an 'earlier' amazing class collaboration in kindergarten. This next image is Carie's Kindergarten and the MARBLE PAINTED construction paper quilt that they created..... that ended up being 19 feet wide and 11 feet tall. You can click back to her 'label' here to see all of our adventures together. I got to visit her school last spring! Carie is a US Army Veteran, having served a year of active duty in Iraq. She combined her appreciation of quilting and the flag together in this monumental undertaking. 

My song came first. 
I wrote it immediately in the aftermath of September 11th. 
It took me y-e-a-r-s to create the picture book format --
where I made the illustrations from fabric as small quilts. 

The song version is now in a zipped file for your immediate digital download. 
You can purchase it at our Early Education Emporium or Teacher's Pay Teachers. 

If you're quick you have time to order the picture book from EEE or TpT. 



Getting 'feedback' is the ultimate of social media sharing. 
I am so grateful for those that share their response to my work: 
leaving comments, pinning my articles, tweeting my efforts. 

It is a HUGE help when you leave feedback at TpT for others to eavesdrop on how you're using my projects. 
Take a look at what insight others have to share. 

Here's another classroom quilt created by second graders in Indiana -- prior to my arrival. You can see the specifics of that school visit in this earlier article. 

If you like these collaborative quilting projects, 

you'll want to be certain to check out my earlier quilt RoundUP article. 

As always. 
As a self-published author, your pin means the world to me! 
Thanks for your help in sharing my work with the wider world! 

Twitter Directory for Kindergarten Tweeps

Twitter Directory for Kindergarten Twitter-Tweeps! 
I am making progress on the social-media networking front. I am thrilled with my continued, steady growth at Pinterest. According to their stats, I now have 136,179 followers in pin-it-ville! As a result I've had increased readership here and actual Author-Illustrator school visit invitations have unfolded from Pin-followers plus my picture books have LITERALLY headed to international destinations! ALL as a result of increasing visibility in Pin-feeds. What's next? 

So now I'm giving some time, attention and effort to grasping and using Twitter. I am just barely beyond the 'beginner' status there and have a L-O-N-G way to go, but I can already see the benefits of exploring in this new language. Twitter has opened a whole new level of continuous professional development for me. YEAH! 

By far, the biggest hint I have to offer is to LEARN your way around the hashtag. 
[The hashtag is the navigational device that is known elsewhere as a pound sign: #.] 
The first hashtag that I learned to 'surf' is the one that is ALL THINGS KINDERGARTEN, which is to say: #Kinderchat. There is a thriving community of kinder-tweeps gathered and communicating throughout the day on that 'channel.' 

The second hashtag that I have devoted some energy to grasp and cultivate, is the very simple and unassuming: #ff. That stands for #FridayFollow. It is a very simple way of sending out a message where you gather up several 'like-minded' tweeps into one tweet. YOUR followers who are of that same ilk are therefore encouraged by your affirmation to follow those you have given such a kind SO (shout-out) and they are then likely to gain new followers. BTW. You engage in the #ff on Friday. 

By far, the most amazing story for me that starts with my infant efforts on Twitter, requires a flashback to Las Vegas last summer. As a result of my having previously attempted to navigate the Monday night '#Kinderchat' that takes place weekly, beginning in real time at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, I had already increased my PLN {Personal Learning Network.} I knew some K-tweeters by their "@" signature. By the way. On Twitter? My current handle, address, sign, signature is @Kweezlequeen. That's where you find me! 

It was a very innocent and uninformed Vegas TWEET that landed me the participation of these two {RARE} male kindergarten teachers in the closing number of my KEYNOTE for SDE at "I Teach Kindergarten." Had I not previously attempted to interact on Monday night tweet-chats, I never would have had @JonFines upstage me as the most capable dancing 5th little piggy to date! Little did I know that #JonCanDance! See. Ya never know when you're gonna need to reach out to the whole world to lasso yourself a dancin' pig! Reason enough to ferret out new skills. 



Just this past Wednesday I entered even deeper into the Twitter-Kinderchat professional development conversation by joining my first Kinderchat Campfire Chat. That's a whole 'nother level of technology, but one that I was able to navigate on my own, even from my cave-person status. It requires uploading a software format for the video event, but if I can do it -- so can you! Just follow the link. 

This coming Wednesday, Oct. 23rd will be the opportunity for the world to chat/listen/chat/listen with RAFFI. Yes. THE RAFFI! Mark your calendar now! He will be leading the campfire conversation on "Lightweb/Darkweb" and the Reasons that reformation of Social Media need Re-Forming. I don't know if there will be any singing? 

Last week's campfire chat was led by Lisa Murphy, the Ooey Gooey Lady. Again. Very WELL worth your efforts to get connected. She led the discussion on 'large play' that could look to the uninformed to be similar to rough-housing. Seeing her in a 'wig' with her usual level of animation was well worth the navigating of the new-to-me format.

Using the hashtag "#Kinderchat" at any time of the week is likely to get you a quick and informed response to any question you might have.... from Common Core concerns to Reggio implementation, portfolio documentation, parent interaction, technology frustrations or discoveries -- you name it, there's a peer with an answer and just like that your network expands. We owe much to the co-founders @hechternacht and @happycampergirl for growing such a thriving network, full of support and encouragement. They personally still offer hand-holding. I can attest to that and continue to benefit weekly from their kindness. 

One of the best things I did here on my blog, for my P-peeps, was to create 'directories' of like-minded pinsters. It just dawned on me that I need to find like-minded Tweeps, in order to have a stronger, more interesting, valuable, applicable and deeper twitter-stream. To expand that PLN further. Professional development. Connectedness. Techno-learning. I also realized that I could bring my Pinterest-muscle to bear and gather up fellow tweeters by pinning the directory invitation.

Behold. Let's do a parallel resource. Let's create a Twitter directory! Let's start with those that have a vested interest in all things kindergarten. I would imagine that will include a whole host of K-teachers, but also welcome any 'consultants' like myself who regularly rub elbows, or dance, with the kinder-crowd.

***DETAILS: Let me be VERY specific. I do NOT want your blog address NOR your Pinterest link and NO email addresses publicly listed in the linky either. I will delete any of those that are mistakenly added. I want your DIRECT Twitter URL. That way it will be easy for others to follow each other. DIRECTLY TO TWITTER! Any other links will be deleted. I repeat. Other links to blogs, stores, or other networks will be deleted.

If getting added to the directory seems to put you into a flumox, right off the bat, I am MORE than HAPPY to add you myself. JUST SEND ME A TWEET and I will make sure you're included. 

Once you get signed into the directory, be certain to check back 'later' to follow the newest additions. It would be a HUGE help if you would share this directory link with your network of friends. Tweet it. Pin it. It will only be as strong as the participants added. THANKS. The more the merrier. I have made this directory a 'blog hop' so that you can transport the entire list to YOUR blog.... which will help it grow and we all will be grateful for the growth and development of a stronger network. 

I am a visual learner and Pinterest has been very simple for me to grasp. Twitter? Not so much. I have relied on Tutorials to help along the way. Below are several that have given me insight. 

10 Great Video Tutorials on Twitter in Education 
Twitter Tips & Resources for Teachers at Kleinspiration
The Ultimate Twitter Guidebook for Teachers
Twitter: Cure what Ails You (exhaustive resources)
Teacher Cheat Sheet for Twitter 
Cybrary Man's Official Twitter Chat Schedule + Hashtags
Teachers on Twitter Infographic
Why Teachers Should Try Twitter
Can Tweeting Help your Teaching? NEA
The Ultimate Twitter Guidebook for Teachers Edudemic
Twitter for Educators Beginner's Guide
The Beginners Guide to Twitter
16 Twitter Tips for Bloggers

I am the first to admit that Twitter has been an acquired taste. The more I tweet and follow meaningful hashtags, the more I 'get it.' As a brand new beginner, its easiest to 'surf' a hashtag to see the width and depth of conversation taking place. Take your time. Get familiar with the shortened links and the other abbreviations. {For example: I had to ask what Ss meant (students) and therefore Ts = teachers.} 

Interacting (or even lurking in a twitter-chat) is certain to open your eyes. If you haven't participated in a live chat before, just follow a couple of 'threads' of the numerous conversations that all unfold simultaneously. Interact. Ask questions. RT (retweet) comments that are meaningful. Or just RT the questions being asked by the moderators. You owe it to yourself to attend several chats, so that you begin to catch on to the pace and interactions. Like anything else that is new: it takes time. Be patient. 

The other reality is that there are many of the chatters who have developed genuine friendships and relationships over the past couple years. Some have met in person. Others have led joint projects and other tech adventures -- their relationships are established. If you're new, be a little bold and continue to wave hello. Before you know it.... you'll be one of the regulars welcoming a brave newbie and offering encouragement! I attend in the role of cheerleader to those swimming in the deep end for the first time. 

In the future these are the next Twitter Directories added: 

Owl Puppet on a Paper Bag!

OWL PUPPET INSPIRATION! 

How cute is this little project?

We're just now completing our ten-day road trip. 

Starting from our new little home in Vero Beach, FL....

we traveled north to GAYC and on to my parents. 

Then we had such an incredible day in SC, where I made a school visit. From there we had a couple of quiet time in Williamsburg -- where I saw this little beauty on the bulletin board of the public library.   

I visited with the librarian and she shared that they hang a new display every month, featuring the artwork and craft projects of the local preschools.

This little owl just absolutely captivated my imagination.

Paper bag.

Feathers. 

Orange triangle for a beak. 

Some white for eyes. 

VOILA! 

How simple. How sweet! 

If you're all a-feather about all-things-OWL, 

you'll want to go back in time to see these cutie patooties I had last fall. 

That earlier article has a link to a MASSIVE owl-freebie at our collaborative blog! 

PreK+K Sharing

If you haven't downloaded it yet, you'll want to! 

Hope that you have exciting plans for the weekend at hand! Can't wait to get back to our new house and turn it into a home! Lots of boxes left, before we're all settled in.

I've done some 'owl' shopping for you over at Amazon. When you click from here to there you activate my "Affiliate" program. I'm appreciative of your shopping from this starting point. Thanks!