RAINBOW: Special Guest!!

It's always a welcome treat to enter the classroom to find original rainbows drying on the drying rack from open-ended art explorations. After I had so much fun yesterday with the second graders, it only seemed fitting to get myself invited back to the preschool for Finn's crew and buddies. We planned just a tad further ahead and so my visit got to be incorporated into the "Message of the Day." Special guest indeed!!

There will be so favoritism shown by the morning's photographer. Absolutely none. If there are 'extra' pictures of a little boy in an orange t-shirt, that is merely a co-incidence. If he happens to look a lot like our grandson, Finn, that is just a small world serendipity!!

In thinking through what I could do with the two classrooms worth of young-preschoolers without my prop box of goodies, I decided it would be a lot of fun to start with some guitar led favorites.  I appropriated my stepson Brian's guitar for the opening numbers which worked perfectly. Here we are showing our happy-face smiles for all of our assembled audience to appreciate.

                                             Get those wheels going around!!

                                                    The door goes open + shut!!

Here we are gathered in my first ever of "Debbie's Ditties.' The combined classes are cavorting on "Goldie's Goldfish." This is the part where we just about begin to s-h-a-k-e!!!!

Now's the time to launch into the 'author/illustrator' portion of our time together. Mrs. Nelson joins me up on stage in the spot-light and leads the children in their favorite, to the tune of the 'Farmer in the Dell.'

• The author writes the words.

• The author writes the words.

• Hey, ho! Did you know?

• The author writes the words!!!

• The illustrator makes the pictures.
• The illustrator makes the pictures.
• Hey, ho! Did you know? 
• The illustrator makes the pictures.  

"I think you're wonderful. I think you're marvelous.
I think you're beautiful and magical and filled with curiosity....
... and dreams." {Click here for a YouTube video of the tune.}

Now it's time to share, "Tall Giraffe" and the sign language for its rhymes.

Everyone's favorite part: "Happy lappy, tongue so slappy." Today Megan is wise to my antics and gets a close-up, while everyone chuckles together.

And one final grand finale, group participation, up and moving, ever watchful, focused, sing-a-long, jump-a-long, freeze-a-long jamboree of delight and amazement.

Can you believe the staff says that I'm welcome back? Chances are good for a return as we have young Duncan in the wings, to be followed eventually with Missy Maisie-Daisy.

Thanks for the invite to visit...... I'll look forward to my next colossal Colorado chorale!

CO Author Visit: 2nd GRADE!

Blue Heron Elementary School. Author-Illustrator school visit. Second Grade.

It's awesome to get to fly across the country to spend time with our far flung, grand-kids (and their parents, too!!) We have arrived safely to Colorado, in the midst of the sunshine and have some lovely time to see our newest arrival. Grandchild #7, weighing in at 7 pounds and 7 ounces. She's gonna be one lucky little gal!!

That's Miss Cain turning pages while we 'read+ sing' together my second picture book, "Tall Giraffe." Everyone is keenly watching and joining in my cumulative phonemic fun frolic -- as the verses themselves are filled with rhyme, while in call and response style, they stack one on top of the next. It's a memory and skill test all in one!!

                        These second graders are up to the challenge!!

It's unusual for me to come into the classroom in my 'everyday clothes' and not be dressed in my usual Debbie Clement fan-fare, fun-ware.

Sign language is of such keen interest to the mature second graders. I'm happy to introduce them to a variety of signs to support the text of my songs.

                          EVERYBODY UP!!!! Let's get moving. Let's march!!!

A rousing sing-a-long of my Zaner-Bloser favorite, "Top to Bottom" -- which is all about print directionality. I think that you can see from their enthusiastic response that the song is still a big hit with the 2nd graders. [Click here to see a YouTube video of teachers learning it in one of my workshops this summer.]

Now that I'm an addict on Pinterest, I will make it a priority to document the environmental art, signage and other teacher happiness from my travels -- that I will then share with the wider world through 'pinning' to the appropriate boards. 

Here's one for class inspiration, the Blue Heron way:

This is Miss Cain's bulletin Anchor Chart to encourage writing.

Just before we were to get underway..... there was an excited SQUEAL!!! Turns out that the 'Desk Fairy' had made an impromptu visit while all of the class was off at the library together. Needless to say, this was a big wave of excitement. The fairy left small containers of Play-doh for the neat and tidy ones.

Here's the special chair for visiting author/illustrators.

And for those who follow Daily Five, here's some laminated motivation.

Editor's note from the future: 9/24/12
I now have over 61,000 followers on Pinterest! 
-- Debbie -- 
***** I was so happy to have this 'desk-fairy' idea to add to the 4th Grade Froggies link-up, now making suggestions on how to organize and keep the classroom neat + tidy. When I saw the link-up I remember the cute little desk-fairy 're-inforcement' that I'd seen used for the second graders. Hop on. Hop on!!

High School Reunion FUN!!!

We've had an amazing weekend up in Mentor, OH -- with Allen's high school graduating class. All sorts of happy stories & memory sharing. This is us at the end of the two days worth of festivities. We have just returned to the nicest of nice 'home-away-from-homes' following an evening of yearbook laughter, dancing and "remember when" antics. What an amazing job the committee created by providing every possible venue for getting reacquainted. Folks came from Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, Florida and the like. A great time was had by all.


In the land of blogging and getting connected cybernetically, I have learned the significance of having a Facebook fanpage and have diligently added that to my on-going 'to-do' list. I have learned how to automatically sydicate other blogs there so expect all sorts of resources. My FB fanpage will be an up-to-the-minute chronicle of my upcoming travels, presentations, school author visits, library concerts, conferences and book store interactions. You first must 'like' the page at RainbowsWithinReach to get the behind the scenes insight. I would really appreciate that kindness.... please click right here to go there. Go there now to see where we are flying this afternoon. It's exciting!!

If this is your first visit, my REAL resource collection is over at Pinterest. Please consider 'following' my collections of pinned resources. I think the visual nature of that brilliant site is an inspiration to all teachers!!! Here's that link.


We are linking up our efforts over at The Lesson Plan Diva. Come visit over there and get introduced to lots of other educators who share ideas from their experience and corner of the world. [I never know exactly how to categorize my own blogging efforts?? After considering the choices offered in the linky party, my reflections & efforts here are probably most helpful for the kindergarten crowd & early elementary, so that's where you'll find me. There's never a category for Author/Illustrator/Music Lady speaking to educators on the significance of the Arts?!?! I'm so grateful for the link-up. Even if I am the square peg amidst the round ones. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.]

******This is your reminder that the PROMO Code is RWB911 to receive a 20% discount off the cover price of my national INDIE Award of Excellence picture book, "Red, White and Blue" over at my website. Click here for the opportunity to order. The discount is thru the end of September.

Author/Illustrator House-Calls

You know that you are living your dream -- when you are asked by your friend & neighbor to make a 'house-call' in your professional role as author/illustrator for a ladies-tea-party with an aspiring young writer poised and eager to enter third grade. Here we are in Connie's living room in the midst-of-our-show-and-tell session. 

It's not Connie's fault that our pictures have a rather glow-in-the-dark feel. I had the camera inadvertently set on the 'sunset' setting when I handed it to her. I didn't notice our exuberant coloration until I'd downloaded the pictures several days later. No do-over in this case. Then somehow or other the photos got lost in my wack-doodle Picassa download system, that makes up hiding places for photos. Today when I went searching for something else that had gotten flukey-filed I found these from earlier in the summer. My sincere apologies for their tardiness.

 

We had a lovely afternoon together. I brought my signature "Door County" quilt as I knew that the girls would recognize Wilson's Ice Cream parlor in its flamboyant red & white striped awning. We had an opportunity to read each others work. My second grade writing peer brought her own author's journal and my favorites were her poems. We shared all about editing -- as I could see how she edits her handwritten work over time. PRICELESS!!!!! [The notebook on the coffee table is my writing friend's treasure of thoughts and images.]

What a thrill to have three generations sharing the power of writing and books and poetry and school and illustrations and aspirations and goals and plans and dreams and giggles, over cookies and lemonade and sunshine!! Oh, that every author should have such an opportunity. Oh, that every aspiring author should have such an opportunity. Oh. Grandmas are the best, aren't they? Cheers to all the grandmas who make special memories with their wonder children!

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*****Here's my latest author aside. You heard it here first!! 
I have an invitation via FB, blogging and the cyber-world of friendship, to create my first ever SKYPE author school visit!!! How cool would this be? What will it take I wonder?? Stay tuned for future developments on this concept!!! Let us get the first one accomplished, but then let's start making a list!!! Who wants to be second? I think it would be a brilliant way to share. Monica Schroeder is cooking this up over in her second grade classroom. Go check out her blog for all sorts of ideas!! I received a runner's up spot in her recent American dream contest. So this is a fitting exchange for sure!!

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*****And remember, there's still plenty of time to take advantage of the discount on my award winning picture book in our hands in these pictures. Through the month of September, all orders through my website using the promo code RWB911 will receive a 20% discount. I have had several 'rush' orders from teachers who intend to use it for Constitution Day study & festivities. VERY appropriate for Veteran's Day -- with plenty of time to plan for that occasion!

Reach Out & Read!!!

Reach out and Read, indeed!!! I love a group that is organized sufficiently to plan ahead. Plan ahead, indeed!! Yesterday I shared brunch with Claudia Barrett, Health Literacy Coordinator at Nationwide Children's Hospital and her amazing contingent of staff members and groupies dedicated to young children and their 'health literacy.' How much do you LUV the term 'health literacy'??


It turns out that my adopted home town of Columbus Ohio is "Reach out and Read's" largest program in the ENTIRE country!!! I beam with pride as I learn that last year at health care centers across the city, a total of 59,522 brand new books were 'prescribed' by family physicians at healthy well-baby visits to children from infancy to age 5. In addition to those shiny brand new books another 83,061 gently-used and donated books found new homes.

While these numbers are amazing in themselves.... what is even more amazing is that the Columbus brainstorm of "Reach Out and Read" includes amazing volunteer programs that take place in these same 10 satellite physician waiting rooms. Volunteers last year gave 3,579 hours to the literacy program and another 1,291 hours to the music component of the program!! Yes. You heard me correctly. Over twelve hundred hours of music programming took place last year in the waiting rooms of health care centers across Columbus!!! Does this strike you as brilliant? Captive waiting room audience: Volunteers + music + children = Literacy health programing!! Wow!!!

I also received an amazing folder with fantastic handouts. Here's just a few tidbits from the official Reach out and Read flier regarding music.

REACH OUT AND READ

The Music and Early Literacy Connection

• Babies naturally hear & respond to music, which is their first language. 
• Songs have rhythm, repetition & rhyme built in.
• Songs & finger plays consist of repetition. Vocabulary is better retained in songs where children are invited to join in. 
• Melodies divide words into smaller parts and present language in patterns that make sense to the brain. 
• Songs naturally divide words into syllables and sounds so they are internatlized. The built in repetition & rhyme increases understanding and retention. 
• Children already know melodies through nursery rhymes and can participate in reading.  

 Does this sound like everything that I say in my workshop presentations? Sing it, babies!!

From studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals:

• High-risk urban families participating in Reach Out and Read read more frequently to their children. Children exposed to ROR had higher receptive language scores and expressive language scores. Increased exposure to ROR led to larger increases in language scores.
• English & non-English speaking families who participated in the ROR model increased their weekly bedtime reading.

 

So what does all this have to do with me? With fireworks?

I have been invited to participate with the Columbus Reach Out and Read program's annual fund raiser which is in collaboration with Columbus annual fireworks extravaganza, "Red, White and BOOM." The fundraiser is called "Read, White and BOOM!"

We were all in agreement that a quasi-local author with a children's picture book entitled, "Red, White and Blue" that concludes with fireworks could be a perfect addition to a day of family festivities designed to support children's health literacy. I lLUV planning ahead. I LUV being 'discovered' by a program that is a PERFECT fit for my experience. So I now have plans to be in central OH next July!!! Planning  ahead!!!! 

****A reminder that the promo code for my picture book, "Red, White and Blue" continues through the end of the month of September. Using the promo code: RWB911 will save you 20% off the cover price of the book, by ordering through my website.

GeeGee Reflects

What more can I say?

What I did This Summer.........

This summer my main focus has been to genuinely work at figuring out how to get my blog connected to a wider reading audience and to work at improving its quality. To that end I now have a blog button! I now have 10 tabs across the top! I have a blog header!!! I have interviewed my first author, Connie Dow!!! I have joined Pinterest in a BIG way and as of this moment have nearly 4,000 'pins' to all sorts of links categorized by my song topics.


I have started a fanpage at Facebook and would encourage everyone to pop over there & 'like' it -- so that you get the newest & latest adventures of my travels. Do you know what workshops I'm offering for the public?? Stay connected thru FB. Oh. And I'm now in Twitter and have joined a Tribe of like minded folks who work with children. My Twitter name is Kweezlequeen, but if you really want me to find your message, please send me a FB message or email. Twitter is still a tad beyond my grasp: LOL.


And now? NOW!!! Today -- I have JUST TODAY, with the help of fellow blogger Carolyn Wilhelm figured out how to upload a pdf to Google docs, so that I now have the beginning of a resource library of 'freebies' to help support those who are using my materials. My first experiment was to upload the couple pages from Zaner-Bloser, that they had me include this summer as part of my SDE (Staff Development for Educators) handout at the national "I Teach Kindergarten" conference out in Las Vegas and full color, too. I've double checked with them & they are delighted to have me continue to share the handout with my peeps. People who are brand new here may not realize, but Zaner-Bloser has commissioned me to create two full recordings for them for their programs on behalf of children.


[One of my remaining efforts? I'd like to be able to include a 'screen shot' at times like this, but that's a whole 'nother series of lessons.]


After I got the ZB handout uploaded, then I went on to get an 11 page handout from my all day workshop earlier this summer. It will be especially helpful for you because it includes mini book lists/bibliographies to library & trade books by topic for the expansion & implementation of my songs. Whoooohoooo!!!! Whooohoooooooo! I'm trainable! (Well with Carolyn's help & direction. LOL.)


****Oh..... and I started painting a skirt. One skirt from T.J. Maxx. One paint brush. Acrylic paint. Let the painting begin. I have now finished 6 panels of the skirt, painting every other one..... so I have the front finished. The vest is pretty awesome, too -- if I do say so myself. We're talking super-festive, Debbie Clement. Wait till you see this ensemble!


Let's get started on some new goals!! I long to have a blog roll and I'd love to have a 'squorl' of blogs. Patience grasshopper. Patience. Everything in due time.