Mother's Day Edition: Fine Motor Friday!!

FRIDAY!!! It's Friday!!!!

WELCOME Aboard! or WELCOME BACK!! 

FINE MOTOR FRIDAY!!!! FINE ARTS FRIDAY!!!!

Welcome to my first-ever annual Mother's Day Edition of Fine Motor Friday!

It's a special mama bear that welcomes immersion painting! 

Just think of all of the dexterity required to wield that paint brush!

[I think the expression on that little cherubic face says it all!]

Talk about INSTANT GRATIFICATION!!!

An idea as great as painting on your hand with your own paint brush should be shared with your twinzee sissy -- don't ya think? 

An idea that great is twice the fun with togetherness. 

Who me? Who us? Paint on our hands?? How much fun is that?

Behold the twinzees on their Art-sy field trip outting. 

Little Red is obviously enjoying making her mark on the world. 

Mr. Long EyeLashes is enthralled with just the painting of da hand. 

Think of all the Mothers all around the country receiving a handprint-painted something or other this weekend. While as mamas we treasure the finished product (card or painting) we are also aware that it is the PROCESS that gives our child all of the feedback and delight!!!

Earlier this week I've had two blog posts with **ubber-cute** poems. 

Click here for the first handprint poem installment. 

Click here for the follow-up article with finger print flower + verse. 

All of these sweet examples of Mother's Day poems had me thinking. 

I got out my pencil and this is what I came up with:

(I will work tonight on getting into a Google doc + add to my freebies.)

Now let's take a look at some Fine Motor Fun for the special occasion!

These are hot-off-the-press from my visit yesterday!

Make no mistake, kindergarten cards require much focus + concentration!

That's a delightful spectrum of beautiful mommies. 

That's a lot of kindergarten LUV being expressed!!

In order to get to the point where a child can write heartfelt sentiment on their own, they can capture much of their feelings in drawings -- like those above.

After the pictures we see letters and words emerging to tell mom about our observations: 

- she's nis (nice) 

-she's hapy (happy) 

- she's prite (pretty) 

-she's brfl (beautiful) 

she's fune (funny) 

Well you get the idea and I'm sure these moms will treasure these writings.....especially so because of their invented spellings. 

Polka-dot moi, WonderBoy + Wonderful Mrs. Davis

Debbie Clement shares her quilted picture book illustrations -- comparing Art to finished book. 

Take a look at what I observed just yesterday in Kindergarten.

These photos are from my visit to WonderBoy's own K-crew in Pataskala!

After my author-illustrator visit with the four K classes I made jiffy quick visits into the four K classrooms. 

Here's one of my FAVORITE learning centers of the morning.

You're gonna just LUV this set-up! 

Two-sided magnetic easel. 

Each student's name written out with a photograph.

Students have a journal of their friends photos 

and they must 'write-out' the friend's name!!

The center is set up for two children to work at the same time.

On the flip side of her easel are the names on blue for the afternoon class. 

Yes. Ohio still has many school districts with half-day kindergarten. 

[If you LUV this writing center, perhaps you have time to leap into the future and go to this link, where I have 6 different 'sign-in' systems documented all in the same spot.]

When we got home I was given permission to share WonderBoy's K-present for his mommy. 

Now let's take a little peeeeeeek inside! 

Hope that you have the very best time possible this weekend. 

We've been doing some spring cleaning.....

Look at this A.MA.ZING toy I found in our very own basement!

The family that plays with fine motor tools/games/materials builds those fine motor skills! 

Remember!!! 

Always have the children see you writing. 

-- Debbie -- 

Editor's Note from the future: 

I have a store now!!!

Come to my store! Pick up your FREEBIE!! Come by to shop for instant downloads of zipped files that include Mp3 versions of my original songs for children. I'm including support materials as well. 

***Looking for the other 12 installments in the series? 

Click right here!!

Or if you want to fast forward into the future..... I have a whole article devoted to 6 different 'sign-in' systems. 

Click on this link for installment #15.

This post has been added to KinderCraze Mother's Day Linkie. 

Ladybug Children's Artwork

Today let's return to the spring-time perennial favorite, the humble little ladybug!
Since these insects are one of my personal faves -- AND I've written and recorded a song for them -- I always have my eyes open for the little sweeties. I have several different artistic applications for those happy polka-dots on creeping, lucky ladybugs today.

Some time I really will have to do a paper plate 'round-up' of all of the various projects that I've seen. I think the paper plate makes the project feel accessible.

Ya just gotta LUV this ladybug 'sculpture'........ these are all from my visit at Darby Creek.

Mother's Day Card Keepsakes

Kindergarten thumbprint poem for Mother's Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost!!!!! 

What a brilliantly super-fun, extra glorious school-visit day!!!! I'll tell you more about it over the week ahead. I took an unbelievable number of pictures and have them to share. I'm rushing-this-to-press..... just in case you're still looking for a sweet rhyme and finger print keepsake for your gift giving on Mother's Day. These beauties were long and narrow and would make perfect book marks. 

I am just LUVin' my Rainbows-reporting-from-the-road function of blogging!

Today I was in the hills and hollers of Indiana. Small world detail? We stayed last night in Batesville, IN!!! YUP. The one and the same Batesville where I went to kindergarten through 4th grade!!! Today was my author-illustrator visit to Laurel Elementary. Down the cork-screw hills from Batesville!!! 

Kindergarten Handprint Poem

It's my first time back in that little hamlet of my childhood since leaving as a fourth grader!!! WOW! How amazing to make a visit to the area where I was a K-kiddo -- and get to see all of the fun unfolding in their rooms on behalf of a mom celebration!! These are kindergarten handprint, fingerprint + thumbprint cards awaiting hugs on Sunday! 

Magnets for Mother's Day

Now I 'just' had a post a couple days ago, filled with gift, song, another handprint poem and a bouquet. Click here to go see those ideas. It's already the #3 viewed post here of all time! I think people are wild about the photo magnets for an inexpensive gift. Great for Mother's Day, but equally suitable for end-of-the-year memento, too. 

****NOTE FROM THE FUTURE. I've gathered up everything Mother's Day into this RoundUP. (Click on the picture's edge.) 

Yup!!! I am ALWAYS over-joyed to see my name 'up-in-lights' upon arriving at my destination. I always breathe a sigh of relief that I'm in the right place at the right time. Yup!!! Allen's driving now as we make our way 'home' and I'm blogging at 70 MPH!!!! LUV technology when I can get it to work!

                                                 -- Debbie --

Circles in Art

CIRCLES!!! CIRCLES!!! CIRCLES!!!!

I've mentioned several gazillion times that I'm a fan of circles! 

The circle paintings above are currently on display at Darby Creek Elementary.

They make you smile, right?   

Art teachers are at the top of my happy list of hero-people. 

"Teachers are my Heros" (my favorite bumper sticker + oh, so true!)

This time of year is wild and wooly for Art teachers the world over as they prepare to display incredible projects from months of student effort. 

Mr. Harris brings out the best of his K-5th graders in Hilliard, OH.

You'll get to peek at all of their amazing work over the weeks to come! 

It's been a couple of weeks since my Garden Elementary School Author-Visit with the brilliant, Joanna Davis as Art teacher coordinating all of the details.

Joanna keeps her own blog at "Our Art Lately" which is how we met! 

I captured her student's weavings on re-purposed CDs as we zipped through her Art room in Florida. 

This awesome exploration of "The Dot" picture book by a kindergartner was also laying on her counter. 

 

Garden Elementary School Collaborative Circle Mural

I put together this photo-collage of snippets of her collaborative circle painting mural for my reflection over at PreK+K Sharing to launch the month of May. I think it bears repeating in the midst of all of these kindred circles. 

So.......I went to Joanna's blog to get the URL to share and just-this-minute find her 're-cap' article, complete with incredible photographs of our day together. The woman has many talents and photographer is also in her repertoire. 

LUV, it JOANNA!! LUV it, LUV it, LUV it!!!

Look at what I  just found on her blog!!! 

Debbie Clement and fans at Garden Elementary, Venice FL

Now back to the circle in our all media exploration.

Darby Creek Elementary, Hilliard OH: ceramic pieces before and after glaze and firing process

Spring. Circles. We must have some famous children-literature represented. 

Behold: THE most famous caterpillar of all time.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Bulletin Preschool Bulletin Board made out of tissue paper: Hosanna Lutheran, Pataskala OH.

These lesser known caterpillars are equally cheery in my book!! 

They, too are constructed of tissue paper. 

The two caterpillar masterpieces above are from Scioto Darby as well as the 'circular-print' below. 

Look closely at the title, "Bug's name: Daddy ant." 

LUV it!!

Hanging on Mrs. Price's desk is some serious kindergarten circle love.

BOLD! Graphic!!! LUV me my circles!! 

 It's been over twenty years since my chapter as an elementary Art teacher. 

Visiting as an 'Artist-in-the-Schools' in these buildings, each directed by a brilliant teacher of the Arts, gives me a thrill all over again -- at just what is possible.

-- Debbie --

There's still plenty of time to get registered for my contest give-away!! 

All three of my picture books: signed + personalized! 

Go back to this article for the details + to sign up.  

Spring Flower Bulletin Board

Some people are truly gifted and talented. 

Take a look at this 'bulletin board' -- floor to ceiling size -- between two classrooms. 

Behold: Beauty! Brilliant!!

I want WonderBoy to have this teacher for first grade!!

These photos are from my Author-Visit last Friday. 

WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!

Look at the art on display in the hallway!! 

Mr. Harris is preparing for the all school Art Show mid-week.

These are amazing creations for first graders! 

Elementary School Bulletin Board from Construction Paper Handprints

Great minds obviously think alike. The growing handprints in the school showcase above, reminded me of this spring bulletin board I'd seen growing in Preschool, earlier this spring. It's fun to compare the treatment of the concept. 

Preschool Spring Bulletin Board from Painted Handprints

Speaking of flowers. Get a look at this 'set' for the school musical for Darby Creek!!! 
You know I LUV every building I get to visit, right? What I LUV so much about this school is the way that everyone works together!!! This is the stage, which is in the gym, which will be featured in the midst of the all-school Art show!!

We placed the folding chair in the picture so you'd have some idea just how 'towering' these flower are in real life. 

I'll be posting pictures from my visit for WEEKS ahead.

I LUV LUV LUV LUV all the colors of SPRING!!!!

Did you get to see this amazing 'upcycled' flower sculpture? 
It's worth repeating with all of the other flowers!!!

Upcycled Flowers from Kitchen Pans!

Did you get to see my Mother's Day post from yesterday? It's a home-run via Pinterest and is already climbing my Top 10 chart and its barely 24 hours old! Obviously, the celebration of mom is on everyone's mind. 

Mother's Day Craft Bouquet

-- Debbie --
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This glorious bulletin board was featured over at 
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