Summer: Freebies, Opportunities + Fresh AIR!

JUNE! SUMMER! VACATION! TRAVEL! REFLECTION! PLANNING!

Have you started your official summer? Have you crossed the finish line? Are you on the final count down? How do you go about reflection for the year just concluding? When do you start your planning for the year ahead? 

By all means where ever you are on the continuum I am here to congratulate all of your hard work, effort, enthusiasm and the progress your students made under your direction. Teaching young children is filled with hilarity and stress.... walking the tight rope between the two is what makes for a healthy and lengthy career. 

I had the great good fortune to make four author-illustrator school visits last week, in four different school districts. It is always so great to get into classrooms and see the fun that has been unfolding. 

In the photo above we are comparing my original art (quilt-of-fabric) to the printed version in my first picture book, "You're Wonderful." 

It is always fascinating to give the students the opportunity to ask questions of me as an author. Certainly one of the most intriguing questions of the week......... 

"Do you have an electric stove?"

That is definitely the first time that anyone has ever asked me that one!  

I was thrilled to see our Wobble Seats in 'action' in the classroom. The feedback is amazing. Everyone understands how much they contribute to learning, just by seeing them. For some children they are THE answer. The reality is that it comes down to budget. 

***We take purchase orders and offer quantity discounts.

One of my favorite things about being connected to our #TeacherFriends on the internet, is seeing such amazing projects. I am especially appreciative of works that are created in collaboration. Take a look at this amazing work created by Suzanne Turner's Kinder kids in Virginia! 

Click on the picture for a jump over to the blog with a further explanation of mural work. 

This work deserves display in an art gallery! 

Just earlier today we arrived to our annual sweet-summer spot and we have now appreciated our first sunset of the season. I can officially exhale. 

My GREAT, good news is that I have received word from Zaner-Bloser that they are going to fly me out to Vegas for "I Teach K" where I will present a 'Lunch and Learn' on Monday..... IN THE BALLROOM! 

And here's the pretty amazing part.... all of the participants to respond ahead of time will be given a box lunch for attending! So there is a free lunch after all! If you're planning to be in Vegas, I hope that you can add us into your agenda. Watch your inbox for the specifics. You will be receiving an email with details. 

I will then fly from Vegas to Dallas for Frog Street Press annual SPLASH conference. 

I combed the interwebs over at Teachers Pay Teachers for some summer-time freebies to support and encourage you. 

June: Reflection! Resources! Rejuvenation!

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER! 

June has arrived in earnest.

When do you begin to REFLECT on all that has just transpired? 

I truly believe that we grow through REFLECTION on our past. 

Asking questions and taking the time to consider and record your thoughts is the path to improvement for the future. 

That is how I spend my summer. 

Deep in the REFLECTION pool.

Last summer I began a Twitter-Chat on the hashtag: 

#TeacherFriends

and it has morphed into an amazing, supportive group of professionals.

This week, tomorrow, Tuesday 6/2 we will be focusing our chat on all things reflective and rejuvenating!   

Is this the season where you step out of your comfort zone 

and try learn something new? 

We give amazing prizes EVERY week as incentive and support.

Twitter is FREE and offers the potential 

of professional development 24/7: in YOUR JAMMIES!  

We have some amazing plans for this summer's continuing chat. 

Guests you won't want to miss and prizes extraordinaire!

Be sure that you follow me on Twitter! 

I am the moderator and ask all of the questions. 

Now let's turn our focus to the ocean! 

Are you headed there in real life? 

Those of you who have children this summer will enjoy these ideas. 

Click on the picture below to go see all 97+ ideas on my personal blog. 

I have transported some of my favorites below! 

Do you work in a "FAITH BASED" setting? 
One of the favorite songs that I've written is entitled, 
"God Did." 

The lyrics are: 
"Who made the waves in the ocean, the sand on the beach, 
the sun in the sky, the juice in the peach........... 
Do you know? I do. God did. That's who." 

I have it in a zipped file in digital format as an Mp3. 
You can download it for *FREE* at our 
Early Education Emporium. 
The file has powerpoint slides of the lyrics included. 

*Or you can purchase it at Teachers Pay Teachers. 

One of my favorite school visits of the year is my annual trip to St. Paul in Westerville, OH. 
I've been going there for about the last ten years or so. 
My visit is usually at the VERY end of the school year. 
This year I was their mid-May thanks to the flexibility of my dear friends. 
What a JOY to see this bulletin board in the kindergarten classroom of Mrs. Rose! 

I know that you want to take a closer look at this amazing Kinder writing! 

I have an entire Pinboard on Ocean, Beach and Faith
already organized and awaiting your browsing.

Now let's conclude with some of my own photographs. 
I enjoy adding sentiments and quotes to my snaps. 
Hope that they brighten your day! 

We are working hard to get the word out about 'our' Wobble Seats! 
I truly believe that for some children this is THE answer!
Do you know any energetic, sensory children?
I have been taking them into schools when I make 
my music-lady/Author-Illustrator visits. 

Teachers and parents are in LUV with them, when they see them in action.
First you'll see a 5 year old in action. 
He was born at 26 weeks and maintains his preemie stature.
He is working on the 10" size for the first time.  

This next collage is a four year old girl and you can see how she looks seated on both the 10" and the 14" size. 

People's main question is what size do I get for the children in my classroom? 

I think much of that answer/equation depends on the height of the surfaces in your room.

This next montage of images shows you what I mean regarding surface heights. 

The nearly five year old girl is VERY properly suited to the 14" Wobble, 

but the classroom table was too short for her to use the 14" and play comfortably. 

Here's a tall for his age kindergarten boy seated on that same 14" size. 

I have an incredible 19 second video of him working + wobbling: 

THE ENTIRE 19 seconds! 

You'll have to go over to my Instagram account to watch. 

{I will attempt to learn how to get video from my phone to blog. Honest.}