A salute to all the VETERANS for what they have given to this great country.  A special thanks to my own Jar Head who spent 8 years serving his country.  I learned a lot in those early years and my heart and thanks goes out to every VETERAN and their family.

 
Pre-K Hand & Foot Print Flag
Thanks Connie Sanders @ Austin Peay Child Learning Center
Clarksville, Tennessee
2012

I visited a school in Arkansas where the pictures of children and their family members, who were serving in the military or someone in the family who was a veteran, were displayed on the entrance walls.  It was extremely touching.

TURKEY TIME

5 FAT TURKEYS

5 Fat turkeys are we
We slept all night in the tree
When the cook came around
We couldn’t be found

So, that’s why we are here you see!

Easy-to-do TURKEY PUPPET
This is a great puppet to send home with the children and add a turkey poem or song.  This is what you need:

1 craft stick
1 brown coffee filter
Markers & hole punch
1 orange pipe cleaner cut in half
brown construction paper square
for child to design a head

The children will use the markers to design feathers on the coffee filter.  Fold the filter in half and glue.  Glue the craft stick to back all the way to the top of the filter.  Add head and pipe cleaners through the holes made with the hole punch.  Add the child’s name ……example (Jason Turkey)…….a kid friendly project.

NAEYC

As this time of the year approaches there is always a buzz about the annual NAEYC conference.  This year it was in Atlanta and the conference was filled with the best of the best.  The VERY BEST is seeing old friends from around the world.  Spending a full day in the exhibit hall is always a top priority. I had the privilege to present a PUPPET PLAY workshop with over 300 in attendance and we jived.  I left with a great feeling in my heart.

 Let me introduce you to some of my favorite people.

MEM FOX

Thousands gathered to hear Mem Fox read some of her favorite stories and to explain to the massive audience how important WORDS are to children and their development.  You should own her books and have them available for yourself and for the children.

HUGH HANLEY

This gentle man sings for all children and has produced a 30 minute show filled with songs and it can be viewed at http://acmi.tv and select the Video-On-Demand feature.  On the next page type Songs from the Circle.

His web site is www.hughhanley.com

PETE the CAT
I LOVE MY WHITE SHOES
by Eric Litwin

              

This is Eric Litwin signing my copy of Pete the Cat to Grandma Dodie…..and I will cherish this book.  I rode on the elevator and said “Are you Pete the Cat Eric?” and we both laughed.  He is an educator, musician, author and true entertainer. 

 

Books you gotta have to read, sing, and play with children.

I am glad there is no word count on this great site because I had so much to share this time.  I will check in again on Dec. 11, 2012 and today on Nov. 11 I want to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grandson Liam………..who is 7 on this great 11/11 day.  This did not get posted until late today because I was traveling home from Atlanta.  I am thankful for each and every one of you connected to Early Childhood education.

Mary Jo Huff, Author, Storyteller, Song Writer, Puppeteer
www.storytellin.com
maryjo@storytellin.com

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Kandinsky's Concentric Circles

One of my favorite things to do is to really talk to kids and find out what is going on in their little noggins. This is a project which focuses on the BIG IDEAS in Art (is your curriculum heading toward big ideas rather than standards and benchmarks? In Florida they are called the NGSSS and while any curriculum change is difficult to swallow, the NGSSS are exactly the way I like to teach art: to get away from the cookie-cutter images and allow student responses to the Big Ideas.)

Anyway, 

Wassily Kandinsky's "Study of Concentric Circles"

This is by far one of my favorite lessons that I do with my Kindergartners and First Graders! Once I get beyond the logistical hassle of prepping paints and keeping water clean, I am THRILLED with the results, both in a tangiable way, and in an educational way.

I start my lesson out with Wassily Kandisnky's "Study of Concentric Circles" up on the board. Without giving them ANY factual information, I ask them the following questions:

"Who do you think made this"- answers: "A Kindergartner, an illustrator, a fifth grader, an artist, Mr. Davis, YOU! {followed by SHREIK, GASP! NO SHE DID NOT! She is a WAAAAY better artist than THAT!}, a clown, an elephant {really?!}....)

"Artworks usually have titles. What title would you give this artwork?" - answers: "Eyeballs. Circle Circle Dot Dot. Twelve. Target Practice. Target Store. Coiled Snakes. Colorful Hula Hoops...."

Have I ever mentioned how much I love how carefree children think?

I then give them the background about this piece. Wassily Kandinsky often painted circles on canvas as a color theory experiment to show how different colors reacted when placed next to lighter or darker hues. Wassily never thought these studies would be sold, never mind highly regarded in the art world. Students are not intimidated by his work because they're CIRCLES, which they know they can make, too!

For this project, I focused on the Big Idea of Critical Thinking and Reflection: Cognition and reflection are required to appreciate, interpret, and create with artistic intent. 

So I asked my Kindergartners "Can you make an artwork like Kandinsky? What colors would you choose? Would you paint it like he did? Would you use concentric circles like he did?"
One Kindergartner's response to my Big Idea (interpretation):

For this project, we used 12x12 sheets of white paper, fluorescent tempera paints, and crayon on Day two once the paint was dry.

Another question I asked them: "How many circles does Kandinsky paint? We only made one, how can we make ours look like Kandinsky's?

A (partial) Kindergarten class's response to my question: (put them next to each other- it's hard to see the scale here, but these are all 12"x12" pieces of individual paper the kids put together)

In First grade, I posed the same question(s)/Big Idea, but gave them a rectangular piece of paper. How would we break this paper into a grid? 

A first grader's response to my Big Idea (interpretation, creation): (fold the paper into 6 sections and paint/draw circles inside each section. 

For this project in First Grade, we used 12x18 sheets of white paper folded into 6 sections. We used fluorescent tempera, and crayon on top once the paint was dried. 

After their paintings were dried, I gave them crayons and asked them how they would distinguish their work from someone else's and to make sure we weren't copying the artist's work exactly, but still keep the same main idea of concentric circles. 

Their response: draw some round-ish designs on top of the paint (which Kandinsky did not do).

Even though half my kids can't say or pronounce his name, they know they can make circles JUST like Kandinsky! What would your students' response be?

Joanna Davis-Lanum is a National Board Certified teacher and teaches Art at Garden Elementary School in Venice, Florida. For more Kandinsky inspiration, you can check out another Kinder Kandinsky lesson right here. 

Celebrating Families in Early Childhood Thanksgiving Festivities

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

Thanksgiving here in the U.S. is swiftly approaching. This week, we have had professional development and the rest of the week my class will be with my assistant and a sub while I'm am ever so busy in teacher heaven, I mean, at the 2012 NAEYC Annual Conference!!!!! Woot, woot, holla! (Sorry, got just a little excited there!) 

When I return, we only have one week before we are out for Thanksgiving break. There won't be time to do many of the fun things we usually do in Pre-K, but there are some things that are a big part of my Thanksgiving teaching traditions and I can't skip them! In Georgia Pre-K, one of our standards is that  students become aware of family and community celebrations and events, so that is the main thing we will be learning about and discussing in class. 

Family Homework Project-Save A Turkey!

I don't usually send home homework in Pre-K, but when I do, it is usually an activity that the family can do together, then share the results. The Turkey In Disguise family project is a favorite every year and I've heard a few families with older siblings may already be planning Tom's disguise for this year! I send home a turkey blackline master on cardstock and ask each family to help disguise the turkey so that he will be spared from Thanksgiving dinner. This would be fun as a family, too! Just print out your favorite turkey coloring page (there are thousands on the internet) and have each member disguise him any way they like!

Turkey Cooking Tips

Every year, I like to ask the kids to sit down with me one on one and tell me how their family prepares the turkey or thanksgiving dinner. If a family usually eats something else, I ask them to tell me about that. It's a great time for them to practice their language skills. I compile the answers and share them with the families at the school Thanksgiving Feast. While the are not accurate enough to use as an exact recipe, they make for EXCELLENT reading!

Talkin' Turkey

We are famous for our colloquialisms in the South. I can't tell you how many times one of the kids has come to school and repeated something they've heard a family member say, usually with a little of their own spin on it.  I like to give them part of the phrase and have THEM complete is for me. The answers are hilarious! Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to have the kids share their answers. I think it also gives a little insight into how a 4 year old brain thinks!

Making Butter 

We make butter using heavy whipping cream and our muscles. We pour it in a bowl pop in a marble and take turns shaking with all of our might! Usually the butter is ready by the time all 22 friends have had a turn to shake. We share the butter with our families at our school wide Family Feast.

Family Feast at School

Every year, our school administration cooks a large Thanksgiving feast and invites all the families to come in and eat with their children. It's a great time of food, fellowship and fun! (I usually don't get to take many pictures since my hands are usually full. The picture below is of the children waiting for their parents to join them so we can start serving.)

Expectations Are Everything!

Thanksgiving is a very big social occasion here in the south. Such occasions can be overwhelming for small children. One of the things we will be discussing is how the children's families celebrate and what to expect. It is so much less scary for kids when we give them a chance to talk about their fears or apprehensions! 

Coming Soon!

Be sure to visit me at little illuminations soon! I'll be sharing my experiences at NAEYC and details about my meet up with some FANTASTIC Early Childhood Bloggers (you'll know most of them from here ;)!!!! 

If you are lucky enough to make it to NAEYC, too, look for me, I'll be the one with the goofy ear to ear grin, looking like I've died and landed in teacher heaven!

Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook!

Stop and Work Folders with Freebies!

It's Jen from Simply Kinder again!

One of my biggest pet peeves is losing the focus of my class.  The phone rings, a barfing child, or an element to a lesson that is still in the cabinet are all normal events for any classroom!  But how do I make that time to where the kids are busy?  How do I keep them busy when I HAVE to be busy with something else?

STOP and WORK folders!  These are fun little folder I put together every year for my kids that keep them busy!  I preload folders with 10 sheet protectors (because they are dry erase) and throughout the year I change what goes in and out of them!  So the kids can always just grab their folder and get to work!

I print the covers on Avery Labels (5160 and just a full sheet is what I prefer) because I have found if you glue the items come off.  Click here to get the stop sign from my Simply Kinder Random Freebie File on TpT!

In the folders I put any number of things!  Basically whatever we are working on I can put a copy in the folder so the kids have a version to practice.  Right now here are a few things that are in the folder:

(Stop by my blog to see how to use these pages in different ways!)

I also have letter tracing pages, number writing pages, a ten frame, and so much more!  I literally just take worksheets that the kids need to practice and have the kids place them in the folder.  Lower students could have shape tracing, line practice, and much, much, more!

Perspective: a KEY in guiding our children

PERSPECTIVE, RISK and EMBODIMENT

Happy November from Enrique!

When Galileo figured out that earth was not at the center of our universe, it was a shift in perspective that led him to that discovery.  When we think about many of the important discoveries in our world, perspective is an important part of that journey.  When we observe children, if we can observe them with a child-like sense of wonder, we can use questions to frame what they are either already doing and/or guide them in new discoveries of their own.  BUT FIRST... we need to remember how to play, learn, and live like children ourselves.  Enjoy this first video of adult early childhood educators modeling exactly that as they shift their perspective related to becoming curves with their bodies.

This second video is an example of adult learners taking the lines and curves they've been making and becoming academic vocabulary such as:

• Rotate
• Expand
• Intersect
• Contract
• and more!

Think "Using play and our bodies to connect to academic learning (Common Core English Language, STEM) and social-emotional growth simultaneously!

The previous videos and the following images of adult educators becoming lines, curves and shapes with their bodies is a form of developmentally appropriate and play-based engineering games for preschool and kinder-age children.  This Arts Integration strategy that has been used with thousands of young children.  

What do you see in these images?  Curves, Lines, Shapes?  How many things can we make with our body.  The Art of Embodiment; creating that which we are learning about with our body.

In addition to the shapes, educators at the 2012 Evolved Learning Retreat worked in small breakout groups and began to add engineering vocabulary to their shapes.  Can you imagine how they might have been moving? 

Perhaps some were rotating?  Others elongating?  Some expanding?  So many options and so many potential answers and the use of both linear and abstract thought, all in a play-based approach!

From 2001 - 2004, the F.A.M.E. Foundation conducted research by observing young children.  The results were incredible.  If you want to see those results, you can find them in the book "Living Like a Child."

What emotion(s) would be associated with the images of these adults as they were "playing with purpose?"  Why is it important for adults to reach inside and connect with their inner child?

This strategy and others have been researched and elevate children's ability to:

• Think Critically

and simultaneously

• Be Creative

Critical Thinking and Creativity can and must CO-EXIST!

Another way of saying this is:

Rigor and Joy can and must CO-EXIST!

This Arts Integration strategy is very simple and very flexible.  Make it your own!  One way of approaching it is as follows:

1. Over time introduce the idea of "Embodiment" to children.  Become straight lines and curved lines with your bodies.  They already love to use their bodies.  All we need to do is guide with questions and/or suggestions.  Have them become lines and curves individually at first.  Once a sense of safety and community has been built, have them make lines and and curves in small groups of 2 and/or 3.

Note: Is this risky?  Yes, but risk in appropriate ways leads to meaningful learning.  The risk is that children will become so excited that their energy may be unleashed in uncontrolled ways!  Try using the following statement when that happens... "Hold Your Energy!"  This is something I learned from International Mime Artist Rick Wamer.  It's very different from saying "Stop."  Also, saying those words in a "commanding or controlling" voice, doesn't work very well.  Use a playful voice and children play along.  I've used this all over the country and in Latin America for the last decade and it's amazing how well it works.

2. Once children's knowledge of becoming lines and curves is grounded, have them become shapes and/or object they know and recognize (Squares, Circles, etc.).

3. Introduce vocabulary by having them become those words (rotate, invert, expand, etc.).  This may seem like a stretch, but if you have them become the word and/or model it for them, they pick it up very quickly and love it.  We don't want our children to have our vocabulary.  We want them to have a vocabulary that surpasses ours!

You can take this to many other places, but this is a great first step in the direction of connecting children's learning to PERSPECTIVE!  It also addresses many other academic areas of learning and when they're working in groups, social-emotional development.

Enjoy and remember to Learn, Live, and Love like a Child!

Cheers!

Enrique

Founder and Director, F.A.M.E. Foundation

Film Composer

Producer of "A Cowboy Operetta"

Giving Feels Very Good!

By Deborah McNelis, Owner, Brain Insights

It is holiday time already! (Believe it or not!)
 

How wonderful that is... because the holidays turn our attention to friends, family and lots of activity. This time of year gives us a chance to enjoy more together time and also to give to families in need. 

 

A focus on giving, can create happier holidays for EVERYONE! 

The brain benefits by activating the reward centers when we give to others. Research has demonstrated when giving, the brain releases dopamine which is responsible for the feelings of euphoria. Additionally, it has been shown that the hormone oxytocin was released in study participants. This increases levels of trust and cooperation.

Isn't it wonderful to realize that the pleasure areas of the brain respond to not only what is good for ourselves but also to what is good for other people?!!!!

 

To help develop this important aspect of development, following are some activities to do with children that will also helps others:

 

One For You 
 

Give  the child the opportunity to have an item and give an item to someone else. For example:

Say, “Here is a book for you. Can you give the other book to (name of another child)?”

Note: Toddlers do share, but the brain isn’t ready to completely understand sharing at very young ages.  At this age giving something to someone when they have the same thing will be the best way to practice.

 

________________________________________________________________

Doing Nice Things Makes “Cents” 
 

Provide a “giving jar” and a supply of pennies. Every time someone does something nice or thoughtful for someone else, a penny can be added to the jar. At the end of the month use the money to donate to a cause or individual you want to support or help. 

 ________________________________________________________________

Write or Draw for Someone
 

Set time aside regularly (once a week or once a month) to have children write a letter or draw a picture to send to someone.  This could be sent to a relative or friend, someone that is sick or hospitalized, a deployed military person, etc. 

 

__________________________________________________________

Celebration Give Away (for parents)
 

At each holiday or birthday, give the child an extra gift to give away. Your child’s brain reward center will benefit most when involved in deciding who should receive the gift. 

________________________________________________________________

Donating Decisions (for parents)

While at the grocery store, help a child choose an item to donate to a local food pantry. It works best if you provide two options and let the child pick the one they would like to provide to others.

________________________________________________________________

 

It is a a REAL pleasure to be a part of this collaborative blog! Thank you to every one of you who reads and shares the valuable information from each of the contributing authors. It is through ALL of us caring about kids that remarkable and positive results occur!

I so enjoy connecting with those that care about children! I welcome you to visit my blog and website or sign up for my newsletter! It would also be wonderful to be invited to speak in in your area!  I look forward to meeting those of you that will be attending NAEYC next week. My session is Wednesday morning. Stop by and say, "Hi"!

 Have fun and enjoy this wonderful season

 of being thankful for.... and caring of others!

 

As an Early Brain Development Specialist and owner of Brain Insights, Deborah is the award winning author of, The Brain Development Series in English and Spanish. She has been seen in several publications, heard on numerous radio shows, and receives rave reviews for her enlightening and engaging presentations. Deborah is overjoyed with the response to all that her company is achieving due to her passion to create awareness of the critical importance of the early years. In addition to the brain series she has also created the, Love Your Baby App, and a brain packet called, Naturally Developing Young Brains. Deborah has additionally created a valuable newsletter, the Early Childhood Brain Insights blog, and the BRAIN Initiative. Her goal through this work is for everyone to gain an understanding of early brain development, it’s impact, and the ways we can all easily make a REAL difference.  She is making a dramatic difference in the medical field, early childhood care and education, parenting and also with influential companies and organizations.  In only 4 years , Deborah had grown Brain Insights to be a company that is having a very real influence in contributing to healthy brain development worldwide.

Being Thankful + First Anniversary of our Collaboration

TURKEY TIME!!!

NOVEMBER!?! How is that possible?

You haven't even packed away the pumpkins and I'm ready to herald in the turkeys!  

In addition to this being the first of the month...... 

today is the first anniversary of our collaborative blog! 

So much to celebrate. So much to be thankful for..... 

I thought in honor of our first trip around the sun together, I'd gather up a gaggle of turkeys to help inspire some creative energy on your part. 

Take a look at this WONDERFUL example of some open-ended 'process' type art gathered into a clever Thanksgiving bulletin board in preschool. 

Preschool Thanksgiving Turkey Feather Art on the Bulletin Board

Many thanks to our 'regular' contributors who are writing an article for your benefit here every month. Without their hard work and dedication there would be no collaboration. Cyber hugs all around. I'm so grateful for your extending your busy lives to include your sharing with us every month!

Many thanks to our on-going 'guest' authors who have added to the width and breadth of our gathering by contributing once or some others who write every now and again -- or a few who write even more frequently. 

You know who you are! We're so happy to have you aboard.  

Paper Plate Turkeys in Preschool 

We have our "TOP TEN" articles as calculated by Google over there in our left sidebar for your easy reference, but that is just a minimal sprinkling of all that has been offered here over the past 12 months. 

I invite you to dig around here at your leisure. 

There are so many brilliant offerings tucked into every month! 

Open-Ended Art Work on Turkey Feathers for the Thanksgiving Bulletin Board in Preschool

We've really grown in our first year and we have exciting plans on the launching pad for our continued expansion in the year ahead. 

If its November, that means that NAEYC can't be too far away. 

Are you planning on being in Atlanta? 

Any number of our contributors have workshops and presentations for your support..... and we are so eager to meet you!

Connie Dow and I will be presenting on Friday afternoon at 3:00: 

on the topic dear to each of us: "Moving is Learning." 

Our Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld will host her annual Friday evening presentation at 6:30 -- always a crowd pleaser! I will join her on stage for a presentation of my classic song in sign language, "You're Wonderful." 

Our Laura Eldredge and cohort are presenting "Through New Eyes: Enhancing Preschool Literacy Experiences" on Thursday morning at 8:00. 

Our very own Deborah McNelis is starting the whole conference on Wed morning, beginning at 8:30 with her presentation,

"Brain Insights: Understanding the Remarkable Impact We can Make in Children's Optimal Development." 

Kindergarten Turkey Art Project for Thanksgiving

The big news on the horizon is the launch of our very own EEE!!!! 

I'm not at liberty to tell you what that stands for just yet, but I promise that it's exciting and just around the corner! 

Stay tuned and come get the details at my NAEYC booth #1910. 

We hope to have it all polished and ready to share this month. 

Just like projects on paper plates are always a sure-fire hit, 

how can you possibly go wrong with a painted turkey handprint? 

This is literally still hanging on the fridge of joy for my WonderBoy. 

He made this last year in Kindergarten. 

The happy turkey rhyme is awesome! 

My WonderBoy's Kindergarten Keepsake for Thanksgiving

I hope that you have time this month to take a deep breath and count your blessings. 

Each and every follower, regular reader and comment writer brightens this place, building an ever stronger collaboration in the process. 

Kindergarten Turkey MATH Project for Thanksgiving 

Find a quiet moment this month and make a list of all that you have to be grateful for and spell it out for the world to see. 

Count your blessings. Number them. 

Appreciate and be filled with gratitude. 

Preschool Thanksgiving Bulletin Board of Blessings and Gratitude

I just had a whole RoundUP of Gratitude, Kindness and Emotional Intelligence ideas over at my blog. Many of the ideas I've gathered would lend themselves to a thanksgiving exploration. Click over to my blog to see those images. 

Kindness in the Classroom: Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence at RainbowsWithinReach

OK. I just had to put those two of my favorite open-ended projects together for you to compare and contrast. So here comes that reminder for your viewing and pinning pleasure! 

BTW: ALL of these photos are from my various Author/Illustrator, Music-Lady school visits. I work extra hard these days to capture as many 'sights' from my own observations as I can to share with you -- the wider world. 



Now that it's officially November, I want to make you aware that my nationally award winning picture book "Red, White and Blue" would be the perfect addition to your observance of Veteran's Day. 



I have just put the traditional hardback children's picture book with CD insert on sale over at Teachers pay Teachers thru the coming weekend. If you hurry it could still be delivered in time for your use in the classroom. 

Illustrations from "Red, White and Blue" by Debbie Clement: made from fabric as small quilts

I have also put the digital zipped file version on sale -- which includes two Mp3 versions of the song: one a sung version and the second is an instrumental for your karaoke Kindergarten performances. You have more time at your disposal for that instant-download. 

-- Debbie --

I would be so excited to meet you in person next week in Atlanta. Come introduce yourself and give me a hug!

Come find us at NAEYC: I'll be in booth #1910 in the Exhibit Hall 

Debbie Clement, Editor-in-Residence here is usually blogging over at RainbowsWithinReach sharing of her various travels and projects. She's the composer of over 100 original songs for children housed on nine albums. She also is the nationally award winning author/illustrator of three picture books based on her songs which are included in the back of each book as a CD inset. 

Her newest effort is the launching of a little cyber-shop over at Teachers pay Teachers where her songs are becoming available in digital download Mp3 zip files. 

Her favorite social network is Pinterest. Where she has catalogued nearly 20,000 pins in categories for the PreK+K Crowd. Come join her over 77,000 followers to keep up to date on all things visual!