Search results matching tag 'elementary'

Debbie Clement's Author-Illustrator Slide Share

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:22:00 GMT

Author illustrator slideshare from Debbie Clement

SLIDESHARE #1!!

Can you believe it? Did it work?

I continue to attempt to leap tall buildings in numerous small bounds.

Enclosed above you will hopefully find a 53 slide 'scrapbook' of my travels making school visits -- with some library visits mixed in as well. All of this effort, (and I have been working on this for the last two days,) was prompted by three things:

I read an article that said that having "Slideshare" presentations will help Google 'find' your work and get you cataloged. I am truly working on my G+ skills and giving it new-found time and effort. So this 'project' seemed like something that I could 'do' to attract those spidey-bots in my direction.
I had a fellow blogger request info on how to set up a visit for me to come to their school district and she needed something to share with her committee.
My visit last week for "Read Across America" was oh-so-much-fun(!!!) and I'd LUV LUV LUV to replicate the success I've just experienced at other sites. Having a visual tutorial of previous success seems like a great way to generate future success.

Let's see if it worked.
Leave me a comment if you can get it to work. I've even included hyper-links from the slideshare program to a variety of places: here, PreK+K Sharing, my dot com store, Pinterest account, Google+ account and LinkedIN. Can someone test drive it for me?

Leave me a comment and I'll have to give a random drawing thank you to some lucky winner!

-- Debbie --

Fine Motor Friday, Chapter #43: Parquetry Design

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:38:00 GMT

It's Friday!!! It's February FIRST!!!

That means a couple of things to me.
We continue here with my Fine Motor Friday series.

This is week number 43 in my on-going series of all things:

FINE MOTOR LEADS TO FINE ARTS.

Since its also the first of the month, that means its my turn to write an article for our collaborative blog:

PreK+K Sharing.

I have the exciting responsibility of announcing that our collaborative blog just rolled over 1 million page views earlier this week!!!

As editor-in-chief and queen bee at the collaborative that is an amazing accomplishment for me to marvel upon. Thanks to everyone who has ever written an article for the Early Childhood Community, buiding stronger bridges between Preschool and Kindergarten in the process.

Our cast of regular contributors there is truly incredible. Our Dr. Danny Brassell was just selected to give a TED talk and our Amy Ahola was just selected as one of the 365 Heros in Education. The list of accolades could go on and on. Enrique Feldman just finished orchestrating the music for a movie! It's a pleasure to be associated with so many talented folks contributing unique content on an on-going basis! Thanks to all the readers who have supported us.

Now! Back to some Friday fine-motor fun!!
FIRST: A word about moi. I LOVE color and patterns.
I'm a former elementary school Art teacher morphed into a 'music lady.' I illustrated my first picture book, "You're Wonderful" (which is actually a song I wrote and recorded) with small quilts that I designed and sewed in fabric. Take a peek!

At this moment I'm in snow-covered Ohio with my WonderPeeps.
Making my annual trip to my fav-o-rite dollar store, just before departing for Houston, I happened upon these glorious little pattern blocks that have MAGNETS affixed!!!

OH BE STILL MY HEART! I bought all 13 sets they had hanging on the rack. With two brand new cookie sheets and a tub to keep them in, the whole set of goodies came to a twenty dollar investment. The best news? Guess who LUV LUV LUVs them? Mr. Eyelash-man (4.5 year old twinzee-guy, not so keen on much 'school-stuff.') Please don't tell him that this would qualify as school-stuff.

So I left my peeps at home with their amazing magnatized blocks and flew hop scotch across the country. Cue the theme song from the ol' Twilight TV series.
Can you imagine how excited I was to see this art on display?

Elementary School "Parquetry" Designs of Construction Paper then Laminated

Take a look at this A-MA-ZING Elementary school effort that I captured exactly one week ago today, while on my Author-Illustrator school visit in Friendswood, Texas. Seeing this type of excellence-in-education is the reason that I blog. Seriously. I get to see this level of incredible effort time after time -- and I want to share it with YOU, the big cyber audience of readers. Wow!

These were made with construction paper parquetry-like 'blocks' that are glued into place and then the finished master pieces have been laminated for posterity. This is the perfect project for combining Art and math! HURRAY! Look closely at these incredible projects and enjoy! I could quilt the projects together all day long. They seriously make my heart sing.

So we start with the fun of fine motor development.

(Which some children might not classify as fun, unless they have magnatized blocks.)

Then we continue on that channel with design and math and color and shapes.

And then one day we have a picture book illustrator in the family!

Since we're speaking of Parquetry Design......

Now a couple of images from the 'way-back' machine.

These images are from Issues #18 + #27 of this very Fine Motor Series.

These next 'quilt' squares were made in anticipation of my arrival last spring.

Very similar to the initial images up-above from Texas, these are just younger students behind the wheel.

This bulletin board of work was created by my amazing Westerville, OH kinder friends.

Even longer ago, I had a school visit on Long Island where 330 kindergartners had each made a 'quilt square' under the direction of their art teacher.

Now you know why I work so diligently at this blogging and pinning.

My books are 'self-published' and its always my goal to intice a 'new' site to explore my work through Art and music -- math, patterns and shapes.

This concludes our 43rd edition.

Hope that you have a GREAT weekend!

Get ready for the SUPER bowl sale at Teachers Pay Teachers on Sunday!

I'll have all of my materials set to 20% off --

with the site kicking in another chunk you can save a total of 28% ALL DAY!

-- Debbie --

Winter Village Showcase of Snow Covered Buildings

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Gingerbread Village Created in the Elementary School ART Room

Wait till you see this collection!

Pinch yourself.

This is the stuff of dreams.

Showcases filled to over-flowing with snow-covered buildings.

ENTIRE VILLAGES!

I've made an Artist-in-the-Schools visit to Scioto Darby Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio, every year for probably about a decade or more at this point in time. It's a little bit like old home week. Familiar faces and hugs all around. I get to spend the entire day with the kindergarten classrooms of eager students. I have a lot of favorite places to visit -- and this one's at the top of my list.

It's so much FUN for me to return to schools and programs where I've been before. I know my way around. Literally. I know where things are. They know what I'm all about and have asked me back.

I feel like Sally Fields. "They like me. They like me."

But my favorite part? I tend to get invited back to programs and schools of EXCELLENCE and I can hardly wait to get there to see what's new and different since my last visit! I was just in this building at the very end of the school year and got to see the whole building in ART SHOW mode.... and now 6 months later? Holiday finery!

With every extra minute I have available to me I can run through the hallways and snap up pictures galore. These masterpieces have been designed and crafted under the amazing direction of the building's Art teacher, Mr. Harris. Each building is a delight, but massed together -- the effect is simply breath taking! The twinkle lights amid the buildings? INCREDIBLE!

This collection is truly to be admired in its entirety and each one individually to be treasured. I decided that if I were to move in -- I'd select this orange and red little number with the wiggly stripes and swathed in the glorious garland. It seems the perfect choice for a DIVA such as myself. I'll ask the designer to add some polka dots upon my move-in.

What do you do when you run out of space in the showcases for all of your glorious buildings? You start hanging them on the bulletin boards -- of course!

As ~~an old~~ former Elementary Art Teacher, I stand in awe of an 'accomplishment' of this magnitude. KUDOS to Mr. Harris for having directing each student's to create such an original contribution that adds to the sum total on display. If this were all that were involved -- I would award the man the highest medal possible. He didn't stop here, our Mr. Harris. He kept GOING!

In addition to each student creating their three dimensional 'home-for-the-holiday' from upcycling a variety of boxes, he also directed each student to create a written account of their holiday season celebrations. These writings were on display under and around the showcases. (I seem to only have taken two pictures of these writings -- which showcase a photo of the student's 'house' and their explanation. Apparently I was just completely mesmerized by the structures themselves.)

I hope that you enjoy this incredible project via these several photographs. Standing there in person was simply amazing! Know that teachers the world over are directing students in amazing ways. You see that evidence here. Support the teachers nearest you in any way that you are able.

May this amazing project bring some sparkle, cheer and hope to your holiday weekend.

-- Debbie --

Your sharing via pin, tweet, + or beyond will bring additional eyes to this excellence. Thank you for passing this onward.

Christmas Season Bulletin Boards

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:21:00 GMT

I've had a whirlwind of fun making my author-illustrator school visits recently.

Are you ready for some A-MAZ-ING bulletin boards?

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS BULLETIN BOARDS:

HERE WE COME!

First up: A floor-to-ceiling wall-display.

Way beyond a Christmas bulletin board.

FLOOR TO CEILING -- I tell you!

This was so absolutely ENORMOUS that I couldn't get a photo of the entire thing from any angle what-so-ever, but I think with these first four pictures you kinda-sorta get the idea. The display has an amazing Christmas tree with chains and lights and presents and people and snowmen and snow and flying sleighs and more trees and pines and a blazing sunshine and football players and airplanes. Well you get the idea.

Here's the close-up of the Christmas Trees on the actual bulletin board section.
You know that I LUV LUV LUV the three dimensional aspect of these trees!

Now, on to some 'traditional' sized Christmas themed bulletin boards. Here are some delightful presents created to take a ride in Santa's sleigh. Imagine how excited these students are feeling at this point!

Santa Claus Sleigh Bulletin Board with Student Presents

Here's a 'writing' bulletin board of all the possibilities and insight for when Santa's arrival goes awry. What a hoot. What an awesome public display for writing.... and you know how much I like writing!

"Saving Santa" Bulletin Board of Writing

Then we have Santa's reindeer in a chorus line of sorts.... the elves are overseeing the fun from their workshop just beyond. You've got to adore the three dimensional nature of those legs! Cafeteria fun indeed!

Here's a whole bulletin board of a variety of simple holiday art projects created by the 'after-school' program at

Scioto Darby Elementary School.

Fireplaces with fires glowing:

and personalized stockings.

AND Strings of lights.......

Look at this one!

Santa comes in all flavors.

How awesome are those snowflakes?

Speaking of snowflakes..... how about a blizzard?

In every shade of the rainbow!

Here's another UBBER mantle of amazing stockings hung with care.

Each of these wrapping paper 'gifts' conceals the writing beneath the wrapped facade. What a fun way to dress up a writing exercise.

"Giving the Gift of a Good Book"

Speaking of 'reading' at Christmas..... Here's a great 'pop-up' book report format presented on the bulletin board in the hallway. Photo of student reading their favorite book. KUDOS!

These next symmetrical tree creations are the backdrop for their own writing exercise surrounding each student's Christmas family traditions. What a glorious variety of trees. So much fun. I'm such a BIG fan of the decorations, too!

"Christmas Traditions"

I wonder how many links were in the chain to begin with?

The countdown has gotten underway in earnest at this point.

How much fun is this project?

"Countdown to Christmas" Chains

It's time to wind up these festivities.

We'll conclude with a few peeks at a global theme of:

"Christmas Around the World."

"Christmas Around the World" Bulletin Board Theme

First up let's start with a classroom door decoration for 'Germany.'

Am I THE most FORTUNATE person ever? I get to do what I LUV: share my work of songs and books and see the evidence of so much joy and delight. What an amazing collection -- don't ya think? This is evidence of the hard work, dedication, and effort put in by teachers to brighten the lives of the students they teach. Special thanks to Scioto Darby and Etna Elementary in central Ohio for your warm welcome this week.

I know that these ideas are a little late to help you with with this year's crop of bulletin boards, but I just didn't wanna havta wait eleven months to share. Please pin so that you'll have them handy next year. I am so grateful for each and every pin.

#3 on my Top 10 Hit Parade

Speaking of bulletin boards. I have an earlier article that continues to climb my all-time Top 10 list. If you haven't seen that one -- you really will appreciate the time to click over. I lost count on the number of boards included.

-- Debbie --

***Today's the final day to enter this month's drawing for a set of my personalized picture books. I will be drawing when I get back to FL. Jump over to this earlier article if you're here before midnight on Dec. 20th and follow the easy-peasy instructions!

Inviting + Intriguing Reading Centers

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:00:00 GMT

~~ 12~12~12 ~~

Certainly that's reason to celebrate?

Let's have a party!

A READING Party!!

I have so much to celebrate.

This is my week. (Hint.Hint: tomorrow's MY big day!)

These first pictures are from my camera's memory card.

I've gathered up images of special little 'reading corners' that I have had the pleasure of seeing during my

Author-Illustrator school visits.

Today's RoundUP will be: intriguing little nooks that invite readers to curl up with their favorite books.

I remember reading a library book where the heroine regularly curled up in a window seat with her favorite read of the moment. I've longed for a window seat ever since then. There's something about having a private little spot for your reading that makes it all the more inviting. Take a look at these!

This Kindergarten Room had an entire Article of Images Featured in this Earlier Entry!

CLIFFORD + BATHTUB + RUBBER DUCKIES = PRICELESS!

A Colorado kinder-combo of tub and drapery..

Across the hall was a royal reading canopy-corner.

Next up are several 'centers' that were located mid-room, that would be perfect to bring your book on a reading adventure.

"The Wheels on the Bus."

How big is your space?

How about a log-cabin library play-corner?

Or a LIBRARY-LOFT?

Now I want to share some unique "author chairs" that I've had the great good fortune to grace!

First up is a hand-painted treasure from northern WI.

Yup. Door County to be exact!

This ROYAL Reading Throne was in metro-Milwaukee.

Fit for a Queen!

First graders were in LUV LUV LUV with the opportunity to curl up in this next oldie-but-goodie. Be on the look out for such a relic to add a little incentive to turning those pages.

YES! A QUILTED AUTHOR'S CHAIR!!!

Oh be still my heart!

Complete with ric-rac!!!

The only thing that could have been more perfect?

POLKA DOTS!

Next up's a reading corner in one of my favorite libraries. This is in the 'teen center' in Williams County Public Library. If you missed that earlier article of the children's department -- it's well worth the return to my earlier feature. They have some awesome murals you'll want to catch.... the Peter Pan silhouette on the ceiling is incredible!

YES! In addition to my being wild about riots of rainbow color -- I am also a BIG fan of all things black and white! Here's the small group center in the third grade classroom of our oldest 'WonderGuy' out in Colorado. ('WonderPeep' somehow sounds not sufficiently mature for third grade.)

You know I couldn't grab my camera fast enough when I saw that arrangement! Makes my heart sing! What an inviting corner to gather a small group. The interior designer in me gives a gold star to this setting!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put out the all-call to my fellow bloggers just yesterday (I keep promising that I'll attempt to plan further ahead) for additions to this RoundUP. I have a feeling I'll be adding more over time. Take a look at this ultra-organized library corner. I can feel my self 'exhaling' with all of the planning that's gone into this area.

Super Organized and Appealing Classroom Library

This first idea is in from Vanessa at PreK Pages. We had a chance to meet in real-life recently at the SDE Kindergarten conference in Orlando. The woman is over-flowing with ideas and so eager to share and support your efforts on behalf of children. Here's the link to see more on this library corner set up. ENJOY!

YOU'RE GOING TO LUV THIS NEXT ONE, TOO!

I'll conclude with this oh-so-stellar corner in Christie's home. You absolutely MUST pop over to "Childhood 101" to see the details of their book corner - including the VERY clever 'book bunting' idea in all of its glory. While you're there I'd suggest you take a look at their 'art-space' too! BREATH-TAKING! Makes me want to plan a visit to see what else is going on under this creative roof! Go and get acquainted. Tell her I sent you. Name dropping's all the glory in the blogging world.

-- Debbie --

FREEBIE!!!!

My New Store for Mp3's

All this talk of books and libraries and reading -- reminds me to prompt you to head over to TpT and pick up my FREEBIE "Going to the Library" -- which is in an Mp3 format for your immediate use! I'd be ever-so-grateful if you'd leave a little feedback over there with your happy impressions.

Pumpkins, Jack-o-Lanterns, Trick-or-Treating: OH MY!

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:59:00 GMT

HALLOWEEN!!!

The thrill and excitement of the season is upon us!

I am hoping that in the midst of the abrupt change of seasons (for some of us) that you are safe and enjoying all of the delight of the concluding of the month.

Do you celebrate fall harvest?

Do you have fun with Halloween?

What could be simpler than a brown paper bag pumpkin?

Leave well enough alone -- or embellish with magic marker details.

These doozies are 'hanging on the gate!'

I can still remember the first time I held a 'little miniature pumpkin.

They make me smile every season -- all over again!

I had this pumpkin activity in last Friday's Fine Motor, but I think it deserves a repeat performance with the rest of the pumpkin clan.

In the same way that I've been talking about the fun and flexibility of creating your own monster with its unique details, designing your own Jack-o-Lantern opens up the floodgates of possibilities.

Here's the two dimensional version of the Jack-o-Lanterns on the Gate.

This time the bulletin board is outside the kindergarten classroom.

Bulletin Board of "Jack-o-Lanterns" Sitting on a Gate in Kindergarten

More Monsters! Fine Motor + Fine Art!

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:49:00 GMT

FINE MOTOR LEADS TO FINE ARTS!!

First off the good news: it's FRIDAY!

Then even MORE good news:

great ideas ahead in this, Part 34, of my Fine Motor Friday series.

We've been talking here for a while about MONSTERS.

I've been searching for monster-work to help launch the digital download of my children's song "Monster Spray" over at TpT.

Enjoy these third grade projects at Blue Heron Elementary in Colorado, hanging outside the Art room during my Author/Illustrator school visit this week.

It's so much fun to draw monsters. Since they are imaginary, there is no right or wrong answer and everyone's project is awesome! The more 'out there' you can imagine, the more fun the project and its end results.

The old art teacher in me just LUV LUV LUVs this project!

By third grade some children are having frustrations over their drawings not 'looking like' the subject. The more frustrated a child becomes the less likely they are to want to engage in the creative process. This is a brilliant project to ensure success from every budding artist developing both their fine motor skills and also their creative and artistic efforts.

Let's shift gears from the artwork of the 3rd grade to the YOUNGER set.

While being hosted by our Colorado Clement family I got to make classroom visits to the preschool housed in Blue Heron. Ya just gotta LUV a seasonal project that gives golf tees, a hammer and a pumpkin to a young child! What an engaging way to wield growing control over those fine muscle motor skills. What an empowering activity!

In the same Bluebird preschool classroom I was overjoyed to see these bins of gourds being sorted by color family.

Happy Harvest indeed.

Just having a variety of fall produce to handle, explore and categorize is a great sensory activity.

The color sort is just brilliant.

I like to conclude my Fine Motor Friday installments with a reminder to have the children see YOUR writing around the room. Just like reading is encouraged by seeing others read, so is writing encouraged by observing all of the times when writing is necessary.

Here's a super fun reading pocket-style, anchor chart from the kindergarten room..... just in time for trick-or-treating fun next week. I'm such a fan of seeing the sentences in the handwritten format. KUDOS!

Are all of the children in your world gearing up for monster fun?

What costume dreams are unfolding at your house?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm always grateful for your helping my efforts by pinning images that you have found helpful.

-- Debbie --

Yes. It's true.

I opened a 'store' at Teachers Pay Teachers!

My song entitled "Monster Spray" is in a zipped file in Mp3 format.

***It will be on sale all weekend... starting tomorrow morning!

Did you catch these earlier 'monster' articles?
My Monster RoundUP is one click away.
That article has dozens of ideas from bloggers around the world!

A couple weeks ago I demonstrated a DIY Monster Puppet from upcycling 'trash.'
Click back here to see that treasure.

Kindness, Bucket Filling: Emotional Intelligence

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:59:00 GMT

KINDNESS. FILLING BUCKETS:

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

It's time for a RoundUP of oodles of ways to reinforce the good!!

In my travels around the country as an Author/Illustrator making school visits,

I have the great-good fortune of observing a variety of 'systems' that teachers are using in their classroom to focus on the positive.

LUV LUV LUV LUV LUV!

I hope that you're as inspired as I am.

On our snowbird drive south to our Florida palm trees last week,

I had a delightful visit at the Seven Hills School in Cincinnati.

It is clear that they start their focus of these concepts of caring and sharing with their very youngest students. These 'fine motor' exercises were on display in one of their preschool classrooms.

One entire wall of the classroom was bordered with the prompt: "Be Kind" as painted by each student. These repeated paintings reminded me of when I used to stencil the ceiling border in our living room.

These next fine motor 'drawing-writings' are from northern OH and are the brilliance of a kindergarten class book on the subject of kindness.

The writing prompt is simple.

What I can do to be kind.

What I can Do to Be Kind: "I can draw a picture for a friend."

Teacher Appreciation Week on Teacher's Lounge Door

Bucket Filler Bulletin Board in Elementary School

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? Kindergarten Students Decorate

Timer to Encourage Sharing Among Children

a Fourth Grade Teacher (Field Trip Edition)

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:00:00 GMT

I subbed today in a fourth grade classroom, in a building I had only been in once.
We went on a field trip to a nature center. I knew in advance that we would be going on a trip, but I did not really know much of anything about the destination.
The place turned out to be extremely heavy on nature, and very light on center. Almost all of the six hours we were there was to be spent outside, on what turned out to be a VERY bright, hot day.
Guess which incredibly pale sub forgot to pack sunscreen.
Lucky for me, the group of kids I had to watch also came with a super-mom for a chaperone. She saw my predicament nearly right away, and simply offered me some sun screen. She also, later on, gave me a very long lecture on how horrible energy drinks are for your body.

The day as a whole turned out to be a lot of fun.

And, even with the sunscreen, I still managed to get a horrible sunburn on my scalp, because of how I had my hair gelled.

Adventurous

Anonymous — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:45:00 GMT

I've accepted a job for tomorrow with the following note attached to it: We will be going on a field trip to Forest Hill- you will need a sack lunch and will want to wear jeans/tennis shoes. Another class will be going also, so there will be another teacher there.

Not only have I never subbed for this class, but I have only worked in this particular building once.
And did I mention that it is 4th grade? I avoid elementary jobs like the plague.

It should be an adventure.