FableVision Learning Spotlight Blog
Categories
- Animation-ish 42
- Books 21
- Civics! 2
- Classroom Spotlight 17
- Conferences and Events 20
- Creative Educator 3
- Creativity 25
- Distance Learning 13
- Dot Day 22
- FabClassroom 28
- FabFriday 19
- FabMaker Studio 66
- FabMaker Studio Classroom 13
- FableFive 7
- FableVision Games 3
- Free Educator Resources 36
- HUTCH 1
- Home Activities 5
- In the Classroom 34
- In the News 11
- International Dot Day 23
- Ish 1
- Library 1
- Mapping the World by Heart 7
- Paul Reynolds 10
- Peter H. Reynolds 54
- Professional Development 9
- STEM/STEAM 20
- Storybook Academy 2
- Teacher Spotlight 14
- The Dot 17
- The North Star 2
- Words and Their Stories 1
- Zoombinis 3
Be You After-School Program at Jaffrey-Rindge School District Explores Creativity and Making
The team at FableVision Learning just wrapped up a fantastic year working with the with Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District after-school program.
We worked with the New Hampshire school district to implement an exciting after-school program for K - 8/9 students that supported personal and academic success through the use FableVision’s creative tools and engaging projects.
Using custom curriculum focused on social-emotional learning (SEL) along with tools like Animation-ish, FabMaker Studio and resources from the The Peter H. Reynolds Storybook Academy the students explored their creativity while sharing their voice. To wrap up the program, FableVision hosted a virtual. end-of-year celebration of student work with special guests Paul and Peter H. Reynolds.
Here are some highlights:
Engineering and Design with FabMaker Studio
From intricate pop-ups to 3D robot Batman, students explored design engineering and paper fabrication.
Animation-ish
Students learned the basics of animation and explored different levels of Animation-ish to create their final projects (seen above in gif form).
Are you looking to bring custom programs and curriculum to your school, after-school or camp classes? contact us at info@fablevisionlearning.com to find out more!
Resources & Reviews: "Happy Dreamer" At Your Local Bookstore Today!
FableVision founder and New York Times best-selling author/illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds, believes in self-expression and staying true to oneself. In his newly released book, Happy Dreamer, - out today - Peter celebrates what it means to be a dreamer.
“I wrote Happy Dreamer for kids (and grown up kids) like me,” he said in a recent blog post. “This really is my story. A peek inside my mind to share how my brain works in its own wild and wonderful way… I wanted to send out a hopeful message that kids who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD that they have a gift, not a label. That their minds are very special. That they are "delightful dreamers." Their brains are capable of being flexible, generous, nimble, and inventive. Their kind of thinking is to be understood, nurtured, accommodated and CELEBRATED!
As the book hits the shelves of your independent bookstore, we’ve collected a few resources and reviews for you to check out:
- Book Trailer from Scholastic: Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds -
**Are you interested in becoming a Happy Dreamer? Hop on over to The Blue Bunny Toys & Books in Dedham Square or check out your local bookstores. HAPPY DREAMING!
A Message from Peter H. Reynolds: He answers questions from Global Read Aloud friends!
Wow. I have been flooded with e-mails, tweets, direct messages and "snail mail" these past few weeks from my Global Read Aloud friends from around the world. I love seeing all this energy around books — and very honored that I was chosen to be the focus of the Author Study this year. I wish I could respond to each and every message and give feedback on every student blog post, but there are only so many hours in a day and I am busy, busy, busy on several new books.
I decided to pull a few questions from the pile and answer them here as they mirror many of those that came in.
Kay Hetzer, a first grade teacher from the Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio sent me a question from her classroom:
"Were you like the boy in your book "I'm Here?"
Great question. My inspiration for the boy is a boy named Matthew, but I can relate to the I'm Here boy. My twin brother, Paul and I were a bit quiet and shy growing up. Hard to believe now with me speaking on stage to thousands of educators and Paul teaching at Boston College and also speaking to crowds fearlessly. By the way, Matt is now grown up, loves to bake and has started his own biscotti baking company. http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2014/03/04/biscotti-brings-smiles-customers-young-baker-autism
Mason, a five year old from Canada asked, "Did you like making books when you five?"
Well, I think at five I was drawing a lot and probably learning to write. It was in first grade when my brother, Paul and I created a newspaper. This really sparked the idea of publishing, sharing our ideas and creativity with the world. I wish someone had given me a blank book and challenged me to use my art and words to tell a story at age five. I think the earlier you start the better. It's like learning a language.
I'll sign off for now and get back to the pile of books I am creating, but I wanted to say a BIG thank you to Pernille Ripp and the Global Read Aloud team for helping "Connect the dots" with so many creative teachers and students. I treasure all the tweets, posts, letters, art, and photos. Inspiration for my own creative journey.
Peter
Peter H. Reynolds selected for Global Read Aloud Author Study
Peter H. Reynolds
FableVision Learning founder, Peter H. Reynolds has been chosen to be this year’s author study for Global Read Aloud (#GRA14) which is spans from Oct 6- Nov 14. This project, founded by Pernille Ripp, was created in 2010 with the goal to use one book to connect children around the world, similar to International Dot Day inspired by Peter’s book The Dot. In just four years, Global Read Aloud has made over 500,000 connections in 60 different countries.
In addition to choosing a single book to dig into, Global Read Aloud also selects one author each year for participants to study. Peter received news earlier this year that he had been chosen for the GRA Author Study. "I was thrilled to have been chosen. It is quite an honor, but for me it was exciting to think that this was a way for the messages in my books to reach more children, teachers and families. Having teachers help students really do a "deep dive" into my work and explore the big ideas, reflect, think, share and create is... well, a wow. My hope is that the experience inspires students to never give up on their own creative journeys. I wish that for their teachers too."
Peter's books being studied include The North Star, The Dot, Ish, Sky Color, and I'm Here. It also includes a collaboration with his twin brother, Paul called Going Places.
"Educators understand the power of learning through storytelling." shared Peter. "They also get that reading a story aloud is MUCH more than reading it verbatim. It is the questions peppered along the way, the pause to check for understanding, the invitation to chant a chorus, or to look more closely at the art for deeper appreciation of the story. It is also not just what happens DURING the read aloud, but what happens after. Great teachers know how to riff on a story with hands-on, minds-on creative extension activities."
One of the thousands of GRA14 inspired projects is this delightful film, "Ish Drawings" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1zCC7IGfSA) created by classroom teacher, Rachel Hyland from Coppell, Texas.
Many of Peter’s own teachers helped him extend the learning "beyond the book." His 7th grade math teacher, noticing Peter's penchant for drawing and storytelling, suggested Peter try using his talents to teach math. Peter made a comic book which Mr. Matson pointed out was also called a storyboard- adding that a storyboard is a tool that filmmakers use to plan out their films. Peter took his cue and made his very first animated film at age twelve!
"That experience inspired me to keep going – to see how I could use my energy and skills to teach, to inspire, to make the world a better place. I can trace it all back to a teacher who took the time to "connect the dots" with me in a creative way. He changed my life. Today, my company, FableVision uses media, story, and technology to inspire, inform and teach. I guess it's not surprising that I developed animation software for "kids like me." Amazing to think my teacher could see a glimpse into my future way back in 1973."
He enjoys sharing that story and message to remind all educators to appreciate the impact that they are having on their own students.
“I am optimistic about a future where all children are encouraged to navigate their true potential. We have to be creative in the ways we reach all learners — to help them find their voice, be brave about expressing it, and be inspired to use their gifts to ‘make their mark.’”
peter_books
GRA has made a recommended schedule for when to read Peter’s books so that schools, classrooms, libraries, and homes around the globe can be "on the same page" during the study: 10/7 Week 1: The North Star 10/14 Week 2: I’m Here 10/21 Week 3: Ish 10/28 Week 4: Sky Color 11/4 Week 5: Going Places 11/11 Week 6: Your Choice!
You can find Peter’s full collection, including books he has illustrated, at his very own bookstore, The Blue Bunny Books and Toy Store in Dedham, Massachusetts. Peter is busy working on several new books and some new software to allow young kids to become engineers, but he still is managing to follow Twitter and social media to keep up the exciting news, questions and photos from GRA participants worldwide.
Click here to share and be connected for GRA. We would love to hear how you are using Peter’s books in your creative classroom — connect with us on Twitter! Also, explore the FableVision Learning site to see Peter's posters and our software designed to support your creativity and literacy mission in your school.
International Dot Day Website, Posters, and Certificate!
Join more than a million educators and students for International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity in the classroom based on Peter H. Reynolds' award-winning book The Dot. Learn more by visiting the official Dot Day website.
Will you be joining in the fun this September 15th? Please let us know by signing up — you'll also receive the free Educator's Handbook for International Dot Day.
We're all looking forward to Dot Day, but we'll be celebrating creativity all year long — and we encourage you to do the same! Here are some new posters by Peter...
¡Estamos Celebrando el Día del Punto Todo el Año!
Here are two more - an English poster and a Spanish poster to celebrate getting ready for Dot Day 2013:
Here's another new poster — this one features the official International Dot Day logo:
And here's the new Spanish version — we LOVE seeing the International Dot Day logo en español!
Enjoy this other wonderful poster in French — it's such fun to see the logo en français!
Or maybe you plan to celebrate on September 16th? We've got a English poster and a Spanish poster for that too!
Download this certificate of participation that Peter designed for educators, students, and all other creative individuals who are making their mark:
If you want to help spread the word about Dot Day, please feel free to also download this poster by Peter H. Reynolds:
Many schools are also celebrating on September 14th, during the school week. If your school is celebrating on the 14th, Peter whipped up another poster for you! Enjoy:
Are you connecting with another school via Skype in the Classroom this year? Click here to get this as a printable poster!
Make your mark by printing out this Dot Day poster.
Here's a Dot Day poster in Italian! (Clicca qui per leggere tutto Dimensioni Poster Day Dot stampa.)
Here's an alternate version in Italian. (Clicca qui per un supplente piena di poster formato Giorno Dot stampa!)In closing, here is a Spanish version too! (Haga click aquí para una versión imprimible de este cartel.)
Author David Smith Appearing at The Blue Bunny!
Meet author and educator David J. Smith at The Blue Bunny May 17th!
Join us at The Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham Square for an open house event for educators and interested patrons on May 17th, from 7-8 p.m. Educator and author David J. Smith, creator of our award-winning curriculum Mapping the World by Heart will be presenting his new book This Child, Every Child — a groundbreaking book of statistics and stories that compare the lives of children around the world today. Using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a template to compare and contrast kids’ experiences and opportunities, Smith’s book introduces young readers to the world beyond their own borders and reveals the challenges children face in obtaining adequate food, clean water, health care, education, and more.Smith, a leader in international education and author of the bestselling book If the World Were a Village, felt compelled to share the dramatic and sobering facts about children around the world with young readers. “These issues are not light or easy, but they affect millions of children.” Kids Can Press, which published This Child, Every Child will donate 50% of the profits from the sales of this book to deliver books to school libraries in Haiti.Along with refreshments, raffles, and a guaranteed SUPER presentation, David’s books will be available for sale and signing. David and the FableVision Learning team will also talk about his geography product Mapping the World by Heart. Learn more about David J. Smith on his website: www.mapping.com.Learn more about the event here. All are welcome!
You're Invited! "Water Wonders" Book Release Party
Please join us for the upcoming "Water Wonders" Book Release Party!
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and The National Writing Project (NWP) have once again teamed up with Boston-based educational media production firm FableVision to create an exciting new early literacy-meets-STEM resource for children, parents, and educators. Join us in celebrating the release of The Curious Adventures of Sydney and Symon in: Water Wonders.
When: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 from 5:30–8:00pm
Where: FableVision Studios at Children's Wharf
308 Congress Street, (Top Floor of the Boston Children's Museum) Boston, MA 02210
Please RSVP to
or 617.956.5700.