Wow Your Crowd

When Super-Gemma and I went to Dallas earlier this month, it was much more than just a fantastic sightseeing excursions, an exhilarating dinner with other bloggers, and an expensive trip through the exhibit hall!  We went to Dallas to learn from some of the best early childhood educators in the nation.  And learning we did -- my brain was on total overload by the end.  In fact, it has taken a couple of weeks to process all of the new information.

The highlight of our learning sessions was Deborah Stewart and Vanessa Levin's "Wow Your Crowd with a Read Aloud."  I have been a huge fan of Teach Preschool and Pre-K Pages for many years.  To have the opportunity to meet these ladies and learn from them felt like a dream.

Before the session started, we filled some goodie bags for the participants.  Teachers love to do and not just listen while they are learning!

During the session Deborah and Vanessa described the roles of the reader and the listeners.  They also modeled tons of hands-on ways to engage the children before, during and after reading.

Clearly, I was not the only one excited to learn from these two ladies!  The conference room was completely packed.

I always love learning about new books.  This one, Red & Yellow's Noisy Night, was my favorite find.  

Then Deborah taught us how to make our own "Strummies."  It doesn't look like much, but you have to take my word for it.  These little instruments are amazing!  Just use the top of a shoebox or jewelry box and make the strings out of some of those rainbow loom bands that I'm sure you still have laying around!

The sound is such a surprise.  You can't hear it unless the box (closed side) is right up against your ear.  When you do that, it's amazing.  So clear and pretty!  

I am really looking forward to incorporating many of these great ideas, and of course to making strummies, with our kiddos.

Have fun playing and learning with your children today!