FableVision Learning Spotlight Blog
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- Peter H. Reynolds 54
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Sydney & Simon Blast Off in Their Latest Adventure: To The Moon!
They’ve used STEAM-thinking to save Greenie, revive flowers for the art show, and now Sydney & Simon are embarking on their next adventure that is truly out of this world.
In To The Moon, the twin mice flex their creative and collaborative muscles to create a STEAM-inspired project about the Earth’s Moon, all for a chance to meet astronaut Kris Kornfield!
To The Moon is the third installment in the STEAM-powered Sydney & Simon series, which includes Full Steam Ahead and Go Green, written by real-life twins Peter H. and Paul Reynolds. To The Moon is available now from Peter H. Reynolds’ own book store, The Blue Bunny Books & Toys.
To celebrate the book’s release, we put on our own STEAM-powered hats to develop a few activities for our paper prototyping and fabrication tool, Fab@School Maker Studio:
Inspired by Simon’s moon-matching game, you can test your skills with the Fab@School Maker Studio 2D Moon Phase Puzzle. Try adding an extra challenge by filling in each Moon phase name yourself!
Join Kris Kornfeild on her mission and blast off with an animated Rocket Launch pop-up that slides up and down!
Or cruise through space with the Rocket Flight Path pop-up. Try making new tracks for the rocket to trace for an extra creative challenge!
Finally, test your FAB skills with the 3D Rocket Ship. Can you change the shape or size of the design? Can you put yourself and Commander Kris Kornfield inside the rocket?
The FableVision Learning team is excited to see what your students are fabricating, animating, and writing! Share your Moon-inspired Fab@School Maker Studio creations by emailing Patrick@FableVisionLearning.com. You may even get the chance to be featured in a future blog post!
But wait! Did you know that our Moon is going to pass directly between the Earth and the Sun on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017? This solar eclipse is a very rare event, and a great opportunity to use STEAM to learn and teach others about our position in the solar system. Check out NASA’s Solar Eclipse resource here.
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!
Peek Inside the Mind of Peter H. Reynolds with his Latest Book Happy Dreamer!
The following post was written by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator and FableVision founder, Peter H. Reynolds. His new book Happy Dreamer will be released on March 28, 2017. You can pre-order the book through the Blue Bunny bookstore, here.
My book, Happy Dreamer was originally called Amazing, Delightful, Happy Dreamer. And yes, the initials do spell: ADHD.
The first spark of the book ideas were inspired while attending a learning difference conference at Harvard University where successful CEOs shared their challenging learning journeys in school, making it clear that their achievements were made because of their brains, not in spite of them. It was pointed out by the panel host that this group had all described attributes of ADHD as children. Those attributes sounded very familiar to me.
I thought for a moment, "I wish ADHD sounded like something you'd WANT to have!"
I took a pencil and wrote...
Amazing...
Delightful...
Happy...
Dreamer.
I went home and wrote a poem by the same name and that poem ultimately became this book.
HAPPY DREAMER
I wrote Happy Dreamer for kids (and grown up kids) like me. This really is my story. A peek inside my mind to share how my brain works in its own wild and wonderful way.
It wasn't always easy having a brain like mine though. While I was never officially diagnosed with ADHD (it was a term that would not be used widely until a decade after I was in elementary school) I do believe that as a child I had experienced many of its symptoms.
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!
Growing up, I was dreamer. A day dreamer. Night dreamer. I had a super-charged imagination which kept my brain very, very busy. SO many ideas which was probably the impetus for me grabbing a pencil and starting to capture these thoughts and images on paper with words and art. Outside of school, it really wasn't a problem. I grew up in a big family. Seven people roaming the house doing chores, hobbies, but at night we would gather together at the dinner table to share stories. It was a busy, noisy house and I loved it that way. All the energy and buzz. In school, however, it was a different story. I found it a bit of a shock to stay put in one chair for most of the day. Learning to focus on the lessons were sometimes a big challenge for me. I was not encouraged to capture any of my racing thoughts on paper. I was in fact, discouraged from doing it.
"All eyes up front."
"Mr. Reynolds, do not draw in my class. You can do that after school."
"This is math class. Not art class. Put that away."
I was an agreeable, friendly kid eager to please, so I did my best to comply and control my buzzy-brain. It was not always easy. Every so often, I found a teacher or an activity that tapped into that special brain of mine and WHOAH! Like my 7th grade math teacher who asked me if I could teach math by using art, story and animation. It was magic. I was in my element. It was an AMAZING feeling. Happy. Delighted. My Dreamer brain was engaged—and I was ME.
I hope this book speaks to you, your family and friends. May it reassure you that good things are ahead for all us dreamers.
And in fact, I do believe that if we are to solve some of the planet's biggest problems—we can't keep trying the same solutions. We must invite inventive, flexible minds to the table. World problem solving aside—if this book encourages my readers to simply be happy with themselves, then I'll sleep—and dream— better at night.
PHR
In the Boston area? Join us for Happy Dreamer book release party at the Blue Bunny Books & Toys, on Saturday, April 1, 11-1 p.m, located at 577 High St, Dedham, MA 02026. For more information, click here.
For inspiration on how to bring Happy Dreamer into your classroom, check out the Happy Dreamer Classroom Kit.
FableVision Celebrates Universal Children's Day at Bridgewater State University
In a packed auditorium, Paul and Peter H. Reynolds inspired roughly 200 third-graders from Brockton’s Huntington School to make their mark during Bridgewater State University Universal Children’s Day on Nov. 18, 2016.
Following Peter and Paul's presentation and reading of "The Dot," the FableVision Learning crew joined students on the lawn to create a giant dot.
To round out the creative celebration, the team stuck a pose for the Universal Children's Day mannequin challenge.
Learn more about Universal Children’s Day here.
Peter H. Reynolds visits St. Peter's Catholic School
Peter H. Reynolds made a special visit to the St. Peter's Catholic School in Lincoln, NE earlier this week. The school’s principal Sister Mary Michael wrote about Peter’s visit on her blog: A Note From Sister Mary Michael. The following is an excerpt from her blog.
“Two scenes from the day come to mind, firstly, repeatedly, Peter said in his own way with his actions, “Let the little children come to me.” The committee knew Peter had a day’s worth of work ahead of him signing books, so they tried to get him some quiet time. Peter invited all the kids who were here on Monday in to where he was signing and knocked chat out of them while he signed. He also spent part of the few moments for lunch the next day, back in with the kids in the cafeteria, enjoying them.”
To read the full post, click here.
Read more about Peter's visit:
Lincoln Journal Star: St. Peter Catholic School Festival started with a drawing, ended with a visit from award-winning author
KLKN-TV: Special visitor rewards diligence
The Testing Camera
Peter H. Reynolds, creativity advocate and best-selling author and illustrator, and co-founder of FableVision Learning, has created a new animated short called The Testing Camera — a whimsical poke at high-stakes, standardized testing and a reminder that real assessment is as easy, and — at the same time — as challenging as getting to really know the gifts and talents of every child.
(If you don't have access to YouTube, you can also view the film on Vimeo.)
“We’ve gone through a very test-centric decade which, in my opinion, has consumed a lot of time, energy, and resources," Reynolds shares. “Many teachers have had to adhere to new mandates and measures that require a ‘teach to the test’ approach. Public schools redirected funding for art, music, theater, libraries, field trips, and more. It's a discouraging picture for those trying to reach all children in creative, engaging ways.”
Reynolds, who is known for his books encouraging creativity, The Dot, Ish, Sky Color and The North Star among many others, penned this whimsical and poignant story about a young girl named Daisy who, dismayed at her art class being canceled, nervously faces her turn with the "Testing Camera." This huge apparatus snaps at her with a few blinding flashes of light. Weeks later, her father’s reaction to the test results surprises Daisy in a most wonderful way.
“This is my gift to educators to remind them to follow their instincts and remember why they got into teaching in the first place: to see the potential in every child, to nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and to change lives,” Reynolds shared.
The film was produced by FableVision, the transmedia studio in Boston founded by Peter and his twin brother, Paul Reynolds, author of Going Places and the Sydney & Simon series. The Testing Camera was directed by John Lechner with music by Tony Lechner, and animated by a team of young animators interning at FableVision for the summer. Broadway actor Chester Gregory lends his voice to the project.
The film is being released on the web free of charge by FableVision Learning. Educators, learning communities, parents and caregivers are urged to share The Testing Camera to begin or enhance constructive conversations on how to better support authentic learning in the classroom and beyond.
A free companion poster by Peter H. Reynolds: “I AM NOT THE TEST SCORE, I AM NOT DATA, I AM NOT THE LABELS STUCK ON BY OTHERS”
Peter adds, “We need to innovate our assessments of how kids are doing, and, at the same time, to reevaluate what our priorities are. Priorities drive policy and policies drive funding. My hope is that our film will be part of the change. The testing industry ballooned to 2.5 billion in 2012, while roughly 1.2 million students a year still never get their high school diploma. And even those who do make it past the testing camera often carry the burden of a distorted image about their own potential for decades to come. From my perspective, making schools wonderful places for kids — and for teachers — will help move things forward.”
New Poster from Peter H. Reynolds — Let's Share This Wonderful Message All Year Long
We encourage you to print this beautiful new poster by Peter H. Reynolds and hang it on your wall to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his powerful message all year long. Wishing you all an amazing Martin Luther King Day!
New Peter H. Reynolds Poster! Creativity, Courage, Collaboration
As a special thanks to all the amazing educators who joined us in celebrating International Dot Day this year — and to ALL the creative, courageous, and collaborative educators moving the world to a better place — Peter H. Reynolds, the Reynolds Center for Teaching Learning, and Creativity, and FableVision Learning are happy to offer this new downloadable poster.
Enjoy! Please let us know how you inspire students to develop these essential 21st Century skills in your classroom.
Another Great Resource for the National Day on Writing - Peter H. Reynolds' "Finding the Words That Feel 'Write'"
Do you sometimes feel "stuck" when it comes to writing? Download a PDF of this article by New York Times best-selling illustrator and author Peter H. Reynolds — he offers great advice on "finding the words that feel write" and reclaiming the joy of writing just for oneself.
Happy National Day on Writing! 8 Tips to Inspire Students to Write & Other Resources
In honor of the National Day on Writing (October 20), we are re-posting these helpful writing resources for you! Be sure to comment below and let us know how you're inspiring your students to write — we love hearing what creative educators are doing in the classroom.
Peter H. Reynolds' 8 Tips for Inspiring Students to Write
Celebrate-writing
In his post "The Brave Heart: Protecting the Passion, Keeping Wings Outstretched for a Daring Journey," NY Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds discusses how the pressure to write "correctly" can cause many beginning writers to pack up their creative wings. Encourage your students to write with wings outstretched! Here are a few quick tips from Peter to inspire bravery in your students.
Step off the path and write with your wings outstretched. Break a rule or two as you go.
Don't let a jumbled thought stop you — plant it and keep going.
Don't let a misspelled word slow you down. Go back and attend to it later.
Listen to your inner voice and transcribe what you hear without trying to edit it.
Try writing for yourself. Not for your audience. Try to ignore the critics' voices you may hear.
Invent a word.
Skip punctuation or invent your own ...__...> and see what it feels like.
Borrow an idea from your favorite author and twist it a few times. Turn it inside out. Make it your own!
What do you do to encourage your students to write? Let us know!
New Peter H. Reynolds Posters! The Most Creative Year The World Has Ever Seen
At FableVision Learning, we're more confident than ever that the educational climate is changing for the better — with more creativity in the classroom, more outside-the-box thinking, and more self-directed learning. In that spirit, Peter H. Reynolds whipped up these two posters. Inspire your students to make this the most creative year the world has ever seen! Here's a ready-to-go colored poster from Peter:
With this black and white version, have students add their own colors and art — and be sure to have them sign it, too!
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.)
