 Dear FableFriend,
In this season, while we're scrambling to buy the perfect gift, it's good to pause and consider that some of the greatest gifts are our "time and talent." A home-made card, original art, a song, a letter - it can be as simple as one word. Words are powerful.
At FableVision Learning, as you know, we love words and stories. We also love sharing those "gifts" with those around us - they keep us connected and inspired.
In our newsletter this month, we'll share some "gifts" - words about our mission and creativity tools, as well as a special holiday poster I created exclusively for you! Feel free to share it in your classroom and home. (You can post it on your Facebook page too! By the way, some FableVision friends set up an educator fan page on Facebook. Click here to visit the page!)
Wishing you the best this season!
Peter and your FableVision Learning family
. . . . .
Peter H. Reynolds
Founder, FableVision Learning
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Get A Clue®: An Innovative Vocabulary Program
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We're hearing great stories from teachers using Get A Clue, our unique, web-based vocabulary program! Check out what one customer has to say about the program...  "The way I see it, Get A Clue is a reading program masquerading as a vocabulary program. As a reading program, I can see the results in [students'] Get A Clue scores, and I believe that they correlate with an improvement in the quality of the books the kids read on their own and in the quality of their discussions about the books."- Rex Wood, Teacher Jefferson County, CO Get A Clue is accessible 24/7 and includes an easy-to-use tool for tracking student progress. Students first learn the origin of words, and then use critical thinking and inductive reasoning to develop a true understanding of each word. Contact us or call us today at 888-240-3734 to explore Get A Clue - FREE - for 15 days.
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SmartMoves Special Offer
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 Significantly reduced pricing for SmartMoves has opened the door for educators to bring this great product to their school districts! Teachers around the country are using the fun and progressive SmartMoves program with students to improve focus, attention, and retention. Seize this opportunity while it lasts - special pricing is available until December 31, 2009.
Contact us or call 888-240-3734 for a customized quote for your school or district. You can also order now by visiting the SmartMoves webpage.
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Peter and Paul Reynolds Featured on NECN
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Peter and Paul Reynolds recently appeared in a segment on New England Cable Network (NECN), which aired November 27, 2009. The segment featured Peter and Paul, as well as Peter's books, the Reynolds family Blue Bunny bookstore, and of course, FableVision!
Click here to watch the video.
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| ISTE Keynote Opportunity: Have You Voted Yet? |
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 Did you know that you're invited to be part of the decision making process for the ISTE 2010 keynote presentations?
Personal Learning with 21st Century Tools is one of the top 5 topics for the ISTE 2010 keynote address. Tomorrow, December 15th, is the last day to vote.
Click here to learn more about this topic and cast your vote. We encourage you to explore the different topics, and vote for the presenters that you would like to see at the ISTE 2010 Conference.
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New Developments in the World of Stationery Studio®
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We've made it easier for you to get students writing, right away! Stationery Studio is now available to purchase as a download.
Due to the popularity of our add-on packs, we've also combined Stationery Studio and all the packs into the new Writing Collection! The collection includes the classic Fall & Spring, as well as the new Sports & Exercise, Fairy Tales & Folktales, and Oceans Add-On Packs. It's a perfect way to save while expanding your library of cross-curricular activities, borders, and shapes!
Contact us or call 888-240-3734 today for a customized quote or information on upgrading.
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New Partnership; Expanded Workshop Offerings
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FableVision Learning has partnered with Inspiration Software®, a recognized leader in visual thinking and learning! As a result, we are integrating powerful software tools from both companies into three of our customizable professional development workshops:
Digital Storytelling with Animation
Universal Design and the Writing Process
Writing Across the Curriculum
Teachers learn how to:
- Foster critical thinking and organizational skills
- Get students writing and publishing
- Promote creativity and self-expression
We can customize these workshops to meet your needs. For more information, contact Lori Collins, FableVision Learning's Director of Professional Development, at 888-240-3734 ext 3012 or Lori@FableVisionLearning.com.
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New Grants for Teachers
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 More fuel for the mission: check out this freshly updated list of grant opportunities! Think about applying for a grant - there are some fun contests you can take part in with your students.
Click here to download the new document. (We recommend saving the PDF to your desktop and opening it from there.)
Click here for information on our "Make Your Mark" Professional Development Series.
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A Chance to Reflect on Your Wonderful Classroom
(Drawing for Free Software)
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 Thanks to all of you who have contributed to our Wonderful Classroom questionnaire! If you haven't taken part in the survey yet, consider cozying up with a cup of tea and sharing your best teaching practices with us!
By answering any survey question, you will be entered into a free drawing for a five-computer license of Animation-ish, Stationery Studio, OR SmartMoves (up to a $350 value)!
For those of you who haven't heard, we're writing a book called The Wonderful Classroom, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, designed to help educators create a 21st Century teaching and learning environment. Click here to learn more, and share tips, strategies, and examples from your "wonderful classroom"!
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Our Gift to You - A Heartwarming Film for All Ages
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 In the spirit of the season, we have posted the short film He Was Me on our blog for your viewing pleasure. Written and drawn by Peter H. Reynolds, the film is about the eternal struggle to retain a sense of self in a busy world.
Peter shares: "This is a gift to you - to educators and caregivers. My hope is that if we can all remember what it is like to be a child, we will be able to listen to the children around us better - to serve them better. If children see that we have not lost our own child spirit, they'll be more likely to join the learning party."
Click here to watch the film on The Live Wire Blog.
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Conferences & Events
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Peter H. Reynolds has been traveling. Click here
to see some fun photos from recent journeys!
Upcoming "Make Your Mark" Professional Development Workshops
December 15, 16, 17, 18, 2009: Watertown Public Schools, Massachusetts
January 5 and 7, 2010: Goffstown, New Hampshire
January 19, 2010: Watertown Public Schools, Massachusetts
January 2010: Somersworth, New Hampshire
We can customize our workshops for your school or
district. For more information, call Lori Collins, Director of Professional
Development, at 888-240-3734 ext 3012.
Upcoming Conferences & Events
Read on to find out where the FableVision Learning Team will be in the upcoming months!
The Power of eInstruction Annual Winter Sales Summit
January 6, 2010
Scottsdale, AZ
TCEA 2010
February 8-12, 2010
Austin, TX
California CUE
March 4-6, 2010
Palm Springs, CA
Nebraska Education Technology Association (NETA) Conference
April 29-30, 2010
La Vista, NE
ISTE 2010 Conference
June 27-30, 2010
Denver, CO
Constructing Modern Knowledge
July 12-15, 2010
Manchester, NH
For more details on conferences and events, click here.
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New Poster by Peter H. Reynolds -
download for free!
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Click here to download this special holiday poster - a gentle reminder to share your many gifts with the world!
For more classroom posters, visit the FableVision Learning website.
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Until next time. . .
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Keep
the creativity flowing and keep your batteries charged! Together we can
make a difference!
Peter and your friends at FableVision Learning
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