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FableFriends,
At FableVision Learning, we love words. Well-chosen words allow students to express who they are and who they would like to become. Crafting words into poetry is a creative way for your students to flex their literary muscles. April is National Poetry Month, and we encourage you to explore this wonderful medium of expression with your students!
For inspiration, check out Guyku, a book of haiku poetry that I illustrated. Haiku poetry is easy to create and a great place for kids to start! Visit our website to learn more about the book and access the Guyku website where you can find free educator resources and more.
As you encourage your students to express themselves, remember that creativity is not just for kids. Grab a fresh piece of paper and write some poetry of your own!
Stay inspired!
(and Paul & the FableVision Learning team)
. . . .
Peter H. Reynolds
Founder, FableVision Learning
888-240-3734
P.S. Thank you to all who attended or watched my keynote at ASCD on March 27th. It was inspiring to meet and share with so many passionate educators! The session was recorded and is available for viewing here until April 18th.
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Big Screen Books™ Is Now Available!
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The FableVision Learning team is excited to announce that
Big Screen Books, The Dot is now available. Last month Peter shared this new program at his keynote during the ASCD conference in San Francisco. Many people told us afterward that they were thrilled by this new way to share this book!
Creatively designed with whiteboards in mind, Big Screen Books is making a splash in classrooms everywhere. This software program gives students unforgettable experiences with Peter H. Reynolds' well-loved stories, starting with The Dot! Big Screen Books includes many customizable options, including classroom activities, discussion prompts, and audio settings. It's an ideal tool for engaging students with the story and promoting exploration far beyond the pages of the book itself.
To request a quote for your school or district, call 888-240-3734 or email us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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| April Showers Bring Many Grants! | |
 Our April grants document is updated with fresh possibilities. We've identified some funding opportunities for your classroom, school, and district. We hope you are able make use of these hand-picked grants to fund your creative ideas!
For best results, please save the PDF to your desktop and view it with Adobe Reader.
Also, we have many resources to help you make the most of your district's technology dollars. Call us at 888-240-3734 or email us today to discuss training and workshops on all of our K-12 learning tools.
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"Spring Has Sprung" Classroom Writing Activity
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 Celebrate the arrival of spring with your students by getting creative with words. Download this free PDF with templates from our Stationery Studio collection and have your students write poetry together!
Here's an activity suggestion: Divide your class into three groups of students, and assign each group a type of poetry to explore - for example: haiku, free verse, and limerick. Give each group one of the borders and have students take turns writing lines of a collaborative poem.
Stationery Studio, our K-5 writing program, helps students write by hand AND at the computer! Type using its introductory word processor, or easily customize line style, line width, page layout, and more for handwritten activities. To receive pricing for your school or district, please contact us or call 888-240-3734 today.
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FableVision Learning Spotlight:
Becky Conners, President
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|  Becky Conners is the president of FableVision Learning and the guiding force behind our team of creativity specialists. With over 20 years' experience in the educational technology field, she's broadened our reach and helped us grow. And now, with more orders and customers than ever, we couldn't be more grateful for her leadership! Learn more about Becky here, and shoot her a hello. |
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Featuring YOU in Our Upcoming Catalog!
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We're looking for a few good stories. . . and would like to include those stories in our upcoming catalog! We'd love to hear your answers to any of the questions below (feel free to include photos too). How have our products impacted your classroom? Has your teaching experience been enhanced by our products? In what ways have your students used our products to "make their mark"? Tell us about a time your students had one of those magical "ah ha!" moments!
Email us by April 27th, 2011, and we will feature selected stories and quotes in the next FableVision Learning Catalog. If we use your story, quote or photo, you will receive a 5 computer license of any software title in the new catalog!
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| Has Your Classroom Been Transformed by Mapping the World by Heart? Have the Creator Visit Your School! | | |
 David Smith, best-selling author and creator of the highly successful
Mapping the World by Heart curriculum was a classroom teacher for over 25 years. He is now traveling the world providing lectures and workshops on geography and global issues for teachers, parents, and student groups. He is available to come to your school!
Interested in learning how David Smith can inspire your students? Email us today or call 888-240-3734 for details.
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| Make Your Mark While Reading! | | |
 Love to read? Instead of dog-earring your favorite books, mark your spot with this free downloadable bookmark! With a beautiful illustration by Peter H. Reynolds, this bookmark is perfect for marking your favorite stories. There are three bookmarks on each sheet so feel free share with your students and colleagues.
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April is National Autism Awareness Month
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|  As advocates for students of all learning styles, we would like to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability; there are currently 1.5 million Americans with autism spectrum disorder. For more information about this disability, visit the Autism Society website.
We have an inspiring book written in collaboration with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center about a boy on the autism spectrum. Stop by our website to learn more about Wings of EPOH, which is available as a book and a film.
Our company is dedicated to providing tools to help all learners. To this end, we invite you to hear the story of
Roberta Scherf and SmartMoves. Roberta is President and Founding Partner of Thinking Moves, and she discusses the events that led to the creation of this award-winning program. SmartMoves, born of one child's struggle, connects the brain with the body by using movement and music, and in doing so develops the mind. SmartMoves creates a calm, productive learning environment for all learners in grades 3-12 when used for just three to five minutes a day. For more information please visit our website.
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Guiding Star Award: Ted Sizer
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FableVision Learning would like to remember the late Ted Sizer as a valued leader in educational reform. Best known as the father of the Essential Schools movement, Professor Sizer believed that a school is an egalitarian community, and he valued each student in that community. He shared his view that students have individual ways of learning and should be inspired to hunger after knowledge. FableVision Learning is honored to bestow a posthumous Guiding Star Award on Professor Sizer.
Read a tribute to Ted Sizer and learn more about the Essential Schools Coalition here.
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New Poster: I Believe in Me!
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 Give your students the confidence to put pen to paper and express themselves. Two versions of this beautiful poster feature a poem by Peter H. Reynolds to inspire everyone to reach for the stars.
Speaking of stars, have you read The North Star? Peter's classic story about navigating your true potential could be just what your students need to encourage them along their journeys.
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Conferences & Events
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Read on to find out where the FableVision Learning Team will be in the upcoming months. We hope to see you there!
The Original Art of Peter H. Reynolds: "The Dot" & "Ish"
Now through May 1, 2011
The Katonah Museum of Art Learning Center
Katonah, NY
Screening of Peter H. Reynolds' Film The North Star At Boston International Film Festival
April 16, 2011, 11:00 am EST
Boston, MA
NETA: Nebraska Education Technology Association
April 28 - 29, 2011
Lincoln, NE
The North Star Children's Ramble - 25th Anniversary Edition
May 1, 2011, 8:30 am EST
Endicott Estate, Dedham, MA
ISTE 2011
FableVision Learning Booth #955
June 26 - 29, 2011
Philadelphia, PA
Southampton Children's Literature Conference
July 6 - 10, 2011
Southampton, NY
Creativity in the Global Classroom: FableVision Learning and MassCUE Inspirational Institute
July 14, 2011
Plymouth, MA
Building Learning Communities Reception at FableVision Studios
July 27, 2011, 5:30 - 8:00pm EST
FableVision Studios, 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA
Visit our website for more details on upcoming
conferences and events.
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Until next time, keep the creativity flowing and your batteries charged! Together we can make a difference!
Peter and your friends at FableVision Learning |
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Words
And
Their Stories™
Word
of the
Month
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Word of the Month: Adept
Adept is not a particularly common word, but because it is close in pronunciation to adapt, the two words often get confused, and that can cause a problem. Adept comes from the Latin adeptus, which means "having obtained a knowledge or skill." Adapt is a verb and comes from the Latin adaptare, which means "to fit to." Their parts of speech are the best clues to their use in a sentence.
Now you know that adept means "highly skilled; proficient."
To learn more about our web-based vocabulary program for grades 5-12, explore the FREE trial of Words And Their Stories today!
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