We Have A Winner!

Well, it was a very hard choice, because all of those kids are so darn cute! But I would have to say that my favorite is the video of the “Is,” from Columbia Elementary in Joplin, Missouri just for the pure enthusiasm of the children! The children in Ms. Kerri Rea’s class look SO excited and happy to be singing the song. It also looked like they were all really singing out, as well. Putting the HeidiSongs DVD on the Smartboard behind the children was also a clever idea, and that made me smile. Watching that video (and the many others that we received) makes me feel that all of the work putting the songs and DVD’s together was truly worthwhile, because children are learning while having fun, and this was always my goal! She will receive one of every item on the HeidiSongs website! Congratulations!

There were some other “standout” entries that I really loved, too! I thought that the one from Mrs. Miner and her student teacher Lacey Gillespie was great because they made up a lot of their own movements to the Count By Two’s song. Their little bunny hats were a very nice added touch, and the children looked like truly enthusiastic learners! What fun! I bet that Mrs. Miner’s Downeast Elementary class in Bangor, Maine is really a fun one.

The entry from Marlana Howerton's Ezard Elementary School Kindergarten class was also very cute! I loved the way the children did their little snaky movements to the S Song. There are some very enthusiastic snakes in that video! They really know how to make their knees wiggle, too!

I also really enjoyed the great singers and dancers from Ms. Sarah McGregor’s class in Waverly, Iowa, with their high energy version of the “Orange” song! I liked the original movements that they put into the song.

Many thanks also to: Roxanne Snider's Little Lake Elementary class with their wonderful video of the “Has” song; the cuties from Kimberly Taniguchi's Central Elementary School Kindergarten class with version of the “Number Three” song. All of the teachers mentioned will receive two items of their choice from HeidiSongs! All they need to do is email us and let us know what they would like, and where to send it.

Video Contest Countdown!

Two more entries to share this week. The first is from Mrs. Marlana Howerton and her Ezard Elementary School Kindergarten class in Conway, Missouri. Marlana writes, "Our Kindergarten class has been using HeidiSongs DVD's since the beginning of the school year to reinforce skills we are already teaching. Thanks for providing such an amazing resource for teachers and students." Well, thanks Marlana for sharing your wonderful class with the rest of us, the "S" song has always been one of my favorites!




We also have a fun video from Roxanne Snider's Little Lake Elementary class in Hemet, California. They have done a great job with the "Has" song, and it looks like everyone is having a great time learning this sight word!



Remember, just one more week to get your videos in for our contest, so get those camera's out and document your brilliant class this week. We'll be posting the winners next Sunday, Feb. 28th!

More Videos From the Classroom!

This week we have double the fun, plus an extra Gingerbread Man bonus! The first video comes from Krissy Miner and her student teacher, Lacey Gillespie, from their Downeast Elementary Kindergarten class in Bangor Maine. Krissy writes, "Hi Heidi, Every year, I use the 2.4.6 Hop Like a Bunny song and have my students come up with their own dance moves (as you'll see in the attached video)". Well, I love the dance moves, and combining it with some Musical Math sounds like a perfect learning opportunity! Thanks Krissy & Lacey!

Next we have Kimberly Taniguchi's Central Elementary School's Kindergarten class, coming from National City, California. Her class had some fun with the Three Song, from the Jumpin Numbers & Shakin Shapes CD. There sure is a lot of "jumpin" going on here, take a look.

And finally, a Christmas surprise came in the email this week. Mrs. Gaetz's Kindergarten Class at Astatula Elementary School in Central, FL performed the Gingerbread Man play for the holidays, and the lucky star's mother writes, "Hello Heidi, my son Evan is in Mrs. Gaetz Kindergarden class. My son loves your videos and loved the Gingerbread Man play. Evan played the Gingerbread man in the class play. Thank you for making learning fun. P.S. Mrs. Gaetz says "Hello.". Thanks Karen, I'm so happy to see the kids enjoying the play, thanks for sharing!

You can enjoy it as well, as she has posted it to You Tube, in two parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoS40bGIn-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbaXKeYozQE&feature=related

Conferences, Contests and more Puzzles!

Well, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of conferences and presentations for me! I presented four sessions each day at SDE sponsored Pre-K Conferences in Greensboro, North Carolina and Plano, Texas. And, this Sunday, Feb. 7th, I leave for Franklin, TN for more of the same! It is exhausting, yet gratifying when I hear that people really seem to be excited about using my ideas and products to help their kids. I must say, though, I’m worn out! Plus, I am missing lots of days with the Kindergarten students in my own classroom. Luckily, my district is very supportive of my conferencing activities, and they do allow me to go regularly.

As you may know, we have decided to extend our Video Contest to the end of February so that more of you busy teachers can have a chance to participate. The entries that we have received are absolutely adorable, and we are excited to share them, so we are going to post one video clip to my blog per week. This week I'm featuring Sarah McGregor's kindergarten class at Carey Elementary School in Waverly, Iowa, and Sarah writes of the contest, "What a great idea! We have so much fun singing and learning with your songs!" Thanks Sarah, your class looks great in their video entry! Be sure to log on and see the newest video contest submission every week!

And, we have another new product to add to our downloads! My wonderful husband, Greg, just finished creating a set of Sight Word Puzzles to go with Sing and Spell Vol. 1. There is one simple puzzle for each of the words. All you would have to do to use it is print them out on card stock, laminate them, and cut them apart. The children then fit the two halves of the word together to form their sight words. I was toying with the idea of putting velcro on the backs of the puzzles and having them fit each one onto a space of the same size and attaching them to a laminated file folder. Kids just seem to love Velcro! There is something fun about the way it sticks when you set it down and the noise it makes when you pull it apart. If I ever get that idea off the ground, I’ll be sure to post a picture! Greg is also working on making these same puzzles for the CVC words and the pictures. That sounds like fun, too!