Dear Theodosia

My kindergarten students have entered into an exciting partnership with Brooklyn Collaborative on creating a student ASL recording of Dear Theodosia from the musical HAMILTON. We've been rehearsing a section of the song - seen beautifully interpreted by Brandon Kazen-Maddox in the above recording - containing these lyrics;

You will come of age with our young nation

We'll bleed and fight for you, we'll make it right for you

if we lay a strong enough foundation

We'll pass it on to you, we'll give the world to you

And you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

Yeah, you'll blow us all away

Someday, someday

It is incredible to witness how quickly my young students pick it up and infuse it with feeling and emotion. I look forward to sharing the finished product when it is ready.

Insights

Every page is an opportunity to get to know our students

Little hands slide across white paper, black lines creating images that provide insight into the child's thoughts. What is going on in their lives that is yearning to be expressed in these drawings? How is this sustained concentration serving the child's need to communicate?

My kindergarten students are active, emotional, and exceedingly dramatic with short attention spans that are easily influenced by pangs of hunger, bouts of sleepiness, and intermittent moodiness. These adorable tykes are just five-years-old after all (some are still only four). But, there are two things that capture their attention - listening to stories read aloud in spoken English and American Sign Language, and independent writing.

This class loves to write!

I walk around the classroom with my team teacher, Sarah, and am fascinated by their drawings. I'm interested, of course, from a literacy perspective and in facilitating their development along the writing continuum. Yet, I'm equally fascinated by the inner workings of their stories. Every page is an opportunity to learn more about each one of them. What is happening in their lives? How are they processing the many things that are out of their control? Can they tell me about the pictures? Do they have the language skills to do this or must I carefully navigate and scaffold my questions to bridge that divide?

Here are a few examples...

"That's me moving into my new house."

This is a joyful example of what is either real or imagined for a young boy who has had to deal with some unfortunate challenges. His vibrant smile and animated tone as he explained how his whole family was moving into a new house brought hope. I saw in this unfinished drawing that his mind is grappling with things far more immediate than letters and numbers. Teachers are called on to do more than simply impart information. We are caretakers, advocates, and champions. We are here for him.

"Mommy has a baby inside"

This girl's drawings depict the very imminent arrival of a new sibling. The smiles and hearts let me know it is a happy occasion for her family. The "baby inside" (not sure why there are two in this drawing) is an adorable representation. I remember creating similar drawings when I was 7-years-old and my mom was pregnant with my sister, Jennifer.

A flower monster

I sat next to this child and asked about his drawing. He told me, "It's a flower monster." How deliciously complicated, I thought. Juxtaposing the gentleness of flowers with the scariness of a monster seemed brilliant. He is certainly not the first person to invent such a thing, but the vibrancy in the expression cannot be denied. And he made it into a book! That'd be a cool children's book - the fragrant, misunderstood monster dropping petals and drooping every so often.

There are many, many more to share and more are created every day. And I am honored to have the opportunity to sit next to these children and say, "Tell me about your drawing".

The Fan Brothers

Cover art for Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers

I am continually gobsmacked by the breathtaking beauty that is the art of The Fan Brothers. It boggles my mind that these two can continue to create visual masterpieces book after book. When I was young I used to hang album covers on my bedroom walls, now I'm inclined to hang their gorgeous book covers. Luckily, there are classroom displays!

It isn't only the illustrations that appeal to me - it's the stories they tell as well. Ocean Meets Sky takes on the heavy topic of losing a loved one. The writing is tender and as embracing as the magical illustrations. Together they let the reader - both young and old - know that the world is full of possibilities. There is magic to be found in our dreams and that magic can sooth and comfort us.

Our loved ones are never really very far away (illustration from Ocean Meets Sky)

I am so excited to include Ocean Meets Sky in my Broadway Books First Class program this year. In fact, this is the third title by The Fan Brothers showcased in the program. In Year One I selected The Night Gardener to be read aloud by two-time Tony Award nominee Alison Fraser.

The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers

The Night Gardener was the first of their books to catch my attention. Once again, it is the play of light that whisks us away to an ethereal landscape wherein loss and loneliness (it takes place in and around an orphanage) is supplanted by hope and possibility.

This is a gentle mystery that finds its answer in the quiet of the night, underneath the omnipresent moon.  It's a celebration of altering one's perspective and seeing the magic in bringing people together. This wonderous book had me seeing figures in all of the trees as I walked along the towpath with my Saint Bernards. Like Ocean Meets Sky, it stays with you.

The early cover of The Darkest Dark 
I'm told there is a glow-in-the-dark edition

The following year the moon was back with The Darkest Dark (illustrated by The Fan Brothers and written by Astronaut Chris Hadfield). I was lucky enough to have three-time Tony Award Nominee Mary Testa read this book aloud to my first graders.

It a story of a boy who overcomes his fear of the dark to travel into space. Well, when he grows up. There are dynamic illustrations draped in shadows with that pervasive blue reserved for dark moonlight nights. It is the play of light in all of their books that I find so intriguing. It embodies the feel of William Blake's illuminated printing technique (for me, anyway). The images glow from underneath, almost as if they are being viewed on a light table...truly fascinating.

A page from The Darkest Dark illustrated by The Fan Brothers

Last month The Fan Brothers and Beth Ferry came out with The Scarecrow. It is a story of an unlikely friendship (follow the link to read some of the glowing reviews). I ordered my copy today and have a strong feeling it is going to be an October pick for Year Six of my program.

High-quality picture books are essential for early childhood educators. It is how we invite children into the world of imagination and words. We can discuss sensitive themes, develop receptive and expressive language, and stir up excitement and awe.

Books provide wonder that is quite impossible to capture the same way using any other medium. They say so much, yet leave so much unsaid. There is room to rummage around and connect in deeply personal ways. The Fan Brothers are at the top of their game and I look forward to seeing where they'll take me - and my students - next.

An evocative illustration from The Scarecrow 

Check out prints by Terry Fan and Eric Fan by clicking the links on their names.  Also, follow Terry and Eric on Instagram and find them on Facebook.  Purchase their books on Amazon or in any bookstore and let me know what you think.

Year 24!

I am energized and excited. I'm entering my 24th year as an educator! I'll be teaching kindergarten in a new room - well, I spent 5 years in this room, but that was years ago - with a new team teacher and a class of fantastic, adorable, fun students. Lucky me!

I've spent the past few days moving in and setting up. Here is pictorial documentation of the process.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019
The move from my old classroom on the first floor to my new room on the second.

Monday, September 3, 2019
Making a bit of progress. You can see more of the floor.

Monday, September 3, 2019
Playing around with spacing, trying to decide on a floor plan.

Monday, September 3, 2019
The day is over. One final pic before leaving. We've decided on the layout.

Tuesday, September 4, 2019
Making progress, but realizing we have way too much stuff.

Tuesday, September 4, 2019
"By George, I think we've got it." We've created some little nooks for reading, a space for blocks that is out of the way of traffic and can therefore stay up for days and days, and a magnificent library. 

Tuesday, September 4, 2019
One final shot before walking out the door. Tomorrow this room will be alive with the energy of little children.

A Broadway Books First Class Visit From Wesley Taylor

Wesley Taylor with some PreK and Second Grade students

As a young performer I believed the path to finding work in the theatre involved standing in an audition room singing 16 bars, doing a monologue, or reading sides. Later I learned - from friends like Molly Shannon and Charles Busch - that the traditional route of waiting for someone to cast you doesn't work for everyone. Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. You gotta hustle a bit.

This enterprising spirit is very much alive in Wesley Taylor.

Wesley Taylor and Alison Fraser in
IT COULD BE WORSE

He first came to my attention with the web series It Could Be Worse (now available on Hulu). Wesley created, cowrote, and starred in this comedy, which was inspired by real stories from his life as an actor.

It also starred brilliant two-time Tony Award nominee, Alison Fraser. The cameo roles on the series showcased a who's who of Broadway names. It's nice to have talented, famous friends who can help you realize your vision.

Several years later I went to see SpongeBob SquarePants at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. My focus that evening was on cast member Oneika Phillips. Oneika had been a guest artist with Broadway Books First Class and I was there to show my love and support. The show was a joyous, high-speed adventure set in the underwater world of Bikini Bottom. The characters were larger than life, full of emotion and inner conflict. As I watched I was especially taken with Sheldon Plankton. He was deliciously diabolical. The actor playing him milked the role for every humorous drop of deplorable depravity. He seemed to be having so much fun the audience could not resit falling in love.

I read the Playbill when I got home and learned that the role was played by Wesley Taylor. It was then that I knew I wanted him to be a guest artist in my program. And thanks to Oneika, he accepted my invitation.

It took a bit of searching to find the perfect children's book for him to read. I wanted something to mirror Wesley's childlike energy, his charming arrogance, his gigantic heart, and his sweet vulnerability. I found it in You Are Not My Friend, But I Miss You by Daniel Kirk. It is the story of an adorable, pouty sock monkey with a red ball, who learns an important lesson about friendship. Wesley's main audience for the reading would be a group of preschool children, so this picture book was perfect. The message about sharing was one I could revisit again and again. And because each child would take home a copy of the book autographed by Wesley, I knew their parents would appreciate the message as well.

As I always do when preparing for a guest artist, I asked Wesley for a photograph of himself as a child. He did one better - he shared a video! It seems he's always had a bit of a performer in him. In fact, later when the children asked why he wanted to be an actor he told them, "Well, as you can see from that video. I had a lot of energy. I had so much energy I didn't quite know what to do with all of this energy. And when I was about your age I realized that I loved being in front of people. I loved getting attention - like this! I still love it. I loved making people laugh. I loved singing and dancing and being silly in front of people."

He realized he wanted to be like the people he saw in the movies. He told them that as he grew he wanted to get better so he went to college, he learned and he practiced. A few children raised their hands to show that they wanted to be actors when they got older. It's heartening to think they might one day look back on this morning with Wesley with warm remembrance from their own Broadway dressing room. It could happen!

Wesley Taylor reading alongside ASL interpreter Dylan Geil

We talked a lot about SpongeBob - he even performed a bit of Plankton's speed rap - but, the children were also interested in The Addams Family. This musical was Wesley's second major role on Broadway (the first was Rock of Ages, which he says is his favorite because it represented the achievement of a dream). I know children enjoy a dark, eerie, silly storyline, so the plot of The Addams Family had lots to hold their attention.

Wesley autographed books for every child and then sat down on the floor to talk with some of the preschool students. They immediately tackled him.

Wesley Taylor tackled by the preschool kids

Before saying goodbye Wesley was interviewed by Lindsey Christ from NY1 about Broadway Books First Class and how he came to be a guest artist. Wesley gave a terrific interview and Lindsey crafted a fantastic segment about the program, but for some reason Wesley's interview was not included. There is a shot of him signing books though.

Wesley went into rehearsals the next day for the Duncan Sheik musical Alice by Heart at MCC Theater. And has since completed Season 3 of his web series Indoor Boys. See, Wesley knows how to hustle.