Reading, Writing, & Rhyming

We're wrapping up the summer fairly soon.  I want to write a song with kids outside in a real live summer camp setting.  Any camp counselors out there?

We have a small, yet enthusiastic group of new singin' superstars, ladies and gentlemen.  They are from Griswold Heights - part of the Troy Housing Authority.  They love what their community center provides them each summer, and they were anxious to tell you about it (or should I say - RAP about it)

So here I am, walking into a classroom in the middle of June assuming that the only thing on a kid's mind these days is summer vacation.  Wow, was I proven wrong again! Meet the virtuous 3rd graders from St. Thomas School in Delmar

Looks like we're wrapping up yet another school year.  I can't believe it myself.  Once again I have about 25 class appearances under my belt, and each one has been a blast.   This was no exception - Joseph Henry Elementary in Galway

Last year, after Hurricane Irene devastated the Albany area, I took my Reading, Writing & Rhyming program to Schoharie Elementary to write a song with the kids about strength and rebuilding their mostly destroyed community.

Since the Small Town Tour is in Victory Mills, which is essentially Schuylerville, I headed to Schuylerville Elementary  to talk about Victory Mills. Or Victory. Confusing but it all comes together. Check out their song and the lyrics after the jump.

Because we kicked off the Small Town Tour in Hoosick Falls I thought it was a great time to visit Hoosick Falls Central School and do a song with the kids. Check out the song we did together after the jump.

You want to see creativity at work?  You want to see teamwork in action?  Just take a trip to Miller Hill Elementary School and observe this class.  I had such a great time with Mrs. Marshall's class, I literally didn't want to leave .  Here are the results below

How long has it been since the tragedy in Schoharie County? A year?  Maybe it's "out of sight, out of mind" for some of us, but not if you live there.  A corporation has now been formed to continue the rebuilding efforts, and I wanted to spread the word if I could have a moment of your time, because we can all still help!

Although I didn't get many people writing in for this little hamlet, I'm not bitter, because I had Michele Weiler helping me.  She sent me pages and pages of stuff (thank God).  Michele gets top billing for this.

Ms. Wendell's 4th graders from Poestenkill Elementary were such a great class, I wanted to give them a second blog.  It all started when a student asked me if I ever made a mistake on the air.  So first I told them my iPad tale of woe, and then I asked them if they ever had a similar situation.  My recorder was rolling and this is what was captured

I love it when I can bring the Reading, Writing, and Rhyming School Tour to a classroom just as history is being made.  A 4th grade student from Poestenkill wrote a story about a two tailed dragon, and now it's going to become a play that gets the entire class involved - and they'd now like to tell you about it in song.