As we look forward to Teacher Appreciation Week, Peter and I have been recalling the teachers who literally changed our lives.

Peter's 7th grade teacher Mr. Jim Matson and Paul's highschool media teacher Ms. Jean Morrow were just two of the many extraordinary teachers along the way who saw our gifts and connected them to the subject at hand for a truly mindful learning experience. They helped us fall in love with learning - and we've never stopped!

Unfortunately, too many of our best teachers continue to battle an educational system that drains them of the inspiration and spirit needed to navigate a joyful learning journey. That's why FableVision is dedicated to celebrating what we see working - and doing what we can to help our extended family of educators to keep fighting the good fight and transforming lives in the process.

This issue of the FableFlash is another dose of good news, helpful resources and free support tools to help you on YOUR mission. Stay in touch and let us know what else we can do to help you . . . and, as always, thank you for helping us spread the word about FableVision. We rely on our community for support to grow and serve - and for that we are truly grateful.

Peter & Paul Reynolds, CEO and President, FableVision-Boston

Since National Librarian Day falls in the month of April, FableVision would like to offer you a new stationery template designed by Peter H. Reynolds to celebrate libraries and books with your students. If you already have Stationery Studio in your home, office or school, click here to download the Love Your Library template to your existing "School & Home" folder.

If you do not have Stationery Studio, and would like to use this free template, just download the PDF version here [letter and envelope format]. The Stationery Studio software program comes with 226 customizable borders and shapes illustrated by Peter and the FableVision team, and sparks even the most reluctant writers to practice their creative writing and handwriting.

Due to popular demand, new Stationery Studio templates like this one will be available later this year for download/purchase for folks who already have the program - stay tuned for more info!

Click here to learn more about Stationery Studio

Learning is a never ending journey. All of us, children and grown up children, are participants on a voyage of self-discovery. Every one of us is unique and has a right to be inspired in ways appropriate to our own abilities, talents, and interests. The Creative Journey is just that, an experience in self-discovery. For the first time, Peter and Paul Reynolds will co-present their respective talents of merging creativity with technology and learning at The Creative Journey Workshop on May 10th.

The Creative Journey concept is based upon Peter H. Reynolds' book The North Star, which has been used worldwide in classrooms and homes, produced as a musical, and integrated as a classroom curriculum. This allegory about being brave enough to step off the path and chart an authentic, life-long learning journey has been transformational for both children and adults. The workshop day features rich mix of storytelling, videos, and technology. Participants will gain ideas for the classroom, see alternative models for authentic learning, and get inspired to continue their own growth and learning.

Special guest Paul Reynolds will unveil a new program on building a virtual learning community (or Online Community of Practice – CoP) to bring together educators who have been touched in some way by the themes embodied by his twin brother Peter H. Reynolds’ book The North Star. As part of his graduate research at Pepperdine University, Paul’s goal is to bring the growing North Star community together and share the best practices that have blossomed around the story. It is his hope that we can build an active, self-sustaining website that scales and accelerates the change required to challenge an educational system that is increasingly driven by standardized testing & content-focused curriculum vs. the needs of the individual learner and fostering a interest/love of life-long learning.

To Sign Up for the May 10th Workshop or for more workshop info, click here . . .

BrainCogs: The Personal Interactive Coach For Learning and Studying, recently won a Recommended Software Award from the Parents' Choice Foundation. Identifying the best products for children of different ages, backgrounds, skills, and interests, the Parents’ Choice Awards are given to products that meet and exceed standards set by educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and yes, kids themselves.

As FableVision's President Paul Reynolds notes, "Learning about learning doesn't stop when students leave the classroom - anyone who has helplessly witnessed the tears and struggles with homework can attest to that." Paul adds, "Parent's Choice Award recognizes the importance of extending these tools into the home to support the student's learning process no matter where they are."

The Parents' Choice Awards Committees, comprised of moms, dads, teachers, kids, performing artists, and librarians, search out and recommend products that help kids grow - imaginatively, physically, morally and mentally - fairly priced products that are fun, safe and socially sound. Children's media that helps children.

Essay Express, the companion product to BrainCogs and part of the BrainCogs Cognitive Strategy System, recently won the American Library Association's Software Award. Previous to winning Parents' Choice, BrainCogs has also won awards from Association of Educational Publishers and Media and Methods.

Read the Parent's Choice awards review, or click below to read more about BrainCogs and download the free trial.

I want to know more about BrainCogs!

The 8th Annual North Star Children's Ramble is named after Peter H. Reynolds' book The North Star . These races are for children ages 4- 12 and is the adjunct to the James Joyce Ramble 10k race for ages 15 and up. The children's race is sponsored and directed by FableVision, Dedham Youth Commission, and The Blue Bunny.

The North Star Children’s Ramble offers prizes, raffles, and poetry/coloring contests, also including certificates for all of those who run. Children’s book publishers Candlewick Press and Charlesbridge Publishing have donated hundreds of books as part of the prize offerings for each child who runs in the race. Other sponsoring organizations include Simon & Schuster, Allegra Printing, Rule Broadcast Systems, Daddy’s Junky Music and Eastern Bank.

Speaking of racing, we'll be racing around this month at more conferences and workshops! Here's a short list of we'll be if you'd like to track us down:
April 27 Virtual Author Visits with Peter H. Reynolds: 10 AM and 1PM EST - For classrooms/schools. Click here to learn more, and to find out how to register.
April 28-30 American Association of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting in Boston, MA - FableVision Inc. offers content development to connect museums, classrooms & homes. Booth #1918.
April 30 The 8th Annual North Star Children's Ramble, Dedham, MA
April 30-May 4 International Reading Association (IRA), Chicago, IL - Peter H. Reynolds is one of the featured authors. Meet with Peter and Bill Norris on site.
May 3, 4, & 5 MESPA Spring Conference 2006, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Hyannis, MA. Exhibit Hall open May 4th only, staffed by FableVision's own Carol Donahue.
May 10 T he Creative Journey FableVision's workshop series with Peter H. Reynolds, special guest Paul Reynolds in Dedham, MA.

For the FableVision Event Listing for 2006, click here!

The town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, celebrated its 19th Annual Community Read In this year during the week of March 6 - 10. The event showcased local and greater area volunteers who came to the elementary and middle schools in town to share their love of reading.

Peter H. Reynolds, former Chelmsford resident author/illustrator and Founder/CEO of FableVision, proved that "you CAN go home again" - as he joined the fun sharing his books, his art and his animated films with students at the Center School. While most visitors read books written by other authors, Peter read his own books, The DOT, Ish, and The North Star to the second and third grade children.

Peter loved being back home in Chelmsford and shared many of his childhood memories where he attend schools in the town from Grade 2 - Grade 12. He told the children how he and his identical twin brother Paul were named to the Chelmsford High School Alumni Hall of Fame - and encouraged all of them to "make their mark" too. As Peter relayed to his young audience, his book The Dot is dedicated to Mr. Jim Matson, his 7th Grade Math teacher at the former McFarland School in Chelmsford, who helped Peter follow his North Star! Peter shared, "What a joy to give back to an innovative school system that gave me so much - that's fuel for MY journey!"

If you are interested in a Peter H. Reynolds author visit, click here

Hundreds of thousands of communities will take time out between May 7-13, 2006, to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. We think it's a wonderful way to honor the contributions that teachers and educators have made - and continue to make - to our lives. FableVision celebrates those educators who encourage ‘off the path’ approaches, support multiple ways of learning, inspire creativity, expect originality, adapt to the special needs of all students, welcome opportunities for learners to create and construct, challenge learners to do their best, support creative teachers, invite families into the learning process, encourage helping others on the journey, build on students’ interests and experience, tap into curiosity, and see learning as journey with possibilities and opportunities.

The origin of the celebration began in 1944 when Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day, which is now celebrated with a full week of events thanks to the National PTA during the first full week of May.

Peter and Paul Reynolds wrote a wonderful poem in their honor called "It Takes A Fleet", which we'd like to share with you today [CLICK FOR PDF]. The poem is part of 'The North Star Inspiration for the Classroom' Kit, one of the many tools FableVision offers to inspire children and teachers to navigate their full potential.

While you are thinking about some of your teachers, send a personalized e-Card to one or several of them