Special thanks to the nearly 50 co-researchers around the world who joined my action research team - and have helped shape the new site, which aims to support progressive educators committed to more creative, authentic learning experiences.

And now I'm back in Boston - and ready for a VERY exciting decade ahead. I pledge to do everything in my power to support YOUR mission. Enjoy the news in this month's FableFlash and do let us know how you're doing.

Follow Your North Star, Paul Reynolds, M.A., President

P.S. The North Star Community is in beta development for the summer, and we'll be adding to it weekly. Those of you who enjoy pioneering are invited to join this community of practice before September - and as a thank you, you'll get free "founding partner" memebership!

Get A Clue, a subscription-based web application for middle and high school students, is quickly becoming a favorite among middle and high school students. The game-like software builds vocabulary and improves reading comprehension through inductive reasoning and critical thinking (a big help for test-challenged students.) Get A Clue is the second classroom tool from FableVision to land in Apple’s ADLS offerings, following in the footsteps of FableVision’s Stationery Studio® which is bundled as part of the Elementary Tools (Grades K- 5) package. The Apple Digital Learning Series features educator-recommended and research-based software tools created by leading educational developers. By identifying “best of breed” software, Apple has facilitated and streamlined purchasing decisions for school systems searching for proven educational technology programs. Thank you Apple!

We had a wonderful time at the conference. We were asked to think about experiences in our lives that helped shape our creative spirits. We spoke about ways in which individuals inspired or celebrated our talents and about ways others repressed that spirit. Peter listened with awe and compassion as participants expressed their most joyful experiences and hurtful memories. It was amazing how raw some of these memories could still be 20 years later. In addition, we participated in some drawing activities that gave us faith in our own unique talents."

To read the whole review, complete with photos and artwork samples, click here.

Kris Vassos, a computer teacher at the Hillside School in NJ, was on hand to show the multiple merits of Stationery Studio including their schools' famous "Author Night" (see video link below). Bob Barboza, Educational Veteran and 'King of Software', discussed "Can BrainCogs & Essay Express improve your AYP? High Motivational Database Projects for Kids". Diane Thomson, Mary Mathews, and Gail Kennedy from Bucks County PA Intermediate #22 walked through virtual presentation software, noting the experience they had with Elluminate and Peter H. Reynolds online author visit to 3,000 students this past year. Stationery Studio software author Dr. Peggy Healy Stearns, with Merle Marsh and Diane Kendall, shared creative ways that help teachers support higher-level writing skills.

If you are an educator who uses some or all of FableVision's products and are interested in sharing your experiences with others, we'd love to encourage you to submit applications for presentations for local or national conferences. Just let us know and we'll be there with resources to support you. Upcoming shows include California CUE 2007 in Palm Springs, and NECC 2007 in Atlanta (participation opens in September).

If you have any questions, or are interested in learning about the FableVision Ambassador Program, give us a call at 888.240.3734.

Hey vacationers and beach-goers! If you get a chance to shake the sand out of your shoes and need some additional off-beach fun, here's where we'll be this summer:

August 10 - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston- Peter H. Reynolds will tell some of his amazing stories, and participants will illustrate their very own storybooks. 5:00 PM.

August 11 - Brewster Bookstore Store, Brewster, MA on Cape Cod - 10AM - Peter H. Reynolds Book Signing.

September 13 - The Most Creative Year Ever presented by Peter H. Reynolds, sponsored by the Chelmsford Public Library in collaboration with the Chelmsford Public Schools. At the Chelmsford Public Library, 6:00 PM. Please call Maureen Foley at 978-256-5521 x 4 for free tickets.

September 16th - Boston Globe Children's Book Festival, Quincy Market, Boston, MA - Join Peter H. Reynolds and author Megan McDonald as they kick of Judy Moody Day in downtown Boston in association with Candlewick Press, The Boston Globe, and Target.

September 16-19 - EdNet 2006 Annual Conference in Boston. Join top education executives, policymakers and school administrators for this powerful event focused on your success in the education market. These guys are great!

September 27-29 - National Media Market, Both Peter and Paul Reynolds will present the opening keynote at its annual conference on September 27, 2006, in MESA Arizona.

Parents' Choice gets over 1.5 million unique visitors a year, a number that is growing rapidly thanks to their new collaboration with TiVo, the pioneer in digital video recording and a leader in the DVR industry. Beginning mid-June, Parents’ Choice is providing TiVo KidZone with program recommendations not only on the web, but directly to television as well. “Where once parents accessed our recommendations on the Web or through newsletters, TiVo KidZone lets us deliver those recommendations directly to their living rooms. Parents’ Choice Foundation looks forward to working with TiVo on this impressive new technology,” says Claire Green, President of Parent’s Choice Foundation.

The Parents’ Choice Foundation's mission is to provide parents with information to participate wisely in their children's learning. We are honored they chose to feature Stationery Studio on their home page! We encourage you to take advantage of their invaluable guides to children’s books, toys, video, music and storytelling, software, television, and magazines. Go to http://parentschoice.org/, explore their resources, and enjoy a free downloadable Stationery Studio activity.

BONUS - *Order BrainCogs and/or Essay Express individually or in a bundle by July 31, 2006, and you'll get FREE UPS GROUND SHIPPING (in the US only). **When you check out, simply write BCEESP06 in the place for comments and questions. We will subtract the shipping cost when we charge your credit card. (Don't worry if it appears on your confirmation page/email -- we will take it off when we fulfill the order).

Click here for more information (and downloadable demo) of BrainCogs and Essay Express.

If you'd like to see the newest products, info on virtual author visits, and professional development offerings, you can download the PDF version of the 10th Anniversary Fall 2006 Catalog from our website. It's chock full of Irresistible Solutions that help you reach ALL learners - we made our products for YOU (and your kids!).