Come Dance with Karen and MeSave us a spot on your dance card and come waltzing with us as we chat snowmen, penguins, snow, music, time signatures, curriculum . . .we really packed this snowball full of fun tidbits, curriculum connections and lots of music! Timely, too, since Karen and I BOTH got snow this week (which is a rare occurrence for us since we are both Southern girls.) AND, I LOVE having repeat guests because they become friends, and I especially love when the timing works out that I can teach with the book around that time. I just used this book for all my music classes last week and they loved it! What perfect timing, since snow arrived Tuesday night for us! THE SNOWMAN WALTZWritten by Karen Konnerth and illustrated by Emily Neilson, this book is perfection for introducing kids to different time signatures. While the book is going to help them become familiar with and differentiate 3/4 and 4/4 time in music, it is also a lovely story about learning to get along with people fundamentally different from yourself, and about accepting differences, forging unlikely friendships, taking turns, learning from each other. . . and if you want to stretch the curricular connections, you can expand to talk about snowmen or snow and penguins and more. This book is a treasure trove of inspiration for littles that could branch off in numerous directions. It is sweet, rhythmic, and absolutely beautifully illustrated. If you're in the mood for a delightful winter book, look no further than THE SNOWMAN WALTZ, published by Sleeping Bear Press! A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)If your students (or kids or whomever you're sharing this book with) are like mine, they have NO IDEA what a waltz is. This is a lovely sample danced to My Snowman and Me by Sia so there's a bit of a double meaning there. If this is not something you're interested in showing your students, there are lots more choices in the YouTube playlist in the links section. My students particularly also enjoyed this Freeze Dance. It was especially appropriate because it had the snowman and the penguin. :-) Teacher Tips, Tricks and TopicsThis book is so rich and perfect for a multidisciplinary unit. In the links section, you'll find even more activities and ways to use the book. Here are some fabulous tips and topics you can share in conjunction wit this book:
Tips and Topics for Music TeachersThere is so much musical content in this book! I've been using it this week in my own music classes (K-2). In my classes, I've started with some fun winter/snowman/penguin rhythm play-alongs, vocal explorations, etc. I played an instrumental version of a waltz and had kids listen for the 1-beat, then we counted 1,2,3. lastly we swayed to the music. (We haven't done much with 3/4 time.) Then we listened to the read aloud that is on the YouTube playlist, done by Mrs. Geiger. Really excellent with musical background and a distinct difference in the time signature sections. Then I pointed out a couple of things in my copy of the book. Then we looked carefully at the written music and discussed that. Then we tried the waltz steps in the book, starting slow, step-by-step and speeding up a bit until we did the steps (just by ourselves) in a nice moderate 1,2,3 beat. Then we did a couple of penguin songs/dances for fun and we always end with a "boogie" so we used Coach Corey Martin's Winter Freeze Dance which features a snowman and a penguin, so it was a lovely fit. Next week, we'll delve into penguins a bit more and I have the beautiful waltz video from Strictly Dancing to show them what a beautiful waltz can look like. I don't think I'm up for trying the waltz with partners in K-2, but maybe some of you are braver or better :-) Here are some of the topics I'm teaching with this book and some others that you could teach, depending on the ages of your kids, your schedule and other variables.
Writing Prompts from Tonnye
Writing Tips from Karen1. READ as much as possible in the genre you want to write. I particularly love to find authors and illustrators from other countries to observe the differing approaches, sensibilities, design concepts, and use of illustration media. 2. FIND INSPIRATION in the immediate world around you. Think out of the box. There are many stories about celebrating diversity, but The Snowman Waltz uses rhythm as the difference between the two cultures. 3. BE AWARE of the age child you are writing for and write for that child - in word count, in concept, in page turn suspense, in potential connection to their life. Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!Instrumental version of Karen's music for THE SNOWMAN WALTZ. (Arranged and played by Leslie Martin. a full time pianist playing around New Orleans, and also a member of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, a very cool national band. https://www.snzippers.com/ Here is a reading of THE SNOWMAN WALTZ (by the author) with the instrumental version played as the intro and outro. YouTube playlist full of read-alouds, music, dances, snowman, penguins , , , . Pinterest board that is overstuffed with craft ideas, additional books to pair, dance info, nonfiction info about penguins, reading and writing activities, science, music and more! Guest Links and GiveawaysKaren's Website
TPT FB Karen is offering a free copy of THE SNOWMAN WALTZ to one lucky winner! All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment below. Tell us your favorite part of the book, or share how you've used it, or how it's inspired your own writing. Give us a fun writing prompt, or anything you want to share. Leave your comment by Wednesday, Feb 5 at 11:59 PM EST to be eligible for the giveaway.
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MAMIACHI & ME w/Jolene and Dakota Gutierrez Join Jolene, her son (and co-author), Dakota, and me for a fun and laid-back discussion of their latest book MAMIACHI & ME -- the first episode of 2025! We pay special homage to school music programs and chat all things mamiachi, writing with a partner, and much more! You do NOT want to miss tis great conversation!Brava to the Mamiachis: Past, Present, and FutureInspired by a true-life Mamiachi, the authors and illustrator compose a story of a contemporary Mexican family who carries on the tradition of mariachi (Mexican music played by a small group of musicians) in a non-traditional way, since mariachi did not include women until much later in its history and it is still a fairly rare occurrence. The creators of the book have brought together Mexican culture, music, and girl power in a very meaningful way that will hopefully inspire the next generation of "mamiachis"! The back matter is not to be missed, as it tells the true story of some of the earliest mamiachis and tell more about the instruments and the make-up of a mariachi band. A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)As I've delved into the world of female mariachi, I've enjoyed listening to many all-female groups as well as male groups and mixed-gender groups. I love this group for a few reasons: their name (Mariachi Mariposas) which translates to Mariachi Butterflies or Butterflies of Mariachi. I also love the variety of instruments in the group: violins, trumpets, guitar, guitarron. This one gives you a perfect, if slightly softer and slower example of female mariachi. There are many more in the YouTube playlist, along with some educational videos, and rhythm play-alongs for music class, etc. Their sound is professional and quite lovely. I hope you enjoy! Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics |
PBJamzThis page is the official space for PBJamz -- multimedia Jamorama celebrating all things PB (picture books) and Jamz (music), although we'll indulge in the other PBJ snacks where appropriate :-). Join us each Thursday for new content connecting picture books and music! Archives
January 2025
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