Tara Trudel Talks Books, Music, and Walter

Huge congratulations to Janet Smith!  You have won a copy of HERE WE COME! from last week's episode of PBJamz!  It's a lovely book, and we know you will enjoy it very much!  Thanks for tuning in for PBJamz and sharing the great things happening here!

Video interview with Tara Trudel

 I enjoyed chatting with Tara very much! She is not only a wonderful songwriter who's done work on a variety of music projects, but she's also an author in her own right. And, she taught music as well, so she has a wealth of information to offer!  If you're not following her on social media, check out all of her links at the bottom of this post!

PB (Picture Book Tasting)

Walter is a lovely home and enjoys his family.  When they move out, Walter's heart is broken and he shuts his doors on family and love and living.  When a new family moves in, Walter has to decide if he will allow them to move into his heart or if he will encourage them to move on elsewhere.   My husband and I live in an old Victorian farmhouse, built in 1882, and I'm sure our home felt a little forlorn as she was relegated to office space and then slated to be torn down if no one bought her to move.  Thankfully, we fell in love with her, moved her out to my dad's farm and have been fixing her quirks for 30 years this November. I'm thankful Walter found someone to love him too! Don't miss this beautiful book by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illustrated by Ginnie Hsu, and published by McMillan Publishers.

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

And then there was a song. . . named Walter. . .written by Tara Trudel.  Such a sweet anthem to go along with a very sweet book.  The two together are a perfect pair whether you teach in a regular classroom, a music classroom, a daycare setting, or a homeschool.  This book and song are also perfect to share at home to talk about all the things that make your home and family special.  Keep reading below for so many tips and ways to use WALTER (the book and the song) to get kids excited and learning about their homes and others.

​Teacher Tips/Curriculum Tie-ins

WALTER is full of great topics and tie-ins for teachers.  Check these out, and if you have other ways you're using it, please comment below.  Share the knowledge and share the love!

• What makes a house a home? (great tie-in for BOY as students and teachers are getting to know each other.  Writing/discussion about each others' homes and families)
• Different kinds of houses/homes (wonderful social studies tie-in to talk about different types of houses/homes around the world.)
• Feelings/Emotions (excellent SEL tie-in) Talk about how to deal with feelings 
  • role-playing
  • collaborate with school counselor
  • integrate meditation
  • Emojis!
  • Emotional check-in in the mornings 
• Mapping/reading maps -- have students create a map of their home after looking at lots of examples.  (social studies tie-in with map reading, compass rose, etc.)
• STEM/STEAM activities -- building a house using various materials: popsicle sticks, cards, etc.

​Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

There are a couple of options for music teachers wanting to use this book in the music classroom.  

• One direction you could take is to focus on our personal homes and families.  There are lots of songs about houses/homes and families that you could use to integrate.  (Taras song above would work beautifully with this approach!)
• Another direction you could take is to take a global approach and talk about homes and families around the world and the different kinds of houses people live in.
• Thirdly, you could use videos like House of Sound and Melody Street and approach it from a musical house point-of-view.  Talk about families of instruments.
• Another musical approach is a song in the YouTube playlist that focuses on the elements of music.  So you could build a lesson using that.
• A different direction you might choose (and another direction where Tara's song is a perfect fit) is to go in an SEL direction and use Walter and the song as a jumping off point for discussing and singing about feelings and emotions.
• Still another way you could integrate this into a musical classroom is to use the book and Tara's song as a discussion of songwriting, in conjunction with her songwriting tips below (and maybe another book/song combo or two from her collection). Have students choose a favorite book and try to write a song based on their favorite book.
• Check out the YouTube playlist for songs/activities to get you started -- or the Pinterest board.

Writing Prompts/Author Tips

Writing Prompts:
1.  My Dream House
2. If I Built a House. . . 
3.  What Makes a House a Home
4.  A Time When I was ____________ (Choose an emotion)
5.  A Time when I moved/had to try something new
6. I think the song named Walter and the house named Walter match or don't match well because. . . .
7.My Favorite Thing to do in my house. . .
8.  If I had to leave the place I live now, I would really miss ________ because. . . . 

Songwriting Tips from Tara:
A Simple 6 Step Songwriting Method:

1. Find the Hook - I like to start with a title. Song titles can create a strong feeling, express an opinion, establish a time/place/memory, or just be fun to say. A great title immediately gives your song a topic and a short, punchy lyrical phrase to build your chorus around. 

2. Brainstorm - Once I choose a title, I create a word bank where I write a list of words or short phrases related to my title. When I have a lot of options, I go back through this list and look for possible rhymes to play with in the lyrics. 

3. Write the Chorus - A simple chorus can be really effective. Repetition is a powerful songwriting tool, especially in the chorus. (Just think about how many times you've had "We Don't Talk About Bruno, no no no/We Don't Talk About Bruno" stuck in your head!) 

4. Keep the Verses Consistent - If you're new to songwriting, it's best to write verses in groups of four lines. Verses typically have the same rhyme scheme and a similar line length in each repetition. 

5. Break It Up With The Bridge - The bridge is a section where you can switch up your rhyme scheme and melody and experiment with something new. This shift in the lyrics and melody helps drive the song home to its final chorus. 

6. Collaborate - Songwriting is often a collaborative art form. If you don't have a music background, you can always work with a musician to set your lyrics to music. I've also had a lot of success following the above formula to write group songs with students in the classroom. ​

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

• YouTube playlist with tons of great songs and activities
  • **disclaimer Please check each component you put into your lessons to be sure it is appropriate for your age level and context.  Some songs may be faith-based and perhaps not appropriate for public school setting.  There is a wide range of ages/stages and purposes represented in each playlist. I've collected them here for your ease, but please preview and pull items that you think are best-suited for your classroom and purposes.
• A Pinterest board with lots of ideas and links!

PBJamz Snack (PBJ Waffles!)

Waffles are one of my specialties. Today, I'm sharing with you more of a technique than a recipe.  Get your favorite waffle mix -- whatever kind you like.  Mix up a batch of waffles per the directions.  Now, swirl in a generous amount of peanut butter.  Then dollop a few patches of your favorite jam/jelly.  With a butter knife or narrow spatula, swirl the peanut butter and jam/jelly  throughout your waffle batter.  Then cook in your waffle iron according to the directions.  Even if you like frozen waffles, you can smear them with peanut butter and spoon on a dollop of jam/jelly.  Spread or swirl and enjoy with or without syrup!  

If you want to make your PBJ waffles extra special, mix some of the same jam/jelly with pancake syrup in a small pot.  Simmer, stirring until the two are blended and serve over hot waffles.  For some beautiful plating, add a dollop of peanut butter and a few crushed peanuts on top before pouring the syrup mixture.  You could even add a fresh strawberry, blueberry or apple slice, etc. -- to match the flavor of your jam/jelly.

​Dig in and enjoy!  I did!  And they were delicious!

​Guest Links and Giveaways

Tara Trudel:
​Twitter
​Website
SoundCloud
IMDb


GIVEAWAY INFO:
Tara has graciously offered 2 books.  The first winner chosen will receive a copy of FIRST NOTES OF SPRING & the second winner will win a copy of A HOME Named Walter .  To be entered into the drawing, comment below by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 27!  All commenters will be entered into a random drawing to receive one of these lovely picture books!