Each guide that I create offers its own interesting slant. Each are great fun to do in their very own way, and the lovely Lindsey Lane's Snuggle Mountain was no exception, at all. For you see, this charming picture book is now being sold as an app (and sales are going quite well, I might add). Lindsey and illustrator Melissa Iwai have taken a flying leap into new, uncharted e-territory, and I am thrilled have a chance to tag along for the ride.

Lindsey and I often chatted about making a guide. Being that this book/app is so unique, I wanted to create something that would offer teachers, parents, and librarians something substantial to pull from, something that they would use time and time again. The Traits entered into our conversation. I happen to love working with the 6 + 1 Traits of writing. Kids respond so positively to the method. The activities are clear, lively, sound, and so kid-centered. Being that they are founded on the child's creativity rather than stringent academic confines, the work that comes from the young writers is delightful! So, why not make a Traits guide for this delightful picture book/app? Woot!

The guide consists of a number of lessons all centered on the text and illustrations, rubrics to evaluate each trait, writing paper, and a very cool poem page (my fave!). To best benefit from the guide, have the book or app in hand, as the lessons require close consideration of Snuggle Mountain before letting those creative minds soar!

A few weeks ago my friends at the very cool literary blog, Through the Tollbooth, asked me to write a blog post about Self Marketing Through the Use of Teacher/Activity Guides.

In it, I told the brilliant Teresa Harris, "You’re familiar with the adage “Write what you know,” right? Well, that’s what I’m doing. I pull from my years and years of teaching and curriculum development experience and pour it all into these cross-curricular book guides. I make guides like the ones I wish I would’ve had when teaching. Science, math, crafts, creative writing, analysis, games – you name it, I put it in. They’re becoming so popular; I’m having a hard time keeping up with the demand. That’s a good problem, right?"

So true, my friend. So very true!

 I am super-thrilled to announce that guides for three of the books I've worked on have been included in the following webpage. How wonderful is that?

Click on the link below and behold my guides for Ellen's Broom, Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade and Forgiven.

This honor makes me very, very happy! 

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teachers-librarians/tl-guides.html

It's kind of cool to see my mug on the Highlights Foundation website! I'll be assisting with the Whole Novel workshop in November 2012 and cannot wait!

http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/deborah-gonzales-teaching-assistant

Not long ago I was asked to write an essay about the components of a teacher guide.

Ask a simple question, get a complicated answer, right?

So I wrote an essay entitled the Anatomy of a Teacher's Guide in which I sought to cover aspects of cross-curricular, sensory-driven, age-appropriate, and just plain old fun guides. The essay is founded on the gazillion teacher guides I've used over my decades of teaching experience, as well as the guides I craft for individuals today.

The essay was featured in Hunger Mountain: the VCFA Journal of the Arts which is both a print publication and an online destination for readers, writers, artists, and art lovers. Our mission is to cultivate engagement with and conversation about the arts by publishing high-quality, innovative literary and visual art by both established and emerging artists, and by offering opportunities for interactivity and discourse. 

Here's the essay. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.hungermtn.org/the-anatomy-of-a-teacher-guide/

In keeping with the phrase "If I knew then what I know now," I had the great honor of being a contributing author on the very cool website Dear Teen Me. The premise of the site is for an author to write a letter to their teen self to discuss an issue that the they once struggled with as a teen.

Look around the website. It is truly amazing. Many of the posts have to do with some very serious issues...life altering ones.

My post deals with...well...access the link and see for yourself.

http://dearteenme.com/2011/02/18/dear-teen-debbie-from-author-austin-scbwi-ra-debbie-gonzales/

I was so thrilled to see on of my teacher guides included as part of a collection on the Penguin website!

The guide featured is the first one I did for my dear friend, Stephanie Greene, to compliment her oh-so-darling Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade. To have yourself a look, simply click on the link below.

Check it out...

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teachers-librarians/tl-guides.html

A news story from the Austin Statesman featuring a holiday tradition Taylor, my daughter, and I have maintained for 25 years!

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/mother-and-daughter-about-to-celebrate-25-years-1094297.html

Access an game I created specifically for Janet's sensational How to Get Organized Without Losing It here: http://www.janetsfox.com/foxs-den.php

Author Debbie Gonzales is the current Regional Advisor for the Austin, Texas chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She brings forth an impressive resume jam-packed with experience as a teacher, school administrator, curriculum designer, workshop leader, works as an adjunct professor, and an MFA from Vermont College.  You might know Debbie from her oh-so-popular website, her Simple Saturday blog, or the new cooperative blog, Readerkidz.  I know Deb as a lovely, supportive, talented friend, so I’m honored to have her join us today...

To read more access - http://donnabowmanbratton.blogspot.com/2010/11/author-debbie-gonzales-on-teacher.html

One of the women, among the many here in Austin, that have taken me under their wing, taught me the ropes, and have shared their time and talents with me is the incredible Debbie Gonzales. Debbie is the RA for our Austin Chapter and is a fearless leader who has stamina and a deep connection to community and with everything Debbie takes on she gets it all done. And not just done. Done well. Done fantastically.  Debbie, and others on the SCBWI team, have put together a stellar line up for the Austin Boots, Books and Buckskin Conference. Registration is open now and spots are going fast...

To read more access - http://bethanyhegedus.livejournal.com/4715.html

Here we go, oh-thoughtful-ones. Did you remember to gather the contrasting colored construction paper, ruler, pencil, glue stick, and scissors? Of course you did. All you need now is the cutting guide template .pdf, right? Well, here it is.

All rightie then, let's begin.

Cut one piece of construction paper to measure 5 X 8 inches. Using the cutting guide template, cut along the lines outlining half of the heart shape.

Trace the half heart shape onto the pre-cut construction paper. Now...cut on the lines that you or your precious child have drawn.

Creative Side Bar here: Over the years (way too many years, mind you...) I have found this this sort of snippage to be excellent for the development of concentration, coordination, and the refinement of fine motor skills in wee ones.

Let's create a heart using negative space by gluing the smaller half-heart shape on the constrasting colored sheet of construction paper. Then meet end points of each piece by flipping the larger piece and the smaller piece in an opposing manner. (Say what? Just look at the picture.) 

Lovely...lovely...lovely. An easy-peasy Simple Saturday Mother's Day giftie, wouldn't you say?

If you should desire to create a more elaborate Simple Saturday Sweet Heart Art design, once again, go ahead and download the teacher guide I created for Kelly Bennett's Your Daddy Was Just Like You.  Check out page 14 and...well...go ahead and send a pic of your child's artistic expressions to me, knowing that it will light up my life like a radiant beacon of red hot, sweet heart joy!

This week's Simple Saturday post has been inspired by an incredible new picture book written by Kelly Bennett, a dear, dear, DEAR friend of mine. I could on and on about Kelly, but for the time being, let's focus on Simple Saturday, shall we?

Actually, I made a pretty darned good teacher activity guide for the this charming book, if I do say so myself. Teachers, parents, anyone who has a pulse, download it, if you are so inclined. Tomorrow I am going to pull one the activities featured in the guide to have some ultra-thoughtful-yet-very-super-simple-Saturday-esk fun. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, the project we'll be making would be serve as the perfect Mother's Day gift Gramma's are guaranteed to love (Hint. Hint.)

Here is the list supplies needed: scissors, two colors of construction paper, glue stick, pencil, ruler, and the cutting pattern featured in the guide. Don't worry. I'll make sure that you'll have your very own .pdf to download for yourself. In fact, we just might make a special one just for you! 

Every good nature lover needs a pair of nocks, right? Let's make our own right here and now.

I'm certain that you have gathered all the goods, right? Yarn, 2 toilet paper rolls, construction paper, a bottle cap, glue, tape, electric tape...most of which are Simple Saturday staples.

All right, let's cover the rolls with construction paper cut to fit those round cylinders. Then let's glue the construction paper covered tubes together, side by side. Easy enough.

To make our binoculars look authentic, we need one of those little gauges to adjust the focus. Actually those little doo-hickeys are called the Focus Wheel. I just squirted a blob of glue and stuck mine in between the tubes.

While you're at it, go ahead and poke some holes near the eye holes, or the Ocular Lens, securing the ends of a long piece of yarn to create a groovey neck band.

I jazzed my nocks up a bit by wrapping some black electrical tape around the sides and near the lens forming what is called a Diopter Adjustment. How about that for some fancy-schmancy binocular lingo? Don't you think my Diopter Adjustment addition looks cool?

We're pals, right? I made a mistake. I actually should have put my Focus Wheel closer to the Ocular Lens rather than the holes you look out of that are called the Objective Lens. My bad. But when John tried my Simple Saturday Springtime Binoculars out he said that they worked just fine.

For more fun with real binoculars download this Bruton Binocular Basics Instructor Activity Guide I found on the internet. Dude, there are three really fun activities described on it...one is a scavenger hunt! Dang...I'm on it. Got to go!

Have a super Simple Saturday. I'll see you (Get it?...See you?...Heh, heh.) next week.

The world around us changes so quickly this time of year. Trees burst into bloom overnight! Lawns become a carpet of lush green after just one springtime rain. Doves return to their annual roosts. Rabbits steal nibbles from flowerbed phlox and pansy treats. I can barely stand to miss a seasonal moment.

Need to focus a bit more on treasures such as these? If so, join me tomorrow and make some Simple Saturday binoculars. Here are the supplies that you'll need to scavenge -- two toilet paper rolls, a sheet of construction paper, yarn, a bottle top, some black electric tape, glue, and scissors.

Doodle bugs, run for cover!

Ants, start packing.

Nature, here we come!

Here's looking at cha!

Oh, darn...Sure, this rabbit is cute, but isn't exactly the bunny I had hoped to find. Let's make a basket together and then I'll hunt for the bunny of my Easter dreams.

I trust that you have gather the materials we need, right? The two pieces of construction paper, tape, scissors, and Easter grass/shredded paper? Super! Easter bunny, here we come!

To begin, cut the construction paper into 1 inch strips. Align three strips together side-by-side, flat on the table. Then weave three strips into the original one aligned flat on the table. Hey! You formed a nice square base for your basket!

Now make a nice upward fold with the long strips to create a frame for the sides of your basket. Go ahead. Make a nice, defined crease. Also, I strongly suggest that you tape your weave pattern together on the bottom part of the base. If not, those derned strips will slide around everywhere!

Now, let's weave the sides side of the Easter basket. I'd secure the loose strip with a piece of tape on the inside of your treasure and then weave, baby, weave. Three nice woven rows make a dandy basket...the perfect size for the bunny I have in mind!

So...now we must put the finishing touches on our lovely basket. See those upward strips that ended up on the outside weave? Okay...fold them over toward the inside of the basket and tuck the end into the horizontal weave. Secure it with a piece of tape.  It is all right to trim the inside upward strip along the basket's rim.

Super! Now simply tape a handle onto the basket, securing the handle ends on the inside rim. Add some Easter grass or some Simple Saturday cheapskate shredded a paper and you have got yourself a charming little Easter basket. Hooray for you!!!!

The word on the bunny trail is that rabbits love pansies. So, I'm going to tiptoe my Simple Saturday Easter basket out into my backyard flower garden and ever-so-sneakily nestle it in a lush patch of white ones.

Oh, yeah....that's the type of bunny I'm talking about. Yum, yum!

Hoppy Easter, my Simple Saturday friend. I'm looking forward to seeing you back here next week.

Two  pieces of construction paper, scissors, and tape, will make the most charming little basket perfect to be filled with Easter bunny treasures. If you just have to spend some money, you can add some colorful Easter grass to the supply list. Me? Keeping it in the truest Simple Saturday cheapskate spirit, I might just use shredded paper.

Join Elmer Fudd and I tomorrow as we weave a wittle wonder and get weddy for the wascally Easter wabbit, won't you? 

Fear not! Help is on its way!

Pretend that we have entered the dragon's den. We must be cautious, carefully moving with each and every step. No rushing. No hurried movements. By the practice of patience and calculated calm, we'll slay that vicious reptile. With a pencil as our sword and The Magic 9 as our shield, together now...let's go.

I have already solved the problem 19515392 / 2932 = 6656 using long, long, long division. Yikes! I sure hope I got the answer correct, forcing that nasty division dragon back in his steamy den where he belongs.

Let's check my work using the Magic 9, shall we? Remember what I said about taking careful, cautious steps? No rushing? No snappy shortcuts? Well, if you follow the steps I am about to show you, checking your work for long division problems without remainders in the quotient can be a ton of fun to do!

First thing, I need to be sure that you remember the parts of a division problem. You know the terms divisor, dividend, and quotient...right? I should've known that would be no problem for a brave dragon-slayer like yourself. My bad.

To begin playing the The Magic 9 let's start with the divisor, shall we? There is one major important rule to use when using the Magic 9, which is what I call the Peculiar Ostensible Optical Fleck, or commonly known as POOF! (Click on hyper links to access detailed, step-by-step descriptions of POOF!) In short, when the numbers 9 or 0 present themselves strangely, they vanish! POOF! Like magic!

When applying the Magic 9 the the divisor (2932), the first thing we do is wipe out the number 9 because it is magic! POOF! It's gone!

Okay, then...moving from left right...2 plus 3 equals 5, right? And 5 plus 2 equals 7, correct?

So, the number 7 will be used to represent the divisor. Got it? Clear as mud, right?

How about we use the same process for the quotient 6656? (Print the .pdf and use it as a guide, if you like.) From left to right, 6 plus 6 equals 12; from the new number 12 we transform the 1 plus 2 to equal 3; that 3 plus 5 equals 8; 8 plus 6 equals 14; 1 plus 4 equals 5. Hah! The number 5 will present the quotient in the Magic 9 grid. 

In an effort to avoid posting a mile-long entry, I'll simply let you know that I came up with the final number 8 as the representative for the dividend.

Ready for the best math cheat ever? You'll especially love this one if you consider long division to be something invented by the Devil!

Have your eyes ever crossed when the teacher instructs you to prove your answer for a long division problem such as:

19515392 / 2932 = 6656

I know what you're saying....Yeah, right? And I thought Simple Saturday stuff was supposed to be fun! Problems like that makes my belly ache.

Or what about a long division problem like this?

19520092368 / 24923 = 783216

Trust me, pal. The secret to our long division struggles is a game called The Magic 9. Tomorrow bring a piece of paper, a pencil, and your brilliant self and I'll show the math trick of the AGES!!!!

The Magic 9 is painless. Easy. Fun. For real!

This Springtime Simple Saturday activity is so easy I am almost embarrassed to share it with you. Truly, this one is about as simple as it gets...one of the simplest of the Simple Saturday's ever.

You have the supplies, right? The Styrofoam egg carton, yarn, plastic drinking straws, scissors, and tape?

All right then, let's begin.

Cut the straws into segments measuring approximately 3 inches long. Snip a 2 footish long piece of yarn off of the ball. Wrap tape around one end of the yarn to create a stiff point. Secure one straw bead to the other end of the yarn to assure that the lovely and delicate Easter Lily bead craft remains on the string. 

Now for the Easter Lily beads, where the highly skilled craftmanship begins. Oh...I can hardly wait!

Cut the egg carton apart by trimming around around the edges of each of the 12 egg-shaped cups. Cut jagged Easter Lily petals along the sides of the egg cups. Using the sharp point of your scissors, poke a hole in the center of the rounded cup.Look at that, will you! You have make an Easter Lily blossom!

Repeat the process with all 12 of the lovely egg carton cups. Just look at my dazzling dozen. Aren't they simply divine?

And now the stringing begins! With the stiff, taped end of your yarn segment in hand simply alternate stringing a plastic drinking straw bead and an Easter Lily blossom. That's all there is to it, my dear friend.

When all of the Easter Lily blossoms have been strung, tie the end of the yarn together and ooo...la...la... you've got a treasure to keep forever!

Special note: If you find that the egg carton Easter Lily blossom petals to be too pokey on your neck, the necklace doubles nicely as a stunning crown. (John, my in-house guinea pig, looks a little scary here, doesn't he?)

Well, I hope you've enjoyed my ultra-simply Simple Saturday activity as much as I have enjoyed making it with you. Thanks so very much for stopping by and I hope that your Saturday is simply sensational!

Indulge me, won't you, my dear friend, as I share a profoundly moving poem my beloved father recited each and every single Spring his was living. EACH and EVERY Spring, mind you! Here goes...

Spring has sprung.

The grass has rizz.

I wonder where

the birdies is. 

Pretty incredible, eh? That being said, I'd like to dedicate this week's activity my pop, Charlie Beck.

Help me celebrate the birdies' arrival and the rizzing of spring-time grass by making an Easter Lily Necklace with me tomorrow, won't you? The supplies you'll need one empty styrofoam egg carton, scissors, a few plastic drinking straws, some yarn, and some tape. That's all!

We'll make something lovely enough to wear with your Sunday best on Easter morning! 

See you tomorrow!!!! 

Gather round, leprechauns. Let's seek and find that illusive pot-of-gold, shall we?

Before we can have a Rainbow's End stake-out there is some behind the scenes, top secret, clue-dropping prep work that must be done. Whoever you desire to surprise by the treasure hunting process must not know anything about this trickery, either. They'll discover your secrets in due time. You, my Simple Saturday friend, are the one that I intend to surprise.

Follow me.

Oh, my stars! What is that I see beneath the plant draped over my dusty coffee table? A leprechaun's top hat?

Let's look closer. Oh, my! There's a note tucked under the coaster! I wonder what it says, don't you? I'll open it and read it to you. Don't be scared.

Candles burn all in a row, that's where a clue can be found, you know.

Candles in a row! I have a long wooden rack with a row of yellow candles in my den! Could it be? Let's see!

Yes! There it is. Another clue...I wonder what this one says.

Wipe your feet when you come through the door. No leaving tracks on the clean tiled floor.

Door? Wipe feet? Could that mean a rug? Oh! There's a rug by the front door! Take my hand. Let's check together, shall we?

What do you know...There's another note. See it? Tucked under the rug? Well, I'll be (Old people always say that, don't they? I'll be.).

What does this note say? (I'm having fun. Are you?)

Where Tripod rests his sweet head, we're told, is where you'll find a Pot of Gold.

Where Tripod rest his sweet head? Where could that be? He snoozes all over the house...but he sleeps in his kennel at night. Oooo...let's check there. Come on!

Will you look at that...on top of Tripod's kennel...a clay pot and a little green hat. How cool is this?

Let me open it to be sure that there is gold inside.

Stay close.

I'm a little freaked out, here.

Why...yes! There is gold in the pot! We found the Rainbow's End right here in Tripod's bed! Yippeee!!! We did it!

 Note to parents and teachers: I have found this game to be a wonderful motivator for kids who are resistant to read or to write. If they're non-readers, lay out the clues for them. Early readers will need only one word for a tip. More advanced readers willingly read full sentences with the hope of finding a pot of gold at the end of the quest. Talk about natural reinforcement!

If a child is resistant to write, employ them as a clue maker. Kids love to play a role in a secret ploy