Bissonet Plaza Elementary

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales 4th Grade Winner: Little Red Riding

by Dianne on December 20, 2010

Little Red Riding

The Winner for the Twisted Tales fractured fairytale writing contest was a team from Ms. Naugle’s 4th grade class. The story is based on the original tale of “Little Red Riding Hood.” The winner was chosen by the fourth grade students.

Little Red Riding
By Evelyn, Angelique, Connor, Chad, Lajosh & Timmy
Ms. Naugle – 4th Grade

Long, long ago in the dark woods, there was a little girl. She was called Little Red Riding because she had a hot red Corvette.

One day, with cookies in the front seat of her red Corvette, she started cruising to her aunt’s house. Then her car broke down.

Hiding behind the trees was a Big Bad Wolf. He jumped out, in a mechanic’s suit, and said, “I can fix your car.”

Little Red Riding said, “That’s great because I’m on my way to my aunt’s house to deliver these delicious, homemade cookies.”

So the wolf didn’t fix the car all the way. The big bad wolf laughed and said, “Muhahahaha! Now I’m going to Little Red Riding’s aunt’s house.”

On the way to her aunt’s house, Little Red Riding’s Corvette started smoking. BOOM! An explosion came from the engine. Little Red Riding said, “Oh no! I have to walk!”

Meanwhile, the wolf drove ahead in his black and gold Lamborghini to Little Red Riding’s aunt’s house. He tricked his way in, gobbled her up, and put on her aunt’s clothes.

Little Red Riding found a bike and began riding to her aunt’s house. When she arrived, she said, “Hello? Is anybody home?”

Then the big bad wolf, disguised as her aunt, came out and said in a deep voice, “Come in.”

Little Red Riding asked, “Why are you talking like that?” Little Red Riding started backing out of the house.

The big bad wolf turned and said, “Give me the cookies!”

Little Red Riding was about to cry and said, “Where is my aunt and what did you do with her?”

The wolf heard a noise. It was the uncle driving the red Corvette. Little Red Riding said, “In 5, 4, 3, 2…” Then the Corvette crashed into house, BAM!, crushing the wolf.

Little Red Riding and her uncle rescued her aunt from the wolf’s tummy and celebrated with big basket of cookies and milk. And Little Red Riding inherited a brand new black and gold Lamborghini!

The End.

{ 2 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales 3rd Grade Winner: Who Dats Crossing

by Dianne on December 20, 2010

Saints v. Cowboys

The Winner for the Twisted Tales fractured fairytale writing contest was a team from Ms. Fury’s 3rd grade class. The story is based on the original tale of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The winner was chosen by the third grade students.

Who Dats Crossing! (based on “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”)
By Joshua, Brianna, Haley & Dwan
Ms. Fury – 3rd Grade

Once upon a football, there were three Saints football players. There was a tight end, a running back, and a linebacker. They wanted to cross the football field to score but the field was controlled by a BIG BAD COWBOYS quarterback.

The Saints tight end crossed the field like this:
“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat!”

The Cowboys quarterback cried out, “Who Dat’s Crossing my field?”

The Saints tight end answered, “We just want to play… football!”

The Cowboys quarterback yelled, “No way! I’m going to tackle you!”

The Saints tight end replied, “You should tackle my teammate!

The Cowboys quarterback said, “Ok, I’ll let you cross.”

So the tight tend began running across the field again like this:
“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat!”

Meanwhile, the running back wanted to cross the field. He ran across like this:
“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat!”

The Cowboys quarterback cried out, “Who Dat’s Crossing my field?”

The Saints running back answered, “We just want to play… football!”

The Cowboys quarterback yelled, “No way! I’m going to tackle you!”

The Saints running back replied, “You should tackle my teammate!

The Cowboys quarterback said, “Ok, I’ll let you cross.”

So the running back began running across the field like this:
“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat!”

Meanwhile, the linebacker wanted to cross the field. He ran across like this:
“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat! Who dat!”

The Cowboys quarterback cried out, “Who Dat’s Crossing my field?”

The Saints linebacker answered, “We just want to play… football!”

The Cowboys quarterback yelled, “No way! I’m going to tackle you!”

The Saints linebacker replied, “You wanna bet?!” He ran forward and sacked the Cowboys quarterback, causing a fumble. The Saints linebacker picked up the ball and ran it in for a TOUCH DOWN! The Saints won the game and the fans chanted:

“Who dat! Who dat! Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints?! Who dat! Who dat?!”

The End.

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 10 – Friday, December 17, 2010

by Dianne on December 20, 2010

12-18-10 Performing a draw and tell version of Let's Trim the Tree

Friends:

Friday, December 17, 2010 was my tenth and last day of my Twisted Tales residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary. It was a fabulous day and I had so much fun with the kids. My ten year old daughter, Kid Chef Eliana, came with me and we had a blast.

On this day my third and fourth grade students were performing their fractured fairytales. I chose a winner from each class and they read their stories to their peers. After all the stories were read, they voted on the overall winner. In third grade, the winners were Joshua, Brianna, Haley & Dawn from Ms. Fury’s class for their story, “Who Dats Crossing.” The students loved the story and everyone really got into singing the chorus. The winning stories for each grade will be posted in separate blog posts.

12-17-10 Dianne with Ms. Fury's third graders performing their story, Who Dats Crossing

In fourth grade, the winners were from Ms. Naugle’s class: Evelyn, Angelique, Connor, Chad, Lajosh & Timmy for “Little Red Riding.” What a great story! Little Red Riding had a hot red Corvette. The big bad wolf was a mechanic. It was so cute. Good job, boys and girls! The students listening to the story really enjoyed it and laughed a lot.

12-18-10 Fourth graders performing their fractured fairytale during P.E. period

I performed stories for the other grades but second grade was a love fest for Kid Chef Eliana!

Kid Chef Eliana

I introduced her and her cookbook and they went gaga over her, asking her all kinds of questions! Kid Chef Eliana was a celebrity!

12-18-10 Second graders ask Kid Chef Eliana questions about food and cooking

Eliana and I had a fabulous day. Thank you so much to Ms. Lombardino, Ms. Kelly, Coach E, and Ms. Miller for their help and time. They are a fantastic team and I LOVE working with them!

A special thank you to Ellen Miller, Librarian; Ms. Easley, Principal; and Ms. Hammernick, Assistant Principal. Much love to my diva office ladies: Donne, Tammy, and Kristie! Bissonet rocks!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 9 – Thursday, December 16, 2010

by Dianne on December 17, 2010

Friends:

I am up soooo late so this blog post will be rather short. Today was the 9th day of my Twisted Tales residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana. Today, I saw all the students during their P.E. period. The winners from each class performed their fractured fairytales: “The Gummi Frog and Princess Laffy Taffy,” “Sleeping Ugly,” and “Rapperella.” The stories were fantastic. I let the students vote on their favorite and by an overwhelming majority, “Rapperella” won the “grand prize.” It will be published on my website on Monday! Congratulations, Jacob, Lance, Joshua, Brenden and Destiny!

For the rest of the grades today, I performed and it was so much fun! I even debuted another new story — a “physical fairytale” version of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” with lots of movement. It was a great day and I really enjoyed being with Ms. Lombardino, Ms. Kelly, Coach E, and Ms. Miller of the P.E. department. They are a fantastic group to work with!!

Friday is my last day. My third and fourth graders will be performing and again, I am sharing stories with the lower grades during their P.E. period. It should be tons of fun!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 8 – Wednesday, December 15, 2010

by Dianne on December 15, 2010

Friends:

Today was Day 8 of my Twisted Tales residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana. The school librarian, Ellen Miller, brings me in each year on a grant administered through the Arts Council of Louisiana as part of the Decentralized Arts Funding through Louisiana Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

My day began in Ms. Mora’s 4th grade class. I enjoyed being in the class. The students were so productive and really did a great job working on their fractured fairytales. Their class was assigned “Henny Penny” and they had such creative ideas. The standout story of the class was “The Foxy Corvette” by Dakota, Carrington, Qossay, Joycelyn A. and Patrick C. I also loved the story of “Froggy Loggy” by Sierra, Jade’, Eligha, Bobby and Ramiroon. The entire class did a wonderful job and I am very proud of them!

12-15-10 Dianne de Las Casas with Ms. Mora's 4th grade class

There was a scheduling snafu with third grade because they had Christmas play practice. After working it out with Pre-K, I was able to re-arrange and see Mr. Boone’s third grade class. As the students worked on their stories (the original story was “Goldilocks”), I helped a group with their story, “Monkeylocks.” It turned out so cute!

12-15-10 Dianne works with students from Mr. Boone's 3rd grade class on their story, Monkeylocks

My next class was Ms. Vizzini’s second grade class. Oh what fun we had with Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach!

12-15-10 Monsieur Roach from Ms. Vizzini's second grade class

After the story, Ms. Vizzini’s class made their story shakers. Love those creative second graders!

12-15-10 Ms. Vizzini's second graders and their story shakers

After a wonderful lunch of Thai food with Ms. Ellen Miller, the school librarian (Thank you, Ms. Miller!), it was time for Ms. Lemoine’s happy first graders.

12-15-10 Dianne de Las Casas with Ms. Lemoine's first grade class and their story shakers

I told the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to raucous laughter. They loved seeing Madame Poulet slurp up the roach!

12-15-10 Madame Poulet eats up Monsieur Roach in Ms. Lemoine's first grade class

After the students created their story shakers, Ms. Lemoine had them shake them to music. It was so much fun! She also printed one of my book activities so that later the students could do a writing activity (writing a letter to me).

12-15-10 Telling Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to Ms. Lemoine's first graders

I ended my day in Pre-K. Because of the scheduling conflicts with the Christmas play practice, the Pre-K teachers graciously allowed me to combine them and see them at the same time. I had Ms. Muller’s and Ms. Joy’s Pre-K classes together in Ms. Joy’s room.

12-15-10 Telling Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to Pre-K

The two Pre-K classes did very well together. They loved the story and cracked up laughing!

12-15-10 Madame Poulet comes after Monsieur Roach in PK

On Thursday, December 16, the 5th graders are performing the fractured fairytales that I rewrote and turned into story theater scripts. On Friday, December 16, the 3rd and 4th graders will perform the story theater scripts from their fractured fairytales. It’s going to be so much fun! I better start getting those scripts ready!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 7 – Tuesday, December 14, 2010

by Dianne on December 15, 2010

12-14-10 Telling Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to Ms. Anchissi's Kindergarten class

Friends:

Today was the 7th day of my “Twisted Tales: Spinning Stories into Fractured Funnies” residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana. I started the day signing books in the Teacher’s Lounge for all the students who ordered books. My first class was Ms. Anchissi’s kindergarten class. We had a lot of fun with Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach. They loved the story and enjoyed making their story shakers.

12-14-10 A row of chicken story shakers from Ms. Anchissi's Kindergarten class

My next class was Ms. Frechette’s third grade class. They were assigned the story, “The Gingerbread Man” to fracture. While each group had fantastic stories (“Easy as Pie,” “The Beignet Boy,” and “The Rat Race”), the stand-out story was “Easy as Pie.” Since the students had finished their stories, we worked on a final of “Easy as Pie,” with me typing the story on my iPad. The students were so amazed and watched on the Smart Board as I demonstrated my iPad using the Elmo. The refrain in the story is so cute: “Roll, roll, roll as easy as pie. You can’t catch me, I’m the pie guy!” Adorable! Needless to say, I chose this story to turn into a story theater script that the students will perform on Thursday. Phenomenal work, Ms. Frechette’s class! Woo hoo for you!

12-14-10 Easy as Pie by Ms. Frechette's third grade class

Next, I headed to Ms. Morrow’s fourth grade class. They had not progressed as quickly as I had hoped but they certainly worked hard while I was in class! The stand-out story of the class was by Jasmine, Dairon, Bennett and Madison. It is titled, “The Big Yellow Lion,” a fractured version of “The Little Red Hen.” I loved how the story was set in the jungle with a big yellow lion making a mud pie (chocolate mud pie, that is) and included a cute refrain: “Me oh my, a mud pie? I won’t help you, no, not I!” It will be so much fun to perform as a story theater!

12-14-10 The Big Yellow Lion from Ms. Morrow's 4th grade class

After 4th grade, it was on to Ms. Chieffo’s 2nd grade class. As soon as I walked into the room, they cheered for me. And it cheered me up because I had been feeling under the weather all morning. Ms. Chieffo asked me to quickly show them how to fold their “Ma Farmer’s Down Home Cookbook.” They are cute little recipe books made into an origami 6-page book using a single sheet of 8 1/2 X 11″ paper. After performing a rousing rendition of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, they made their stylish story shakers. It was such a pleasure to be in their class because they were so well-behaved.

12-14-10 Second graders from Ms. Chieffo's class with their story shakers

I spent my lunch in the teachers lounge again, signing books for all the classroom teachers I have working with during my residency. After lunch, I went to Ms. Tonguis’ 1st grade class. She asked me to share Mama’s Bayou and I happily obliged. Afterward, I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, and the students created their fanciful story shakers. Ms. Tonguis is so much fun to be around! She even acted out the part of Monsieur Roach, complete with lying on the ground with her “legs up” to simulate a roach’s early demise. Too funny!

12-14-10 Showing Mama's Bayou to Ms. Tongui's first graders

My last class was Ms. Dagneault’s 5th grade class. The students worked in their groups, completing their fractured fairytales. They were assigned “Cinderella” and turned it into “Cinder Man,” “Raparella,” “Cinderella Gone Bad,” and “Minirella.” Phenomenal creativity flowed in this class!

12-14-10 Ms. Dagneault's 5th graders work on their fractured fairytale

It was such a wonderful day at school (except for the part about me being under the weather). This year, I have not written one behavior report. I haven’t had to counsel any students on their behavior and all the students have been super polite and helpful. Thank you so much, Bissonet students, for being so terrific! A special shout-out and thank you to Destiny in 5th grade, who helps carry my bag down the stairs every day! Ms. Easley, if you are reading… YAY for Bissonet!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 1 comment }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 6 – Monday, December 13, 2010

by Dianne on December 13, 2010

12-13-10 Dianne tells Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to Ms. Johnson's kindergarten class

Friends:

Today was the sixth day of my ten-day Twisted Tales residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana. My day began in Ms. Naugle’s 4th grade class. The students worked hard on writing their fractured fairytales. “Little Red Riding Hood” was the assigned original tale and it was fractured many ways by different groups in the class: “Code Red,” with Little Red Riding Hood as a spy, “Little Red Riding,” with Little Red driving a red corvette, and “Petite Rouge” with Little Red in the bayou meeting a grinning gator.

12-13-10 Ms. Naugle's 4th graders work on their fractured fairy tale, Little Red Riding

Next, it was on to Ms. Fury’s 3rd grade class. The students worked in their groups perfecting their fractured fairytales. Their assigned story was “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” There were many creative stories including “Who Dats Crossing My Bridge?” and “The Three Little Pelicans.”

12-13-10 Ms. Fury's 3rd graders collaborate on their fractured fairytale

My third class was Ms. Johnson’s Kindergarten class. The students absolutely LOVED the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach (Mrs. Chicken and Mr. Roach). After the story, the class made story shakers with Madame Poulet on one side and Monsieur Roach on the other side.

12-13-10 A student in Ms. Johnson's Kindergarten class shows his colored story shaker template

My fourth class was Ms. Leblanc’s second grade class. Ms. Easley, the acting principal, came by to observe and watched the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach come to life with the help of the students. It was so much fun.

12-13-10 Madame Poulet approaches Monsieur Roach in Ms. Leblanc's second grade class

After participating in the story, the students worked on their creative story shakers. Too soon after, it was time for lunch! How time flies when you’re having tons of fun!

12-13-10 Ms. Leblanc's second grade students show their shakers

During lunch, Cajun Cornbread Boy and I had a Skype visit with a Kindergarten class in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who wanted to know all about The Cajun Cornbread Boy book. Ms. Naugle, 4th grade teacher, was kind enough to allow me to Skype in her room with her students. It was a blast. The Kindergarten class showed me the puppets they made to act out the story, asked me a few questions, and even sang the refrain for me: “Run, cher, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m full of cayenne.” Ms. Heistand, their teacher, told me that they loved reading The Cajun Cornbread Boy! Yay! They told Ms. Naugle’s class that it snowed flurries that morning. It was a fantastic experience. Thank you, Ms. Heistand’s class!

12-13-10 Dianne de Las Casas Skypes with a Kindergarten class in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A special thank to Ms. Naugle for allowing me to Skype in her room with her students present. Ms. Naugle even Tweeted about it!

12-13-10 A student in Ms. Naugle's 4th grade class holds Cajun Cornbread Boy next to Ms. Naugle's Tweet

After lunch, it was off to Ms. Hadley’s first grade class. I told the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to a very enthusiastic response. Over the weekend, Ms. Hadley even bought my book, The Gigantic Sweet Potato!

12-13-10 Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach in Ms. Hadley's first grade class

After the story, they made their story shakers and they danced all over the room with them! They LOVED shaking their homemade maracas!

12-13-10 Ms. Hadley's first graders hold up their Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach story shakers

My last class was Ms. Brumfield’s 5th grade class. The class was assigned the story, “Sleeping Beauty” to fracture. They had such clever stories: “Sleeping Ugly,” “Snoring Beauty,” and “Weeping Beauty.” I look forward to seeing them finished! Ms. Brumfield had to leave early and all the groups worked so nicely. I was so impressed with their cooperation and collaboration with each other!

12-13-10 Ms. Brumfield's 5th graders work on their fractured fairytale, Sleeping Ugly

It was a great day and I look forward to two more days in the classrooms. Days 9 and 10 will be spent with all the grades during their P.E. periods.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 5 – Friday, December 10, 2010

by Dianne on December 13, 2010

12-10-10 Telling Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach to Ms. Hahn's Kindergarten class

Friends:

On my 5th day at Bissonet, I began a second visit to the classrooms for this artist residency titled “Twisted Tales: Spinning Stories into Fractured Funnies.” My first visit was to Ms. Clement’s 4th grade class. They worked on their fractured fairytales and turning them into a full written story. Their assigned story was “The Princess and the Bean.” I love their fractured versions of “A Royal Pain” and “The Queen and the Bean Burrito!”

12-10-10 Ms. Clement's 4th graders collaborate on their fractured fairytale

In Ms. Arnett’s 3rd grade class, they also worked on writing their fractured fairytale based on the story of “The Three Little Pigs.” I simply love this group’s version: “The Three Little Fish and The Big Bad Shark.” They came up with such a clever refrain in the story. The Shark said, “Little Fish, Little Fish, let me in!” The fish answered, “Not by the scale of my finny fin fin!” I LOVE how creative and talented these students are!

12-10-10 Ms. Arnett's 3rd grade students collaborate on their twisted tale, The Three Little Fish and The Big Bad Shark

Then it was time to visit Ms. Hahn’s kindergarten class. I told the story of “Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach.” They loved it and had fun making their story shakers out of paper plates.

12-10-10 Ms. Hahn's kindergarteners make Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach story shakers

Ms. Presser’s second grade class impressed me with their creative Sweet Potato Pals from my last visit to their class. They hung the completed Pals on the wall. Cute!

12-10-10 Ms. Presser's 2nd graders' finished Sweet Potato Pals!

I told the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur roach to Ms. Presser’s second graders and they were so enthusiastic with their participation in the story that Ms. Presser had to settle them down.

12-10-10 Dianne de Las Casas is a mad Madame Poulet in Ms. Presser's 2nd grade class (photo taken by a second grade student)

After the story, they worked on their Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach story shakers.

12-10-10 A second grader in Ms. Presser's class works on his story shaker

My visit to Ms. Duhe’s second grade class yielded an equally enthusiastic response. When I walked in the door, they all yelled, “Ms. Dianne!” It’s nice to be so well-received! After telling the rockin’ story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, they made story shakers out of paper plates filled with beans, folded in half, and glued closed.

12-10-10 Ms. Duhe's first graders and their Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach story shakers

My last class of the day was Ms. McLeod’s 5th grade class. They had fun collaborating and writing their fractured fairytales. They were assigned “The Frog Prince” and the two stories that stood out were “The Camel and the Princess” and “The Gummi Frog and the Fruity Princess.” Such amazingly clever kids! I can’t wait to see how these stories turn out!

12-10-10 Students in Ms. McLeod's 5th grade class work on their fractured fairytale

After my last class, I had to hurry and leave to get to a book signing at Barnes & Noble Citiplace in Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, I lost my car keys and the whole school had to be searched! Fortunately, some students helped me find my keys and I only lost 20 minutes. I made it to my book signing on time! Whew!

I look forward to the next week, finished the residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 4 – Thursday, December 9, 2010

by Dianne on December 9, 2010

12-9-10 Ms. Johnson's Kindergarten class pull that sweet potato with a heave and a ho!

Friends:

Today was the fourth day of my artist residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana. The school receives a grant through the Arts Council of New Orleans and have been bringing me in for over ten years. I love seeing “my students” grow through the years, like a sweet potato! :)

12-9-10 Ms. Lemoine's first graders pull the gigantic sweet potato

My day began in Ms. Mora’s fourth grade class. I taught them my Twisted Tale technique, showing them how to fracture a fairytale to make it funny and unique. They were assigned the story of “Henny Penny,” a chicken who thinks that the sky is falling. They worked in groups and came up with some creative ideas. One group decided to set their story in the bayou and call it “Froggy Loggy.” Too cute. A branch falls on the frog and he needs to tell someone. His friends, crawfish, snake, and catfish travel with him. They meet “Gator Lator!” So cool! Another group came up with “Guinea Piggy,” set inside a house with a ferocious cat. Impressive work, Ms. Mora’s class!

12-9-10 Students in Ms. Mora's class work on their fractured fairy tale

My second class was Ms. Lemoine’s first graders. Ms. McGivern was substituting for Ms. Lemoine, who had laryngitis! :( The students had a blast and really loved the story of The Gigantic Sweet Potato.

12-9-10 The sweet potato is so GIGANTIC, Ms. Lemoine's first graders can't circle around the sweet potato!

Afterward, they made Sweet Potato Pals, designing their own special faces on their sweet potatoes.

12-9-10 Ms. Lemoine's first grade Sweet Potato Pals

Then it was on to Ms. Johnson’s kindergarten class. They were sitting so nicely on their carpet, ready for me when I arrived! So nice! I had so much fun with these students and with Ms. Johnson. After telling the story, they made their Sweet Potato Pals.

12-9-10 A student in Ms. Johnson's Kindergarten class creates his Sweet Potato Pal

Then we had a blast dancing! I taught the kids a new dance called “The Wobble!”

12-9-10 Dianne de Las Casas teaches Ms. Johnson's kindergarteners how to do The Wobble dance!

My last class before lunch was Ms. Vizzini’s second grade class. I love telling The Gigantic Sweet Potato! Kids always respond so well to the story and these students were no exception!

12-9-10 Love how Ms. Vizzini's second grade class gets into the fun!

They even got to make Ma Farmer’s Down Home Cookbook! So precious!

12-9-10 Ms. Vizzini's second graders create Ma Farmer's Down Home Cookbook

After lunch, it was time for Mr. Boone’s third grade class. They were assigned the story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Here are some of their groups’ ideas for fracturing the story: “Boydilocks (the main character is a boy), “Monkeylocks,” set in a jungle with a tiger as the adversary, and “Goldilocks in the Hood.” I can’t wait to see all these stories!

12-9-10 Teaching Twisted Tales in Mr. Boone's third grade class

My last class was Ms. Muller’s Pre-K. Those children had so much fun with the story and they were so funny that I had to pause several times to laugh!!

12-9-10 Just like in The Gigantic Sweet Potato book, Ms. Muller's Pre-K students fall into a tired heap when the mouse comes by

It was another fantastic day at Bissonet!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

Bissonet Plaza Elementary Twisted Tales Residency Day 3 – Wednesday, December 8, 2010

by Dianne on December 8, 2010

12-8-10 Ms. Chieffo's 2nd grade class loves The Gigantic Sweet Potato!

Friends:

Today was the third day of my artist residency at Bissonet Plaza Elementary. Ellen Miller, the librarian, applies for a grant every year from the Arts Council of New Orleans to fund my visit. It’s my 13th year at Bissonet! Yay! It has been so much fun teaching the upper grades how to fracture fairytales and sharing stories with the lower grades. My day began in Ms. Morrow’s 4th grade class. They were so excited to see me! Ms. Morrow told me that one of the students even told her that she dreamed about me coming to class! How cool is that?

The students were very attentive and enthusiastic about the project. Their class was assigned “The Little Red Hen.” I loved the ideas that oozed from their creative little brains. One group came up with “The Little Green Gator,” to take place in the bayou. Another group created, “The Little Ninja Hen.” They did great work and I can hardly wait to see the stories take shape! Awesome work, Ms. Morrow’s class!

12-8-10 Ms. Morrow's 4th grade class works on their fractured fairytales

Next, it was on to Ms. Frechette’s third grade class. They were a sweet group of students and were excited about their project. Ms. Frechette’s class was assigned “The Gingerbread Man.” After analyzing and breaking down the story, it was time to work on fracturing the tale. One group came up with “The Rat Race,” about a school science teacher whose rat escapes from the maze and students, a teacher, and a principal end up chasing the rat. Too clever! Another group came up with “The Beignet Boy,” changing gingerbread to a beignet and setting the story in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The last group created “Easy As Pie,” changing the gingerbread to an apple pie with ice cream for eyes, a cherry for the nose, and whipped cream for the mouth. The pie rolls instead of runs. What amazing work!!

12-8-10 A student in Ms. Frechette's class works on her Twisted Tales worksheet for her group's story, The Rat Race, based on The Gingerbread Man

In Ms. Joy’s Pre-K class, we had so much fun with my story, The Gigantic Sweet Potato. They giggled and had a blast participating in the story!

12-8-10 Ms. Joy's Pre-K students get into the action in The Gigantic Sweet Potato

After the story, they made Sweet Potato Pals and they came out so cute!

12-8-10 Ms. Joy's Pre-K Sweet Potato Pals!

Next, it was on to Ms. Chieffo’s second grade class. The class enthusiastically received the story of The Gigantic Sweet Potato and had fun participating in the performance. Afterward, they created Sweet Potato Pals.

12-8-10 A student in Ms. Chieffo's 2nd grade class colors her Sweet Potato Pal

I love the faces Ms. Chieffo’s second graders created on their Sweet Potato Pals! No two are alike. They are as unique as the students who created them. :)

12-8-10 Ms. Chieffo's 2nd grade Gigantic Sweet Potato Pals!

After lunch, it was time for Ms. Tonguis’ first grade class. Boy, were they excited to see me! I always have a blast with Ms. Tonguis and Ms. Bonnano joined us too. It was like a big Sweet Potato Party. LOL The students had a ball with the story. They were so participatory and full of laughter. Joy rang through the air!

12-8-10 Dianne de Las Casas tells The Gigantic Sweet Potato to Ms. Tongui's first grade class

They enjoyed creating their Sweet Potato Pals. The word “Pals” was one of their vocabulary words! Look at these precious Sweet Potato Pals from Ms. Tonguis’ first graders!

12-8-20 Dianne's awesome Sweet Potato Pals in Ms. Tongui's first grade class

My day ended in Ms. Dagneault’s 5th grade class. The class was so excited to see me that they had a difficult time settling down. Even so, I was able to get through the lesson and we had enough time to start group work. They were assigned “Cinderella” and there were lots of great ideas bandied. I loved “Cinder Man,” the story of a fellow who wants to go to a rap battle to see his favorite female rap artist. Then there was also “Minirella,” Cinderella in miniature! These students are so creative and incredibly bright. I can’t wait to turn these amazing stories into story reader’s theater scripts!

12-8-10 Ms. Dagneault's 5th grade students works on her Twisted Tales worksheet

After school, I had a really awesome, unexpected treat. I stopped by Ms. Muller’s Pre-K classroom and she fed me collard greens. Get this… the greens were grown in the Pre-K garden.

12-8-10 Ms. Muller's Pre-K garden growing cabbage, lettuce, and greens!

They were the best collard greens I have ever tasted! Ooooh yeah! Thank you so much, Ms. Muller and Ms. Renee’!!

12-8-10 Yummy collard greens from Ms. Muller's Pre-K's class, taken straight from the PK garden!

Another fabulous day at a fabulous school. Keep up the fantastic work, Bissonet Plaza Elementary! :)

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →