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
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