Story Buddies
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"Created by a Teacher/Mom who loves
engaging minds in playful literacy..."

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I have been teaching grade one for the past seventeen years and I am a mother of two wonderful young children! Over the years I have learned that Mindful Literacy (reading: decoding (letter sounds) and comprehension skills, deeper thinking skills and writing) is easy for some and difficult for others.  Regardless of anyone's  challenges, as we all have them, when Literacy is engaging, meaningful and done through purposeful play children forget they are learning and enjoy it!

My goal for 'Story Buddies' is to provide a fun and engaging way children can enjoy reading, writing, and play!

Story Buddies has blossomed all on its own.  It started out by sewing a few bags for teachers in my school and working with one of my parents with an embroidery machine.  As time passed, teachers and parents wanted their own custom Story Buddies for their class and their own children to have fun with over the summer!  My own kids love plush animals and stories, so it involves the whole family!  Having the characters helps bring the book alive.



 “Not all teachers are parents, but all parents are teachers.” (W.J. Bennett)

  "Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and                     spirit." (John Steinbeck)



New Snuggle Bags for Bonded Sugar Gliders!  Oh so much fun!

Nick and Maggie love to come to school with me every day in their Snuggle Bag.  I have different colours to match what I'm wearing that day.  My students really enjoy reading with Nick and Maggie while using my snuggle bags to hold them.  These bags are easy to wash too!

New Nature Bags Now Available! 

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Story Buddies Adventures... Kids love plush toys and enjoy writing about their adventures together!
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Rides at Playland.
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Totem Poles at Stanley Park.
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Sunset at Second Beach Vancouver.
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Story Buddy meeting Trevor Linden!

Margriet Ruurs... Author of Emma's Eggs!!! http://www.margrietruurs.com/

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Trevor signed our Trevor's Adventures bag and book! Thank you, Trevor!!!!
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Emma's eggs for REAL!!!

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A huge Thank you goes to Barbara Spurll, Illustrator of Emma's Eggs and many award winning books.  I am thrilled to be able to offer an original image specially made for Story Buddies, so we can all enjoy! http://www.barbaraspurll.com/

I love how Barbara Spurll is able to create a character's charisma.  Her illustrations make for wonderful SmartLearning Lessons.  The youngest of kids are able to make powerful inferences from her artwork!  Both Margriet and Barbara are Canadian.  They make for a wonderful Children's Literature Book Team.  If you are interested in any Critical Thinking Lessons I have used for Emma's Eggs, Emma and the Coyote, Emma at the Fair, and Emma's Cold Day; feel free to contact me.



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Cynthia Nugent is finishing Mr. Got To Go Where Are You?  The third book in the famous cat' series.  Mr. Got to Go is a famous cat that lived at the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver.  You can go to the Sylvia Hotel and see pictures and the service elevator he would go up and down in.  Cynthia has sent me an image of Mr. Got To Go, so we could send a sample bag to the publisher.  It is done and we have sent it off for permission to use the image.  So it is only a sample for now.

http://www.cynthianugent.com/

Two years ago my family and grade one class had a wonderful opportunity to visit Cynthia Nugent at the Sylvia Hotel.  The Sylvia Hotel treated us like Kings and Queens!  I have to say in all my years, this has to be one of my favourite field trips of all time.  Our current principal had to come, he thought it was so cool to miss and two retired principals and a retired grade one teacher friend came along too!  I never knew how much talent we have right at our front door!  Through SmartLearning and starting Story Buddies I have had many wonderful opportunities to meet some wonderfully creative people!


I also have some great Critical Thinking Lesson Sequences for the Mr. Got To Go series and for Fred and Pete at the Beach.   All illustrated by Cynthia Nugent.  Contact me if you are interest in finding out more about it.  Cynthia is wonderful at capturing the essence of English Bay Vancouver and it's distinguishing beauty!  http://www.sylviahotel.com/

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Mr. Got To Go Books...

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Sample Only

Sylvia Front Desk

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Pictures at the Sylvia Hotel

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Talk about finding amazing talent at your front door.  This past school year I have had the great pleasure of meeting Annette LeBox from Maple Ridge!  I have always used her book 'Salmon Creek' to teach the life cycle of Coho Salmon right in the Allouette River by our school.  Annette LeBox visited our school to come and tell us about her books.  What is so inspiring about her books is that they are fiction books based on non-fiction research about Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge where we live. 

http://annettelebox.com/

For example, Salmon Creek is about our local Blaney Creek and all the information you learn about Coho Salmon and their life cycle is research based and factual.  I've become a Craniac since reading 'Miracle at Willowcreek' about Sandhill Cranes at our local Pitt Polder by Pitt Lake.  My Present class along with a grade 4/5 class at my school will be participating in SmartLearning Lessons and a Novel Study created by Annette LeBox herself.  If you are interested in more details feel free to contact me.

I can't wait for her new book about Peace that she is working on.

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Sandhill Cranes at Delta B.C. George C. Migratory Bird Sanctuary!  If you are still and quiet they will feed right out of your hand. 



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New Custom Hand Made Bags

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Custom Hand Made Personal Towels or Blankets...

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New Custom Specialized Large Lined Tote Bags
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Note: Over Two Hours of Hand Stitching!

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Stuffy sold separately!  Eagle feather not for sale.
Large Tote Bag has a larger digitized image.
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New Great Teacher Gift! Hats & More...
Made with sparkle yarn to sparkle up any outside supervision while keeping you warm!

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New Hand Crocheted Headbands, Owls, and Cats:

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We did it!!!!  October 2014

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I never thought I would get my Master's in Education!  It all started when I was encouraged to get my Graduate Diploma in Early Learning from Simon Fraser University.  My teaching has changed forever!  Thank you to my family for all the love, support, and encouragement through my MEd journey.
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