Signs of Learning

Three educators are directly involved in the "Counting Creatures" learning experience: Lori Peth Fraesdorf and Rosanna Gallagher, who collaborated on the book and song to get them published, and Judi Busche, who revived the book by making it available in a digital format. All have had grade level experience in preschool through 5th grade. All have worked in Professional Development on a district level, and Rosanna has been Principal of the Year in Arizona. They have all presented at a number of different conferences and have been involved in publishing in different contexts. Both Judi and Lori have been part-time ski instructors at Sunrise Ski and Snowboard School in the White Mountains of Arizona. All love teaching and even more, they love learning!

Brain-based learning and inquiry-based instruction are crucial philosophies for effective education, as is an understanding of both Multiple Intelligences and modalities of learning (visual, auditory and kinesthetic). Every subject that we have learned well, we have learned over time, not all at once. It is important to share and stress that we, as adult learners, keep returning, sharing and searching for new perspectives and applications - and that each time we do - we grow! Making more associations on more levels to more things, people and experiences enriches the process of learning for everyone. Sights, smells, sounds, touch and personal feelings all create a more complex learning experience that can be recalled effectively. Learners, even under the best of situations, need continual opportunities to share, discuss, act out, map, journal, teach and reorganize their learning. Learning is not just hands on, it is minds on, carefully guided by a guide on the side, rather than a sage on the stage. Learning is fun!

Many different associations have honored all of us in many different ways. However, some of the most significant have been through previous students and families of those students sharing ways in which their lives have been significantly altered due to our influences. There are no toppers for those special situations!

All three are Master level graduates from the University of Arizona, with Dr. Rosanna Gallagher having achieved her Doctorate. In addition, each has taken many classes through a variety of other educational institutions.

Counting Creatures, originally published in 1991 by Curriculum Associates in the form of big books, individual-sized editions and cassettes, dropped from sight when no longer published. The book has returned in digital form, so can be viewed as a sing-a-long with the song sung by the song writer, Lori (Peth) Fraesdorf), or viewed as an instrumental version. There are slides in a .jpg format to facilitate printing the book in a variety of sizes. For the educators of the past who have been searching for it for more than a decade, and for those of the present who have yet to experience its enjoyment, have fun sharing it with your students!