Teacher Reviews

I have been using Freddie for an entire year now and my second graders love him! I have all your books (including the new one) and your Beyond the Books. I discovered the Freddie the Frog and the Meter Gnome and used it for my second grade musical. I am already reflecting how I will use these products more effectively next year. I saw your coming out with a Freddie app for the ipad-I can't wait.

Thanks again for all you do. Please keep writing and expanding Freddie's adventures to cover other music elements. It is such a fun way to teach and the kids love learning from Freddie.

-- Mark D. Adams, Music Specialist, Endeavour Intermediate, Washington

Sharon,

I saw you speak at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference this past November in Winston Salem. This is my second year teaching. Last year I found Thump in the Night in the stuff that was left behind by the previous teacher. I used it a few times, but I never expanded on it because I wasn’t really sure what to do! Hearing you speak at the conference totally changed my view on the book. I purchased all the books, the puppet, and Beyond the Books. This series has made me a better teacher! I love that it gives me something to guide me, but still leaves me the time to explore the hundred other ideas I have. It has helped me with my professional development goal for the year, which was all about assessment. It is such a wonderful tool and I’ve used it in everything I do with my kids. I’ve even made a bulletin board dedicated to Treble Clef Island that has all the music basics on it. The kids love to hear what Freddie has to say and look forward to seeing him each week, and I look forward to having more adventures with him next year. Thank you so much for creating and sharing such a wonderful teaching tool! Every elementary teacher needs to be introduced to this magical friend.

Best wishes,
Tamara Sanyshyn
K-2 Music
Franklin Academy

My students and I have fallen in love with the Freddie the Frog books and I want to express my gratitude for such an amazing resource! I teach PK-8th grade general music and, while I have been focusing on using Freddie with K-2, he has even sparked the interest of the older students. I find it hilarious that one of my 7th grade boys asked if we could read a Freddie book yesterday. Thank you!

Danielle Horan
Music Teacher
Folsom Elementary School
Hammonton, NJ

Hi!

We are the First Grade Class from Edgerton Public School.
We read Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night.
We liked it a lot! We are learning to read the map.
Freddie is helping us learn!
We look forward to reading more of Freddie’s books.

Love,
Your fans in Edgerton Public School

Hi Sharon,

I’ve gotten lots of great feedback from the teachers & kids about your presentation last week. The teachers appreciated the educational value and the students had a lot of fun (actually I think the teachers had just as much fun). As a music teacher I am truly impressed by how much they really do learn from your books, not to mention how creative and enjoyable they are.

I will definitely promote your materials to colleagues and tell them that it is sooo worth it to have you come in person. You really know how to captivate an audience and keep them actively involved.

Becky Gorman, New Jersey

What a thrill to see your presentation! I was in awe as you held each student in the palm of your hand. They were focused, having fun, and learning music. Several teachers saw most of your sessions and said that each one was excellent, captivated the students, and that each presented a different level of material (Four sessions: PreK-2, 3-6, 7&8, 9-12). I was so impressed with your teaching style and control of the whole group.

Glenda Jensen, 4th grade teacher

"I just wanted to thank you for coming to our class on Friday - for sharing your materials and experience with us and our students, and for introducing us to Freddie the Frog. The students really enjoyed your class and gained a lot of valuable advice from you."

Charlene Ryan, Associate Professor, Music Education, Berklee School of Music

Sharon provided an in-service for the sixty elementary music teachers in our district. For two hours after school on a Friday afternoon we sang, moved, and learned new ways to teach reading on the staff. Our teachers were energized and enthused with the Freddie the Frog materials and training Sharon has created. This was not a typical workshop. The information presented has been tested in Sharon’s own classroom and is readily adaptable to any teaching situation. I highly recommend Sharon and Freddie the Frog for both teachers and students alike.

Susan Stevenson, NBCT
Lead Elementary Music Teacher
Bell's Crossing Elementary School

Hi Sharon,
Freddie is still going strong, and thanks to the Boomwhackers the kids all think that Freddie's favourite is F - because it is his favourite colour and his name starts with that letter. Then of course Eli's favourite is E, and favourite colour is yellow. Hahaha, consequently those 2 boomwhackers and note recognition colours are ALWAYS remembered!

Cheers,
Sofia Hobson, Queensland, Australia

More Reviews...

"I used Freddie with my kinders the other day. I received several emails from parents asking me about my puppet friend and his favorite song. Your hello Freddie song. He was a huge hit as always.Thanks Sharon!"

Laura Pope Olsen

Dear Sharon,

I must apologize. When I read your 'Frog Warning' that Freddie would become overwhelmingly popular....I just didn't take it seriously enough! I have since learned!

I have two students whose Mother works here are our Librarian. The Mom/Librarian - (Laurie) came in to tell me that her daughters have been HOUNDING her to get the Freddie books for the library so they could check them out!!!!! She popped in my room to say: "thanks alot" :)

Also, One of my first grade classes came in and tried to 'hi-jack' my lesson plan by insisting that I read them ANOTHER Freddie Adventure! (just so you know....they won.)

I even had an adult come in and say...he was a frustrated musician and he never learned 'music'... so I just showed him real quickly the staff...the frog - the "F" lines (home and vacation home), Eli's line (and Vacation home) and this man left (within 10 minutes) recognizing the Treble clef and 4 note locations!

What can I say? I think every child taking outside private lessons will impress their teachers with learning the locations of the notes and improving their music reading skills.

We are currently singing Freddie's version of ABC. The kids were astounded to realize that the mystery tune could be any one of three songs! It was great fun. Thanks again.

If you are ever in San Diego...or the Southern California area...please let us know....you would certainly get the red carpet treatment here at Francis Parker School!

Darleen A. Herriman
Music Specialist
Francis Parker Lower School

"Thank you for introducing me to Freddie and his friends! I have a piano background and was a voice major in college. The piano keyboard is a very good visual and connecting the keyboard to the staff makes it so much easier to understand. And kids love stories! I'm at a Title 1 school (72% poverty) and they're always telling us that story telling is one of the best ways to connect with kids of poverty. I absolutely LOVE the Freddie the Frog materials!"

Melody Bean, Kansas

"I bought all the Freddie books and extras after your presentation at the JW PEPPER session in Kansas City this summer (and we even had lunch together). I have used the Freddie series with GREAT success in my classroom. The kids are funny though--they'll say, "it's just a puppet" but they that kid will be the first to want a hug/high five. Aren't they funny?

Well, I am writing you because my 1st grader re-read "Bass Clef Monster" today. I was just going to review some, but they begged to read it again. I was thrilled. We had already talked about Halloween coming up in a few weeks. The BEES and DRAGON characters made think (along with the ELEPHANT). We discussed that the Elephant wasn't very nice or trustworthy because she kept hinting at "eat" instead of meet. However the Bees and Dragon seemed to be friendly and helpful...but they really weren't good people. I connected this to Halloween or even the horrible idea of "someone driving up to you and offering to take you to get ice cream." The kids knew what to do, but it reinforced the lesson of be careful of strangers. I thought that I should e-mail you, as some other teachers could use this idea, too.

With most of my classes, I have complete 2 books, and they are clamoring to finish the rest (hey, I need to save some for after Christmas). Finally, this may not happen everywhere, but my 4th & 5th graders have heard about Freddie and are jealous that he wasn't around when they were in K-3. They want me to bring him over so they can meet him--it's amazing what word of mouth does.

Have a great day, and thanks again for the help--keep up the good work."

Sam Crust
Kansas City

"Love the correlation with the animals and the notes. I have taught K-8 for 23 years and this THE best way to correlate notes and positions!"

Laura Johnson, South Dakota

"Gosh, I LOVE your book.  It is worth every penny!  The Kindergarteners just listened with their little mouths hanging open and the 2nd graders all when "oooh" when they saw the treble clef and notes---such fun.  What a great way to teach note names and the clef signs.  Thank you again."

Jan Ringstmeyer, Elementary Music Educator, Winner, South Dakota

"Hi Sharon. My name is Jen and I am from the Iowa City District. I met you at the convention this past fall (in Ames). I just wanted to tell you that I love the new book! My students have been asking when it will be here ever since they heard Treble Clef Island. So I know they will be excited this afternoon. Freddie has done wonders in my music classroom! Keep up the good work and thanks for being such a wonderful music advocate!"

Jennifer Jones
General Music
Coralville Central

"I am a Music Education Teacher, and I am always looking for new, fun, and exciting things to bring into my classroom. I found Freddie The Frog online, and introduced it to my students two weeks ago. They absolutely loved it! I am using it all the way up to the fifth grade! It is helpful for them to learn the notes of the staff in an easier way. Are there other Freddie books? I would love to continue using him in my classes. Thank you for sharing your creativity!"

Bonnie Rankin
Music Director
Southampton Academy
Courtland, VA

"Both of my schools have ordered the Freddie book, puppet, and flash cards for me this year. I used them for the first time today with kindergarten and first grade. I was amazed that my first graders remembered where everyone lived at the end of the story. They only forgot the azaleas. I thought that was wonderful after only one time of hearing the story. The kindergartners did very well too, although not quite as well as the first. I will definitely be telling colleagues about this. I know I will be able to use the puppet for a variety of things also. Thank you."

Carla Bauer
East and West Elementary
Knoxville, Iowa

"Just wanted to let you know that the kids absolutely love Freddie. The other day they started chanting, "Freddie, Freddie," before I even got a chance to get him out. They all love the story and ask to hear it everyday! I saw one of my students in the grocery store. She saw me, became excited, and waved enthusiastically. She started talking to her mom in Spanish and the only thing I understood was "Hola, Freddie." Then she started singing the "Hello, Freddie" song. It was very cute."

Rodganna Avery
AGWSR Schools
Ackley IA

"I just bought this book about a month ago, and I absolutely love it! I read it to my third graders (this is my first year at the school and I've found that the intermediate students don't know their note names very well) and they took right to it. I drew a large staff on the board and drew a picture of each thing from the book (Freddie, the elephant, the crocodiles and the azaleas) and we reviewed notes that way. I have found that they relate the story very well to the staff! All I have to do is say is...

"Remember where the azaleas grow" and they remember where A is on the staff! I don't have the puppet, but I'd love to get it! I'd love to see more of these types of stories be published, they are wonderful!"

Sabrina LaPointe
Elementary Music Teacher
New York