Peddlesfoots

Visit us on Facebook

Offering tools to teachers and parents to help create good character in children.

In July of 2007, the authors of the Peddlesfoots curriculum attended training at Harvard Graduate School of Education, becoming part of Project Zero - a research project that promotes reflective learning, using critical and creative thinking skills. This specialized training gave the Peddlesfoots curriculum a specific pedagogical focus - one that encompasses and encourages intellectual character in all its many facets.

New instructional strategies and concepts, such as visible/artful thinking and critical thinking routines that are relevant to the creation of powerful learning environments, were examined and integrated with the Peddlesfoots curriculum. The curriculum and accompanying training has become part of a larger effort to transform educational practice across the continuum in Saginaw, Michigan.


Anita Collins Owner/Director	Lisa Workman Author	Matthew Hill Author
Anita M. Collins has been teaching and working with children since she opened Growing Years Christian School and Child Care Center in Saginaw, Michigan, back in 1986. She is an elementary teacher with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Her goal has always been to educate the whole child, which includes the teaching of specific character traits. "It’s a family affair" could be the title of her work, as together with her son and daughter, who are also teachers, and her niece, who is the illustrator, she has developed The Peddlesfoots, a comprehensive curriculum for presenting nine character traits to preschool age children through second grade. Lisa Workman is an elementary and middle school teacher, presently teaching in the Swan Valley School District of Saginaw, Michigan, and has her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Her drive towards developing a teacher-friendly curriculum stems from her own teaching of character education to middle school students. She believes as research shows, that the earlier a child is taught good character traits, the more likely they will become a part of their value system; this in turn will increase the likelihood that they will someday become valuable and respected citizens in society. Matthew Hill has been involved with literature his whole life. An avid reader and writer from his youth, he studied English literature and composition in college, and is now a 7th/8th grade reading teacher at North Saginaw Charter Academy in Saginaw, Michigan, where he lives with his wife and kids. Mr. Hill has had things published locally in the past, and has high hopes for The Peddlesfoots and other publishing ventures in the future. He believes that character education is vitally important, and is proud to be a part of this project.


Christie Bryant Illustrator	Michele Spitz Music	Laura Hill Promotions/Sales
Christie Bryant grew up in Saginaw, Michigan where she currently resides. She received her degree from Central Michigan University with a major in Health Science and a minor in Business Management. She married after college and has raised three children over the last 12 years. Chris has always enjoyed drawing and has been involved in many drafting and drawing classes throughout high school and college. Her family experience, along with her love of drawing, has come together in her illustrations in the Peddlesfoots series of children's books. Michele Spitz created the Music for Munchkins program in 1999 and has performed in the Great Lakes Bay area for over 30 years as a professional vocalist/musician. She shares her educational music and personalized songs with children of all ages at libraries, preschools, birthdays and expos. Michele has taught at Growing Years Christian Preschool since 1999 and also offers her classes at Saginaw Center Courts and Midland Community Center. Each week she shares her gift of music with over 200 children and families. Michele is a nationally charted recording artist on Billboard Magazine and continues to record radio/tv jingles and children's music. For more information visit Music for Munchkins on the web and Facebook. Laura Hill is married to the author of the Peddlesfoots stories, Matthew Hill, and they have one daughter and one son. Her background is in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with every age group from infants through Kindergarten. She is currently teaching Young Fives and working as our Marketing Director, helping to spread the word to parents and educators.