Bow Wow! I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we did our last Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show! (Actually that would be 7 years for us dogs. But I digress).

Team STWD’s last show at Highland ES in Wallingford, CT on March 12th, 2020.

Because of the looming Coronavirus, all our school shows were canceled. But as humans like to say, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” Meteorologist Ron, Author Elly and I did just that. We saw the writing on the wall and took our live STEM show on-line (YouTube – Schmitty The Weather Dog). We set up a studio in our cozy NYC apartment and started doing musical videos about the weather . . .

. . . science and conservation; we even did a song called “The Elbow Bump” to teach kids about avoiding germs to stay healthy. Then came the pandemic and sheltering in place. The whole world shut down and our kid vid production came to a screeching halt!

Team Schmitty The Weather Dog & Director/Videographer, Mimi, creating musical STWD kid videos pre-Covid.

Ironically, right after posting “The Elbow Bump” – Meteorologist Ron and Author Elly both got Covid 19. Ho crazy is that! Author Elly got through it with only a cough. (Hmm, come to think of it – I had a cough too!). But poor Meteorologist Ron – he had really bad chills, lost mobility and lots of weight.  We were all so scared for him.

After his struggle with Covid – Meteorologist Ron went to the hospital . . . for 148 days! He had infections in his spine and heart that caused two brain bleeds that paralyzed his whole left side. He lost 60 pounds (!) and was intubated twice for more than 20 days. On June 18th a pack of nine doctors and nurses told Author Elly that the Ron we knew would never be coming home and that she should let him go. What? We couldn’t do that! Just like we tell the kids we teach – never ever give up. And we didn’t!

Struggling to stay alive while Author Elly fights for Meteorologist Ron to get a new heart valve. They never gave up! 

After a whole summer of uncertainly and struggle, Author Elly moved Meteorologist Ron to Mount Sinai Hospital where awesome doctors and nurses gave him great care and the new aortic valve that he so desperately needed.

The amazing world renown heart surgeon and all-around nice guy, Dr Stelzer w/ Author Elly-cheering Ron on to rehab.

Then it was off to the hospital rehab for some intense therapy . . .

PT Nehal Patel from Mount Sinai Rehab pushing Ron to walk after heart surgery.

A month later, Meteorologist Ron finally came home . . .

A Yorkie welcome home! Meteorologist Ron is joined on his 1st outdoor outing by his pawsome cardiologist, Dr LaRocca, Author Elly, STWD & her 4-legged friends.

My tail has been wagging ever since. After being paralyzed and almost dying, Meteorologist Ron is learning to walk, talk and play piano all over again. He is amazing and getting better every day. Arf-Arf!

Meteorologist Ron’s health journey was so incredible that the New York Daily News even wrote an article about it . . .

Persistence, determination, hope’: Dog-walking doctor’s random Central Park meeting with old friend becomes a live-saver

ABC TV in New York did a story about Ron’s recovery too . . .

I’ve been posting fun pictures and videos of Meteorologist Ron, Author Elly and moi on my Instagram and Facebook accounts (@SchmittyTheWeatherDog) and Twitter too (@SchmittySays). We have even been doing videos of my catchy “Yappy Happy Birthday” song for high profile humans. After being paralyzed, check out Meteorologist Ron talking, singing and playing piano – all at the same time. Music is therapy, that’s for sure!

I love this video of us playing our “Yappy Happy Birthday” song for Dr. Fauci on his 80th birthday! Makes my tail wag!

Once everything is back to a new kind of normal (whatever that is) Team Schmitty The Weather Dog’s dream is to get back to teaching kids about weather, science and helping to save the planet with a new musical kids’ show.  With persistence and determination – I know we can do this!

Oh yes – I almost forgot . . .

BREAKING NEWS: Even after almost dying and his whole left side paralyzed – including his left hand and vocal chord – Musical Meteorologist Ron & 3 X World Champion Ragtime Piano Player just auditioned for America’s Got Talent. How pawsome is that? Will keep you updated. We’ve got our fingers and paws crossed!

Meteorologist Ron’s audition pic for America’s Got Talent. His journey? Amazing!

Thanks for all your kind words, love and support. They are working! And don’t forget – NEVER GIVE UP!

The post Team Schmitty The Weather Dog Covid Update appeared first on Schmitty The Weather Dog.

On the road again! Arf-Arf!

10 schools and lots and lots of pics later – here are my favorites from our Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show Tour!

Making Team Schmitty The Weather Dog introductions to the Nokomis School 2nd graders. What fun! Arf-Arf!

Hiawatha School’s pawsome Principal O’Farrell gets into the act with Team Schmitty The Weather Dog.

You could hear a Cayuga School pin drop as Author Elly reads her Schmitty The Weather Dog book to the students.

Eager Grundy School kids ready to answer “How did it make you feel when Schmitty The Weather Dog saved the day?”

“Everybody Say O-O-O” with some of the Lynwood Avenue School kids.

Weather kids from Cayuga School. Can you say “precipitation?”

“O-O-O how much fun the Merrimac School 2nd graders have singing that friction causes lightening . . .”

Chippewa students want to know if Schmitty The Weather Dog is a puppet or a real dog.

“Will it be sunshine will it be fog . . . ” sings the enthusiastic Hiawatha teachers . . .

Super fun Waverly School teachers pose with their students after a super fun STWD science sing-along! Bow-Wow!

Ms Roddin and her students from the Tamarac School pose with Author Elly & moi after the show Arf-Arf!

How low can you go? Wenonah School teachers join their 2nd grade students for a fun pic!

And speaking/barking of Wenonah School, I thought you might want to read what one Wenonah parent wrote . . . #blush!

I am sure every parent has had the daily monosyllabic conversation with their child which usually goes something like, “How was your day sweetie?” “Good” “What did you do today?” “Nothing” “What did you learn today?” “Nothing” “”Do you have homework?” “Yeah”…  Well not much detail provided about their day during that talk and they certainly make you feel like they do not want to continue the conversation.  This was certainly not the way my son came home last week!  He started by wildly waving at me from his dismissal line like he couldn’t wait to talk to me.  Then came the giant hug and the beginning of a two hour word for word description of a presentation he had at school.  Schmitty The Weather Dog and her friends had come to Wenonah Elementary School and opened my son’s eyes to the exciting world of weather! Paul learned about the many forms weather can take from sunshine to fog.  He learned that precipitation can be rain, snow, hail, or sleet.  Paul knew that lightning and thunder usually came together but now he knew that lightning caused thunder.

This tiny dog and her human friends explained the concept of global warming, and the differences between tornadoes and hurricanes in such a creative way that my son was hooked on science!  For days our entire family couldn’t stop singing the “Schmitty The Weather Dog” theme song.  Yes, even my 18 year old daughter was caught up in the Schmitty fever that swept thru our home.  Paul even sat down with our dog Max and explained that he could be contributing more to the family since Schmitty was so well behaved and quite frankly so well dressed! We are working on Max but as for Paul whose birthday was coming very quickly all he wanted was the Schmitty The Weather Dog: Daydream book.  What parent wouldn’t love that?  He went to school like every other day and came home with a song in his heart, literally, and a passion for life and the weather that affects it.  I couldn’t be more appreciative to Wenonah Elementary School for bringing in such an amazing presentation and I couldn’t be more appreciative to Schmitty The Weather Dog, Meteorologist Ron and Author Elly for brightening the lives of my children and having a positive and lasting impact on my son.  Schmitty, you are number one in my book (don’t tell Max)!

Pamela Martinalbert-Bouton
Parent
Wenonah Elementary School
Lake Grove, NY

A four paws up to the 2-legged folks at ESBOCES for helping to make this tour possible. BOW WOW!

And here’s a review from one of the top dogs at ESBOCE . . .

Team Schmitty The Weather Dog not only brings energy and excitement to a room full of school children with weather related songs and trivia, but they also bring a message of self-confidence, perseverance and kindness. Read More

Go Waverly Wolverines! I’m glad this is just a statue! It is just a statue, right?

Thank you, Sachem School District. You rock/bark! Arf-Arf!

OK, I’ve gotta go nap!

The post BOW WOW! Taking SEL & STEM To The Sachem School District! appeared first on Schmitty The Weather Dog.

So we loaded up my Schmitty The Weather Dog jalopy and hightailed it to Keyser, West Virginia. Quite a ride. But totally worth it.

A pawsome non-profit, Highland Arts Unlimited, invited Team Schmitty The Weather Dog to appear at the University of West Virginia’s Potomac College campus to perform my Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show for not one, not two, but 52 classrooms of elementary school humans! Yup, 52 classrooms of WV kids were bused in from all over to see my show and join in our sing-along science fun.

A good time was had by all. But don’t take my word for it. Just check out the fun clips from the show on the video below! Arf-Arf!

The West Virginia school kids were pawsome. And so smart. And their teachers were amazing too. Even the Mineral Daily News-Tribune did an article on my show . . .

Here’s a few pictures that made my tail wag . . .

You could hear a dog bone drop as Author Elly read my Schmitty The Weather Dog:Daydream book on stage.

Who knew learning could be so much fun? Arf-Arf!

Not a bad seat in the house! Arf-Arf!

Bow Wow! Even the WV teachers got into the act!

No expense was spared!

Paw-tographing a book for the one and only Dr. Charles, the founder and inspiration for Highland Arts Unlimited.

After the show, kids couldn’t wait to get their picture taken with Team Schmitty The Weather Dog & Dr. Charles. #Blush!

Let’s hear it for my camera crew. Some really nice humans. Arf-Arf!

Thank you, Ms Shirley, for inviting us to perform for the WV Mineral County kids. You rock/bark!

West Virginia was almost heaven!  And I’m one lucky dog to be able to travel the country with my Schmitty The Weather Dog Science Sing-Along Show. Maybe someday I can come to your theater or school too?

The post The Schmitty The Weather Dog Sing-Along Show Goes to WV! appeared first on Schmitty The Weather Dog.

Meteorologist Ron, Author Elly & me, Schmitty The Weather Dog, stimulate students to get excited about studying STEM . . . er, I mean STEAM subjects!

Below are a few fun pics from some of my STEAM school visits . . .

Reading her “Schmitty The Weather Dog: Daydream” book, Author Elly brings literacy & fun to students at the Lyles-Crouch School in Virginia.

“Everybody Say O!” Team Schmitty The Weather Dog uses music & song at The Incarnation School in NYC to help make science and weather fun!

Even Principal Nobile and the teachers from PS 304 in the Bronx joined in the Schmitty The Weather Dog act! Arf-Arf!

But wait, there’s more! Besides the music and literacy, it seems that my show also inspires budding artist too.

Bow Wow! A future Picasso captures my furry essence after our assembly at the Rotella School in Waterbury, CT.

A work of art from a kindergarten student at the Wilbur McMahon School in Little Compton, RI. #Blush.

And we couldn’t do our STEAM assembly without the kindness and support from all the pawsome principals!

With Principal Susan Gold paw-tographing one of my books for the library at the Feynman School for Gifted Students in Bethesda, MD.  I love my job!

I’m one lucky dog and can’t wait till the new school year. Full STEAM ahead. Arf-Arf!

Posing with Ms Manor’s 1st grade class after my STEAM assembly at the Farragut School in Knoxville, TN. #Pawsome.

Yappy Summer!

The post It’s Official! I’m STEAM Not STEM. appeared first on Schmitty The Weather Dog.

As you know, Meteorologist Ron and moi are the weather team for NSTA.  At their regional meeting in Philly. we were shaking paws with lots of very nice science teachers and STEM humans.

Carolyn Hayes, top dog & NSTA President; joins us for some NSTA pup-arazzi!

Posing with teachers from the Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy from Windham, CT.  I love my job! Arf-Arf!

Author Elly &