Category Archives: Expressing words and feelings

Happy Anniversary – 50 years!

January 10, 1976 January 10, 2026 Happy Anniversary! Jennie

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, Inspiration, joy, Love | Tagged , | 116 Comments

Books and Magic

‘What an astonishing thing a book is.  It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, … Continue reading

Posted in books, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Library, literacy, Quotes, reading | Tagged , , , | 92 Comments

Giving – the New Amos McGee Book

The  Amos McGee books are wonderful. The first in the series, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, won the coveted Caldecott Medal. I love the newest book, A Snow Day for Amos McGee. Amos works at the zoo.  His best friends … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, preschool, Quotes, reading, reading aloud | Tagged , , , | 68 Comments

Gloria’s Surprise Santa Gift

Gloria is spending Christmas and the holidays with me and my Hubby.  She is very happy!  On Christmas Eve I asked her if she wanted to write a letter to Santa.  Yes, and no.  She felt awkward telling me that … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Gloria, Heart, Imagination, joy, Kindness, Love, Play, preschool, School | Tagged , , , , | 68 Comments

The Best Christmas Ad – My Favorite

I will share this Christmas ad every year, because… it’s that good. Christmas is about family and friends. It’s a time to smile and remember. Yes, remember. Because in the end, it’s our memories that stick with us. That’s what … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, Heart, Inspiration, joy, Love | Tagged , | 94 Comments

A Bad Day, and a Remarkable Turnaround.

I believe.  This is the season of believing, and what happened yesterday is proof. Yesterday was a bad day.  Period.  School was difficult, and nothing I was doing with children made an ounce of difference.  When I got home, Hubby … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Giving thanks, Heart, Inspiration, Kindness | Tagged , , , , | 101 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Jennie

Posted in Community, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Family, Giving thanks, Heart, Inspiration, Kindness, Love | Tagged , , , , | 71 Comments

More on Diversity

I’m reading Katherine Applegate’s award winning book, Wishtree, to my library Read Aloud group.  The story is told by Red the tree, who is over two centuries old.  Red is the Wish Tree in the neighborhood, carrying on a long tradition … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, chapter reading, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, literacy, reading aloud | Tagged , , | 75 Comments

My Eric Carle Museum Visit

I love this picture! I visited the Eric Carle Museum, and as always, was surprised and delighted by what I saw and what I learned. Author and illustrator Astrid Sheckels read aloud her new book, Flora and the Jazzers, to … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Eric Carle, Eric Carle Museum, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, picture books, reading aloud, Singing, The Arts, wonder, young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 76 Comments

When a Chapter Book Ends…

I finished reading reading aloud Charlotte’s Web this week, with mixed emotions.  I have a dramatic scene (understatement) I do at the ending of a chapter book.  I get upset and tell my wonderful fellow teacher: “Heidi, I don’t like this.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, chapter reading, Death and dying, E.B. White, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , | 79 Comments