Nature is a teacher. Children learning to love and to care when they hold baby chicks. Their world suddenly becomes joyous. A trip to a farm. Doing things you have never done.
Riding a tractor. And driving a tractor. Thrilling. Bravery needed. Seeing the world of nature. Farm life. The best life. Batteries not included.
Jennie
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About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over thirty-five years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It's the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That's what I write about.
I was a live guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show. I am highlighted in the seventh edition of Jim Trelease's million-copy bestselling book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital, and the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
A Teacher's Reflections 
Nature is a wonderful teacher. Special memories. 🙂
Absolutely! Thank you. 🙂
A trip to a farm is always wonderful. My 11-year-old friend here in Spain went on a class visit to a farm and saw a lamb being born. She can’t stop talking about it.
Experiences that stick with you forever! Thanks, Darlene.
You can see the delight on their faces. The best thing indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. It really is. Best to you.
What fun! The only thing I remember from my own preschool experience was visiting chicks at a farm. Great share, Jennie. 🙂
And, if that is your memory, it goes to show what is important. Thanks, Diana. 🙂
YASSS! 🙂
😀
Nature is indeed a wonderful teacher!
Absolutely! 🙂
Amen! My sisters just ordered a box (!!!) of 50 black Australorp chicks from a breeder in the mid-west to expand her flock of increasingly elderly hens. Amazingly they all arrived alive and cheeping. Now my 10-year-old nephew (recently moved from CA) will have the experience you describe of holding and taking care of and bearing witness to chicks as they grow into hens. And the experience of watching the roosters guard their flock from hawks and other dangers… And the experience of planting lots of seeds and watching most of them grow, grow, grow!!! And the experience of wood chucks and rabbits eating lots of things planted in their garden. And maybe even the experience of one of their dogs catching and killing a woodchuck. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Ahh, life. Ahh, death. Ahh, nature. Hurrah for this blog post and for meaningful, non-battery-operated experiences!!!
I loved reading this story, Will. Your nephew will get some experiences of a lifetime. Those non-battery-operated experiences are the best! Many thanks, Will. 🙂
Letter no children n be children. Terrific!
Thank you, Steve!
Jennie, out of curiosity, I wished to ask that being this is Military Appreciation Month, will your children be meeting a veteran or making a field trip to a VFW or anything?
Hi, GP. Absolutely! I will host our school’s Memorial Day Remembrance. Look for a post and probably more leading up to that holiday. Is there anything else I can do for you? You can search my archives for this same event every year. So important!
Nothing for me, but everything you can think of for them.
🇺🇸
My kids had a farm experience when they were young. Nothing like sending a little one out to collect eggs or to pick corn for dinner. Nice post, Jennie.
Thanks, John. I’m glad to hear that your kids had that experience.
So much more as well. Thanks, Jenne.
😀
What a priceless gift!!!! I’m so sorry I knew nothing about farms, nor did my children. We all miss so much in this world. I’m glad some are not missing it. Warmed my heart to see the video.
Thank you so much, Marlene. I’m so glad the video warmed your heart. I’ve watched it so many times! Everybody doesn’t have everything, but everybody has something. I didn’t have many farm experiences, but I did have the outdoors and camp. Like you, I just see and appreciate those experiences. And, I try to keep having them. A child at heart. ❤️
My last husband used to ride his grandchildren around our yard on his garden tractor that was used primarily for snow removal and their faces were just as priceless. I’ve traveled the world and lived in so many places, experiencing so very much others never imagine but farm life is something that passed me by in understanding and just calls to me. Maybe the next time around. 🙂 Nature is such a great teacher and my little space around my trailer has been a lovely substitute this time around. 🙂 Playing in the dirt is heavenly. Have a wonderfilled week, Jennie.
I love your stories, Marlene. Makes my day. Have a wonderfilled week, too. 😀
The best teacher (you) working with the best material (nature).
Humbling, Dan. Thank you. 😊
That had to be wonderful to see… and wonder-filled for them to experience. Huge hugs.
It was, Teagan! Best to you. 🙂
So glad it was a John Deere…HA!
Yes!! Me, too. The tires are as big as the kids. 😀
We all need more batteries not included experiences.
Indeed we do!
Jennie, this is a wonderful gift to these children.
Thank you.
Even as adults we learn so much from nature…thanks Jennie. 🙂
Yes, we do. 🙂
Yes! Dump the apps and iPods, and go for a tractor ride. Great post, Jennie. Love the video ❤️
Thanks, Tina. 🙂
Nature is a beautiful teacher Jennie. And like you said – no batteries included or required. 🙂 x
The best! 🙂
Our children definitely need more contact with nature, Jennie. It is a wonderful teacher and very good for all of us.
Most definitely, Robbie.
My g.pa was a farmer, back in the day. I am grateful for the farm experience. Thank you for this post and the joyful tractor ride.
A pleasure, Ren. 🙂
Nature, and learning how to really listen to it (and at the same time, yourself) is such an important life experience.
Absolutely!
That’s some big tractor, room for the whole gang! Making memories without batteries is definitely a great pastime. 🙂
You bet! No batteries make the best memories. And, it is the most gigantic tractor I have seen.
Do you ever take the children to a “children’s museum”?
Our school does not doe field trips because the state rules for volunteer drivers are so tough. When we took field trips in the past, I definitely took children to a children’s museum.
Jennie you are awesome…your children will never be the same because of you.
Aww… that’s so nice. Thank you! 😊
What a wonderful trip! The kids will never forget it! 😊
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
Reblogged this on Children Are Our Future Now!.
Thank you, Paulette.
You’re so welcome Jennie. How do you like the new way that children are our future now looks?
I was working for quite a few hours over at the Texas Station yesterday, one of my favorite places, going over every single site that I have and redoing every one of them, changing the format and updating all the plugins and things that are on them.
I finally got that one to look like I had hoped it would look.
I really like the new look! The title, and then the child looking up with hope. Very good, Paulette.
Thank you Jennie. That’s what I wanted to do before but never saw the template in WordPress formatted that way. I upgraded the site recently to a more expensive plan.
Guess what?
The child looking up was me at a very young age.
I thought that might be you. Wonderful! 😀
You have an amazing way with words and images I’m putting them together and very compelling ways
Thank you!
It is 100% true. 🙂
🙂
Indeed. Multisensory, physical learning stays with them. There is something very calming and balancing about being outdoors and under a sky that helps children regulate themselves too. We just don’t give them enough of it.
Well said, Ali! 🙂
Children are exceptional and creative
They are, indeed!