Unlike many bloggers,
I don’t write reviews about my year.
I don’t have lofty goals for the New Year.
My joy comes from the little things everyday,
because these are the big things,
and become my landscape, my portrait.
Writing a kindness letter
Making a class Brown Bear, Brown Bear book.
Making a robot (stay tuned!)
Am I looking forward to the New Year?
You bet I am!
Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Jennie
About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over forty 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.
Writing a kindness letter
Making a class Brown Bear, Brown Bear book.
A Teacher's Reflections 
Happy New Year, Jennie 🎉🥰
And to you, Ritu! 🎉 ❤️
and, like you, I know those are the best things of all
You do know, Beth! 😍
Happy New Year. It will be a good one!! I love this, “My joy comes from the little things every day”. Such an important lesson. I love your projects and can’t wait to read more about them. Sending love and hugs. xo
Thanks so much for your wonderful words, Darlene! 😍
💖😊
Perfect, Jennie…Happy New Year x
Thank you, Carol!
❤
Love the robot! Happy New Year Jennie!
He even has a name. 😍 Happy New Year! 🎉
Can’t wait to see what that robot will be up to…does (s)he have a name yet? Happy New Year – it feels like a fresh clean spiral notebook ready to be filled with each ‘little’ joy of each day!
Yes, he does have a name! Stay tuned… we even wrote to NASA. The class book is a treasure; each child decided on his/her favorite animal, and made a handprint of that animal. For example, “Trista, Trista, what do you see?” “I see a yellow zebra looking at me.” I would love to post one of the pages, but they include a photo of the child. The book will be in the classroom all year for the children to enjoy.
The New Year holds much magic for your kiddos!
I hope so!
Oh, your Robot looks fantastic. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it, and finding out what inspired her build…Roz, or the Robot lab? Also looking forward all the other adventures you get up to in the Aqua Room.
Happy New Year, Jennie!
Thanks so much, Deborah! I’m hoping to get a blog post out this week. It’s a great story, but not Roz inspired. Happy New Year!
Looing forward to reading it whenever you post it!
Gloria tomorrow (you will love it), robots later this week!
Happy New Year, Jennie. I’m looking forward to another year of Jennie stories.
Thanks so much, Dan! I’m glad!!
Happy New Year!
Thank you!
Happy New Year, Jennie. I have goals (rather lofty goals) every day. Do I achieve them? Not as often as I’d like, but the main goal is to wake up each morning and try to accomplish anything. That’s my new year goal too. 🙂
Now, that’s a real goal, and a wonderful one. Happy New Year to you, my friend. 😀
My heart is smiling thinking about what the Aqua Room will do next.
Thank you! We do have wonderful events in the classroom, big and small.
Love it! Happy New Year, Jennie!
Thank you, Wynne! Happy New Year to you!
“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan. There can be no doubt that the Aqua Room is in for a year of learning and play made fun by Jennie. Looking forward to enjoying their 2024’s adventures via “A Teacher’s Reflections”. Thank-YOU!
You are so right. What I bring sets the path, sets the tone, fuels the fire…on and on. Many thanks for your kind words. Here’s to the Aqua Room adventures in 2024!
The little things are the best indeed. Ollie’s tail wagging when he hears me talking, a quiet evening in the house with no stress or distractions, sun coming through dark clouds to brighten up a day.
The robot looks great! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, yes, yes! I’m so glad you ‘get it’, Pete. An Ollie tail wag is little, but so very big in what it does. So, in my classroom there are these ‘moments’ from a smile to a child figuring out how to connect a puzzle, to children pressed hard against me because I’m reading a great book to them. I wish everyone could soak up their little things, ’cause they’d be so much happier. Yes, the robot, he is loved and pulled through the class all the time. I’ll get a blog post out this week. Best to you, Pete.
Living in the present is a great approach. I suspect making a robot (magnificent sculpture, by the way) has something to do with Peter Brown.
Actually, no, but don’t tell Peter Brown’s Roz. 😀 Thanks, Pete. The children pull the robot all around the classroom. Blog post this week. Yes, living in the present with preschoolers is a great approach.
Enter fun!
Yes!
Love to see all the creativity. Inspiring! Bring on 2024!
Thank you!
Thanks, GP!
Looking forward to the new year and stories of the children. Happy New Year, Jennie.
Thanks, John. Best to you in ’24.
😁
Hi, Jennie. This is a wonderful post! Happy New Year!
Thank you, Charles. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Happy New Year, Jennie!
Thank you, Miriam. Best to you in ’24!
Thank you, Jennie!
Happy new year; your thoughts are the real thing though🌿 wish you the best, God bless❣️
Thank you!
You’re a woman after my own heart, Jennie!
“I don’t have lofty goals for the New Year.
My joy comes from the little things everyday,”
I’m so glad we’re in the same company, Liz! Yes, we’re women with the same heart.
🙂
A robot? Now that should be interesting!
Yes, indeed! It’s very interesting, and I’ll post later this week.
How fun, Jennie. I hope you and the Aqua Room have a year full of adventure and discovery. Happy Learning!
Thank you, Diana!
That robot is so adorable, Jennie. All the best to you and yours (and to the Purple and Aqua rooms) for the New Year!
Thank you, Bruce!
Wonderful, Love the united letter of being Kind… Those are the more important little things, which are in fact the BIG things that matter..
Much love and a very Happy New Year dear Jennie xx ❤
You said it well! Apparently, some of our children had been calling children from another class ‘babies’. This became a problem, which we addressed with the children…. but nothing is better than an honest ‘I’m sorry’ letter, and promising to be kind. Yes, they are the big things! Best to you, Sue! 😍
I’m certain that the lesson of “I’m sorry” will stay with them into their adult years, especially Jennie, how you teach.
And how your students come back in their own adult life to honour you. They certainly remember you and those lessons 😊
Have a WONDERFUL New term,
Lots of love ❤️ 😍 your way xx
Those little ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’ words are excellent lessons, a good foundation. Thanks, Sue! 💕
💜
Beautiful thoughts Jennie I love that Robot! Happy New Year 🎊🎊💜💜
Happy New Year, Jennie. It sounds like a great line up ❣️
Happy New Year, Jennie, to you and your Aqua Room kids.
Thank you, Carla!
Love this message and happy New Year, Jennie!!
Thank you!
A sane and beautiful philosophy to live by Jennie. Wishing you a great 2024. tx much for visiting my site. I would be thrilled if you’d write a guest blog post for my site. If you think it might be fun or helpful to have my followers (who total about 10k across my various social media) meet you, here’s the link for general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ – best, da-AL