When it comes to education
Albert Einstein and I share the same wisdom,
only he says it far better,
with clarity, humor, and a brilliant example
Einstein’s words:
Jennie’s words:
Assuming all children are the same
is putting a round peg into a square hole.
Testing is not a measure of a genius.
Believing in children creates a genius.
Jennie
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 
I was only a’Dinner-lady’/helper at a junior school in the UK for ten years, and thoroughy enjoyed it. I took a few of the slower readers under my wing and also did poetry with them…(oddly enough the naughtier boys often joined the latter group?!) I have great respect for most teachers. You are very much in the more imaginative area of teaching and deserve all the praise you receive, Jennie! With knobs on…All the very best. Cheers. xx
Thank you, Joy! I bet you loved helping those slow readers. Poetry, too. Good for you! Yes, I am the imaginative one. Best o you!
Einstein has impressed me over time for his general knowledge than his scientific prowess, Jennie. Standardized tests, and the various decisions that are made base on them, are a terrible thing. The worst decision ever is the one to “teach to the test.” If we’re going to ask children to decide what they want to do with their life at 18, we should give them the broadest education possible prior to that point. Thank you, and the other teachers that try to do that.
He is a Renaissance man, far more than a scientist. His wisdom reminds me a little of Mark Twain. Unfortunately many teachers have to ‘teach to the test’. It’s so sad and wrong. Thank you, Dan!
yes, yes!
Indeed!
100% agree!
I knew you would feel the same way, Marlene!
Brilliantly stated by Einstein and you! Yet the upper grades remain rigid.
Thank you, Frank. You are right about the upper grades. It’s sad. If I was a teacher in that area and couldn’t really make changes, I would spend at least 10 minutes a day reading aloud a great book with passion.
Einstein was smart in so many ways. You are so right, Jennie, giving a child confidence and love is what creates a genius. xo
Hear, hear!
*mic drop*
Exactly!
So true! You and Einstein are da bomb!
Thank you, FR!
Hear, hear! I couldn’t agree more. I saw some of the damage wrought by No Child Let Behind with students who expected me to tell them what and how to write when I gave them an open-ended writing assignment. It took me a few weeks to get them to understand that they had something important to say, and my role was to help them put in it writing so that other people could appreciate it.
Liz, I was never a fan of No Child Left Behind. Jim Trelease wrote about it, with statistics and stories. Thank you for sharing your first hand account. To me it’s so simple; how you approach teaching will be how children approach learning.
You’re welcome, Jennie. Not to mention that the whole NCLB legislation was based on a false premise–that standardized tests are not an accurate assessment of learning and the ability to learn in the future.
Exactly.
Such an important message to share early on in a child’s life
Yes, indeed. Thank you, John.
Hear, hear!!! I totally agree with that.
Thank you, Deborah!
Absolutely agre…from one Jennie to another 🙂
Thank you.
Nothing says it better than that meme. Thanks, Jennie.
True!
As you know I also posted this recently, and it is as true today as it ever was.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes and yes! Best to you, Pete.
Testing isn’t a measure of genius, I agree. Yet weren’t we all told our IQs were our destiny? Different times, glad to know that people have wised up about genius.
You’re so right, Ally!
He may speak the words but you fulfill with action.
My goodness, I certainly try. That’s very kind, Pam. Thank you.
A worthwhile reminder for children, teachers, and administrators alike, Jennie!
I feel the same way!
Hi Jennie! Thank you for another excellent post!
You are welcome, Charles!
Believing in children — so good, Jennie!
Thank you, Wynne!
Another example of how we’re on the same page, Jennie. One of the things I felt was downright cruel as a teacher was to force children, especially those who struggled in school and already had self-esteem issues, to take these tests. What it accomplished was to make them feel worse about themselves. Teaching 101 knows that’s the worst thing you can do to kids.
Yes, yes, yes! Our daughter always struggled with testing, and she is the right brain creative one. Her self esteem plummeted with testing. It’s easy to ‘test’ children one-on-one in a relaxed, fun way. We don’t need standardized tests created by non-teachers. We sure are on the same page, Pete.
Your students are incredibly lucky to have someone who understands they are geniuses.
Thank you, Barb. 🥰
Beautiful.
❤️
I ounce never understand standardization. You and Albert are truth tellers.
Thank you, John. Truth tellers…🙂
Comparison is a killer. I know I fall into its trap. A great reminder.
Thank you, Brian.
Well said, Jennie. Or well quoted – whatever. I know you think that way in your teaching and that makes it so great for all the kids lucky enough to be in your classes.
Thank you, Anneli!
LOL. Words of genius!!
He was!
Well said, my friend. We are all individuals with some shared traits, but other unique ones. We cannot be lumped together just because on the outside we appear the same or similar. Hugs, dear Jennie.
Spot on, Jill!
🤗
Your quote is right up there with Albert’s, Jennie!
That’s so nice, Mitch. Thank you!
I completely agree believing in children is a genius. A wonderful post Jennie.
Thank you, Kamal.
You are always welcome Jennie 😊
So true!
Yes!
what a great quote, and so true…
Yes, and yes. Thank you, Jim. Is your teaching winding down for the school year? Mine is ramping up for the next six weeks. Best to you.
Hi Jennie! I was fortunate to be able to teach in Sydney, Australia this semester for two months, and so at this point my semester is over. We had a wonderful time there, and we even got to visit New Zealand while we were over there.
Best of luck finsihing up your school year!
My goodness, what a wonderful opportunity. I’m so glad for you and your family. I hope you will have a chance to write a blog post and share photos. Best to you, Jim.
it was a wonderful opportunity, and it probably would lend itself to a blog post 🙂
Hooray!
Well said!
😀
I absolutely agree with you! It was a main reason I gave up teaching – our special needs students had to take the yearly SATS even if they couldn’t do more than write their name. And in the space of some 45 minutes, I watched a child who’d begun to believe he could achieve something worthwhile completely fall apart. The Dept had argued that he should be exempted – and the Government rules wouldn’t let it happen… It makes me sad and angry to this day.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
Well said.
Thanks for sharing! I have seen instances where the system blocks creatives. Maybe that’s why there are super successful founders who dropped out of the system?!
Your point is very well taken, thanks for sharing. I’m not sure Einstein actually coined that phrase, but who may have recorded every utterance he ever made anyway. Could you imagine if someone actually recorded everything we say? I suppose Google records every search phrase we attempt, and that is spooky to think about.
You make many good points here. I nod my head in agreement.