Gloria has been a bit lonely this year. The children love her, yet she spends much of her days sitting on the couch. I see her smiling at the children. I wonder how her heart feels.
We’re learning about Africa. Gloria dressed up in her African shirt and played with our cheetah.
Then, I read Karla’s post on http://www.flannelwithfaith.com
Karla has a zebra. His name is Zeb. She takes him everywhere. He is her companion, and he never misses a trip or an adventure. Yet, Karla made a comment, “Zeb has been lonely.”
Lightbulb moment!
Zeb has been lonely, and Gloria has been lonely, too. Maybe the two could get along together. Maybe Zeb and Gloria could add a spark in the classroom. Maybe…
And that’s how it happened, how Zeb traveled to the Aqua Room.
It was Morning Meeting when I opened the package containing Zeb. As soon as I pulled him out, the classroom went silent. Children knew it was a package for Gloria. Their curiosity and excitement was on steroids.
See how they looked at each other and talked?
See how Gloria smiled?
Zeb did, too.
There’s more. Letters! Zeb wrote to Gloria! And there was a letter about all of his adventures and travels.
We talked about Africa and looked at our Big Book Atlas. Zebras are from Africa, but Zeb is from Missouri. We found Missouri on the map, and we kept the Atlas out all morning .
Geography is wonderful and exciting for preschoolers. Finding Africa was easy. Finding Missouri was not so easy. It is far from Massachusetts and much bigger. Of course we became sidetracked in the best of ways with rivers and oceans, and other states.
Then Zeb and Gloria wanted to play.
Children built a house for Zeb with MagnaTiles.
Gloria wanted to be the doctor,
taking care of Zeb in our animal hospital.
And then the real connections began. Yilong carried Zeb for the entire day, even sleeping with him at rest time. Children played with Gloria in the animal hospital. They read books to her. She was everywhere in the classroom. Joshua carried Gloria for most of day. He took Gloria and Zeb home for the weekend. Yilong will take them home next weekend, and the list is growing.
Connecting builds love and kindness, friendships and playmates. These are the grassroots of connecting, the foundation for how we become adults who are rooted in goodness.
Winnie the Pooh said it best:
“A friend is someone who helps you up when you’re down, and if they can’t, they lay down beside you and listen.”
Thank you, Zeb. Your newfound friendship with Gloria has been a spark of love and caring in the classroom.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
what a glorious solution for gloria and zeb!
Yes! Don’t you love those lightbulb moments?
At some point Gloria might travel to visit Zeb. 😀
I do, and that would be great
😍
Yes! Thank you. 🦓
You’re welcome!
Wow, what a great connection for Zeb and Gloria, as well as all the Aquaroomers. Those learning moments keep coming if you watch for them and nurture them as you do, Jennie.
I think the connection was just right. I call it ‘seizing the moment’. 😀
Wow, that’s amazing and wonderful! I hope the children, Gloria, and Zeb have exciting and fun adventures on their sleepovers the rest of the school year.
I hope so, too! Zeb will have to go back home to Missouri, and we’re hoping Gloria can visit at some point.
You make learning so easy and entertaining for the children!!
Thanks, GP!
Delightful, Jennie! 🥰
Thank you! 💕
❤️🥰❤️
How wonderful!
❤️
How wonderful. Imagine being in your class!!
Thank you, Glen!
What a heartwarming post!! You’ve left me with a huge grin plastered all over my face.
Awww… thank you, Liz
You’re welcome, Jennie.
😀
A wonderful solution for Zeb and Gloria 💜😁
I’m so glad it’s working! Thanks, Willow. 💕
So am I 💜
What a wonderful adventure for Zeb and a great new friend for Gloria!
Yes on both counts!
very cool!!
Thank you.
What a sweet story, Jennie. So glad Zeb has come to be Gloria’s friend.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, John. The children are already having trouble sharing them. 🙂 It will be a sad day when Zeb has to go back home. Hopefully Gloria can make a visit.
Tell the parents Zeb has been kidnapped
Haha!! 😅
😊
Hooray for Zeb! And Gloria too of course. The learning continues, and tiny people learn about loneliness, companionship, geography, travel, and love.
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete, you hit the nail on the head. Yes, those are the most important things to learn, far more so than math and the ABC’s. Zeb is the spark that’s making it happen. Thank you, dear Pete.
Cuddly characters are so important for children and they are just as real to the adults when the children bring them to life.
Well said, and very true!
The headline is spot on – Gloria and Zeb to the rescue!!! Ha, ha.
It is! Thank you, Brian. 😀
Oh, Jennie. I just love this! The idea of giving a gift to Gloria is so good too for teaching the kids to be happy for someone else receiving something – not just “me, me, me!”
You are so right, Anneli. Gloria and Zeb are doing just that. Zeb is a visitor, so he’ll have to go home in a few weeks. That will be another teaching opportunity, handling disappointment.
It’s an effective, yet relatively harmless way to teach important emotions in our lives. I remember that I used to have a hard time handling disappointment when I was young. Disappointment and unfairness.
If we can teach children how to manage emotions, we’re giving them lifetime skills. You remember what that disappointment felt like in your childhood. There are so many things children face. Gloria and Zeb are a perfect tool to teach that.
I remember struggling to keep my face from showing how I felt because the kids would have made fun of me. That was a long time ago but I’ll never forget how I felt. I don’t remember what I was disappointed about, but I remember struggling with the emotion. Afterwards I made up my mind I would never let that happen again, and I came up with several coping strategies. It would have been good if I’d had some adult help and guidance in how to do that. But I figured it out.
That breaks my heart. I think of the vast number of children who are unable to figure out how to cope on their own. Thank goodness you did. Yes, adult help is so important. Best to you, Anneli.
I’m so glad you’re doing this for the kids.
Thank you, Anneli. That means a lot.
Gloria looks adorable in her African shirt! I love Zeb too. What a great way to teach geography, connectedness and friendship. (and many other things along the way) xo
Thank you, Darlene. Gloria and Zeb are how teaching should evolve. I’m glad you like Gloria’s shirt. 😀
Oh, Jennie. My heart is so full! The kids have stolen my heart! LOOK AT Gloria and Zeb together! Gloria looks amazing in her African shirt! Yilong and Joshua–have fun with Gloria and Zeb! I can’t WAIT for Gloria to come to Missouri. “Oh, the places we will go!” Jennie, the experiences you’re giving the students are priceless. It’s something that can’t be found in books and written curriculum–because it comes straight from your heart. Finley and I send huge hugs and blessings to all the Aqua roomers and YOU, Gloria, and Zeb. Tell Zeb we miss him and know he’s having a blast! XOXO
Oh Karla…I’m so glad you can see that Zeb is well-loved and has become good friends with Gloria. The children are over the moon! I just knew that a lonely Zeb visiting a lonely Gloria would be ‘just what the doctor ordered’. I can’t thank you enough!! Yes, teaching from the heart is the best teaching of all. I will tell Zeb you and Finley send hugs and miss him. Can he stay for a few weeks?
Absolutely, Jennie! Zeb can stay as long as you’d like! I have the cutest companion keeping me company right now–Finn. She’s happy to hear that Zeb is having a good time, too! I’m over the moon with the kids…and YOU! ❣️🤗
😍❤️🥰 Thanks, Karla!
You’re welcome ☺️ ♥️❤️
😍
Great, well done, good luck
Thank you.
Ah, I recognize the map from the big book of maps. How great for the kids to see Gloria and Zeb becoming friends and accepting each other as they are.
One of my favorite parts of Gloria’s story is her diary and how she writes about all of her adventures and the places she’s visited. She’ll have to pass on this idea to Zeb.
Yes, you do know that big map! It really is wonderful for these two to get together and become friends. Life lessons for children. Gloria’s journal is, well, priceless. Zeb will be part of the diary! And yes, he needs to start a diary of his adventures, too. What will be new is Gloria visiting Zeb. She’s never been ‘away’. This will be a big deal for the children as well as Gloria. There’s so much love and learning here.
I can see big smiles on your children’s faces. How fun, Jennie.
Thank you, Miriam!
A wonderful connection for Zeb and Gloria and so well explained to the children Jennie. Thanks 👍
Thank you, Kamal!
Awww. I love this, Jennie. What a wonderful connection between Gloria and Zeb that expanded to the whole classroom. You’re a marvelous teacher who gets at what matters. ❤
It is a wonderful connection, and I’m so glad they have brought a new spark and genuine learning into the classroom. Thank you for your kind words, Diana! 💕
🙂
What a wonderful idea! I also love that Winnie the Pooh quote. ❤️
Thank you.
Tee-hee, I love Zeb! What a delightful new friend for Gloria. Big hugs.
He is! This little guy has brought more to Gloria and the children than I had hoped. The next five weekend are already booked for home visits!!! On top of that, Gloria will go to visit Zeb in Missouri. Gulp! We will definitely be having a big send-off for her. Teagan, I know you understand all the emotions that come into play here – A new friend, can’t share, culture and diversity, fear and loneliness, joy and new classmates, etc. These are the important things for children to learn, the ABC’s can come later. I couldn’t teach the important things without Gloria. ❤️
Wow. You don’t know how much I needed to read this post today. And it’s too long to explain how much, but it touched me in so many beautiful ways. And this sounds envious and needy, but I think I want a Zeb in my life!!! 🙂 Thanks, Jennie.
Pam, I understand more than you know. I’m temped to bring Zeb home one night to sleep with him. He is soft! I’m so glad this touched you in so many beautiful ways. I come every night thinking of Zeb, and how much he has brought to Gloria and the children. You are not envious or needy. I think everyone needs a Zeb. Really.
This was a good read to get back in the swing of things. This was such a happy story. Things happen just as they should. Perfect timing.
I’m so glad, Marlene. Yes, things really do happen as they should.
Hi Jennie, a most enjoyable post. You have the best ideas. I love this quote from Winnie the Pooh.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Robbie. I love the Winnie the Pooh quote, too.
I really did, Jennie
🙂
Good
Thank you.
Great job you are doing here.amazing way for children to connect.
Thank you.
thanks 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:
Thank you!
Whenever you’re ready or if you have questions please email me at contactdaal@gmail.com
Will do, and thanks for the email.
How wonderful Jennie and so happy Gloria and Zeb not only found each other but also brought even more love into your classroom.. ♥
Thank you, Sally. They are booked for weekends with children through February. Then…Gloria travels back to Missouri with Zeb for some fun adventures. That’s a first, and a big wow. We’ll be giving her a big send-off party. I just knew Zeb would be the magic spark. 🥰
She is spreading happiness wherever she goes Jennie.. what a gal.. ♥
She does, and she is. 😀
Zeb and Gloria, like a match made in heaven. ❤
Yes!! 💕
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Many thanks, Sally!
Nice.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Hello Jennie I am not surprised that in your world Zeb and Gloria became friends…a wonderful tale of learning and inclusion 🙂
Thank you, Carol! 😀
🙂
You are so terrible imaginative Jennie! As we in Germany say: “Nobody will be able to reach you the water!” 🙂 A very wonderful tale. Thanks for putting Gloria out of the box again. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
Thanks so much, Michael!
truly a great collaboration – and brought many smiles
I’m so glad! Thank you, Prior.
😊😊😊