A picture is worth a thousand words,
and these pictures say it all!
Gloria’a debut was just wonderful. It always is. Somehow she has a way with children. She really opens their eyes and hearts, and children respond in kind.
Here is a letter I sent to families:
Introducing Gloria, our Aqua Room Friend
Gloria was introduced to your children this week. She came to Morning Meeting, reluctantly, because she is very shy. After all, some people have called her a witch, so it is no wonder she needed coaxing to meet the Aqua Roomers. Gloria is old, has wrinkly skin and gray hair, and is very fond of black. Actually, black is her favorite color, along with a pointy hat and pointy shoes. Gloria is our classroom puppet, yet she is very real to all the children. She represents all the things that children feel. Because she is different, she helps children develop an understanding of others.
When she arrived, your children didn’t know what to think. No one said a word, and there were many wide eyes. When we talked about Gloria, children wondered if she was a witch. That was the perfect door to open! Gloria herself jumped in to talk (finally), and she told them how people had called her a witch. “Well, I’m not a witch. I just like black. It’s my favorite color. My skin is wrinkly, and my hair is gray and sticky-uppy-outy.” Then children started to look to Gloria directly, eye to eye, and Gloria responded in kind. No child looked at a teacher; each one looked directly at Gloria. One child waved and said, “Hi Gloria.” Then she introduced herself. Gloria wanted to learn the names of your children, and asked each child if she could shake their hand. Well, children stayed by her side after the handshake. Everyone surrounded the teacher chair, and the conversations kept going. There were spontaneous hugs and fist bumps. Gloria has photos in her journal over many years. She has been everywhere! We will look at her journals this coming week.
This was powerful. What transpired in our classroom in less than thirty minutes is what can sometimes take years for people to learn; caring and acceptance. Gloria is different, yet she has the same feelings that we all do. She is a good friend. Your children were able to look beyond her appearance and see her for what she truly is.
Two children rushed over to hold her. A group gathered to play with her. They were careful and gentle; it made teachers smile to stand back and watch. Children were helping Gloria. She is being looked after. She is a new friend.
Gloria will quickly become a close member of the Aqua Room. She will be the one who understands, or perhaps the one who has problems. She will be fun, sometimes silly, and may look to your children for a hug. If you want to know more about Gloria, she has a journal of her weekends with Aqua Roomers. Please tell her hello when you’re in the classroom.
Jennie
Once again, the magic of Gloria entrances the new class. This has to be one of the greatest innovations in early education ever conceived!
Best wishes as always, Pete.
Yes, she does. That’s such a remarkable thing to say, Pete. Many thanks and best to you!
Well said, Pete!
❤️
It must be amazing to watch as the children meet Gloria. I look forward to her and their adventures throughout the year.
It is one of my favorite times, so amazing. Many thanks, Dan. Hopefully there will be adventures ahead.
GLORIA!!!!
YES!!!
Wow! The power of a great teacher. You have a beautiful understanding of the needs of children.
Thank you!
Well done, Gloria. I wonder where she will go this year.
I wonder, too.
Love, love, love Gloria.
Thank you, Flower!
Hi Jennie and Hi Gloria we are all so proud of you here at our house…. we will never forget you . 💞💜💞💜
Aww… that’s so nice, Willow! 💕
Gloria is such a special journey for your Aqua Room kids.
She really is, Jacqui.
All who encounter Gloria are left with a gift, one that you brought into their world 💕
That’s so nice, Beth. Thank you!
Love the faces of the little people when they’re with her 🙂
I do, too!!
Gloria is a true hero! She is so well loved, not only by the Aquaroomers but by all of your blog followers. 💖💖
She really is, Darlene. It’s wonderful!
Dear Jennie, you’ve crafted such a unique and marvelous tradition with Gloria. Your letter to parents is splendid. Hugs hugs.
Many thanks, Teagan! I like your words, unique and marvelous. I’m glad you enjoyed my letter to parents. Hugs!
Great, Jennie.
Thank you, John.
Good old Gloria. She’s a friend, mother, and grandmother to them all.
She really is, Anneli!
…just another reason why Fall (October) is my favorite season/month! 😍
Aww… that’s so nice! 🥰
such a blessing to have you on this earth!
Aww…I will tell Gloria you said that. 🥰
How exciting for Gloria to meet the new class and the class to meet her! I know they’ll all be fast and forever friends.
Yes, and yes! It was exciting, and the two girls fought over Gloria. She is a wonder.
Seeing the children look past appearances straight into a new friend’s eyes is pure magic.
Yes, it really is! Thank you.
A new friend for the class. How sweet. I bet Gloria is thrilled!
She is! It’s amazing how quickly children understand and accept her.
So precious between the handshakes, hugs, and fist bumps. Gloria continues to teach a whole generation of kids to look beyond the exterior.
Yes, watching the handshakes and hugs after only a few days is wonderful. She really teaches all you say, year after year. It’s to a whole generation for sure!
It is so good to see Gloria again, and I just LOVE how the children respond to her … and what they are learning about people and their differences! We need more of this!!! And I just love the pictures, Jennie! Thank you for sharing this!
She is just what children (and adults) need. And how they responded to her is wonderful. Many thanks, Jill. I’m glad you enjoyed this. I love the pictures, too!
I think we could all use a dose of Gloria these days!!!
😍
This is powerful, Jennie. From the wide eyed children at the beginning, what a great visual lesson to instill the life character of acceptance and caring to these precious children. We adults can learn so much if we walked in the shoes of innocent little children. They came around and showed love so quickly. Very beautiful. 🥰
Beautifully said, Carl. If only adults could walk in the shoes of children. Thank you.
Nice to see Gloria again meeting children. They will love her.
They will for sure. Thank you, Kamal!
You are always welcome dear Jennie ❤️🙏
Thank you, Kamal!
Always welcome dear Jennie ❤️🙏
Thank you, Kamal!
GLORIA!! All is right in the world…! THANK you, Jennie and Gloria for bringing magic, love, and light to those amazing super little humans in the Aqua Room! Much love from me, Finley, Zeb, & Heart (so….Heart is with me as Zeb is in Liberty, MO, with my granddaughter—BUT Heart will go to SCHOOL in Liberty on Wednesday for Grandparent’s breakfast!). We love you! 💕🐾🫶🏻🍂🍁🦓
And Gloria does it again! I’m so excited that Heart will go to school!!!
❤️🥰🦓❤️❤️
Welcome Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal.
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Gloria never fails to steal hearts! xx
True!
Heartwarming!
Thank you.
An interesting and fun concept. Did they get a chance to try moving the puppet themselves?
Since Gloria is real to the children, they held her and treated her like a special person.