Author Archives: 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.

Spirit Animal Blog Award

Spirit Animal Blog Award I have been nominated for the Spirit Animal Blog Award.  Thank you, Charles French https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com for nominating me for this award.   I am honored, indeed.  When a blogger receives recognition from a fellow blogger it … Continue reading

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Music Brings Unexpected Learning

A child brought to school a CD with the “Star Wars” theme song.  Fortunately it was a recording of all the John Williams movie themes, and that means good music and a golden opportunity for learning.  We began with mindful … Continue reading

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Children’s Stories

Children have incredible words, given the opportunity to tell their story. As I took down a hallway art display I read (yet again) the story that children had created about living in a castle.  What would they do and who … Continue reading

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The Boy With the Red Hair

January is always a busy month at school, and tonight I was tired.  My husband and I had errands to do after school, so we had dinner at a small local restaurant.  Just when I thought I had nothing left, … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud. ‘Star Wars’, Move Over

Thursdays I read aloud at the library.  I chapter read, and that is far different than reading a story.  Each Thursday ends with and then?  For thirty minutes children are glued to every word, because those words are powerful and … Continue reading

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Mindfulness

I brought my stack of magazines with me on a trip out west so I could ‘catch up’, read and toss.  I typically pick up a book to read so my pile of magazines was growing.  As I settled in … Continue reading

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Peace Poetry with Preschoolers

Some years ago my class spent time under a Peace Portal we made on top of our classroom loft.  It was constructed with four columns of carpeting tubes painted in black and decorated in a way that children wanted.  The … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud in High School? Yes!

A few years ago at a holiday party I talked with a friend who is head of the English Department at a prep school in Massachusetts.  She teaches senior English. We talked about reading in the classroom, particularly reading aloud.  … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud; A Source of Making Cuban Cigars

Reading aloud never gets old.  It weathers time and generations.  It makes a marked difference.  Children who are read aloud to are typically one grade year ahead of their peers.  They have ‘the right stuff’, because all those words they … Continue reading

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What’s Important; Remember Robert Fulghum?

A few years after I got my feet wet teaching, I read Robert Fulghum’s book, “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten“.  That had a profound influence on my career.  His opening essay seemed to take all … Continue reading

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