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.

The Things Children Say

Children’s comments and questions range from curious to humorous.  Young children are unbridled, and anything involved with learning and exploring has a question; that’s why the things they say are quite wonderful.  As I sorted through oodles of paperwork this … Continue reading

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Camp Songs; Why We Love Them

It took me until adulthood to realize that my love for music stemmed from my childhood summers at camp.  I spent a month every summer at camp in the hills of Salt Rock, West Virginia.  A half a century has … Continue reading

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Two Final ‘Jennie Stories’ This Summer

The lazy days of summer will be ending soon, and I’ll be back to writing my reflections.  I feel like a farmer who is holding back his cows, but is still dishing out the ice cream they made.  I hope … Continue reading

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A Thriller Jennie Story

The Tree Story “It happened like this… this is my house, and this is the Kruger’s house (I physically hold up my arm to show one and the other, side-by-side).  My house and the Kruger’s house.   In between the two … Continue reading

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The Popular Jennie Story

The Bat Story “It happened like this… when I was a little girl I loved to ride my bike.  It was red, and I rode it everywhere.  I’d pack a bologna sandwich in a paper bag and head off to … Continue reading

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More Jennie Stories

The Raccoon Story “It happened like this… many years ago when my children were little, we lived in an old stone farm house in Ivyland, Pennsylvania. In the summer it often got very hot and we had no air conditioning.  … Continue reading

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Storytelling; Jennie Stories

Storytelling is important to young children because oral language is the key to reading readiness.  It’s also a key to academic success.  Think about it; in early elementary school the primary source of instruction is oral.  At school, I tell … Continue reading

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How Art Shapes Our World

Growing up, I spent every Sunday afternoon with my grandmother, Nan.  She was the fun one, the grandparent who let us dress up in her clothes, always read to us, told us stories of her childhood, and drove us to … Continue reading

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The Essay That Didn’t Win…It Should Have.

The essay contest was titled, “When did you first know the meaning of love?”.  I knew the answer in a heartbeat; I had to enter and tell the world, because it was important.  It was the ‘light bulb’ moment in … Continue reading

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Singing Poetry, Books, and Anything in Print

At our monthly staff meeting last week a teacher shared a wonderful frog poem written on chart paper.  The rhyming words were highlighted in a different color.  She showed us how to use the poem with props; a stick to … Continue reading

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