About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over forty 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.
Valentine’s Day isn’t about flowers and candy. It’s about love. For my children at school, a teacher’s love is where it all starts. You can’t have a heart without love. Love is infectious, and makes the heart grow. The bigger … Continue reading →
This gallery contains 50 photos.
Thank you, Mitch Teemley for your wise and wonderful trees. Yes, they are earth’s elders, storing its wisdom. Trees are also central to children learning about life and nature. They play a big role. Very big. Mitch Teemley They’re the … Continue reading →
Today I showed children Nathan Chen’s Gold Medal Olympic performance. Children need to be inspired by the Olympic athletes. Why? Because they need to see regular people who were just like them, and worked hard. They need to cheer success. … Continue reading →
Whenever my preschool curriculum is focused on a country, it always explodes in the best of ways. Children are captivated as soon as we open our Big Book Atlas and view our satellite map. We sing the ‘Days of the … Continue reading →
Posted in children's books, Diversity, Early Education, geography, Inspiration, Learning About the World, picture books, play performances, preschool, self esteem, Teaching young children
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Tagged Early Education, emergent curriculum, India, Learning about India, play performances, teaching young children, The Story of Little Babaji
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One of the hardest things this school year has been communicating with parents. That all important face-to-face greeting and conversation, every day at drop-off and pick-up, is limited to distancing in the school lobby while wearing masks. We Zoom, write … Continue reading →
Posted in Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture stories, Teaching young children, Writing
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Tagged Classroom news, Parent communication, Parent newsletters, robots, STEM, Story writing, TED talks
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Can you tell I’m a robot? Isn’t this the best portrait of me, ever? We’re learning about robots in school this month. It’s exciting for children. So far we have built our own giant classroom robot, played with Snap-Bots and … Continue reading →
‘TheHundred Little Things’ The hundred little things- that’s what it’s all about, in teaching and in life. It took me many years as a teacher to figure this out. Thank goodness I had a ‘lightbulb moment’. As a teacher, I … Continue reading →
Posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, museums, preschool, School, Teaching young children
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Tagged education, How I became a real teacher, teaching young children, The hundred little things
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Winter is here, and it is time to feel cozy, just like bears. I love bears and bear stories. Children do too. While stories about animals are always popular, bear stories are favorites, year after year. I’ve posted about these … Continue reading →
Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, literacy, picture books, reading aloud
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Tagged A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond, Bear Books, Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You see by Bill Martin Jr, Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky, Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick, Harold Loves His Woolly Hat by Vern Kousky, Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins, Those Pesky Rabbits by Ciara Flood, We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
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Originally posted on I didn't have my glasses on….:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXjJnqrWZkg ? this film, an oscar winner, was shot in 30 minutes though it may not be voiced in your language all people will understand it at under 4 minutes,…
A Teacher's Reflections 