Author Archives: Jennie

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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.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Jennie

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
(https://pixabay.com) May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your…

Posted in Uncategorized | 21 Comments

Rodgers and Hammerstein, My Mother, and Me

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Jennie

It was my tenth birthday.  Ten was the age when we graduated from birthday parties with paper hats and streamers and playing ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’. For my birthday I had the choice of taking three friends to … Continue reading →

Posted in Death and dying, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, music, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 80 Comments

Children’s Words, Trees and a Poem – A Finale

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Jennie

I wrote about our Tree Walk on a windy day in Part 3.  This walk was just one part of the blog post on Children’s Words.  Little did I know at the time that the walk, and their words, would … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Expressing words and feelings, Nature, Poetry, preschool, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 46 Comments

Sometimes Kids Just Need to Play During School

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Jennie

Originally posted on User Generated Education:
Teachers get so much pressure to meet standards and prepare students for state mandated tests, that I believe they forget their students are just kids. Because of this pressure, too many teacher education and…

Posted in Uncategorized | 40 Comments

Humor in Teaching

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Jennie

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”  -Charlie Chaplin- Jennie

Posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, preschool, Quotes, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 55 Comments

Children’s Words, Part 3

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Jennie

In Part 2 I talked about children telling their stories in their own words.  Without a visual or help from a teacher- no crutch, it’s not so easy.  Welcome to the deep end, not the shallow end.  Children wrote and illustrated … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Jim Trelease, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

Be Kind To Someone

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Jennie

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
(Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com) National Kindness Day ? I recently reblogged a post about National Compliment Day, so  I thought a good follow up to that wonderful idea was to…

Posted in Uncategorized | 27 Comments

Read Across America Week/ Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! ~ March 2nd – March 6th

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Jennie

Originally posted on By Hook Or By Book:
You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child. ~ Dr. Seuss ~  Read Across America week, appropriately kicks off today, on Theodor…

Posted in Uncategorized | 27 Comments

Children’s Words, Part 2

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Jennie

In Part 1, I talked about writing thank you letters to the people in our neighborhood, our community helpers.  As a group, we planned the words, and children decorated the letters. This was fun!  They felt excited and proud. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, picture stories, preschool, reading aloud, storytelling, teaching, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 72 Comments

Children’s Words, Part 1

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Jennie

Writing a thank you letter is a favorite activity in my classroom.  First, children ‘write’ the words – this isn’t so easy.  Every writer knows that.  For children, they need to think about who the letter is for, and what … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, preschool, teaching, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 63 Comments