Category Archives: Early Education

A New Quilt – Part 2

In Part 1, children embraced the song “This Land is Your Land” as their own.  They sang the song every day, multiple times a day.  By the time winter arrived, they had ‘taken over’, and constantly used the book This Land … Continue reading

Posted in America, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, music, patriotism, Peace, picture books, quilting, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 59 Comments

Alumnus Visit

A senior in high school, “too soon too old” After his trip to Italy, Wesley came bearing gifts- a Pinocchio for each child and a large Pinocchio for the class.  We learned that the story and character are from northern … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Kindness, preschool, Quotes, Student alumni, young children | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments

A New Quilt – Part 1

And to my surprise, the children have driven the making of yet another quilt. Over the past ten years, my preschool class has designed quilts.  Each one materialized because of something the children were passionate about.  When they couldn’t get … Continue reading

Posted in America, American flag, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, geography, history, patriotism, picture books, preschool, quilting, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 68 Comments

Happy Easter from Boston’s Make Way for Ducklings

Photo courtesy Universal Hub Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common.  Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack  are all … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, picture books, reading | Tagged , , , , , , , | 77 Comments

A Field Trip to the Art Show

Children and families and teachers went on a field trip to see the Art Show. Seeing is believing. It’s also loving, and empowering.  In the words of fellow blogger  Laura Bruno Lilly, these children are ‘heartists’ – artists with heart. … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, preschool, Quotes, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Best Job Ever – Story Epilogue

Since that wonderful day last week, when a child asked me to sing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, there has been more.  The music exploded in ways I never expected. Well, it was more than the … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Love, music, picture books, reading aloud, Singing, The Arts, The Beatles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 71 Comments

Art and Music and Italy – Part 3

In Part 1, children began to learn about Italy through maps and a big atlas. First we ‘travelled’, then we learned fun facts (pretzels were invented in Italy, pasta was not).  We learned that opera is from Italy, and children … Continue reading

Posted in art, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, music, picture books, preschool, The Arts, young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 71 Comments

Best Job Ever

Friday was a rainy day.  I played the autoharp, and children sang and danced their hearts out.  I love rainy days.  I love music.  More importantly, children love music.  A child came up to me in the middle of the … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, music, preschool, The Arts, The Beatles | Tagged , , , , , , | 111 Comments

Children’s Questions and a Serenade

I finished reading aloud the chapter book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle.  This is a favorite book with children, and I discourage watching the movie which makes silliness out of an excellent story. The animals are the characters, each with … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, music, reading aloud, reading aloud, Singing, young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 80 Comments

Art and Music and Italy

We are learning about Italy, which is just perfect as we prepare for our annual Art Show. It’s only a few days into the learning, and already we are bursting at the seams in the best of ways.  Here is … Continue reading

Posted in art, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Learning About the World, music, picture books, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments