Category Archives: Expressing words and feelings

My Grandmother Nan, and Art

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Jennie

Last week I told the story of my grandmother, Nan. Rose, My Nan, the Log House and Stories She was born and raised in a log house in West Virginia.  She was kind and strong.  She was the same age, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, history, Inspiration, Love, museums, storytelling, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 75 Comments

Dolls, Love, and Lucy School

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Jennie

My beloved childhood dolls It started last week.  Dolls.  It is growing in ways teachers hadn’t imagined.  We rotate our dramatic play area frequently, and it’s been a while since it was our traditional housekeeping area with a play kitchen … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, Gloria, Inspiration, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 73 Comments

Heart & Love

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Jennie

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 →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Love, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 83 Comments

Olympics and Children

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Jennie

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 →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

When I Became a ‘Real’ Teacher

Posted on February 3, 2022 by Jennie

 ‘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 | Tagged , , , | 125 Comments

Sunset in Cold January – Hope

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Jennie

Every drive home from school I come to this intersection. Tonight I saw hope. Days are now longer. Sunsets are more brilliant, hanging onto their color until the end. Silhouettes of barns and trees make me want to stop and … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Nature, wonder | Tagged , , , | 78 Comments

Goodnight Moon – There’s More!

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Jennie

My recent post on Goodnight Moon, a classic book and certainly a staple in my classroom, was well received. Fellow blogger Beth I didn’t have my glasses on… has her school’s Spanish teacher read the book aloud to her Pre-K … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 50 Comments

Goodnight Moon – A Staple, Every Year

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Jennie

Before children learn to read, first they must hear the words.  It’s developmental, like learning to crawl before learning to walk.  The auditory piece, including singing, hits both the brain and the soul in learning.  In my preschool class, reading … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, literacy, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 84 Comments

Words and Moments of Endearment – They Last a Lifetime

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Jennie

When children leave my class and move on to Pre-K or Kindergarten, we often see each other in the hallway.  A wave, a smile, and sometimes a big hug, comes naturally.  Those moments are genuine.  You can’t make children feel … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, preschool, Quotes, School, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 65 Comments

The New York Times and Charlotte’s Web

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Jennie

The Books We Loved as Children Can Comfort Us at the End The cartoonist Paul Karasik spent time with his 103-year-old mother, reading the classics, like E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web.” By Paul Karasik Dec. 30, 2021 Paul Karasik is a … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Death and dying, E.B. White, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud | Tagged , , | 88 Comments