Category Archives: Expressing words and feelings

Children’s Words, Part 3

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

Children’s Words, Part 2

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

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

Norman Rockwell, My Grandmother, My Dad, and Me

Norman Rockwell had a profound influence on my life.  Thank goodness he still does.  It all started with my grandmother, Nan.  She was the salt of the earth, strong and loving, and lived her childhood much like Little House on … Continue reading

Posted in America, art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, military, museums, patriotism, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 82 Comments

Miracle On Ice

Today is the 40th anniversary of ‘Miracle on Ice’, when Team USA beat the Soviet Union in the medal round in ice hockey at the 1980 Olympics. This is not a sports story.  This is a story of what can … Continue reading

Posted in America, behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, history, Inspiration, patriotism, preschool, self esteem, Teaching young children | 40 Comments

Jackson’s Letter, and a Great Book

When a child takes the time to write a letter to his former teacher, that in itself is a wonderful thing. Dear, Jennie I read the book the Chocolate Touch. It was a really fun book even though I Do … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 70 Comments

More Valentines For Gloria

The Valentine cards for Gloria kept coming. The plan was to make and decorate cards for our families, Yet children made cards for Gloria – first. All on their own. We watched the magic of giving happen. ”No act of … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, Quotes, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, Gloria

Happy Valentine’s Day, Gloria. Love, your Aqua Room friends.

Posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Gloria, Love, preschool, young children | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

Charli Mills, Bobo, and “The Poet’s Dog”

Charli Mills over at Carrot Ranch Literary Community posted her new flash fiction challenge.  She always starts with an incredible prologue, a personal writing that paints a deeper picture of the challenge.  I love what she writes. Charli makes me … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, books, children's books, Death and dying, Dogs, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Particia MacLachlan, self esteem, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 89 Comments

Children’s Book Trilogy – Highly Recommended

At long last, the third book in this trilogy, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Scott Magoon, was published this week. The first book is Spoon, published in 2009.  I was immediately captivated by the clever story of a … Continue reading

Posted in Author interview, Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, picture books, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 73 Comments