Category Archives: Imagination

My Christmas in July

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Jennie

The past two weeks have been busy with doctor’s appointments and surgery for Hubby. That means a lot of waiting, and for me reading D.L. Finn’s Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection.  This is the best Christmas in July, ever! … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, Death and dying, Imagination, Inspiration, reading | Tagged , , | 62 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 4

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 3, Milly brought in beautiful fabrics and placed them on the sketch of the Peace Quilt spread out across a big table.  Children came to her like moths to a candle, picking out just the right fabrics.  At … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Expressing words and feelings, Heart, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, quilting | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 3

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 2, Milly came onto the scene, meeting the children and Gloria.  She accepted the “challenge” – as she called it – of quilting a mural which would become a Peace Quilt.  Gloria started the ball rolling with her own … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, Peace, Poetry, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 54 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 2

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 1, I discovered a Peace Portal at a museum and recreated it in my classroom.  Peace became a big deal and very real to children.  When I saw quilts that were murals, I knew I had to make … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 1

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Jennie

This is Part 1 in perhaps the best thing I ever did in teaching.  Really.  Some of my old bloggers will remember this gripping story.  There are 1o parts, and the story is absolutely wonderful.  Hang on for a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 72 Comments

Wishtree, by Kathrine Applegate – Then and Now

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Jennie

When I visit with the grandchildren, a beloved ritual is reading a story before bedtime. The musicality of words floating into the ear and going into the mind becomes an arrow that pierces the heart.  It always happens that way. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, chapter reading, children's books, Community, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Heart, Imagination, Inspiration, Library, literacy, reading, reading aloud | Tagged , , | 85 Comments

Storytelling To High Schoolers – Part 2

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Jennie

The work was done.  Well, almost.  High schoolers wrote their stories, turned it into a book, and I returned to listen to them read their stories.  After all, they would be reading the story they wrote about the kindergartner they … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Community, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture stories, reading aloud, School, storytelling, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 51 Comments

Storytelling to High Schoolers

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Jennie

I was invited to tell stories to our local prep school high schoolers, and help them write stories with a cultural perspective.  They have a winter break, and students sign up for an event.  Many signed up for me, and … Continue reading →

Posted in children's books, Community, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, preschool, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 47 Comments

Music to Inspire My Young Artists

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Jennie

“Where words fail, music speaks.” ~Hans Christian Andersen~ Music is at the heart of every emotion- inspiring poets, writers, and artists. I use music to inspire my preschoolers to paint.  Oh boy, do I ever!  First I bring in my … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Imagination, Inspiration, music, preschool, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 73 Comments

Books and Magic

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Jennie

‘What an astonishing thing a book is.  It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Library, literacy, Quotes, reading | Tagged , , , | 92 Comments