Category Archives: Inspiration

“Ravioli” and Goodnight Moon

Posted on October 13, 2018 by

One of our favorite times of the day at school is chapter reading.  It is intimate.  We feel snuggled together.  Much like being in sleeping bags while camping, with nothing but words to hear, we look forward to that time. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Language, Literacy, and Storytelling – Part 3

Posted on October 10, 2018 by

In Part 2, I shared worrisome statistics about children who enter school excited to learn to read, and the dramatic drop-off when they are not exposed to books and hearing words.  I talked about the next step, engaging children in both … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Imagination, Inspiration, Jim Trelease, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

Evening Sky

Posted on September 30, 2018 by

Thank you, Mother Nature. Your evening sky is glorious. Tomorrow I will show the children in my class. We will count your colors and talk about the sky. I wonder what the questions and stories will be. Jennie

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Imagination, Inspiration, Mother Nature, Nature, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

The Reading Snapshots Keep Growing

Posted on September 25, 2018 by

Children’s reading is growing!  Last week my preschool children began to read independently.  It was wonderful.  The photo of children on the rug with their books spoke to the power of reading aloud good books, and children modeling what they … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, picture books, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

A New Year of Reading Charlotte’s Web

Posted on September 23, 2018 by

Every year I start chapter reading with my preschool class on ‘day one’.  And, the first book I read is Charlotte’s Web.  We have barely had three weeks of school and children are totally hooked.  They adore Wilbur and laugh at … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, E.B. White, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Learning About the World, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 55 Comments

A Snapshot in My Classroom This Week

Posted on September 21, 2018 by

Teachers read aloud to children – all the time. Children model what they see. Reading is pleasure. Jennie

Posted in behavior, books, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 46 Comments

The Man Himself, Eric Carle

Posted on September 18, 2018 by

I was tenth on the waiting list to hear Eric Carle – the man himself – speak to a packed audience.  It is the 50th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Can you imagine this childhood favorite book has been in … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, children's books, Early Education, Eric Carle, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, picture books, preschool, reading, reading aloud, Teaching young children, young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 95 Comments