Category Archives: Inspiration

Meeting a Blogger: The Letter, The Book, and the Otter

Do you often think how wonderful it would be to meet a favorite blogger – in person – and spend the day with them?  I certainly do.  And it happened!  Well, in order to tell the wonderful story, I must … Continue reading

Posted in books, children's books, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading aloud, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 137 Comments

Book Bears and Making Wishes

Today was the last library Book Bears meeting for the year.  It was also the last Read-Aloud meeting for the year.  Here’s what happened, or I should say, It happened like this… Both books for the two groups were about wishes, … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, Love, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, self esteem, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 78 Comments

Picture Stories, Storytelling, and Writing Letters

Learning begins with language, building words upon words.  The more words children hear, the more they learn, and the better they do in school.  All of this leads up to reading readiness.  So, if I can give children hundreds and … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, preschool, School, storytelling, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 78 Comments

Colors of the Day – Flowering Tree, Moonrise, Sunset

Pink is exploding on the playground at school. This beauty of a tree is beside the climber. We climbed and looked in wonder. The moonrise on the playground above the tree’s early spring leaves glowed above a perfect circle. Children … Continue reading

Posted in Inspiration, Mother Nature, Nature, Quotes, wonder | Tagged , , , | 40 Comments

From Dinosaurs to the Stop Game

Today was one of those ‘moments’ in teaching, the ones that turn something small into something big.  It was a simple question, yet it opened a whole new world for children. It happened like this… Every day we have the … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Inspiration, Learning About the World, School, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 86 Comments

Mother’s Day

Look what bloomed just in time for Mother’s Day. A mother’s love is the sun for growing, the moon for dreaming, and the stars for guiding the way. ~ Barbara Loots~ Happy Mother’s Day. Jennie

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Love, Nature, Quotes, wonder | Tagged , | 47 Comments

A Visit to The Eric Carle Museum

Just when I thought I might not discover something new, my recent visit to the Eric Carle Museum proved me very wrong.  Everything I experienced and saw was very new.  Lucky me! The main event was the museum’s annual Barbara … Continue reading

Posted in America, art, Author interview, Book Review, children's books, Early Education, Eric Carle, geography, Inspiration, Learning About the World, museums, Nature, patriotism, picture books, reading aloud, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 75 Comments

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

A child in my class is greeting George Washington. Yes, a picture says a thousand words. Jennie

Posted in America, Early Education, history, Inspiration, patriotism, wonder, young children | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Children Around the World – Sending Cards

In April we celebrate Children Around the World. We started with our Big Book Atlas. Then we studied the world, talking about children everywhere. Look at our arms – we are all different, yet much the same. We made cards … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, geography, Inspiration, Learning About the World, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , | 90 Comments

Gloria Goes To Washington – Part 3, the Finale

In Part 2, Gloria saw the White House and an Egyptian Mummy at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Part 3 Hey Aqua Room, Gloria had a really exciting day yesterday.  First she went to the Spy Museum!  It was pretty … Continue reading

Posted in art, Diversity, Early Education, Gloria, Inspiration, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 43 Comments