Category Archives: Inspiration

A Package From the White House!

My class loves singing, and this year “God Bless America” has been a favorite song.  How do I know?  Children sing it from the loft in the classroom, and when using the bathroom.  They sing it while building with toys, … Continue reading

Posted in America, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, military, patriotism, quilting, School, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 75 Comments

Pen-Pal Explosion

Our Pen-Pal Wall Back in April, when school was celebrating children around the world, it struck me that reaching out to other children would be a wonderful thing to do.  We could write letters, send cards, get to know each … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Learning About the World, literacy, preschool, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , | 45 Comments

Playdough

Playdough is much better when it becomes a melting pot of colors. People are, too. Jennie

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Thunderstorms, Courage, and So Much More

Two days of mid 90-degree heat is rare in May up here in New England.  I knew a thunderstorm would soon roll in.  I sat on my porch, watching the sky, and was drawn to memories of thunderstorms and how … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Learning About the World, Mother Nature, Nature, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 88 Comments

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