Category Archives: Inspiration

Four Seasons of Our Wishtree

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Jennie

Last spring children made wishes and hung them onto a tree on the playground at school.  Wishes are important.  The tradition of a Wishtree is worldwide.  We were excited to make our very own.  Everyday those wishes would flutter, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, School, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , | 84 Comments

My Grandmother Nan, and Art

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Jennie

Last week I told the story of my grandmother, Nan. Rose, My Nan, the Log House and Stories She was born and raised in a log house in West Virginia.  She was kind and strong.  She was the same age, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, history, Inspiration, Love, museums, storytelling, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 75 Comments

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Jennie

We celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss by reading many of his books today.  The rhyming is fun, and critical to children’s language and literacy development.  Dr. Seuss knew how to make learning fun! Then, things took a turn.  A … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, museums, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 68 Comments

Rose, My Nan, the Log House, and Stories

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Jennie

My grandmother Nan was born in 1886, the same year Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter was born.  They both have the same name, too – Rose!  What a connection.  There’s more. Nan as I remember her. Nan when she was 14. … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Family, geography, history, Inspiration, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 90 Comments

My Edward Hopper House

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Jennie

When the sun goes down in the late afternoon, the light and shadows on the white house across the field remind me of an Edward Hopper painting. I love his art. I love this house along the way.  This coming … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Inspiration, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , | 52 Comments

Boston Dynamics Robots – Update

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Jennie

As many of you know, my preschool children love the robots from Boston Dynamics.  Last year it all started when I accidentally found this video: Children were over the moon.  We watched this video every day, and children began to … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Norway and the Olympics

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Jennie

Norway has dominated the winter Olympics.  Yet, the story behind how their athletes got there is fascinating.  Is it rooted in childhood?  You bet! A recent article by Reuters, “Fun and Friendship Fuel Norway’s Gold Rush” hits the nail on … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Inspiration, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 47 Comments

A Discovery!

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Jennie

Today was the kindergarten’s “100 Day Museum’”display in the library at school.  When children reach the 100 day milestone, they make a project at home, something that contains 100 objects.  Classes are invited to the ‘museum’.  We even had tickets … Continue reading →

Posted in children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, literacy, museums, School, Teaching young children | 50 Comments

Dolls, Love, and Lucy School

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Jennie

My beloved childhood dolls It started last week.  Dolls.  It is growing in ways teachers hadn’t imagined.  We rotate our dramatic play area frequently, and it’s been a while since it was our traditional housekeeping area with a play kitchen … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, Gloria, Inspiration, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 73 Comments

Olympics and Children

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Jennie

Today I showed children Nathan Chen’s Gold Medal Olympic performance.  Children need to be inspired by the Olympic athletes.  Why?  Because they need to see regular people who were just like them, and worked hard.  They need to cheer success.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments