Category Archives: Inspiration

A Discovery!

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

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

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

India

Whenever my preschool curriculum is focused on a country, it always explodes in the best of ways.  Children are captivated as soon as we open our Big Book Atlas and view our satellite map.  We sing the ‘Days of the … Continue reading

Posted in children's books, Diversity, Early Education, geography, Inspiration, Learning About the World, picture books, play performances, preschool, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Parent Newsletter, Robots, TED Talk

One of the hardest things this school year has been communicating with parents.  That all important face-to-face greeting and conversation, every day at drop-off and pick-up, is limited to distancing in the school lobby while wearing masks.  We Zoom, write … Continue reading

Posted in Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture stories, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 74 Comments

My Portrait

Can you tell I’m a robot?  Isn’t this the best portrait of me, ever? We’re learning about robots in school this month.  It’s exciting for children.  So far we have built our own giant classroom robot,  played with Snap-Bots and … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Inspiration, preschool, Teaching young children, Uncategorized, wonder | Tagged , , , | 63 Comments

When I Became a ‘Real’ Teacher

 ‘TheHundred Little Things’ The hundred little things- that’s what it’s all about, in teaching and in life.  It took me many years as a teacher to figure this out.  Thank goodness I had a ‘lightbulb moment’. As a teacher, I … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, museums, preschool, School, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 125 Comments

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Yesterday A scary weather forecast Today High winds and lots of snow Tomorrow Playing in the snow with the children Reading “Katy and the Big Snow” Jennie  

Posted in children's books, Inspiration, Mother Nature, Nature, picture books, wonder | Tagged , , , | 84 Comments

Sunset in Cold January – Hope

Every drive home from school I come to this intersection. Tonight I saw hope. Days are now longer. Sunsets are more brilliant, hanging onto their color until the end. Silhouettes of barns and trees make me want to stop and … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Nature, wonder | Tagged , , , | 78 Comments

Goodnight Moon – There’s More!

My recent post on Goodnight Moon, a classic book and certainly a staple in my classroom, was well received. Fellow blogger Beth I didn’t have my glasses on… has her school’s Spanish teacher read the book aloud to her Pre-K … Continue reading

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 50 Comments