Category Archives: Inspiration

My Sweet Children

This could be me… My wonderful students said ‘thank you’ for Teacher Appreciation Week. Coffee, cookies, flowers, and a card that made me cry. I am touched, and so very lucky. Jennie

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, preschool | Tagged , , , , | 102 Comments

Flowers and Children

Spring Flowers are blooming. Children are, too. A blossom is a smile, a warm hug, the feeling of goodness, a garden of children. Jennie

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Love, Nature, young children | Tagged , , , | 88 Comments

Seeds of Generosity

Charli Mills over at the Carrot Ranch posted her flash fiction challenge: Seeds of Generosity Spreading the seeds of generosity from one story to the next. April 15, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 50 Comments

The Real Beginning of ‘Gloria’

Last year at this time all of my teaching was done remotely.  It was hard, and I reached out in so many ways to make things fun and keep a connection with my preschoolers. Here is what I did, in … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, Student alumni, young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 85 Comments

The Barn in “Charlotte’s Web” and My Porch

E.B. White on the infamous rope swing in his barn. Today I was ‘in the barn’ when we opened the doors to our porch.  E.B. White wrote about opening the barn doors at springtime in “Charlotte’s Web”. Then came a … Continue reading

Posted in children's books, E.B. White, Early Education, Inspiration, Nature, Quotes, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Week of the Young Child

This is ‘Week of the Young Child’, celebrated nationally by early childhood programs, accredited by NAEYC – National Association for the Education of Young Children.  It’s a big deal! We celebrated by ‘filling buckets’, literally and figuratively.  Children filled pails … Continue reading

Posted in art, Diversity, Early Education, Giving, Inspiration, Kindness, Learning About the World, picture books, preschool, School, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 65 Comments

The Art Show – Part 3 Finale

Every child is an artist. ~Pablo Picasso~ I dream my painting and then paint my dream. ~Vincent van Gogh~ Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt. ~Leonardo da Vinci~ Great art picks up where nature ends. ~Marc Chagall~ It … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Quotes, Teaching young children, The Arts, Uncategorized, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , | 78 Comments

The Art Show – Part 2

In Part 1 children were introduced to real artist tools, and also to music played with record albums on a record player.  Music inspires art.  It goes into your ears, then your brain and your heart.  Then it shoots out your fingers … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Gloria, Inspiration, joy, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 90 Comments

Music and The Art Show – Part 1

The children have been preparing for our annual Art Show, a major exhibit for the whole community.  It’s especially exciting this year, as last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid. How do you help children to think like Picasso … Continue reading

Posted in art, Early Education, Inspiration, music, preschool, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 82 Comments

Picture Perfect

Seeing your favorite robot on the TV show ’60 Minutes’. “It’s Atlas!” A picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you Boston Dynamics! You make building robots cool. Even to my preschoolers. Jennie

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 48 Comments