Category Archives: Inspiration

Milly – Part 4

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 3, Milly brought in beautiful fabrics and placed them on the sketch of the Peace Quilt spread out across a big table.  Children came to her like moths to a candle, picking out just the right fabrics.  At … Continue reading →

Posted in Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 59 Comments

Milly – Part 3

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 2, Milly came onto the scene, meeting the children and Gloria.  She accepted the “challenge” – as she called it – of quilting a mural which would become a Peace Quilt.  Gloria started the ball rolling with her own … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, Peace, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Milly – Part 2

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 1, I discovered a Peace Portal at a museum and recreated it in my classroom.  Peace became a big deal and very real to children.  When I saw quilts that were murals, I knew I had to make … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, The Arts, Writing, young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 66 Comments

Milly – Part 1

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Jennie

Our “This Land is Your Land” quilt was the last quilt my class made. Let’s start at the beginning. How did quilting in my classroom even begin? It was a divergent pathway. Every good story has a great backstory.  To … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , | 53 Comments

Cape Cod and Friends

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Jennie

I am on the Cape with dear friends.  Dear is an understatement.  We have been together for 25 years, since our children were little.  Now, we have grandchildren, and our adventures keep on going.  I wouldn’t trade these ladies for … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, Nature | Tagged , | 74 Comments

The Real Start of Teaching the Fourth of July – Part 4

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 3, we made a giant sketch for the quilt based on what the children felt were important parts of the song and the book, “This Land is Your Land.”  Woody’s guitar, the church from the ‘sad page’, landmarks … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American flag, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, quilting, Singing, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 67 Comments

Tiny Julia and a Tiny Tree

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Jennie

It is raining cats and dogs today.  I went outside to check on Julia, our baby frog who has taken up residence in our pool.  The children named the frog Julia.  The vote was unanimous.  Julia was nowhere to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Nature, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , | 62 Comments

The Real Start of Teaching the Fourth of July – Part 3

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 2, after the song had become all-consuming for children, I told Naomi about the one time this had happened before, eight years ago.  A song was  beloved to children.  They couldn’t get enough.  And so, we made a quilt.  … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American flag, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, patriotism, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 42 Comments

Poolside Visitor

Posted on July 6, 2021 by Jennie

There he was, on the stairs, so very tiny. He wasn’t afraid. I reached out my fingers, And he climbed right on. His black eyes have a gold circle. His chin line is bright yellow. He’s really beautiful. I told … Continue reading →

Posted in Giving thanks, Inspiration, Kindness, Learning About the World, Nature, Quotes, wonder | Tagged , , , | 80 Comments

The Real Start of Teaching the Fourth of July – Part 2

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Jennie

This piece is actually about the last quilt my class made. Bloggers have asked me to ‘finish the story’. Here is Part 2, with two more to follow. Over the summer I will go back to the beginning, how it … Continue reading →

Posted in America, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, geography, Gloria, Inspiration, music, picture books, quilting, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments