Category Archives: Kindness

Children Giving To Their Sergeant Pen-Pal; A Life Lesson

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Jennie

Children are egocentric by nature.  Therefore, teaching the most important things in life, such as genuine thanks and caring, takes more than just words.  It takes doing. After writing letters and drawing pictures for Sergeant Curran, our pen-pal stationed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Giving, Kindness, Math, military, patriotism, Peace, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Thank You, Sergeant Curran, Our Pen-Pal

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Jennie

“Thank you.”  Those are the most fundamental words, next to “please”, that shape children’s character.  It is far more than manners; saying the words is one thing, doing the words is another. My class is thanking Sergeant Curran, stationed in Afghanistan.  We’re doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Kindness, Learning About the World, patriotism, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 48 Comments

In the Words of a Child

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Jennie

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller- It happened like this… Children were gathered to hear a story.  I was ready to read-aloud two … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness, picture books, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

Reading Connects All People

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Jennie

Reading should belong to everyone, but often we only think of how books relate to us. Steve McCurry is working to bridge that gap and show how much reading can connect disparate people. McCurry, one of the leaders in modern … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, Kindness, Peace, reading | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

The Real Meaning of Christmas Giving- Alicia

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Jennie

Alicia was my first experience in real Christmas giving, the kind that involved the whole family and money.  One hundred dollars- a fortune for a preschool teacher back in the late 80’s.  It was a Christmas gift that changed my … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 52 Comments

Milly & Gloria

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Jennie

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world.” -Albert Einstein- Milly made her first visit this year to the classroom, wearing her Halloween costume.  She brings joy to the children in the smallest of ways … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Kindness, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 36 Comments

Emotional Reading Comes First

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Jennie

Reading-aloud is emotional in my classroom.  Thank goodness!  I belt it out, read with a voice, and stop to talk. I cry and laugh, and so do the children.  How best can children learn all that is really important?  With … Continue reading →

Posted in Kindness, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Gloria and Trick-or-Treating

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Jennie

Last night Gloria was invited to go trick-or-treating.  There was no doubt in the child’s mind that she would be a cow, a baby cow.  She rode in the stroller with his little sister.  He just knew that was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, Kindness, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Two Blog Awards

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Jennie

Thank you to my good friend and happy blogger Nina over at The Happy Life – http://www.thehappylife101.wordpress.com – for nominating me for the Versatile Blog Award.  I am honored!  The rules are to list seven random facts about yourself, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Kindness, Peace | Tagged , , , , | 21 Comments

“Gloria”

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Jennie

Gloria is perhaps the kindest and most beloved member of my class.  She has been around for quite some time, and she returned to school this week.  The children were… well, a bit unsure at first.  After all, Gloria is … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Kindness, Peace, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 52 Comments