Category Archives: literacy

Meeting a Blogger: The Letter, The Book, and the Otter

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Jennie

Do you often think how wonderful it would be to meet a favorite blogger – in person – and spend the day with them?  I certainly do.  And it happened!  Well, in order to tell the wonderful story, I must … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading aloud, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 137 Comments

Book Bears and Making Wishes

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Jennie

Today was the last library Book Bears meeting for the year.  It was also the last Read-Aloud meeting for the year.  Here’s what happened, or I should say, It happened like this… Both books for the two groups were about wishes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, Love, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, self esteem, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 78 Comments

Picture Stories, Storytelling, and Writing Letters

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Jennie

Learning begins with language, building words upon words.  The more words children hear, the more they learn, and the better they do in school.  All of this leads up to reading readiness.  So, if I can give children hundreds and … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, preschool, School, storytelling, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 78 Comments

Family

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Jennie

I call my classroom a family.  We are a family.  Children hear me say all the time, “Once an Aqua Roomer, always an Aqua Roomer.”  That means family is always there for you.  Children can take Gloria home long after … Continue reading →

Posted in children's books, Expressing words and feelings, Family, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading aloud, wonder | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

Little House in the Big Woods

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Jennie

“Little House in the Big Woods”, by Laura Ingalls Wilder This is our new chapter reading book at school.  When I introduced the book to the children, I talked about all the chapter books we have read up till now … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Book Review, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Family, geography, history, Learning About the World, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 83 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

Parent Newsletter, Robots, TED Talk

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Jennie

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

Bear Books – the Best Ones for Children

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Jennie

Winter is here, and it is time to feel cozy, just like bears.  I love bears and bear stories. Children do too.  While stories about animals are always popular, bear stories are favorites, year after year.  I’ve posted about these … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, literacy, picture books, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 58 Comments

Goodnight Moon – A Staple, Every Year

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Jennie

Before children learn to read, first they must hear the words.  It’s developmental, like learning to crawl before learning to walk.  The auditory piece, including singing, hits both the brain and the soul in learning.  In my preschool class, reading … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, literacy, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 84 Comments

The New York Times and Charlotte’s Web

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Jennie

The Books We Loved as Children Can Comfort Us at the End The cartoonist Paul Karasik spent time with his 103-year-old mother, reading the classics, like E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web.” By Paul Karasik Dec. 30, 2021 Paul Karasik is a … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Death and dying, E.B. White, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud | Tagged , , | 88 Comments