Category Archives: preschool

Today… the New School Opening

My previous post was ‘the night before’ opening school in our newly renovated building.  Here is what happened : First things first- we opened ‘the box’, the one children packed up with their treasures so they could be part of … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, preschool, reading, Singing, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 77 Comments

The Night Before… the New School Opening

It’s the night before the opening of our newly renovated school.  I’ve done all I can do before children arrive tomorrow morning.  You know how hard a move is, and this was a major one.  Teachers have worked long and … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, Nature, preschool, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , | 102 Comments

A Christmas Tradition – The Sticky Bun Lady

For thirty-something years, the sticky bun lady has delivered her treats to my house.  It started when her girls were preschoolers in my class.  Every Christmas Eve she would arrive, much like Santa.  She never missed a year. I was … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, Giving, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, preschool | Tagged , , , , | 50 Comments

Preschoolers, Christmas Emotions, and ‘Gloria’

The emotional roller coaster of preschoolers is in full swing at Christmastime.  Tears, yelling, hitting, not sharing – it all surfaces at this time.   I’m there to help them navigate the waters and make things right.  In the end, … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, music, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 71 Comments

Kings and Queens, Writing Letters, Doctor Dolittle, and Pfizer

We just finished a wonderful unit on Kings and Queens at school.  What child doesn’t want to be a king or queen, live in a castle, and dream of dragons? Of course things took a turn – quite a turn. … Continue reading

Posted in art, children's books, Death and dying, England, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Learning About the World, picture books, picture stories, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Music We Love – Our “Wake-Up Song”

Music is part of our school day, every day.  Thank goodness!  We have many favorite songs, from rhyming to silly, classics to new discoveries, patriotic, quiet and loud, and… well, I play all kinds of music for children.  They love … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Love, music, preschool, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Gloria – a Regular Day at School

Somehow Gloria knows how to make things right for a child.  Emmett left his lovey kitty at school.  Here is his mother’s email: Hi all, Emmett came home today without lovey kitty. He doesn’t remember where lovey kitty is in … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, preschool | Tagged , , | 52 Comments

Halloween and a “Jennie Story”

Our ‘Day in the Dark’ and ‘Pajama Day’ at school was fun.  Glow sticks and black play dough were a big hit.  Wearing pajamas to school is cool.  Things are different this year, yet the constant is storytelling. Storytelling is, … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Halloween, Imagination, preschool, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 73 Comments

Halloween, Then and Now at School

Our classroom family event, a few years ago. Halloween is quite different this year.  There’s no trick-or-treating.  Children will be wearing pajamas to school today for ‘PJ Day’, and ‘A Day in the Dark’.  These are fun alternatives to costumes, … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Halloween, Inspiration, jack-o-lanterns, preschool, Singing, Student alumni, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 67 Comments

Gloria’s First Day at School

It happens every year.  Gloria comes to school, and children are wide-eyed.  Silent.  Maybe scared.  And somehow, she becomes a friend.  Well, not exactly.  She becomes herself, and children want to be her friend. It started with Eddie.  He was … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, preschool, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , | 79 Comments