Category Archives: Singing

Love

I wore this heart pin to school today.  I needed to wear it, and I knew what would happen.  Children asked me about the pin. “Jennie, I love your heart.” “Thank you.  I  do, too.  Do you know why I … Continue reading

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Inspiration, Love, preschool, Singing, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 82 Comments

“This Land is Your Land”

In light of Veterans Day and how our country needs to come together, I am reposting an old post on patriotism and singing, specifically Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land is Your Land.”  Thank you to Don Ostertag who said I … Continue reading

Posted in America, American flag, Book Review, children's books, history, Inspiration, patriotism, picture books, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

A Magical Evening at School

As the sky darkened, families enjoyed a pizza dinner on the playground. It was the first time everyone was together. Families brought pumpkins and went to work carving them into jack-o-lanterns. We set all the jack-o-lanterns along the stone wall. … Continue reading

Posted in Halloween, Imagination, Inspiration, jack-o-lanterns, music, Singing, wonder, young children | Tagged , , , | 67 Comments

School – Day One

I tossed and turned the night before school, as I always do every year. Will I remember the children I met last week? Will they remember me? Will we connect? I walked into school smiling at our Peace Dove. I … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Love, music, Peace, preschool, School, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , | 79 Comments

My Song Follow-Up Story

In my last blog post, I included a favorite song I sing with children, “The Sun and the Rain Make a Rainbow.”  I searched through YouTube to find the song- nothing.  So, I just sang it myself.  Fellow blogger Debby … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, preschool, Singing, Teaching young children, young children | Tagged , , | 73 Comments

One Voice

My final thought today on this Fourth of July is we are one.  No one is alone.  We all work together. History is filled with these moments that make me proud to be an American. This song says it all. … Continue reading

Posted in America, American flag, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, military, music, patriotism, Singing | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

A Song For the Ages – The Voices of Children

This is the song of the school year, the song that makes me swell with joy, cry, and feel so very proud to be teaching children. Children are our future. “Where words fail, music speaks” ~Hans Christian Andersen~ Jennie

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Love, music, Singing | Tagged , , , | 37 Comments

Just Another Day in the Classroom… Oh, Boy!

photo from Pixabay  I often write about the great moments in the classroom, when a spark ignites and learning explodes, or when goodness, laughter, and discovery happen. Every day is not like that.  Today was was one of those ‘not … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, music, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 64 Comments

Happy Birthday to “The Star-Spangled Banner” becoming America’s National Anthem

My well-loved and well-read book. March 3rd, 1931.  “The Star-Spangled Banner” becomes America’s National Anthem.  Wait…1931?  I remember the day I discovered the date; Milly the Quilter had finished the God Bless America Quilt, and we had been singing the … Continue reading

Posted in America, history, music, patriotism, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , | 61 Comments

Goodnight Moon – It’s a ‘Rap’

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 chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, literacy, music, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , | 50 Comments