Category Archives: storytelling

Halloween and a “Jennie Story”

Posted on October 31, 2020 by

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 , , , | 71 Comments

A “Jennie Story” – On YouTube

Posted on March 21, 2020 by

This has been a whirlwind of a week.  Each of the past five days I have posted a video of me reading aloud a picture book, and an episode of chapter reading, every day on my new YouTube channel. It … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, picture books, preschool, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 91 Comments

Children’s Words, Part 3

Posted on March 6, 2020 by

In Part 2 I talked about children telling their stories in their own words.  Without a visual or help from a teacher- no crutch, it’s not so easy.  Welcome to the deep end, not the shallow end.  Children wrote and illustrated … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Jim Trelease, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

Children’s Words, Part 2

Posted on March 1, 2020 by

In Part 1, I talked about writing thank you letters to the people in our neighborhood, our community helpers.  As a group, we planned the words, and children decorated the letters. This was fun!  They felt excited and proud. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, picture stories, preschool, reading aloud, storytelling, teaching, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 72 Comments

The True Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Posted on December 24, 2019 by

The Story of Rudolph While there are slightly different variations on this true story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, most of this story is accurate.  More importantly, it is heartwarming and goes well beyond the making of the story – … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Death and dying, Diversity, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, Singing, storytelling | Tagged , , , , | 66 Comments

Why the Need for Art, Stories, Poems, and Music?

Posted on December 3, 2019 by

“Children need art and stories and poems and music as much as they need love and food and fresh air and play. “ Wise words from Philip Pullman, who received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2005: Children need art and … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, music, Poetry, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, storytelling, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

Storytelling… and Ellis

Posted on November 19, 2019 by

Interestingly, my storytelling to children often happens in the bathroom.  While that might sound strange, it really isn’t.  It’s me, sitting on the bench with three or four children, squished in close.  It feels good.  We’re waiting for the child … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Inspiration, preschool, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 68 Comments

Telling a Halloween Story – A Classic “Jennie Story”

Posted on October 30, 2019 by

Storytelling is, and has always been, the foundation for language and learning.  I write about children, yet storytelling applies to all people.  Words and ideas are how we start to learn, and how we continue to learn. Everybody loves a … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, Imagination, preschool, storytelling | Tagged , , , , , | 87 Comments

When Teachers Tell Their Stories – Part 8

Posted on August 24, 2019 by

In Part 7, I told the story of the huge tree that almost fell over on our neighbor’s house.  The Fire Chief in his big red fire truck, and the Tree Man in his cherry picker truck added plenty of real … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, preschool, storytelling, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 55 Comments

When Teachers Tell Their Stories – Part 7

Posted on August 11, 2019 by

In Part 6, I turned off the lights to tell a story, “The Halloween Story.”  Lights off can be as bonding as snuggling, and definitely an attention grabber.  The lesson learned was being brave, and how scary things might not be … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Mother Nature, Nature, storytelling, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments