Category Archives: Teaching young children

Four Seasons of Our Wishtree

Last spring children made wishes and hung them onto a tree on the playground at school.  Wishes are important.  The tradition of a Wishtree is worldwide.  We were excited to make our very own.  Everyday those wishes would flutter, and … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, School, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , | 84 Comments

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

We celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss by reading many of his books today.  The rhyming is fun, and critical to children’s language and literacy development.  Dr. Seuss knew how to make learning fun! Then, things took a turn.  A … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, museums, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 68 Comments

Rose, My Nan, the Log House, and Stories

My grandmother Nan was born in 1886, the same year Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter was born.  They both have the same name, too – Rose!  What a connection.  There’s more. Nan as I remember her. Nan when she was 14. … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Family, geography, history, Inspiration, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 90 Comments

My Edward Hopper House

When the sun goes down in the late afternoon, the light and shadows on the white house across the field remind me of an Edward Hopper painting. I love his art. I love this house along the way.  This coming … Continue reading

Posted in art, Inspiration, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , | 52 Comments

Little House in the Big Woods

“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

Boston Dynamics Robots – Update

As many of you know, my preschool children love the robots from Boston Dynamics.  Last year it all started when I accidentally found this video: Children were over the moon.  We watched this video every day, and children began to … Continue reading

Posted in Inspiration, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Norway and the Olympics

Norway has dominated the winter Olympics.  Yet, the story behind how their athletes got there is fascinating.  Is it rooted in childhood?  You bet! A recent article by Reuters, “Fun and Friendship Fuel Norway’s Gold Rush” hits the nail on … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Inspiration, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 47 Comments

A Discovery!

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

Dolls, Love, and Lucy School

My beloved childhood dolls It started last week.  Dolls.  It is growing in ways teachers hadn’t imagined.  We rotate our dramatic play area frequently, and it’s been a while since it was our traditional housekeeping area with a play kitchen … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, Gloria, Inspiration, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 73 Comments

Heart & Love

Valentine’s Day isn’t about flowers and candy.  It’s about love.  For my children at school, a teacher’s love is where it all starts.  You can’t have a heart without love.  Love is infectious, and makes the heart grow.  The bigger … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Love, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 83 Comments