Category Archives: Teaching young children

Preschoolers, Christmas Emotions, and ‘Gloria’

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Jennie

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

Light, “Fairyland” and Preschool Poetry

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Jennie

The winter solstice draws near, and Jupiter and Saturn will come close together as the bright Christmas Star – the first time in 800 years. Light It’s all about light in December.  Holidays are centered around light. I’ve never seen … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Mindfulness, Poetry, Quotes, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments

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

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Jennie

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

Reading Aloud “Ox-Cart Man”

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Jennie

At the request of fellow bloggers, here is a video of me reading aloud the classic children’s picture book, “Ox-Cart Man.” But first, I wanted to show you a mural the children made last year that hangs as a permanent … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, books, children's books, Early Education, geography, history, Inspiration, Nature, Particia MacLachlan, picture books, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 69 Comments

November – “Ox-Cart Man”

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Jennie

As I drove home tonight and looked at the sky, I immediately knew it was an “Ox-Cart Man” sky, the one in November where he finally arrived back home.  Do you know “Ox-Cart Man” by Donald Hall? It is one … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Early Education, history, Particia MacLachlan, picture books, Poetry, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

StoryWalk – An Eric Carle Book

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Jennie

A StoryWalk is a book, told with a series of signs, planted outdoors along a walk, that take you through each page of a book.  You follow along, walking from one ‘page’ of a story to the next.  It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Eric Carle, Imagination, Inspiration, Nature, picture books, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

Preschoolers Thank Veterans

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Jennie

At school this week children made a giant thank you note and American flag for our local veterans.  Saying thank you is important, but this goes deeper.  Veterans and Veterans Day help me to teach children about core values; honesty, … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American flag, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Kindness, military, patriotism, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 63 Comments

Halloween and a “Jennie Story”

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Jennie

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

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Jennie

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

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Jennie

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