Category Archives: Teaching young children

The Best Children’s Christmas Books

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Jennie

This is a repost of my favorite Christmas books.  Every year they grow stronger, because children love them.  These are the books children and adults want to read over and over again.  That’s why they’re the best.  Please, go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, picture books, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 69 Comments

Joy, at the End of the Day

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Jennie

It’s Friday at 5:00 PM.  We’ve had a full day (and week) at school.  In the last hour we painted a gigantic box that will become a lunar module next week and fly to the moon. Yesterday was the Cold … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, joy, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 77 Comments

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Jennie

One of the most beloved children’s Christmas stories is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss.  It has been a child favorite ever since it was written in 1957. I read the book aloud to my preschool class today.  When … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Kindness, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 71 Comments

A Classic Children’s Book and History

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Jennie

I read this book yesterday to children, and I only got through the first few pages.  It is one of the best books to teach history and what happens over time.  We had to stop and talk about so many … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Early Education, geography, history, picture books, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 100 Comments

The White Feather

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Jennie

Eagles, specifically the bald eagle, is our unit of study. The live video cam was on.  We watched a mother eagle in her nest taking care of two eggs. A child said, “Jennie, you have a white feather in your … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, preschool, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 60 Comments

Storytelling… and Ellis

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Jennie

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

Hands-On Math for Children

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Jennie

Often, in the flow of our day, there are unplanned learning opportunities.  Typically, this is when some of the best learning and the most fun happens.  Recently we were playing with Squigz, a toy with multiple sized rubber pieces of … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Math, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

Thanking a Veteran and Astronaut

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Jennie

As soon as the leaves begin to fall, I start teaching children patriotic songs.  I have my Big Book Atlas handy to look at and talk about America.  Of course the American flag hangs in my classroom. All of this … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American flag, Early Education, Giving thanks, history, Inspiration, military, patriotism, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 66 Comments

Read For The Record

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Jennie

Today is the big day.  Teachers all across the world read aloud the same book on the same day to children.  The magnificence of children all over the world hearing the words and seeing the illustrations of the same story … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Diversity, Early Education, Family, Giving thanks, Inspiration, picture books, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

Gloria Trick-or-Treating

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Jennie

Gloria went trick or-treating on Halloween night as a cow.  Imagine that!  She was accompanied by Asha, who dressed up as Elsa, and by Asha’s big brother who dressed up as Harry Potter. Gloria’s journal entry reads: “Asha had so … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, Gloria, Halloween, Imagination, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 54 Comments