Category Archives: Teaching young children

Gloria Goes to Missouri – Part 2

Awww…just look at that smile! Gloria arrived back home with much fanfare.  There’s nothing like welcoming a best friend after a long trip.  We learned that Missouri has cows.  Lots of cows.  So, included in Gloria’s welcome home box was … Continue reading

Posted in Expressing words and feelings, Family, geography, Giving thanks, Gloria, history, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Love, School, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 61 Comments

Real Connections With Children – From a Carpet Sweeper to a Princess Phone

Teachers need to connect with children.  That’s a given.  The smiles, hugs, and laughing are always the foundation for developing relationships with children. While these positive interactions are the most common, sometimes unexpected moments – bad moments – can become … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Kindness, Mindfulness, preschool, self esteem, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 76 Comments

The Art Show

My art palette pin.  I wear it every year.  I introduce art for the Art Show step-by-step, easy to difficult.  Since we studied Italy in March, our first art was ‘spaghetti art’.  Children stood on a table (that was exciting), … Continue reading

Posted in art, Imagination, Inspiration, preschool, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 99 Comments

Music Inspires Art

Music plays a huge role in preschool.  It fills the hearts of children and inspires them to ‘be’, to open up and express their feelings.  They dance to music and soak up the feeling it gives them.  While young children … Continue reading

Posted in art, Eric Carle, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, music, preschool, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 78 Comments

No Captain? Brilliant!

The Boston Bruins hockey team had a major change of players last week.  The team captain was traded, along with three other terrific players.  It was a shock. The ‘front office’ announced there would be no team captain for the … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 59 Comments

Robots!

Children love robots.  They’re a great introduction to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) learning, and robots are very cool.  I invited our local Groton-Dunstable High School Robotics Club – The Robotomies – to visit the Aqua Roomers with their robots.  … Continue reading

Posted in Early Education, Giving thanks, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, robots, School, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 80 Comments

Gloria and Zeb to the Rescue

Gloria has been a bit lonely this year.  The children love her, yet she spends much of her days sitting on the couch.  I see her smiling at the children.  I wonder how her heart feels. We’re learning about Africa.  … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, geography, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 107 Comments

Family Photo Collages

Our first parent event at school is Back-To-School Night.  We have a meet-and-greet, parents connect with each other and with teachers, and we talk about our philosophy and curriculum. Then, parents make a family photo collage for their child.  It … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, Inspiration, joy, Love, picture books, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 69 Comments

The Best Children’s Christmas Books – Annual Post

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, children's books, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

Mr. Rogers and Play – the Job of a Child – My Letter to Families

In the words of Mr. Rogers, a child’s job is to play.  It’s the basis for learning, ‘Life-101’ for young children.  Because play is so important, and complex, I needed to communicate this to my preschool families: This is the … Continue reading

Posted in behavior, Play, preschool, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 60 Comments