Category Archives: The Arts

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 9

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 8, Milly and the children were guests of honor at the one-year anniversary of the Boston Fisher House.  With a full crowd in attendance, including members of the Fisher family, we presented the God Bless America quilt.  And, a … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Peace, quilting, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 8

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 7, the God Bless America quilt was delivered to the Massachusetts Fisher House in Boston.  The plan was to have a grand event and send-off, but the Director asked if Boston could have the quilt.  Headquarters not only agreed, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Giving, Giving thanks, Heart, Inspiration, military, patriotism, Singing, Teaching young children, The Arts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 7

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 6, the quilt, Milly, and the children were VIPs aboard the Intrepid Museum in NYC.  What an event!  The museum’s Curator called me to say the quilt was too large to hang at the museum.  Their Executive Board unanimously … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, Community, Giving, Inspiration, military, patriotism, quilting, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 6

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 5, the children were over the moon singing “God Bless America” at every opportunity.  We sang for soldiers, and made our own God Bless America book for families, writing and illustrating all the words to the song.  Children still … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, Community, Giving, Giving thanks, history, Inspiration, military, museums, patriotism, quilting, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 53 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 3

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 2, Milly came onto the scene, meeting the children and Gloria.  She accepted the “challenge” – as she called it – of quilting a mural which would become a Peace Quilt.  Gloria started the ball rolling with her own … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, Peace, Poetry, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 54 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 2

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 1, I discovered a Peace Portal at a museum and recreated it in my classroom.  Peace became a big deal and very real to children.  When I saw quilts that were murals, I knew I had to make … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 1

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Jennie

This is Part 1 in perhaps the best thing I ever did in teaching.  Really.  Some of my old bloggers will remember this gripping story.  There are 1o parts, and the story is absolutely wonderful.  Hang on for a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 72 Comments

The Art Show!

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Jennie

The annual Art Show is up and running.  As always, the art is stellar.  Why?  Because I empower children.  I tell them, “You can do this!”  I show them works of art by the masters – slowly and purposefully.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Early Education, Heart, Inspiration, School, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 65 Comments

Happy Easter From the Ducks in Boston Public Garden

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Jennie

This is a favorite post from Easter many years ago. Photo courtesy Universal Hub Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common.  Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, children's books, Community, Inspiration, picture books, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 69 Comments

Storytelling To High Schoolers – Part 2

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Jennie

The work was done.  Well, almost.  High schoolers wrote their stories, turned it into a book, and I returned to listen to them read their stories.  After all, they would be reading the story they wrote about the kindergartner they … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Community, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture stories, reading aloud, School, storytelling, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 51 Comments