Category Archives: Uncategorized

Practicing Handwriting and Math…In a Chinese Restaurant

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Jennie

Our dramatic play area is now a Chinese restaurant.  We have added menus, a wok, a cash register with money from our ‘travel box’, order pads and pencils, aprons, and chopsticks. Learning takes place in many different ways.  The setting … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Blog Award

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Jennie

One Lovely Blog Award I have been nominated for this award by Charles French at https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com.  Thank you very much for this honor, Charles.  If you have not yet visited his blog, please do so.  He is an English Professor and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

How Children Really Learn

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Jennie

The classroom seemed quiet, even though rice was everywhere on the floor, and nothing resembled the set-up of activities that teachers had carefully arranged.  Yet, every child was fully engaged in important play.  I stepped back for a moment to … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Benefits of Reading, Fiction and Empathy

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Jennie

There is a reason I begin every school year by reading aloud Charlotte’s Web.  Besides being a terrific story that children love year after year, the underlying message goes far deeper than the friendship between Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Benefits of Reading

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Jennie

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
https://pixabay.com I have previously written about the happiness of reading, a pleasure I hope everyone, or at least, most people experience. As I wrote before, I consider reading to be one…

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Teaching Acceptance, Not Diversity

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Jennie

Garth Williams illustration, courtesy Harper & Row One never knows when a powerful teaching moment presents itself.  In spite of all the lesson planning, the real times an educator can seize the opportunity to teach young children often come unexpectedly.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Our Pen-Pal From Prague

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Jennie

A Pen-Pal is an exciting way to learn about other people and countries, because it is hands-on.  No computers, no iPads, just real things that children can touch and see; letters, pictures, and even a book.  There is no instant … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Jim Trelease Quote, Reading and Writing, and a Journey of Teaching

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Jennie

A great quote can pack as much power as a good book.  When both come together in one package, then you have it all.  That’s Jim Trelease.  That’s The Read-Aloud Handbook. “People would stand in line for days and pay … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Three Quotation Challenges

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Jennie

I have been nominated for this quotation challenge, to come up with three quotations.  This is no small potatoes, as the field is filled with excellence.  That means two things to me; quotes that are both brilliant and simple, because … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Reading List

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Jennie

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
I had the good fortune this week of delivering a talk at the Muhlenberg College Board of Associates Meeting on the topic of Great Books.  I spoke with the audience for…

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments