Category Archives: Uncategorized

Linking the Generations at School

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Jennie

Milly is a master quilter who regularly visits my classroom.  Over the years she and the children have designed and made some quilts that are incredible works of art.  One hangs in the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia.  Another hangs … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Growing Readers

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Jennie

The most important thing I do in teaching is reading aloud to children.  I love what I do.  It started my first day of teaching when Lindy, my Head Teacher, handed me the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni and asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Teaching Patriotism to Young Children

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Jennie

Today was “Red, White, and Blue Day”.  The day before Veterans’ Day is a perfect time to teach patriotism.  How do you teach patriotism to young children?  The best place to start is with singing.  We sang “God Bless America”.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Death and Dying, and Chapter Reading

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Jennie

I finished reading our first chapter book of the school year, Charlotte’s Web.  Children were engrossed in this book because it is a story about the heart, and my most important job is educating the heart.  As such, they began … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

So, What Happened to Dinner?

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Jennie

I worry that dinner together just doesn’t happen enough with families.  You know, the good old sit down together, passing and serving food, talking about the day.  The benefits are huge, and I’d like to tell you why.  I’ll start … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Singing a Peace Song

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Jennie

Singing and music with children is transforming.  It happens every time; as soon as I pull out the autoharp or ‘song jar’ I have a classroom of children who are craving the experience of music and singing.  I’m not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Writing to an Author

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Jennie

I write and I read.  When I read something that knocks my socks off, I write to the author.  This doesn’t happen often.  Perhaps that’s because it takes quite a lot to knock my socks off.  Yet when I do … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jennie and Milly the Quilter

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Jennie

I had dinner with Milly the quilter tonight.  She has been such an important part of my classroom over the years.  Her quilts are works of art, and when she quilts with children somehow she creates a magic connection that … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Visiting Carl Larsson

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Jennie

Originally posted on Marcia Strykowski:
Carl Larsson (May 28, 1853 — Jan. 19, 1919) was born very poor in Stockholm, Sweden. Between attending the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and later meeting his wife, Karin, a fellow artist, his life turned around.…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Marinating Vocabulary

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Jennie

‘Marinating Vocabulary’.  I heard Pam Allyn, a guru on reading and reading-aloud, speak those words last week.  They hit me like a stone.  Each time I read aloud from a chapter book those words do far more than go into … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment