A Teacher's Reflections

“The” Invitation From a Former Student

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Jennie

I got an invitation most every teacher dreams about. But first I need to tell you about this student:

I remember my students. I love them. Some stick with me more than others, and Colin was one of those students. He was always smiling and laughing. He adored Milly the quilter, and he was quite the artist. Back in 2016 his masterpiece for the Art Show was incredible, a replication of a Claude Monet.

The next year, his art masterpiece was equally incredible. He nailed Kandinsky. Colin’s talents went beyond art. He loved music and singing. When I brought my record player into school, he was spellbound by musicals. I played my Rodgers and Hammerstein records; “The King and I”, “The Sound of Music”, and “Oklahoma” were his favorites.

We had a grand circus performance for families that year. It was so much fun for children. They were tigers, poodles, clowns, and acrobats. Guess who was the ringmaster? Yup, Colin.

That’s the backstory of Colin when he was in my class. Fast forward to today.

His mother emailed me the day after Colin had been cast as the lead in the fourth grade musical, “Oliver.” Yes, Colin was Oliver. She asked if I would come to the show, ‘since I was such an inspiration to Colin in his early singing days’. Oh my! And, she wanted me to be a surprise for Colin. Yes, this is the invitation teachers dream about.

Here is Colin’s photo on the billboard.
My goodness, he has grown:

When I arrived for the show, his mother was waiting to greet me. I was invited to sit with the family, including grandparents from Virginia. Honestly, Mom and Dad were over the moon that I was there. I was, too.

The show’s staging and props were elaborate, more like a high school performance. The lights went down, the show started, and here is Colin’s solo, “Where is love?”:

Yes, he was wonderful! Pitch perfect, heartfelt singing. After the show came the surprise for Colin- me! Mom had her camera ready.

I was out of control. Colin was beside himself. We were one.

When students remember, it is a treasure for a teacher. My heart is full. Thank you, Colin.

Jennie

Posted in art, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, joy, Love, music, play performances, Singing, Student alumni, The Arts | Tagged "Oliver", Invitation from a student, Play performance, Student and teacher | 107 Comments

‘Donut Party’ and Much More

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Jennie

We had our year-end event with families this week. It was the first time in two years that families, children, and teachers were all together. It was wonderful. Children called it the ‘Donut Party’, because they knew doughnuts would be served for snack.

They had no idea what was to come.

What we did was different from all the other classes. They had a singing program, followed by award certificates and ice cream. We had children and parents interacting with pillowcases. Really. All of the research pinpoints that the last words a child hears before they go to sleep are what they remember. What if those words, the ones that mean the world to children, are written on a pillowcase? What if those words are read aloud every night to a child?

Yes, it makes all the difference in the world.

This was our event, and families were deeply engaged with their children, writing words on pillowcases. Teachers walked by, looking along. Families didn’t notice.

This was powerful, important, and a wonderful family event. We also presented families with children’s portfolios, a year-long collection of art, writing, photos, and much more. Oh boy, the tears flowed, in the best of ways.

Here is an email from a parent about their child’s excitement over the ‘Donut Party’:

Hello Teachers,

Early this week we learned from Kiansh that there will be a “Donut Party” next week and he feels excited for it.

Your email communication early this week did confirm the same!

So yesterday he decided to write it down on his calendar so we don’t miss out!

And below is a picture of what he note down on his calendar for June 13th 😊. I just thought to share with you 😊

Have good weekend!

Jennie

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Family, Inspiration, Love, Teaching young children | Tagged Inspiration, literacy, teaching young children, Writing words of love on pillowcases | 78 Comments

The Last Day, and She Won’t Go Home

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Jennie

Today was the last day of school for children. There were floods of tears from children, and also parents. Hugs were like the jaws of life. Pick-up on the playground at the end of the day was emotional for everyone.

Especially for Maddie.

Mom held the new baby brother while Maddie continued to play. The more mom smiled, the more Maddie refused to go home. Yes, refused. Finally, I scooped up Maddie in my arms so we could walk to the classroom. Maddie buried her head in my neck, and I asked her if she wanted me to sing a song.

“Yes”, she said.

“What song do you want me to sing?”

“Wagon Wheel.”

Of course! “Wagon Wheel” has been ‘our song’ in the classroom whenever someone is feeling sad. Children will want me to ‘rock me mama’. And, I do just that. So, I sang the chorus loud and rocked as best I could on two feet, as I carried Maddie to the classroom.

Children are very forgiving when their teacher is crying and singing and rocking at the same time.

Music is a great healer. Love is, too.

Jennie

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Kindness, Teaching young children | Tagged Leaving school, Saying goodbye, Wagon Wheel song | 82 Comments

Self Portraits

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Jennie

My favorite year-end art project,
children drawing a picture of themselves
and comparing it to the drawing they made
at the start of the school year.

Look at how they’ve grown!

Jennie

Posted in art, preschool, Teaching young children, Uncategorized, wonder | Tagged Children's growth, Self portrait, Year end art project | 67 Comments

a wish for my students on their last day.

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Jennie

Hear, hear! Dear teacher Beth, you have this, and your students do, too. This is also my wish for my students. No apologies for abundant enthusiasm. Never, ever.

I didn't have my glasses on....

“there is nothing wrong with loving the crap out of everything.

negative people find their walls.

so never apologize for your enthusiasm.

never.ever.ever.

-ryan adams

may you all live like this forever. and ever. and ever.

love, your teacher

(who lives like this too)

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Posted in Uncategorized | 33 Comments

A Year of Chapter Reading, 2022

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Jennie

Here is my newsletter to parents about our year of chapter reading. It’s the best part of the day in the classroom.

Chapter Reading
June 10, 2022

Chapter reading is one of our treasured moments of the day. We bring to life the imagination, the world, and the past. The anticipation of ‘what happens next’ stirs excitement every day. Children listen and think. They ask questions. Ask your child, “At chapter reading where do you make the pictures?” You will hear your child say, “In your head.”

When we finish a good book and then start a new one, emotions run high and low. The end of a good book is so satisfying and pleasant, yet…it is over. That is the wonderful roller coaster of reading. And, with each chapter book we read, we ride that roller coaster again and again.

We have finished Little House on the Prairie, and it was thrilling; from Jack the dog, to building a house, to Indians in the house. Pa and his neighbor Mr. Scott dug a well, and we learned about the bad gas deep inside the earth (Pa had to save Mr. Scott) that only a candle can detect. Of course, I had to bring in my grandfather’s childhood portrait wearing a miner’s hat with the same candle. Laura and her family had fever ‘n’ ague (malaria), an illness that people thought came from eating watermelons. There was also fear of Indians, which was an opportunity for Gloria to discuss diversity and prejudice.

We read a second Doctor Dolittle book, Doctor Dolittle’s Journey (ask your child about Long Arrow and Spider Monkey Island), and we added a new book to our chapter reading this year, The Wild Robot. It is simply wonderful, and the children know there is a sequel.

These are the chapter books we have read this year. Good books are meant to be read over and over again. We encourage you to revisit these wonderful books with your child:

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Doctor Dolittle’s Journey, adapted by N.H. Kleinbaum

The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown

The fundamental constant that gives children the tools to succeed in school is language. The more words that children hear, the better they will do in school. Reading aloud to children is far more than an enjoyable experience. It increases their language development! In kindergarten through grade four, the primary source of instruction is oral. The more words that a child has heard, the better s/he will understand the instruction, and the better s/he will perform in school, in all subjects. Therefore, we will always campaign to read aloud.

A wonderful guide to book recommendations and to understanding the importance of reading aloud is the million-copy bestseller book, The Read-Aloud Handbook. I have used the book since my children were little. The author, Jim Trelease, visited the Aqua Room and GCS. We are featured in the seventh edition of the book.

Jennie

Posted in chapter reading, children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged Chapter reading books, Charlotte's Web, language and literacy, Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, Mr. Popper's Penguins, My Father’s Dragon, Reading aloud to children, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, The Wild Robot | 48 Comments

A Package From the White House!

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Jennie

My class loves singing, and this year “God Bless America” has been a favorite song. How do I know? Children sing it from the loft in the classroom, and when using the bathroom. They sing it while building with toys, playing on the playground, and at lunch. When something becomes a passion for children, I do something more to bring that passion to life.

A relative of one of my students is the Coast Guard Liason to the White House. Yes, I was the brave one; I emailed her to tell her how children love the song. I asked if we could send her a video of the children singing, as a Memorial Day Remembrance for the White House.

She was thrilled! So, we got to work to practice and videotape the performance. It is fabulous! Off the video went to the White House, and a few weeks later we had mail!

We received a package from the White House! Our “God Bless America” video was well received. Each child was given two packages of candy, signed by the President. That was very exciting. The letter reads:

Dear Aqua Room,
It was such a wonderful surprise to see the video of you singing patriotic songs for Memorial Day! You sounded fantastic and it made me so proud see you commemorate Memorial Day.
I showed your video to lots of people in the White House and they loved it!!
Hazel’s favorite aunt

What an experience for children to sing their favorite song for the White House, and then receive a thank you letter and a gift.

In a separate email to me, she said, “Thanks for teaching the kids about Memorial Day and recognizing those that gave us everything we have today!”

Jennie

P.S. I told her the story of making the God Bless America quilt years ago, and how it came to go to the Intrepid Museum and then hang at the Fisher House in Boston. She knows Fisher Houses, and visited the one at Dover Air Force Base. That must have been a humbling experience.

Posted in America, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, military, patriotism, quilting, School, Teaching young children | Tagged "God Bless America", A package from the White House, Singing for the White House, The White House | 75 Comments

Pen-Pal Explosion

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Jennie

Our Pen-Pal Wall

Back in April, when school was celebrating children around the world, it struck me that reaching out to other children would be a wonderful thing to do. We could write letters, send cards, get to know each other. We could become Pen-Pals.

I emailed fellow preschool teachers – Beth in Michigan I didn’t have my glasses on…. and Ritu in Kent, U.K. But I Smile Anyway…

My goodness, they were as excited as I was. The children were, too. We wrote cards with pictures and words, straight from the heart. It was days of work, swinging from fun to serious. Children wanted to make beautiful pictures, and they wanted to write words to other children. This was a big deal. Writing is hard for preschoolers, yet wanting something makes the hard much easier.

Michigan is 720 miles away. Beth’s students replied with a flood of cards and Eric Carle cut-outs. We were on our way with Pen-Pals! Here is my post on Beth’s cards:

Pen-Pal Cards Arrived!

Of course we wrote a giant thank you letter.

Giving is receiving and giving again. It’s a wonderful cycle. The detail in the drawing is incredible. Children are saying beautiful things in their own way.

Kent in the UK is 3,311 miles away, and it’s on the other side of the ocean. We pulled our Big Book Atlas to find England. When we mailed our cards, it was exciting, because we had Pen-Pals in another country. Their cards to us arrived, and children were thrilled!

We immediately wrote a think you letter to the children, our new Pen-Pals.

Note the detailed illustrations, yet another validation of the love and importance of these Pen-Pals. Their drawings are screaming words from the heart. Really.

Beth’s class got our thank you letter and they replied!

Times may have changed, but children have not. Making friends is universal, and Pen-Pals have been around a long time. I’m so glad my students became Pen-Pals with children in Michigan and the U.K.

Jennie

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, Learning About the World, literacy, preschool, Teaching young children, Writing | Tagged Pen-Pal, Sending cards, Writing a thank you letter | 45 Comments

Today’s Quote

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Jennie

I was ready to write a blog post, but first I always read my comments and notices from fellow bloggers. Low and behold, there was this blog post. Thank you, Theresa on Soul Gatherings. It bowled me over. It is so simple yet profound. Leave it to Shakespeare to give a powerful message in few words. I often write about Mother Nature and music. Shakespeare’s words are far better.

Posted in Uncategorized | 34 Comments