Tag Archives: children’s books

Picture Books, Humor & Vocabulary

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Jennie

Author Ryan T. Higgins is hysterical. I mean unexpected, fall-down-laughing hysterical. His two children’s books are favorites in my classroom.  The storyline is a grumpy old bear who likes eggs, and what happens is imaginative and funny.  I read Mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, reading aloud, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

The Best Book, Every Year

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Jennie

“Jennie, is chapter reading over?”  That was Parker’s worrisome question today. He just wasn’t ready to let it go.  “Can we read more?”  Isn’t that question the Brass Ring?  The one that validates not only chapter reading, but one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , | 43 Comments

The Real Deal at a Museum

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Jennie

A trip to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA is a wonder in itself. It never fails that I am ‘blown away’, as my anticipation or expectation is fulfilled, yet not at all in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Really Understanding Children

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Jennie

Beverly came to camp a little late. She quickly joined all the campers as we were singing camp songs, hoping no one would notice her.  She wore her signature no-smile, crossed her arms, and plunked herself down beside me. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

One Picture for a Thousand Words.

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Jennie

Our final chapter reading book this year at school was Little House on the Prairie.  The last chapter that we read was ‘Fresh Water to Drink’.  Pa and his neighbor, Mr. Scott, were digging a well.  Pa was careful to lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 17 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

How Reading-Aloud Made Me the Teacher and Person I Am Today.

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Jennie

My very first day of teaching preschool in Massachusetts, thirty-two years ago, was both career and life altering.  Lindy, my co-teacher, asked me to read the picture books to children each day after our Morning Meeting.  Sure (gulp)!  I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Reading Aloud. ‘Star Wars’, Move Over

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Jennie

Thursdays I read aloud at the library.  I chapter read, and that is far different than reading a story.  Each Thursday ends with and then?  For thirty minutes children are glued to every word, because those words are powerful and … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

My Summer of Reading

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Jennie

This summer I immersed myself in great children’s books and quite a few young adult (YA) books that I’d never read, for a host of reasons.  So many wonderful books for older children were written when my children were very … Continue reading →

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Twists and Turns at Museums, Books and Art

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Jennie

A trip to a museum is much like climbing into a great book with a storyline of unexpected twists and turns.  Yesterday was no exception.  I visited the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts.  It has the best bookstore I … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments