Tag Archives: classroom environment

A Gift To Me From My “Family”

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Jennie

Today our Room Parents arrived with gifts for the teachers, from all the families in our class.  Children were excited to watch their teachers tear open paper and uncover a gift.  Rarely am I at a loss for words.  I … Continue reading →

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Mindfulness

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Jennie

I brought my stack of magazines with me on a trip out west so I could ‘catch up’, read and toss.  I typically pick up a book to read so my pile of magazines was growing.  As I settled in … Continue reading →

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Quilting Art With Children: Milly Part II

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Jennie

This is the story of children, a quilter, and how they connected ideas to create art that hangs in national museums.  The first story (prior post) depicts the evolution of the Peace Quilt, and this story is the next chapter.  … Continue reading →

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The Power of Books; You Have to Read It to ‘Get It’

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Jennie

The best part of my day as a teacher, and the most important part, is reading aloud to children.  I read picture books at least twice a day and a chapter book every day.  I always become moved and emotionally … Continue reading →

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“Starry Night”

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Jennie

Major pieces of art?  Masterpieces?  Introducing this to preschoolers?  It is not easy to explain to people how and why art can make a difference with young children.  A picture is worth a thousand words, and this picture was just … Continue reading →

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Cooperative Play

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Jennie

Human beings have persevered on this planet by figuring out how to work together.  We gather information, work hard, learn by trial and error, and enlist the help of others.  That’s how it works.  And, that’s just what is happening … Continue reading →

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The Evolution of ‘Gloria’, part two.

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Jennie

This is a continuation of my previous post. ‘Gloria’, the classroom puppet evolved over two decades into a ‘person’ that continues to give children reasons to think about others. One early conversation (of which there are many) the children had … Continue reading →

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Diversity, Acceptance, and ‘Gloria’

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Jennie

Diversity, understanding, and acceptance are an important part of our curriculum. These are not always easy concepts to teach. We weave them into our daily routine through ‘Gloria’, our classroom puppet. Gloria is just like your child; sometimes shy or … Continue reading →

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S.T.E.M. It’s the Buzz Word

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Jennie

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  That’s what our children need to survive and succeed in today’s world.  We’re behind many other countries when it comes to successfully teaching and implementing STEM, and that means the starting point is right in … Continue reading →

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Resilient Children and Behavior

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Jennie

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly young children adapt to their environment.  School is a perfect example.  Those first days are often filled with tears, sobbing, even clutching Mom or Dad with a grip that requires the Jaws … Continue reading →

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