Tag Archives: Early Education

The Lunchbox Note and Storytelling: Lifetime Lessons

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Jennie

Lunchtime in the classroom with fifteen preschoolers is very busy.  Once containers are opened, hot foods are heated, milk straws are inserted into their boxes, and napkins are found, things change.  Drastically.   Lunch becomes intimate.  Not quiet, but a … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 89 Comments

Book Bears

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Jennie

Book Bears started yesterday.  It’s my library reading group, mostly second graders.  Yesterday we met each other and  shared our favorite summer read.  ‘Meet and Greet’, with books.  Some children were nervous.  Some were outgoing.  I could see a wide disparity … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 85 Comments

Remembering 9/11 and Teaching Goodness

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Jennie

How do we deal with 9/11?  How do we honor and respect those who risked their lives?  How do we face a tragedy, and find goodness and strength?  Most importantly, how do we do this with young children? The tragic … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Giving, Inspiration, Kindness, patriotism, Peace, Singing, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 64 Comments

Summer of the Monkeys

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Jennie

Every summer I get lost in books.  Sometimes there is one that sticks with me for a long time.  A very long time.  This summer I read Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls.  I can’t let go of the words, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, reading | Tagged , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

The Important Things Don’t Change

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Jennie

Today was the first day back to school for teachers.  You’d think that I would be drained and overwhelmed with all the teacher work that needs to be done. Nope.  Not at all.  We talked about growing; both children and … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 72 Comments

Rekindling American Pride

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Jennie

The perfect book.  Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus captures the heart of America.  The stunning illustrations by Kadir Nelson make the simple text explode with meaning.  It is history: White Rows.  White Rows When I turned to this page, … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, Early Education, geography, history, Inspiration, patriotism, picture books, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Last Day of Camp

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Jennie

Summer Camp is bonding.  It’s a memory builder.  The little things stick and accumulate, and become part of a big piece.  And, that big piece is important; it shapes the good stuff, what really matters, like developing a sense of … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Imagination, play performances, self esteem, Singing, summer camp, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , | 63 Comments

No Words Needed

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Jennie

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein- And, a picture really is worth a thousand words~that light the fire of imagination.  What if there were books that could do just that? … Continue reading →

Posted in David Wiesner, Early Education, Einstein, Eric Carle, Imagination, picture books, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 78 Comments

Meeting Yet Another Author

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Jennie

Mount Holyoke College in Western Massachusetts hosts children’s book authors, and recently Patricia MacLachlan was a speaker.  Remember Sarah, Plain and Tall?  It was the first book that made me cry as an adult.  Mandatory reading for my children when … Continue reading →

Posted in Author interview, Early Education, Imagination, Inspiration, Patricia MacLachlan, picture books, reading, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Peace, The Real Peace

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Jennie

I talk about peace often in my classroom.  Well, that’s partially true.  When children talk about peace, I jump right in. They have a lot to say. We adults should listen more. Years ago, when I first had the the … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Inspiration, Kindness, Peace, Teaching young children | Tagged , , | 95 Comments