Tag Archives: language development

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 →

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Conversation

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Jennie

I often write about language and literacy because reading aloud and hearing all those words are what makes the difference in learning.  I want to introduce a new word into the mix: conversation.  That involves more than listening; it implies … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Why Do I Write Picture Stories and Read Chapter Books?

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Jennie

My first project of the school year is writing picture stories with the children.  Language is critical to learning in all academic areas, so its only natural that creating picture stories is an excellent tool for teachers. Its a fun … Continue reading →

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When Children Tell the Stories

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Jennie

Storytelling is a huge part of my classroom because it ignites the fire of listening and learning; new words, different ideas, adventure, compassion… hearing stories told aloud brings words and ideas to life.  This is exciting, because children are captivated … Continue reading →

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