Tag Archives: music

Boston’s Music, “Pops Goes the Fourth”

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Jennie

I moved to Massachusetts in 1984.  Since then, I have faithfully watched the Boston Pops perform every Fourth of July.  Back then, John Williams was the conductor.  He was the man who wrote the music for my favorite movies, “ET”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

When Children Bring the Music

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Jennie

Colin and his mother came into school looking happy and half-humming, half-singing something very familiar.  Their whole presence and attitude was atypical, because they behaved as if they were actually part of the song.  I realized they were singing “Oh … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching: it’s The Cake and the Frosting

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Jennie

Our everyday learning in the classroom reminds me of a big cake. The necessary ingredients are science, math, reading, writing, language, geography and the arts. A cake is mixed by hand, just as our learning is hands-on. And, the frosting? … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Classical Music is the Inspiration for Art

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Jennie

Yesterday I introduced classical music to my preschool classroom, and  it was one of my best days of teaching.  This story has added wonderful twists and turns; the art of Eric Carle and Wassily Kandinsky, and the new Caldecott Honor … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Emergent Curriculum… In Action

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Jennie

Emergent curriculum takes some ‘bravery’ from both teachers and children.  A teacher must have the foresight to scrap all those lesson plans when a genuine, worthwhile teachable moment presents itself.  A child must have the confidence and enthusiasm about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Camp Songs; Why We Love Them

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Jennie

It took me until adulthood to realize that my love for music stemmed from my childhood summers at camp.  I spent a month every summer at camp in the hills of Salt Rock, West Virginia.  A half a century has … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Singing Poetry, Books, and Anything in Print

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Jennie

At our monthly staff meeting last week a teacher shared a wonderful frog poem written on chart paper.  The rhyming words were highlighted in a different color.  She showed us how to use the poem with props; a stick to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Memorial Day in My Classroom

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Jennie

Our school wide Memorial Day remembrance some years ago with General Zukauskas and Cadet Crampton was stirring and moving, to say the least.  I think holding the American flag and singing patriotic songs, particularly “The Star Spangled Banner”, were quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment