Tag Archives: reading books to children

The Greatest Question

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Jennie

“Jennie, tell me all the chapter books.” That was Jackson’s request, profound and unexpected.  This is his whole wide world of reading aloud.  And, this is the greatest question. Jackson and I were on the playground this morning.  He was hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Education, Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 35 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

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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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

Reading Aloud = Academic Success + Pleasure

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Jennie

This is about more than reading; this is about academic success, learning to read, and loving to read.  It’s about young children and older children, and what happens along the way.  Here are worrisome statistics and great stories.  You should … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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 →

Posted in Teaching young children, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 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 →

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Giving the Gift of Reading and Friendship

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Jennie

Never underestimate children.  The same goes for those who know what it takes to make a difference with children.  This week both statements came into clear focus when I drove from Massachusetts to West Virginia with a car full of … Continue reading →

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