Tag Archives: teaching

Jim Trelease Quote, Reading and Writing, and a Journey of Teaching

A great quote can pack as much power as a good book.  When both come together in one package, then you have it all.  That’s Jim Trelease.  That’s The Read-Aloud Handbook. “People would stand in line for days and pay … Continue reading

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Three Quotation Challenges

I have been nominated for this quotation challenge, to come up with three quotations.  This is no small potatoes, as the field is filled with excellence.  That means two things to me; quotes that are both brilliant and simple, because … Continue reading

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Making Connections

Museums always inspire me, and my recent visit to the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH was no exception.  The added bonus was seeing Eleanor, one of my former students.  She is now in high school.  How can that … Continue reading

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Reading Aloud in High School? Yes!

A few years ago at a holiday party I talked with a friend who is head of the English Department at a prep school in Massachusetts.  She teaches senior English. We talked about reading in the classroom, particularly reading aloud.  … Continue reading

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Summer Camp Play Performances

Every summer my school offers a summer camp program.  The most exciting part of my camp group (six to eight year olds) is the ‘play performance’.  It didn’t start that way at all.  Camp is camp, and that means having … Continue reading

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Two Final ‘Jennie Stories’ This Summer

The lazy days of summer will be ending soon, and I’ll be back to writing my reflections.  I feel like a farmer who is holding back his cows, but is still dishing out the ice cream they made.  I hope … Continue reading

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A Thriller Jennie Story

The Tree Story “It happened like this… this is my house, and this is the Kruger’s house (I physically hold up my arm to show one and the other, side-by-side).  My house and the Kruger’s house.   In between the two … Continue reading

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More Jennie Stories

The Raccoon Story “It happened like this… many years ago when my children were little, we lived in an old stone farm house in Ivyland, Pennsylvania. In the summer it often got very hot and we had no air conditioning.  … Continue reading

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The Essay That Didn’t Win…It Should Have.

The essay contest was titled, “When did you first know the meaning of love?”.  I knew the answer in a heartbeat; I had to enter and tell the world, because it was important.  It was the ‘light bulb’ moment in … Continue reading

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Singing Poetry, Books, and Anything in Print

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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