I recently invited you to share some of your posts from your archives. It is a way of giving your earlier or favourite posts a chance to be read by a different audience. Mine. Details of how you can participate is at the end of the post.
Jennie Fitzkee has been a pre-school teacher for over thirty years, I have reblogged several of her posts because they demonstrate how a dedicated and passionate teacher can ignite imagination and a passion for books and music in the very young. This was Jennie’s very first blog post and a sample of her entertaining and informative articles on A Teacher’s Reflections: Thirty Years of Wonder
This Was a Great Day by Jennie Fitzkee
Romana, Geography, Milly, and ‘Blind Travel’
“The Story of Learning, and a Great Day in the Aqua Room”
The best learning often takes place at unexpected times. As teachers, we have to recognize the moments when children are curious or excited, and turn those moments into a learning opportunity. Today, those moments seemed to multiply. It was wonderful.
It all started with Milly the quilter. She was visiting today to finalize helping children select fabrics for our quilt. Romana wanted to tell Milly that she was going to Romania, so we opened our big book atlas and found Romania. This was an in-depth discussion with everyone. We looked at how far Romania is from France (we studied France last year). We didn’t know that Romania is on the Black Sea (did you know that?).
Of course we used the atlas to see where Massachusetts is, and how far it is from Romania. Then, we found England and Brazil, because Doctor Dolittle (our current chapter reading book) is from England and is sailing to Spider Monkey Island, off the coast of Brazil.
Whoa! Is your head spinning? Yes, this is what happened, and this is how young children learn. This was not in the plans, but we certainly embraced it.
It gets better! Toward the end of rest time, children who are awake get a book or a nap toy. Today teachers watched that full group of children use the big book atlas, together. No child picked an individual book or a toy. Collectively, they wanted to find Brazil, Romania, Massachusetts, and Spider Monkey Island. When the lights were on, they wanted to play Doctor Dolittle’s “Blind Travel”. That means closing your eyes, opening an atlas, circling a pencil three times, and then putting it down on a location.
We played “Blind Travel” for twenty minutes. Your children traveled to Europe, South America, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas. Those were just the locations with a teacher. Romana and Milly and Doctor Dolittle gave your children a powerful lesson in geography, yet all learning is interconnected. Today, chapter reading, an atlas, Romana and Milly helped to inspire learning.
(The Aqua Room is my classroom at Groton Community School)
©JennieFitzkee
About Jennie Fitzkee
I have been teaching preschool for over thirty years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It’s the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That’s what I write about.
I am highlighted in the the new edition of Jim Trelease’s bestselling book, “The Read-Aloud Handbook” because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at both the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, and the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital.
Connect to Jennie
Blog: https://jenniefitzkee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.fitzkee
My thanks to Jenny for sharing the first of four posts with us today and look out for more next Sunday.
If you would like to give some of your posts from the past a little TLC then dust them off and send four links to me at sally.cronin@moyhill.com. If this is your first time on Smorgasbord then please include your links to social media. If you like the experience then we can always look at sharing more.
Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks Sally.
Thank you, Sally. Always an honor to be included in your blog.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure Jennie… it is a lovely post. xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Posts from your Archives – This Was a Great Day by Jennie Fitzkee – The Militant Negro™
Reblogged this on A Teacher's Reflections and commented:
This is my very first blog post, the wonders of teaching and what really happens in the classroom. Inspiring! Thank you for sharing this, Sally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolute pleasure Jennie.. looking forward to sharing more of your relections in the coming weeks. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Smorgasbord Weekly Round Up – New Cafe Bookstore Feature, Guests and Tea Tree Icecream | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life
A truly amazing blog. Jennie is a very gifted teacher and I am so pleased to learn all these lovely tips for teaching children from her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love her posts Robbie.. and her children clearly adore her. xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is a lovely post Sally, full of the infectious joy of both children and someone who delights in teaching children and whom the children love in return. A worthy blast from the past!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so too Paul… Jennie writes wonderful posts. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
She does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful, idea, Sally! I have been following Jennie for a year now and her love of children, reading aloud and books has been an inspiration to me as I write my blog. I hadn’t gone back to read her early posts (I’m not sure why not!), so I’m so happy to read this delightful post today! Thank you! – Susan
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s great Susan and Jennie has three more to share over the next few Sundays.. and your reaction was exactly what I was hoping for. We all have early posts that deserve another go around. thanks for dropping in. Sally
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing one of Jennie’s posts from the archives. I think Jennie is such an inspiration for all she does to educate children in a fun way. I would have loved her for my teacher. ❤ xoxo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too Debby although I was very lucky with my first teacher. I think because they take you for most of your lessons they make a bigger impression… hugs xxx♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
True Sal. 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
wow, wonderful day for the children and you. thank you for sharing. xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for dropping in Adele.. hugs x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hugs to you too, Sally xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also love the moments when children are curious and excited about something. Such a wonderful teaching opportunity!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly right … thanks for commenting. xx
LikeLike
Jennie is quite simply a star of any classroom. Her love for the kids, and education, can be felt in every word she writes. I wanted a teacher like her!
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree Pete… I always learn something from reading her posts so even at my age of 64 she is a great teacher.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Pete!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicely shared, Sally!
I enjoyed this one and am not sure if I had ever read Jennie’s first blog post. This letter for parents telling them what their children learned about Millie the quilter, the places where Doctor Doolittle went and how far Romania is from Massachusetts were all valuable and important messages. Children-centered curriculum is the best kind! Geography and fantasy (fictional) books are so valuable for creative thinking. Thanks again, Sally for reblogging this post. 🌐 📚 🗺
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you and I am looking forwarsd to sharing more of Jennie’s early posts.. I do enjoy popping into her classes. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful that you shared Jennie, I so wish she had been my teacher.. 🙂 xxx ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think we all feel that way Sue.. hugs xx
LikeLiked by 1 person