Elbow, knees, dreams

a blog about preschool, public schools, and what it's really like to be a teacher

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is early entrance to kindergarten a good idea?

I have written about this topic before, but thought I would address it again, this time not just as a teacher, but as the mother of a child who skipped a grade. (Keep in mind that going to kindergarten early is a grade skip.) *********** My husband is Read More...

a great kindergarten blog

I found Chalk Talk while looking for 100th day of school ideas, and have been going back to it ever since. The author is an experienced teacher with tons of great ideas, and the skills to put them on her blog in a useful way for other teachers. Check Read More...

meaningful differences

Wow, yesterday’s post certainly touched a nerve. That was the most hits I ever got on my blog, and the most comments. So thank you, everyone, for being part of the conversation. So the question is, how do preschool teachers strike a balance between helping Read More...

letter of the week?

I teach my students a letter of the alphabet each week. Phew. I said it. I know that those are fighting words to some teachers, so I’m prepared to hear why some of you DON’T do a letter of the week. And also to respect your arguments. Here’s a little Read More...

pro athletes visiting schools

As I came in to work this morning, looking at all the favorite book door decorations, and thinking about how I have failed to organize anything else for I Love to Read Month, my mind thought back to a school I worked at long ago. One day, we had some Read More...

Why I teach preschool (instead of kindergarten)

Splatypus’s comment about my last post got me thinking about the days when I taught kindergarten in one high-poverty school after another. Kindergarten can be high-stress for a teacher. And not just because her students are living in poverty and have Read More...

Who needs preschool?

Does your child need to go to preschool before kindergarten? Does every child need to go? What do kids need to learn before kindergarten, anyway? I think preschool is great, but it isn’t necessary for everyone. If you are raising your child at home, and Read More...

On not being safe

How’s this for a headline? “Teacher tries to help preschoolers stay alive.” I nearly spit out my coffee this morning when I saw that one. Preschool teacher Marisol Sierra, who teaches in the Chicago neighborhood where schoolkids are getting shot, has Read More...

Early entrance to kindergarten

Today we had a visitor. It’s a common occurrence in my classroom, only today, our visitor was four years old. We’ll call him Charley. Charley’s dad brought him to school so that I could watch him play in my room for an hour, and evaluate whether or not Read More...