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Blog Archive

A Big Week For Early Childhood Education

Last week was BIG for ECE.  President Obama released the 2015 federal budget which outlined a continued and broadened commitment to Early Childhood Education.  The State of Illinois also received an additional $80 million, in Race to The Top money/Early Learning Challenge, to be distributed and matched by the state over the next 4 years.  What this […]

An Old Friend and An Abacus

When my husband was a child living in Laramie, Wyoming he befriended a boy from Japan who was spending a year in the US with his family.  His father was a visiting scholar at the University of Wyoming.  Although they only spent one year playing together, this friendship held something special for both of them. […]

To Give a Hoot or to Not Give a Hoot – That is the question

After writing about a Three Dog Night, I got to thinking about other common and not-so-common expressions that might have a place in the early childhood classroom. Who remembers this campaign? According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, to Give a Hoot is to call or shout in disapproval or scorn,” c.1600, probably related to or […]

Top 10 Ways to Keep It Calm This Holiday Season

Unless you work in a faith-based program, the holiday season should be almost nonexistent in your classroom.  Some of the December holidays are rooted firmly in religious teachings and others are celebrated by specific cultures.  None of them have a place in diverse and publically-funded programs. That does not mean we should ignore them altogether.  Children […]

Legos and Play

I’ve written about Legos several times over the past couple of years simply because they are one of my favorite children’s toys.  On Friday, I posted a special message from the Lego Company that was included in the first set of Legos sold in the early 70s.  This message just reaffirmed my adoration for these multifaceted […]

A Great Reminder From Long Ago

I had to share this with you.  This is such a great reminder about play, and children, and children who play. These instructions came with an original set of LEGO in 1974. http://io9.com/these-lego-instructions-from-1974-are-awesome-and-yes-1662169567?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow  

Three Dog Night

While walking the pugs the other night at the park, huddling and shivering with other dog owners/lovers, someone mentioned that they love to sleep with their dogs in the winter because they are like mini heaters designed to keep them warm.  That brought up a discussion about the expression Three Dog Night.  Disclaimer I know the band […]

Top 10 Ways to Keep the Kids Busy This Thanksgiving

It is here!  The day set aside when we celebrate family, food, and all of the big and little things we are thankful for.  For many of us, it is a long day of work with children under foot.  Here are 10 ways to keep the little rascals busy while the turkey roasts, fries or […]

What does Differentiated Instruction Mean?

I’ll never forget the first time I overheard a parent asking her child’s first grade teacher how she was planning to differentiate instruction for her child.  The teacher later told me that many parents were beginning to expect differentiated instruction for their children.  This was in a public school with over 30 children in each and every class. […]