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Tag: Play & wonder

Daily Dose of Joy

September 21, 2025 ~ wordancerblog ~ 8 Comments

  I put down my briefcase, sat carefully down on a small chair, and introduced myself to a table of three-year-old girls.  I started my teaching career working with three-year-olds.  I remember days of play, imagination, and song so fondly.

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  1. wordancerblog's avatar
    wordancerblog on Working in the Wonder Studio: Setting the StageJanuary 30, 2026

    I'm a dreamer, Trish. Why can't it be the norm? There'd definitely be more joy and more insights into how…

  2. Trish's avatar
    Trish on Working in the Wonder Studio: Setting the StageJanuary 29, 2026

    I loved reading this observation: "I was just setting the stage for children to create.  They did not need help;…

  3. wordancerblog's avatar
    wordancerblog on Working in the Wonder Studio: Setting the StageJanuary 28, 2026

    Come to New Jersey anytime, Kim. You have an open invitation!

  4. kimhaynesjohnson's avatar
    kimhaynesjohnson on Working in the Wonder Studio: Setting the StageJanuary 28, 2026

    What's so fascinating is that children are accepting and agreeable when it comes to working together (mostly)- - far more…

  5. Anita Ferreri's avatar
    Anita Ferreri on Working in the Wonder Studio: Setting the StageJanuary 27, 2026

    I think you should give yourself a round of applause for inspiring their creativity!

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8 responses to “Daily Dose of Joy”

  1. Awakening Wonders Avatar
    Awakening Wonders
    September 21, 2025

    Looks like you found a whole lot of sunshine in that classroom! Thanks for sharing a dose of pure, unfiltered joy with us.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. margaretsmn Avatar
    margaretsmn
    September 22, 2025

    I’m hoping to get back into some classroom visits soon. I do miss those little doses of joy. I loved playing with the little ones in carpool line.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Alice Tabor-Nine Avatar
    Alice Tabor-Nine
    September 23, 2025

    “Littles” can be pure joy. I enjoyed your flow of dialogue… it carried me through your classroom visit and made me smile as echoes of similar conversations drifted out of my memory. I, too, think conversing with “littles” is delightful.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Linda&Greg Avatar
    Linda&Greg
    September 23, 2025

    In my journey as a guest teacher (substitute) I am finding I really enjoy the younger grades. I taught second grade for my first 18 years in a classroom, and I love their grins and giggles. I appreciate your reminder to find the joy (and peace) in working with younger kids.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Trish Avatar
    Trish
    September 23, 2025

    All that joy is a shared experience. Retirement isn’t an age-defined thing. It’s about the feeling the work gives. Clearly you need to be right where you are, with the “Pickle” and those younger siblings, and your writing about it lets your readers in, too.

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. wordancerblog Avatar
      wordancerblog
      September 23, 2025

      And Trish – the “Pickle’s” mother is a young teacher at our school who I hadn’t yet met. At lunch that day, I saw her, and I introduced myself and told her the story of her little green genius. She told me that she will remember it always and thanked me for giving her a glimpse of his classroom. Warmed my heart.

      LikeLiked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Trish Avatar
        Trish
        September 23, 2025

        All that love and joy, the perfect environment for human learning.

        LikeLiked by 1 person

  6. Anita Ferreri Avatar
    Anita Ferreri
    September 23, 2025

    Those little spots of sunshine are clearly a reason to return. I always say that you can take a teacher out of their school, but you cannot take the heart of learning out of a teachers. I too am still at it!

    LikeLiked by 1 person

    Reply
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