Monday, March 17, 2008

Easter Bunny, Book Fair, and Hugs!!!

Today I was at the Maineville Campus!! I am always blown away by the warm welcomes I receive when I come into the classrooms! I always enjoy visiting and sharing wonderful books with the children.

Last week I read, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus" by Mo Willems. It was especially a big hit with the Monkey classroom at Maineville. So today, I was looking through the books at the bookfair and found the sequel called "Don't let the Pigeon Stay Up Late". I read it to the Monkey classroom! It was enjoyed by all.

Attention Maineville Families: Don't forget to stop by the Scholastic Book Fair Located by the Front Desk!!!!

Bookfairs at Fairfield and West Chester will be in May. Stay tuned for more information!

I had a great time attending the Toddler Eggstravaganza! The children got the opportunity to play games, decorate an Easter Bag and of course hunt for eggs! The Easter Bunny made an apprearance as well! Check out the pictures!!!


Thursday, March 13, 2008

Get to Know Ms. Stephanie

GET TO KNOW MS.STEPHANIE

Name: Ms. Stephanie
Age: 24
Favorite Drink: Mountain Dew
Favorite Food: Nachos
Favorite Restaurant: Bo Jangles
Favorite Color: Purple, Anything Sparkley
Job: Sign Language Teacher
Favorite Children's Book: "DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!"
What she likes to do on the weekend: Read, Boating, Wakeboarding ,Shop, Be with family, watch movies

Monday, March 10, 2008

Mr.Wiggins talks to Ms.Cindy

Name: Ms. Cindy

Age: A Lady never tells

Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Drink: Big Red
Favorite Children's Book: Charlotte's Web
What She Likes to Do on the Weekend: Sing, Sleep, and Be with her family!

Friday, March 7, 2008

Cooking with Mr. Wiggins

Cooking with Mr. Wiggins

Hot Vanilla

Topping

1/2 cup of Whip Topping
Chocolate Syrup
Cinnamon

Whip together Whip topping, chocolate syrup and cinnamon.

(Makes Enough to Top 6 Hot Vanillas)

For Each Hot Vanilla, microwave 1 cup of Milk and 2 teaspoons of sugar in a mug for 90 secondds. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Top with a dollop of chocolate cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and a dash of cinnamon.






Big Snow Storm!!!



The Snow is coming!!!!



I am so glad that I got to all the classes today at Fairfield before the weather took a real turn for the worst! I hope everyone got home safely!! Have fun playing in the snow this weekend!!!



Mr. Wiggins with Ms. Christina at Fairfield


Mr. Wiggins and I took some pictures of awesome decorations at the different schools we go to!! We just wanted to share a few!

A Painting done by one of the Toddler Classes at Fairfield



In the in the Turtle Room at Fairfield


Comb paintings done by the Froggy room at Fairfield






From the Penguin room at U.C.





Rainbow made by the Monkey class at U.C




Displayed in the Shark Classroom at UC





Outside the Monkey Classroom at Fairfield



Have a wonderful weekend! Off to enjoy a cup of Hot Chocolate and a good book!


Love,


Auntie Em

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Community Service and The Big Give

I watched the BIG GIVE on TV this weekend. You may being thinking " Not another reality show." This one was different. While the contestants are competing, they are also changing a lot of lives along the way. I must say that this show did make me cry a little bit. Nothing warms my heart more seeing other people being helped!

I have been thinking alot about community service lately. It has been a large part of who I am for many years. I've volunteered at church and at a local school as a teacher drama. I have been thinking about volunteer opportunties that I can get involved with. Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald house are of interest to me. Who knows what will happen!!!

As your going about your day today, just think about a small kindness you can do for another person. Open a door for someone! Let someone merge into your lane on the highway! Smile!!

:D
Auntie Em

Sunday, March 2, 2008


Today (March 2nd,2008) is Dr. Seuss's Birthday


Here are some things to read!


WHAT'S IN THE WIND
MATERIALS:
a few plastic lids
petroleum jelly
magnifying glass
paper punch
yarn
windy day
PROCESS:
1. Punch a hole at one end of each lid.
2.Thread each hole with a length of yarn and knot the ends of the yarn together to form a loop for hanging.
3.Spread petroleum jelly over one side of each lid.
4.Take the lids outdoors on a windy day and hang them in various areas.
5.Leave them outside for about an hour or two to collect what may be blowing in the wind.
6.Retrieve the lids and see what they have collected.
EXPLANATION:
Some of the items that may have been collected include insects, dirt, seeds and leaves. Use the magnifying glass for further observation.


BROWN BAG KITES
Grade: K-6Age: 4-12
Objectives:Identification:
What You Need:
Large brown paper grocery bag (one per kinderartist)
Strong string
Scissors
Hole punch
A number of paper ring reinforcement (the kind you use on paper in binders -- from any office supply. You could also substitute masking tape).
School glue or paste
Paint (tempera, acrylic -- whatever you have)
Crayons, markers, pencil crayons
Paper streamers or crepe paper that you can cut into strips
A few found objects (bits of paper, glitter, buttons -- nothing too heavy)
What You Do:
Begin by taking the hole punch and making four (4) holes in the top of the paper bag - one in each of the corners. Add paper ring reinforcements to the holes, or put a small piece of masking tape over the hole and poke through with a pencil. This will ensure that your holes don't tear through.
Next, cut two (2) lengths of string about 30" each.
Tie each end of the strings through a hole in the bag. The goal is to create two loops.
Next, cut another piece of string -- again around 30". Loop this new piece of string through the two loops you created and tie in a knot. This piece of string will become the handle of your kite.
You are now ready to decorate the paper bag kite using paint, markers or whatever else you desire. You can paint designs on the kite or turn the kite into a fish by adding eyes, gills and fins. You can glue different items to the kite but be sure not to load the kite down with heavy items -- or it will have a hard time staying up in the air.
Use paper streamers as kite tails and glue them to the bottom of the paper bag. You can make your own streamers by cutting crepe paper into strips. Another nifty streamer idea is to take plastic bags and cut them into strips.
Once the glue and paint is dry, the kite can fly. Hold on tightly to the string handle and run so that the wind catches the kite. When the bag fills with air it will float and flutter behind you.
As a variation, you can add a longer handle string to the kite so it will fly higher in the air.


Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Men



5 to 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup unsulfured molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl; set aside.
2.In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium until smooth.
3.Add the molasses and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4.Add the vanilla.
5.Stir in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time, blending until smooth.
6.The dough should gather into a semifirm mass. (If it's not firm, add another ¼ to ½ cup flour, but not enough to make it crumbly.)
7.Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
8. Divide in half. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic.
9.Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
10.Preheat oven to 350° F.
11.On a floured surface, roll each disk to 1/8 inch thick. Use gingerbread-man cutters to make shapes. Transfer them to a large, parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
12. Decorate, if desired.
13.Bake until firm to the touch, about 12 minutes.
14. Cool slightly before transferring to a rack Yield: Makes 3 dozen medium gingerbread men