Tiny Hands Preschool

Thanksgiving Feast (M-W-F Class)

2009-11-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

We ate our delicious Thanksgiving Feast on placemats we made ourselves! I have never seen kids eat so much! They had so much fun sharing all their snacks. We also read a book called Thank You Thanksgiving and talked about the things we are thankful for. Here are what these cuties said:

Collin is thankful for His Family

Madison is thankful for Cleaning Her Room

Allie is thankful for her Mom and Jesus

Reese is thankful for Her Family

Emma is thankful for Heavenly Father and Jesus

Deborah is thankful for Her Family

Hayden is thankful for Friends

Macie is thankful for Christmas

Ellie is thankful for Family and Friends

Kate is thankful for Everything

Miss Crystal is thankful for such Awesome Kids in Her Preschool Classes

Thanksgiving Feast (T-Th Class)

2009-11-27T20:35:00.001-08:00

We had so much fun at our Thanksgiving Feast! We shared all the yummy treats that the kids brought while we had a picnic on the floor. We read a book called Thank You Thanksgiving And talked about what we are thankful for. Here is what these darling little ones told me:

Madeline is thankful for Trees

Porter is thankful for Animals

James is thankful for Grandpa

Breana is thankful for Cookies

Kate is thankful for her Bedroom

Maren is thankful for Grandma

Cohen is thankful for Playing In The Leaves

Gavin is thankful for His Dad

Miss Crystal is thankful that I have such cute kids in my preschool classes!

November Kids Kitchen (M-W-F Class)

2009-11-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

This month in Kid's Kitchen we made Oreo Cookie Turkeys and Marshmellow Pilgrim Hats.

Before the fun even began, Miss Crystal got to fell like a junk food junkie at the store when she bought only the following items in a transaction:

Double Stuff Oreos
White, Yellow & Orange Frosting
Orange Candy Slices
Whoppers
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Jumbo Marshmellows
Chocolate Chips
Fudge Stripe Cookies

I got some seriously funny looks from the people in the grocery store! I promise that in December we will cook something with absolutely NOOOOO SUGAR! Despite the sugar-high, we had a great time! Thanks to Madison's mom Bre for helping out in our class that day! The kids love her and even told me later that she is much better as circling their "Best Work" than I am. Apparently she is better at drawing smiley faces... Miss Crystal promises to work on that...

November Fieldtrip (M-W-F Class)

2009-11-27T20:19:00.000-08:00

In November we spent a week learning about our Five Senses. What better place to put what we learned to the test than at COLDSTONE CREAMERY!!!

We got to go on a short tour of the ice cream shop. We squished a bag of ice-cream mix and learned that Cold Stone makes their ice cream out of 12% milk (my poor family who always drinks skim...). We even got to go behind the counter and see the stone where they mix the ice cream. I think that every kid's favorite part was where they got to pick out their favorite flavor of ice cream and a mix-in, and of course eat it! I loved watching the excitement on these little one's faces. It puts a new meaning to "Kids in a Candy Shop"...

October Fieldtrip: Linder Farms (M/W/F Class)

2009-10-30T14:02:00.001-07:00

PUMPKIN PATCH! It was a PERFECT day for a trip to the pumpkin patch! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day:

HALLOWEEN 2009!

2009-10-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

I really don't like cold weather AT ALL! But, I must say that I love all of the fun kid and family activities that happen throughout the fall and winter. Halloween just kicks off a season of fun holidays! We had so much fun in our preschool classes this week with our halloween parties. Some of my favorite activities:

In the M/W/F Class we played "BOO". This is a fun version of "Hot & Cold". We hid a spooky spider in the class room and then the kids took turns looking for it. The rest of us would BOOOOO like a ghost to guide their way. The closer the child got to the spider the louder all of the ghosts had to BOOOO!

In the T/TH Class we danced to music that matched each costume. We danced like princesses to "Once Upon a Dream" from Sleeping Beauty because we had a lot of princesses (Maren, Kate, Breana & Reese) and we had a beautiful bride (Madeline). We flew around like Superman and superheroes to the Spiderman song because Gavin came as Superman. We danced crazy to Scooby Doo because Porter was dressed up like the crazy cartoon dog. We pretended to drive a car to some car sounds because Gavin was dressed up like Bumblebee the Transformer. We pretended to be monsters to "Monster Mash" because James was a pirate.

T/TH Class

M/W/F Class

October Kids Kitchen Day (M/W/F Class)

2009-10-29T20:51:00.001-07:00

If you know me even a little bit you know that I LOVE to cook! So, thanks to all your kids for indulging my love of all things related to my kitchen! In October we had a spooky Halloween-themed kids kitchen. We made "Spiders" and "Spooky Chips".

RECIPES:

Spooky Chips

Step 1
Use your favorite Halloween Cookie Cutters to cut shapes from flour tortillas. Place on a cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray.

Step 2
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the chips until they start to brown. Let cool completely. They will crisp up as they cool.

Step 3
Once the chips are cool, serve with “vampire blood” (salsa) or “ghost slime” (Ranch dip)

Variation: sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking for a sweet and crispy treat.

Spiders

Step 1
Gently insert 8 pretzel sticks into a Ding Dong (4 on each side)

Step 2
Attach chocolate candies as eyes to the Ding Dong using frosting.

Step 3
Enjoy!

September Fieldtrip: Zoo Boise (M/W/F Class)

2009-10-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about teaching preschool is that I get to see the world through the eyes of little kids. Why do we have to lose that enthusiasm, happiness and innocence as we grow older? These little ones get so excited about each and every "special" activity and fieldtrips are certainly no exception. I had so much fun going to Zoo Boise with the M/W/F Class in September. Thanks to everyone for sharing such a beautiful day!

Crazy Hair Day!

2009-10-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

What better way to kick off the school year than to SHARE SOME CRAZY HAIR! My personal favorite hair styles were Collin in the M/W/F class with his Bronco orange and blue hair (he was late and missed the picture- sorry buddy!) and Andrew in the T/TH class who had a SNAKE in his hair!

M/W/F Class

(Kate, Madison, Deborah, Allie, Emma, Ellie, Macie)

T/TH Class

(back row: James, Andrew, Gaving, Cohen

front row: Reese, Kate, Madeline, Maren, Breana, Porter)

First Week of School 2009 (T-TH Class)

2009-10-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tiny Hands Preschool! I think that my students are all just the cutest little things! I am so excited to get to know each of them throughout the 2009-2010 school year. Here are all of the darling little ones in the Tuesday/Thursday class:

Porter -------------Maren

Madeline ------------- Kate

James ------------- Gavin

Cohen ----------- Breana

Andrew

First Week of School 2009 (M-W-F Class)

2009-10-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Preschool! The 2009-2010 school year is going to be great! I am so excited to get to know each of the little ones in my class as the year progresses. Here is a look at all of the kids in the Monday/Wednesday/Friday Class:

Emma ------------- Macie

Madison ------------- Kate

Hayden ------------- Ellie

Deborah ------------- Collin

Allie ------------- Reese

(Reese joins class Nov. 2nd)

Easter at Tiny Hands Preschool

2009-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time at our Easter Egg Hunt. Somehow that sneaky Easter Bunny hid eggs all over Miss Crystal's yard without us even being able to see him through our big window. There were even some eggs right outside our classroom door. Amazing!

Now Registering for the 2009-2010 School Year

2009-04-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am now accepting registration for Tiny Hands Preschool for the 2009-2010 school year. I will be teaching TWO classes next year:

3-Yr-Old Class (Child turns 4 before September 1, 2010)
Tuesday and Thursday 9:15-11:45 AM
$75 tuition each month / $50 registration fee

4-Yr-Old Pre-Kindergarten Class (Child turns 5 before September 1, 2010)
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:15-11:45 AM
$100 tuition each month / $50 registration fee

The 4-Yr-Old Pre-Kindergarten class will also participate in the following each month:

A Fieldtrip to a local venue (parents are encouraged to attend)
A “Kid's Kitchen” experience where our class can make fun, kid-friendly foods while also learning how to work and help in the kitchen.

The school year runs September through May, following the Meridian School District traditional schedule.

The curriculum is the right balance of structure and fun. We will focus on all the concepts your child needs for kindergarten, but we will also focus on the confidence, manners, listening and teamwork skills needed to succeed in school and life.

A Typical Day at Tiny Hands Pre-School
9:15-9:30 As each child arrives we will have gathering activities that include toys, games and puzzles to start getting the children focused on learning.

9:30-9:45 Once we are all gathered we will start the day with songs, the Pledge of Allegience, calendar, and communication activities.

9:45-10:15 “Office Time” at the children’s desks with learning activities and work sheets focused on letter and number recognition, phonics, math skills, colors, shapes, writing skills, etc.

10:15-10:30 Snack

10:30-10:45 Physical Activity (outside if weather permits)

10:45-11:00 Quiet Activities (books, learning programs, etc) to re-focus the children after snack and physical activity.

11:00-11:30 Special Learning Activities and Art Projects

11:30-11:45 Farewell Activities with songs, books, games, etc. to close the day.

Please call or email me to requast a Registration Packet or to arrange a classroom visit with your child.

Thanks!
Crystal Ashton
Tiny Hands Preschool
bcashton@qwest.net
949-0594

Bowling Fieldtrip

2009-02-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

Our fieldtrip in February was to Meridian Lanes for a little bowling. After the basic granny roll was learned by all, we discovered that we had a good group of bowlers. The bumpers were still a must, but I think that all of the kids bowled better than my average. My only regret, is that I didn't take a picture of all of their feet. They were just too cute in those rented shoes!

Pajamas and Pancakes

2009-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

In January we combined our special day with our kids kitchen day to create our Pajama Pancake Extravaganza. Too much fun! We got to wear our pajamas to school and then cook yummy pancakes. All the little preschoolers got to pick their favorite toppings. The most popular choice- Chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Big surprise, huh? Andrew surprised us all, however. I was teasing him that I would put pickles on his pancakes. How was I to know that he LOVES pickles and took me up on it! Delaney won the biggest eater award. She ate THREE pancakes complete with chocolate sauce and sprinkles. I think she might have eaten more if there were any left! Thanks kids for such a fun day!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...

2008-12-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Party was so much fun! We exchanged our gifts and then we made reindeer antlers and danced around to Christmas music. Happy Holidays to all my little ones!

Thanksgiving Feast

2008-12-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

We had our own Thanksgiving Feast the day before Thanksgiving. First, we colored placemats to use during our feast. Then, we read books and talked about the first Thanksgiving and then we ate our pot-luch feast. Everyone brought something to share. While we were eating all our delicious food, we went around and everyone had a chance to share something they were thankful for. Everyone had something to say. Mommy and Daddy was the most popular thing to be thankful for, of course, but we also heard some original things like Horses and Water Slides. Thanks to everyone!

HALLOWEEN PARTY!

2008-10-29T14:20:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of fun today at our Preschool Halloween Party! We made bats, searched for witches and played Halloween Bingo! The costumes were great! We had two spidermen (one red, one black) two ladybugs, a cowgirl, a cheerleader, Hannah Montana, a princess and a penguin. (Miss Crystal was a butterfly.)

Thanks to Ben for bringing "SPIDERS" for a snack!

There are Kids in My Kitchen!

2008-10-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on our October Kids Kitchen day! We made roasted pumpkin seeds with cinnamon and sugar first. Each of the kids got to stir the mixture 6 times and they also each had a chance to smooth them out on the pan before they went in the oven.

We also made "Spider Bites". Each child got to count out 8 legs for their spider and then count how many eyes they wanted their spider to have.

We had a great time. Thanks for letting all your kids cook with me! I hope you all enjoy the pictures!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Here is a great solution for all those pumpkin seeds you get when you make jack-o-lanterns! Plus, they taste good, are high in fiber and protein and are full of anti-oxidants. Enjoy!

Step 1- Clean the seeds
After carving your pumpkin, separate the seeds from the pumpkin flesh and strings. Wash them well and spread them on paper towels to dry.

Step 2- Season the seeds
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

Spread the seeds evenly over a cookie sheet and lightly baste the seeds with melted butter and then toss them with your choice of flavors. In class today we made cinnamon-sugar pumpkin seeds, but you can also make one of the following flavors:

1. Cinnamon: 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1 Tablespoon Sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, dash of salt
2. Savory: 4 tablespoons melted butter, ½ teaspoon garlic salt and two teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
3. Spicy: 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
4. Natural: 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons melted butter

Step 3- Roast the seeds

Heat them in a 275 degree oven for 40-60 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on them and stir them every ten minutes.

Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-19T19:07:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful day to go to the Pumpkin Patch! We had so much fun at Linder Farms on Friday October 17th. We went on a hayride and saw the pumpkin fields and some farm animals- including a zebra, camel and some emus! Everyone got to pick their own pumpkin and go through a little straw maze and a big corn maze. Thanks to Delaney for the fun halloween cookie snack, and thanks to all the parents, siblings and friends who came along for the fun. We missed you Erin!

Check out how cute our little Punkin Heads are!

Zoo Boise- Our First Fieldtrip

2008-10-12T17:22:00.001-07:00

We had so much fun on our first fieldtrip. We went to Zoo Boise on Friday September 26th. All the kids were great listeners, including all the little brothers, sisters, cousins, etc who came along for the fun! Our next fieldtrip is Friday October 17th to Linder Farms to pick Pumpkins!

Kids Kitchen- Bear Bread

2008-09-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in our first "Kids Kitchen" day. Since we were learning the letter "Bb" and having fun with the theme "Bears" we made "Bear Bread". We made a basic bread dough and then shaped it into a bear head, using raisins for the eyes. We had a great time and Miss Crystal's kitchen survived!

Here is the basic recipe:

BEAR BREAD

Bears love to eat sweet leaves, fragrant herbs and sweet berries. We made this special “Bear” bread with sweet Rosemary and Raisins- some favorite bear treats.

1 packet dry yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp)
2 cups warm water
1 T sugar
2 tsp salt
4 cups flour
2-4 teaspoons fresh Rosemary
Raisins
Melted Butter

Dissolve yeast in the warm water and sugar. Add flour, salt and Rosemary. Stir until well blended. Do not knead! Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until double in size. (Place it on a warm stovetop for faster rising.)

Remove dough. It will be sticky. Knead additional flour into the dough so that it is not as sticky. Divide the dough into 8-10 balls. From each ball make one big ball for the bear head. Make two medium-size balls for the ears and one small ball for the nose. Attach the balls with a little water to make a bear head and face. Cut slits with a knife for the eyes and insert the raisins. Press the raisins into the dough slightly.

Carefully place each bear on a greased cookie sheet. Cover with a towel or greased plastic wrap and let it rise another hour or until double in size.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Brush with melted butter when the bears are fresh out of the oven.

Crazy Hair Day

2008-09-29T19:27:00.001-07:00

We had our first "Special Day" on Friday September 12th- CRAZY HAIR DAY! I think we acheived our goal...crazy hair for everyone!

First Day of School

2008-09-29T19:14:00.003-07:00

We have just about the cutest kids in our class at Tiny Hands Preschool!

Here are their first day of school pictures.

SYDNEY

DELANEY

MADISON

KATE

REESE

ERIN

ANDREW

RILEY

Now Registering for the 2008-2009 School Year

2008-07-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

TINY HANDS PRESCHOOL

Tiny Hands…Growing Minds…Big Hearts

Now enrolling for the 2008-2009 School year

Ages 3-5 Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00-11:30 AM

McMillan & Locust Grove area

$100 monthly tuition

$50 initial registration fee

The curriculum is the right balance of structure and fun. We will focus on all the concepts your child needs for kindergarten, but we will also focus on the confidence, manners, listening and teamwork skills needed to succeed in school and life.

During each month we will also have:

A Fieldtrip to a local venue (parents are encouraged to attend)

A “Kids Kitchen” experience where our class can make fun, kid-friendly foods while also learning how to work and help in the kitchen.

Special theme days

Please call Miss Crystal at 949-0594 for more details.

A Typical Day at Tiny Hands Preschool

2008-07-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

9:00-9:15 As each child arrives we will have gathering activities that include toys, games and puzzles to start getting the children focused on learning.

9:15-9:30 Once we are all gathered we will start the day with songs, the Pledge of Allegiance, calendar and communication activities.

9:30-10:15 “Office Time” at the children’s desks with learning activities and work sheets focused on letter and number recognition, phonics, math skills, colors, shapes, writing skills, etc.

10:15-10:30 Snack

10:30-10:45 Physical Activity (outside if weather permits)

10:45-11:00 Quiet Activities (books, learning programs, etc) to re-focus the children after snack and physical activity.

11:00-11:20 Special Learning Activities and Projects

11:20-11:30 Farewell Activities with songs, books, games, etc to close the day.

During each month we will also have:
A Fieldtrip to a local venue (parents are encouraged to attend)
A “Kids Kitchen” experience where our class can make fun, kid-friendly foods while also learning how to work and help in the kitchen.
Special theme days

Please feel free to visit our classroom at any time!