Our general age range is 2-3 years. As two year olds, we are in the midst of a big internal transition/struggle on our way to independence. We are very willing to do things all by ourselves, but at the same time we don’t want to let go of that familiarity of our parents/ guardians doing things for us. We don’t want to lose that need for our parents. This is what causes many tantrums and power struggles during this age. Plus, we are also learning to potty in the big toilet. We are growing and learning at the quickest rate since we were infants. We love to play with our friends, and are developing bonds with them. Our teachers provide us with a clean and stimulating environment, which includes projects (art, science, cooking and math) as well as group time, circle time and outside time. Our teachers observe and record our daily activities. Our parents/guardians are expected to call and let our teachers know if we will be absent for any reason. Our parents/guardians provide our diapers/Pull-Ups/underwear and wipes, as well as at least two sets of extra clothes and all weather-appropriate outdoor gear, including hats, gloves, snow pants and boots for winter. Please feel free to call 277-9990 to schedule a tour of our classroom.

Schedule for the Duck Room

7:00-8:45 Drop off time in the Duck Room / Free Choice and Table Activities
8:45-9:15 Breakfast
9:15-9:45 Toileting / Diapering / Free Choice Time
9:45-10:45 Small Group and Circle Time
10:45-11:15 Clean Up Time
11:15-11:45 Outside Time
11:45-12:30 Lunch Time
12:30-3:30 Diapering / Toileting / Nap / Quiet Activities
3:30-4:00 Snack Time
4:00-4:30 Choice Time
4:30-5:15 Outside / Large Motor Time
5:15-6:00 Late Snack / Pick up Time

*Scheduled times may vary during the winter months

Biography's:

Name: Marge Stern

1. Born/Raised: Cross Plains, WI

2. Family: Husband, Bill. My parents and two of my siblings, Anita and Bill, are deceased but I am lucky to enjoy the love and companionship of my sisters, Jean and Louise and brothers Donald and Tim and their children and grandchildren.

3. Hobbies: I enjoyReading and Gardening.

4. Education: I have a B.S Degree in Secondary Education with major in English and minor in Political Science. I have also obtained C.D.A and have my Infant/Toddler certificate.

5. Experience: I have worked in both secondary and early childhood education as well as spending many years in the insurance field. I also worked for many years in the business office of a hospital. I retired from my hospital job Nov. 1, 2000.

6. Years in the field: Approximately 6 1⁄2

7. Years at Animal Crackers: I began working as an Infant/Toddler teacher at Animal Crackers on February 14th, 2001, and I am still part of the birth to three program today.

8. Why did you choose to teach in early childhood education? There are many reasons, but first and foremost is that I love children.

9. What do you appreciate about the age group you are working with? They are such enthusiastic explorers and learners. I wish we could all be that way throughout our lives!

10. What is your favorite childhood memory? I have many wonderful memories from my childhood. One of my favorite memories is that of listening to my sister, Jean play piano while she and my brother, Bill sang.

11. What is your favorite children’s book and why? "The Racketty-Packetty House" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s a nice story, but I think it is a favorite because I remember my mother reading it to me…and my sisters and brothers.

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Name: Kimberly Smith

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Name: Cathie Hagen

1. Name: Catherine Hagen

2. Born/Raised: Middleton, WI

3. Family: I live with my husband, Jim, and our two cats, Mattie and Motley, in Johnson Creek.

4. Hobbies: I love the outdoors - nature walks, bike rides, sitting next to a campfire. I enjoy making stained glass/mosaic pieces (we have a stained glass workshop in our basement), however, this is very time consuming so I haven't invested a lot of time lately. I also enjoy going to movies.

5. Education: I have a BA in art from UW-Whitewater. I worked as a graphic designer for 6 years before deciding to pursue a career in art education. In January (2007) I received my art education license (K-12) from UW-Whitewater.

6. Experience: Before my employment at Animal Crackers Inc. I worked at a pre-school/child care center in Lake Mills as a school-age teacher; however, most of my experience is in teaching art. I worked as a student teacher at both the elementary and high school levels in the Fort Atkinson and Watertown School Districts while seeking my art education license. I was also a volunteer art teacher at St. Coletta of Wisconsin in Jefferson, and recently taught a summer mosaic class (4th-6th grade) at the Fort Atkinson Middle School.

7. Years in the field: 1+

8. Years at Animal Crackers: one

9. Why did you choose to teach in early childhood education?: I have chosen to teach in early childhood education while pursuing a postion in art education so that I can continue to gain valuable experiences working with children.

10. What do you appreciate about the age group you are working with?: Working in the Duck Room is like being on a wild roller coaster - there's never a dull moment! It keeps me in shape, that's for sure. :O)

11. What is your favorite childhood memory?: My brother and I are only a year apart, so we were pretty much inseparable while growing up. We spent a lot of time together - riding bikes, climbing trees, and playing in our playhouse. We were good friends.

12. What is your favorite children's book and why?: One of the books I really enjoyed was "Where the Wild Things Are" because it was very magical. I also really liked the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books because you could change the way the story ended depending on the choices you made.

13. Tell us something surprising about you that we wouldn't otherwise guess about you? Both my sister and brother are adopted. My mom was told she couldn't have kids so they adopted my brother and sister and then....Surprise!! I came along. :O)

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