The Smalls Tot Spot Times
FEBRUARY 2019
love
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” “There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.” “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved;loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.”
Remind Me App.
The Tot Spot Early Education Academy
Ms. Alisha's Email: alisha@ilovethetotspot.com
Ms. Katie's Email: katie@ilovethetotspot.com
Ms. Le Andra's Email: leandra@ilovethetotspot.com
Teacher's Email: totspot.teachers@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: thetotspotschool
We also now have a Youtube Channel: The Tot Spot Early Learning Academy and Pinterest: The Tot Spot Early Education Academy...be sure and follow us!!
Email: contact@ilovethetotspot.com
Website: www.ilovethetotspot.com
Location: 11540 Fishers Drive, Fishers, IN, United States
Phone: 1-317-849-3235
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTotSpotSchool/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @TotSpotSchool
PTO and Vacations
Who do you contact concerning vacation credit? Asking a teacher will get you no where. Please email Mr. Mike at michael@ilovethetotspot.com
Important Dates and Birthdays
Birthdays:
February Chael 8
February Evelyn 26
Current Events:
-February 14th - Family Valentine's Day Party (3-4:30) Please let your teacher know if you will be attending
-February 22nd - Ms. Le Andra's 3rd Anniversary with TTS
Future Events:
-March 15th - Closed for Teacher's Conference
-June 7 - Closed for Family Fun Day!
Welcome Archer!
Jack H. is walking! Brady wants only to join the big kid class. Isabelle and Pia will be moving up with Brady to the 1's room after Valentine's Day. Jack and Harrison have made short visits and have found there is a great big world outside the Smalls room.
We will be welcoming another Jack this month.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Gross Motor: Tummy Time!! There can't be too much. Experts find that babies who don't spend time face-down often have some delays in their development of motor skills. We will be spending more time doing yoga, stretches, and balance activities.
Social-Emotional: As we all are aware, the Smalls class is transitioning in a big way. In the year we have been established, we have had two big transitions. We have more one year olds every day than before Christmas. This makes for challenges that normally don't arise on a daily basis. This is an interesting time for both mobile and non mobile. My big kids are getting restless wanting more stimulation and needing an older peer group, and the younger ones are learning patience and defense skills. We're understand the feelings of others, to control his or her own feelings and behaviors, and trying to get along with other children.
Sensory, Art, Science
Getting into serious play!
Just a reminder to new parents, we like to touch and explore all kinds of things that will enter the mouth. if ever you are concerned with a food allergy, or an ingredient, please mention it. We always make it nontoxic of course.
Math:
Snack Math. We count it all! We never miss an opportunity to practice math. We are using more songs to communicate at this age. Sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them. Songs reinforce patterns. They also are fun ways to practice language and foster social skills like cooperation.
Dramatic Play:
Each one of the babies, show such dramatic personalities. We are talking with the kids about Caring for each other. Dramatic play teaches self-regulation. Preschoolers are known for acting with impulse, so dramatic play is a great stepping stone for learning to self-regulate their emotions and actions. We are learning to interact together instead one on one or by ourselves. we are practicing sharing and handing things to each other when asked.
Zoophonics: phonics, teaching how letters and syllables correspond to sounds.
Zoo-phonics® is a method developed to make children strong readers and spellers using a “phono” (hearing), “oral” (speaking), “visual” (seeing), “kinesthetic” (moving), and tactile (touching)—whole brain approach. Students actually learn the sounds of the alphabet and advanced phonemic concepts through an easily understood, concrete method of presentation. Zoo-phonics® uses animals drawn in the shapes of the letters for ease in memory. There are links attached below where you can check out more about Zoophonics.
Offical Weather Closing Policy
When bad weather or other emergency situations occur, it may be necessary for TTS to cancel, delay, or close school early. Parents should have a well-communicated plan in place in the event of these emergency situations.
The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority any time a decision must be made regarding school closures and delays during a weather situation. We review information from emergency management and state highway administrators about road conditions, and look to HSE schools for guidance.
Due to the speed of updating, the official @TotSpotSchool Twitter account is generally the first and fastest mode of communication. Other communication channels will be updated as quickly as possible including app, email, and other social media, and news stations. The app lags behind for some so Twitter is first.
Weather alert example
TTS tries to make decisions in the evening, taking into account that parents need time to make proper arrangements. But when there is a lot of uncertainty, we wait to get the latest morning forecast. The decision is typically made around 6:00.
TTS provides information about closings and delays in many ways including:
Posted to the TTS Twitter and Facebook pages.
Posted to Daily Connect App
Email and text messages sent to parents (using Procare).
Group Me sent to employees
Email sent to employees
Notifications sent to WTHR, RTV6, and WISH TV News
Tax Time is Approaching...
Dear Tot Spot Families,
I am sending this email because we are getting close to the end of the year and therefore close to tax season. Because of our changes from Rapid Tuition to Tuition Express there will be two-year end summaries (a mid year summary for Rapid Tuition and a year-end summary). I emailed all our families when we transferred from Rapid Tuition at the time of the change, so please check your email history for that email. As far as Tuition Express, every family has direct access to your billing receipts through www.myprocare.com . If you have already signed up with www.myprocare.com you are ahead of the game. However, if you have not, you can register from this link www.myprocare.com. You will use the email you received this message from to login. If you have any problems, please let me know.
Thanks again,
Michael Ramsey
THE POWER OF TOUCH
Babies who are regularly held and touched gain weight faster, develop stronger immune systems, crawl and walk sooner, sleep more soundly and cry less than babies deprived of close physical contact. Children who are given plenty of physical affection show more task orientated behavior, less solitary play and less aggression at school. They also achieve higher levels of educational qualifications in later life.
touch deprivation
Numerous studies have shown that infants deprived of touch contact become lonely, isolated and troublesome children. Currently, about one in 10 infants experience neglect and about one third of clinic referrals are for emotional disturbances, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, and conduct disorder problems in children deprived of positive touch in early infancy . Physical symptoms such as eating disorders, excessive arm and leg hugging, overly compliant or subdued behavior may be common in older children. This is why early detection is so important.
a ‘colicky’ baby: could sensory overload be the cause?
One of the reasons the food you eat determines your mood is because ... your body break down and USE the energy contained in these foods.
Scholastic
Looking for some new books to celebrate Valentine's Day? Check out all the great books from Scholastic!! Scholastic will be sent out February 5h and will orders will be due February 14th. Our online code is HQ686
The Book Nook
Plant a Kiss Board Book
Little Miss planted a kiss...
One small act of love blooms into something bigger and more dazzling than Little Miss could have ever imagined in this epic journey about life, kindness, and giving. Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds team together to share a message of hope and to remind us all of the joys to be gained from being open and unselfish.
Plant a Kiss works to spark the imagination of the youngest readers, but it will also resonate with anyone, such as a new graduate, who responds to the power of planting a kiss. This board book edition has sturdy pages and is a good fit for small hands.
The Parent's Spotlight
Would you like to donate?
- Bibs
- Baby puzzles
- Food Coloring
- Musical Instruments
- Play-doh
- Empty Clean Plastic Jars (Mayo, PB, etc. Jar)
- EXPO Dry Erase Marker Cleaning Spray
- Scrap Paper
- Salt - Regular and Rock Salt
- Is there ever a time when you say to yourself, " I wonder if The Tot Spot would want this"? We could use it in so many ways. You may have babies, but the whole school is yours. Everything can turn into a sensory activity or learning experience. So, before you throw out your junk, ask your teacher if it could be used
Teacher Spotlight!
Question: If you could master any instrument what would it be and why?
- Ms. Stacey: The guitar, so I could play with all the other cool people.
- Ms. Alisha: Guitar so I can be cool like Drew (Emmett and Asher's Dad).
- Mr. Mike: Piano, because it’s soothing.
- Ms. Le Andra: I would learn Guitar! I've always wanted to learn how to play
- Ms. Katie: I would master the guitar. I played a little bit in high school, but then gave up and I would love to be able to sit outside around a fire and play/create music.
- Ms. Erin: Drums because I like the double kick pedal, it's a challenge