February 2013 Editor-In-Chief Linda Ashness

Inside this issue: It's Scholastic Book Fair Tuition Due Dates time! From February 25th until March 1st Director’s Corner 2 February 4th & 18th Rocking Horse Academy will be hosting our annual Book March 4th & 18th Foals I & II 3 Fair. All profits made from the sale of books during this time are not April 1st & 15th, 29th Colts 4 taken in money, but actual books for the classrooms and library. Dates To Remember Help support your classrooms and

Ponies 5 teachers while adding fabulous February 14th– Valentine’s Day books to your home library and Charger II 6 quality reading time for your kiddos. February 18th H.C.I.S.D. Closed

Happy reading! February 25th-March 1st Charger I 7 Scholastic Book Fair

March10th– Daylight Savings Begins Pinto 8 Parent Date Nights March11th -15th– Spring Break February16, 2013 Wrangler 9 March 16 2013 March 17th –St. Patrick’s Day April 20, 2013

Trotter 10 March 20th– First Day of Spring 6:30 pm til Midnight Academy Child $30/$15 second child March 29th-H.C.I.S.D. Closed Bronco 11 Non Academy Child $35/$20 second child Employee Child $15/$5 second child April 3rd CPR/First Aid 6:30

Corral Kids 12 April 9th H.C.I.S.D. Student Holiday

Week Of The Young Child

April 15-19

Will be here on

APRIL 10th, 11th, 12th

Are your kids bored and bickering? Pick a Game, Any Game and adjust our curriculum for the re- Are you having a hard time getting maining portion of the school year to back into the swing of things after the Remember: The family that plays to- accommodate your child’s needs. winter holidays and school vacation? gether stays together. At Rocking Horse Academy we al If your routine's out of whack and ways want our parents well-informed; your family's out of sorts, welcome to Top 10 board games? therefore, each year we hold parent- the winter blues! Don't despair! teacher conferences following our Whether you like it cold or hot, you'll Scrabble Sorry assessment, allowing us the opportu- love our winter wonderland of cures nity to share this information with you for cabin fever. Find indoor and out- Chutes & Ladders Life as well as giving you the opportunity door winter break fun activities to to have any questions answered. keep your kids happy and busy all Chinese Checkers Monopoly th winter long. Conferences were held Jan. 28 – Feb. st Candy Land Twister 1 from 11 am-2 pm; a sign-up sheet On the menu: was available at the front desk. Clue Chess Rocking Horse Academy understands Family Dinner Night that these times or days may not have Make a Home Video Cool Crafts been convenient for some families, so Watching episodes of your family's we included a telephone conference history provides a wonderful bonding Have some fun projects to do together opportunity during each time slot. experience, not to mention some great when you're cooped up. (Parents were responsible for calling laughs. And kids love to see them- into the school at your designated selves when they were "little"! If Dim the lights: time.) you've been lax about capturing your family's precious moments on film, Pop the popcorn, unplug the phone, Please feel free to stop by or contact heed these three words: Lights, cam- and press 'play'! me at anytime should you have any era, action! AND THERE’S AN APP Don’t let the weather get the best of questions or concerns. FOR iPhone users, “Video Star,” that you. Enjoy this opportunity to spend is user friendly and my kids love it! some quality time with each other. We know you have choices in child- care, and we appreciate the opportu- Grab a Book and a Blanket Over the last few weeks, students from nity to work with you and your family. our infant program through our Pre-K Reading together is one of the best were given a series of short assess- Thank you! ways a family can relax and shut out ments designed to check your child’s Stay warm, the rest of the world. Share your favor- progress. We use these findings along Rebecca Eichen ite reading rituals with us. with our observations from the start of Director the academic school year to help plan

Time Off

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss would not allow me to take a leave. I thought that maybe if I acted 'CRAZY' then he would tell me to take a few days off. So I hung upside down on the ceiling and made funny noises. My co-worker asked me what I was doing? I told her that I was pretending to be a light bulb so that the Boss would think I was 'CRAZY' and give me a few days off. A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked 'What are you doing ?' I told him I was a light bulb. He said 'You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days'. I jumped down and walked out of the of- fice. When my co-worker followed me, the Boss asked her '...And where do you think you're going?' (You're gonna love this.....) She said, 'I'm going home too, I can't work in the dark.

February themes are Health, Dental, Marzo, garden-jardin, farm-rancho, tle Star” . Books for the month are Black History, Heroes and Feelings . plants-plantas, insects-insectos, spring- Hatch, Below Us, Under the Earth and Our Spanish words are February- Fe- primavera . For music, we will sing Sea and Happy Easter . The home- brero, teeth-diente, nose-nariz, hand- “Itsy, Bitsy Spider” and “Old Mac- work is to practice tummy time. mano, mouth-boca, feelings- Donald ”. We will touch and smell sentimentos, I love you-te amo . Fun stuffed farm animals for sensory. The When your baby goes to the doctor songs to sing are “ If you’re Happy and books for March are Moo I’m a Cow, for a sick visit , please inform us of the you Know It” and “Head, Shoulders, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and My diagnosis and bring a release note Knees and Toes”. Books to read this First Farm Book. The skill to practice at when your baby returns to school. month are A Visit to the Doctor and home is sitting up. Also, please remember to bring a You Are My Sunshine . We will wash copy of updated immunization re- our hands to stay healthy. The heart April themes are Space, Earth, Birds cords after shots are given bandana will be out to play peek-a- and Recycle. Spanish words are April- boo. Our homework is to touch eyes, Abril, space-espacio, earth-tierra, birds- We strive to meet the developmental ears, nose and mouth. pajaros, eggs-huevos, recycle- needs of your baby while caring for reciclable . We will play with colored their physical needs. Thank you for Gardens, Farm, Spring, Insects, Spi- plastic eggs for manipulative and physi- your confidence in us. ders and Plants are the themes for cal development. Our music is “Five Enjoy spring. March. Spanish words are March- Little Ducks” and “Twinkle Twinkle Lit- Foals I Staff

Our February themes are Feelings, guage words. overhead. This month we focus on Hero's, Health and Body, Black His- Books for February are The Foot Book- Birds and Eggs, Space, Environment, tory and Our Bodies. To incorporate Dr. Seuss, The Tooth Book-Theo Lesieg, Recycling and Week of the Young these themes in our lessons, we plan Ten Apples Up on Top-Theo Lesieg, The Child. We will practice our gross mo- on looking in mirror and talking about Shape of Me and Others-Dr. Seuss. tor skills by pushing and pulling string our feelings, making happy faces, sad toys. In our Learning Skills center we faces, questioning faces. The children With March winds comes Dr. Seuss' explore cause & effect . Our Watch will learn a new song, "Put Your Fin- Birthday Celebration. Our themes in- the Bird game will help our babies ger in the Air" to learn about our clude Farm Life and Animals, Spring acquire some balancing skills, depth body parts, our fingers, and to work Plants & Growth, and Insects . We will perception, social interaction and on a fine motor skills of managing our introduce a flannel board with farm ani- trust. fingers separately. mals and a barn story book. We will Our Spanish words are more-mas, sing Old MacDonald's had a Farm and thank you-gracias. Our new signs will Every day we continue to exercise begin teaching the sounds animals be walk, shoes, ball. Books for April and work on our gross motor skills: make. are; The Earth and I-Frank Asch, The pulling up, balancing reaching. To Our Spanish words are, Dad-Papa, Adventures of a Plastic Bottle-Alison practice fine motor skills, we intro- Mom-Mama . Our new signs will be Dad, Inches, The Ugly Duckling-Hans Chris- duce new toys where the baby can Mom, Please and Water . Our books for tain Andersen, Egg Drop- Mini Grey. put a certain shape into a hole or March are: Did I Ever Tell You How close/open a toy door. Lucky You Are?-Dr. Seuss, Mr. Brown As always, our children are learning Our Spanish words are: love-amor, I Cow Can Moo Can You?-Dr. Seuss, about themselves, their world and love yo u-te amo, like-gustar, I like-me Green Eggs and Ham- Dr. Seuss. their abilities, and we are here to gusta, please-por favor, and thank help and encourage them to reach you-gracias. Our Sign Language April showers bring May flowers. We their goals. words are: Love, Mother, Father. Ask like to begin our daily stroller rides in your teachers for help learning these early spring to look at the trees budding You can contact any of us at new Spanish and Sign Lan- new leaves and watch the birds flying [email protected]

How time flies when having fun. Hard to the sink. The third week, we will jects. to believe it is springtime again. We talk about our heroes and create a The final month is April. We will learn want to welcome our new Colt wall of heroes. On February 14th, we about Space, Eggs and Birds, Our friends. We are glad to have you a will have a Valentine’s Party. Please Earth and Environment and Recycling . part of our family. The next three look for the sign-up sheet and the The first and second week, we will months will be exciting ones. class list. talk about space and make our solar system in the room. We will read a The first month is February. We will The month of March. We will discuss book called Space . The third week, we learn about Health and My Body, My the Farm : Who lives on the farm? will learn about eggs and birds. We Feelings, Heroes and Black history . How do plants grow? The first week, will do a golf ball art project. We will The first week we will learn about our we will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday also go on a bird-watching walks and bodies and how to take care of them. by making cats and the hats out of our count how many birds we see. The We will also talk about what foods are footprints. We will also read some of last week we will learn how to take good for our body. We will practice his books that he wrote like, Cat and care of our earth and how to recycle how to brush our teeth, so please the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham . The our trash. We will play a sorting game bring in a toothbrush and toothpaste second week, students will learn and sort paper and plastic items. for your child. We will have fun danc- about the farm and the animals that ing to the Hokey Pokey and Head, live there. We will paint a horse with Just a few reminders: Shoulders, Knees and Toes. To help us string and glue a tail on our horse; we * Please label everything with first learn us learn our body parts, we will will color spots on a cow. For our sci- and last name. make handprints and footprints. We ence center we will learn how to milk * Please bring in clean sheets and will talk about and name body parts in a cow using rubber gloves. We will blankets every Monday. English and Spanish. The second have great fun with that experience. * Please bring in a sippy cup with a week, we will learn about our feelings The third week, we will learn about name on it. and how people express feelings. We gardening and how plants grow. We will make a collage of smiles. We will will also measure how much we have Thank you for your help and under- sing If You’re Happy and You Know It grown in the last year. As one of the standing. and read I’m Feeling Sad . We will art projects, we will make a spring work on using our gross motor skills tree with our handprints. The last Ms. Erica by throwing and catching balls and week, we will study bugs. We will Ms.Lydia playing Ring Around the Rosie . We will make inkblot butterflies, ladybugs out Ms. Becca learn how to take our plates and cups of paper plates, and other fun pro- Ms.Theresa

We hope that all of our Ponies and (amor) and friendship (amistad). The birds (pajaros) and how feathers keep their families enjoyed a wonderful Ponies will host a Valentine’s Day them warm. We will learn the sounds holiday season! 2012 has started with party; keep an eye out for our sign-up they make, pretend to fly, and look a bang and we are ready to breeze sheet. The last week of February, we for birds while we are outside. We will through to spring. We are very excited will celebrate the culture and accom- talk about outer space and look at about each and every one of you and plishments of African Americans and pictures of stars (estrellas) and plan- the fun we will have together. The end February by discussing heroes ets (planetas) through a make believe next three months will be bursting such as firemen, the police, and the telescope. We will also learn how as- with activities that will enable our military. tronauts visit space and we’ll play Ponies to discover more about them- with toy rockets and spaceships. Fi- selves and the world around them. As March brings the fun of learning nally, the Ponies will learn about our always, we will continue learning our about farm animals! Our students environment and how we can take sign language and our Spanish words. love to make animal sounds while care of it with the Three R’s- Reduce, pretending to be chickens (pollos), Reuse, and Recycle. We will begin February by learning cows (vacas), ducks (patos), etc. You about health and the body . The Po- can do this at home as well. Your child Parents, as the weather warms up, nies will learn to identify the basic will love to show you what they are please remember to switch out the parts of his/her bodies such as nose learning! Spring is here and we will spare clothes in your child’s cubby. (nariz), eyes (ojos), hands (manos), talk about the beautiful flowers This time of year is unpredictable so it knees (rodillas), etc. We will also focus (flores), new baby animals, all kinds of may be a good idea to stock different on hygiene; cleanliness is very impor- bugs, and the weather. Staying active types of spare clothes for any type of tant to us and we will continue to is very important to our growing chil- weather. And as always, please label learn how to wash our hands, clean dren and as the weather warms up, everything you bring to class- espe- up after ourselves following meal- we will enjoy some more outside cially your Pony’s cups, clothes, and times, and how to use tissues or our time. While outside we will look at the linens- to avoid confusion and poten- elbows to cover our coughs and new leaves on trees, run relay races, tial lost items. sneezes. The second week of February and play games such as ‘Ring Around we will talk about feelings such as the Rosie’. Our Circle Time books will Thank you so much for all of your help happy (feliz) and sad (triste). Our stu- include Piglet and Mama, Wow, it’s a and we hope you enjoy a wonderful dents will learn to identify feelings Cow, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and spring! based on facial expressions and we 10 Busy Buzzy Bugs. will reinforce appropriate ways to The Pony Teachers express our feelings. The week of Val- In the month of April your Pony will entine’s Day, we will talk about love learn about beautiful and colorful

Q: What do you get when you cross a parrot and a centipede?

A: A walkie-talkie!

Chargers 1 are ready to start off the are our bones, and what do they look What can we recycle? Why are trees New Year with a bang! We have so like? We will also learn about Our important to our Earth? many activities and fun learning ex- Feelings. How do you feel? We will periences in store for our class. Our learn about our different emotions, We will focus on the goals are to enhance listening skills, and expressing our feelings verbally Colors: Orange and Purple social skills, and language develop- and non-verbally. Shapes: Circle and Triangle ment while having plenty of fun along Books we will read: "Chickens Aren't the way! We teach and encourage We will focus on the the Only Ones", "That's Not Fair, toddlers to take turns, share and Colors: Red and Pink Hare", "What is the Sun?" make choices for themselves. . We Shapes: Heart and Square provide a consistent schedule to help Books we will read: "Kiss Kiss", "Say Our Parent Board is located outside with the developmental process of Please", "Head to Toe" of our door. It will have our lesson learning new ideas, concepts and hav- plans, monthly newsletter, lunch ing a routine so the children know Our themes for March will be Farm, menu and any other important infor- what to expect. Spring, Plants, Gardening, and In- mation parents should know. sects/Spiders. We will discuss differ- We begin to introduce children to the ent farm animals and their impor- Please don’t forget to check your potty and keep them on a frequent tance. What's the weather like in child’s cubby for any dirty clothes or potty schedule. We make sure that all spring? How do plants grow? Bugs, make sure that they have an extra children are sitting on the potty even where do they live? What do they change of clothes in case of an acci- when they do not need to go. This eat? dent. Don’t forget to pick up art work helps them become familiar with as well. potty training and its steps. Children We will focus on the are naturally curious, so when they Colors: Green and Yellow Parents, if you have any questions or see the rest of their friends sitting Shapes: Rectangle and Circle concerns, please feel free to discuss down on the potty, they will be com- Books we will read: "On the Farm", any issues with us. We want to have fortable and want to do the same! "Wow, it's a Cow", "You Can Fly Bum- good communication with our par- We always teach the children to wash blebee", "Beetle Bop" ents! Is there something we need to their hands after going potty. This know? Is there something we need to helps them learn about personal hy- Our themes for April will be Space, tell you? Our doors are always open giene and staying healthy. Birds and Eggs, and Our Environment. so please come and talk to us if you We will learn about the sun, the need to. Our themes for February will be moon, and the stars. What are the Health and My Body . We will learn planets in our solar system? What Ms. Laurie how to keep our bodies healthy with animals lay eggs? Why do birds have Ms. Casey healthful food, and exercise. Why is it feathers? We will discuss how to keep important to wash our hands? What our Earth safe. What is recycling?

We hope that everyone had a happy their own teeth as well. Throughout flying and non-flying species and learn holiday season. The Chargers 2 class February, we will also be highlighting if they lay eggs or not. There will also has many fun and great activities different African Americans from past be some egg-citing egg-periments planned for 2012! We are so proud of and present, who have made a differ- involving eggs and gravity! In keeping all of our potty trainees. It seems like ence in our history and culture. with our egg theme, our class will everyone is catching on and quickly keep their hands busy dyeing and saying goodbye to pull-ups and dia- In March, we will bloom into spring by stuffing their own cascarones with pers. This is a big accomplishment for learning about Plants and Gardening . confetti! We will then wrap our our classroom, and we are extremely The Chargers 2 will observe the differ- hands around Earth and our Environ- motivated and determined to work ent parts of a plant with microscopes ment and learn about Reduce, Reuse your child on this huge developmental and learn exactly what a plant needs and Recycle. The Chargers 2 will do milestone. We would also like to in order for it to grow. Our class will different activities that use recycled thank all of our parents for working then get a chance to get their hands materials and environmentally safe with your child at home as well. It dirty by planting their own seeds and materials. During the Week of the definitely helps speed up the process watching the cycle of Growth . We will Young Child, we will celebrate being and keeps the potty routine consis- introduce photosynthesis and discuss young and those who are young at tent. why the sun is important to plants. heart! We invite all parents to come Along with the discussion of photo- have lunch with their child, volunteer For the month of February, we will synthesis, we will also discover how to do story time or circle time with dive right in and learn about our different Insects and Spiders help our class, or just come to play during Health and Body . Our class will have some flowers grow and thrive. The recess. We want parents to focus on the opportunity to learn about health- Chargers 2 will then take a trip down spending quality time with their child ful and non-healthful foods and have to Old MacDonald’s Farm and identify and remembering what it was like to some fun introducing and trying some different types of farm animals and be young again. We will send home new vegetables and fruits. Exercising what they contribute to the farm. an activity that all members of the as well as eating healthfully helps us Our class will discuss different animal family can work on together and also stay healthy and happy, so we will jobs, and learn about a farm animal’s a list of activities, games and songs also be learning different exercises to diet. that the entire family can take part in keep our hearts pumping. The Charg- at home. ers 2 teachers will also be teaching In April we will blast off into Space and demonstrating the proper hand and explore our solar system and Don’t forget to have an extra change washing technique to help keep our planets. We will be discussing the of weather appropriate clothes in bodies safe from germs and sickness. moon, stars, constellations and sun as your child’s cubby (especially if they February is also Dental Health and well as the planets in our galaxy. Our are potty training) Label all personal Black History Month . The Chargers little astronauts will have an opportu- items that are brought from home will learn about going to the dentist nity to make their own rocket ships and check daily sheets for any impor- and how a dentist helps keep our and telescopes to explore outer tant information or reminders. Thank pearly whites healthy. The proper space. We will soar to new heights you for your continued support. teeth brushing technique will be dem- when we learn about our fine feath- onstrated and the class will then have ered friends the Birds and their Eggs . Chargers 2 Teachers the opportunity to practice brushing We will identify different types of

The next few months will be packed need to grow. The best way to learn phrases are: “Which blocks may I full of fun and learning. I have been about plants, of course, is to grow use?” “I can be the mommy.” Another having so much fun with all the chil- some of our own. We will experiment important social skill to learn is how dren. They learn so quickly that it is by planting seeds in different ways to invite someone else to play with sometimes hard to keep up. At the and places to see how well they do in you. I will use the same strategies for age of three those cooperative little each environment. For example, this as well. Some common phrases guys start turning into independent planting seeds in water versus soil, that I use are: “Do you want to build and sometimes hardheaded bigger planting seeds in shade versus the blocks?” “I need help fixing dinner.” guys. They start to learn that they can sunlight and finding out which combi- “Do you want to play chase?” control some situations, like toileting nation works best to grow our seeds. and eating, so they practice that Learning about plants is a great way power in those areas by refusing to to start learning about why farmers ABC’S and 123’s cooperate. This is very natural and are so important to us and where our important for them to learn the natu- food really comes from. Along with During this time of the year, I have ral consequences of not going potty plants and farms, we will study fun already done an assessment on each or refusing to eat. Our job as caregiv- facts about insects! of the children. This will give each ers is to let them experience those family a set of strengths and a set of consequences in a safe way. In April we are going to talk about goals to continue working on. Each where our earth is in space and learn child develops at his/her own rate, so Themes and Activities about the stars that we see at night. I will take where each child is and While studying about earth, it is very build on those skills. Some of the skills February is a very exciting month. Not important to understand the impor- that the children work on are letter only do we have a chance to appreci- tance of taking care of our earth. We recognition, starting to draw familiar ate our friendships on Valentine’s will be picking up trash outside, learn- shapes like faces, circles and the let- Day, but we will also learn appropri- ing how to recycle, and how to reuse ters in their name. I will also focus on ate ways to express our feelings and different materials. sorting objects by different aspects learn new vocabulary at the same Around Easter time the children see (size, shape, color) as well as counting time. Keeping our bodies healthy is and even decorate eggs at home, so I objects. very important. We do this several will take this opportunity to teach the different ways: eating healthfully, children about birds and eggs and Up Coming Events exercising, and getting check-ups. We their life cycle. Natural science is al- February will study which foods are healthful ways fun to learn about. Also in April Dental Health Month foods and which foods just taste good we will celebrate how important the Valentine’s Day but don’t help our bodies grow. We education of our young children is by March will also learn about the journey our having a full week of just plain fun! Dr. Suess’ Birthday food takes in our bodies when we eat Scholastic Book Fair it. We will practice different kinds of Spring Break exercises, showing the children how Social Play St. Patrick’s Day fun this can be. To help the children April understand how important check-ups I will concentrate on teaching the chil- Week of the Young Child are, we will talk about and pretend dren how to enter a group that is al- Spring Hunt play doctoring and dentistry. ready engaged in play. I will do this by Earth Day giving them some short phrases to What a perfect time of year to learn use as well as modeling by being a Pinto’s Teachers about how plants grow and what they part of their play. Some of those

Q: What did the hamburger name its baby? Answer: Patty The Wranglers had a great time in ventions to the inventor. Another learn the value of using earth’s re- 2012 and a wonderful start to 2013! theme during the month of February sources. During this week we will We had to say goodbye to Ms Valerie is feelings. We want each child to again ask for parent participation; a because of her school schedule; she know that his/her feelings are impor- recycling bin will be set up in our will truly be missed. Please continue tant, and we will talk about ways to classroom for you and your child to to make Ms. Amanda feel welcome. better express disappointments and place items that we can reuse to cre- We are truly excited that she’s a apart anger. Next, we will get into health ate art projects and center activities. of our Wrangler family. We have been and body. We will discuss nutritious We will celebrate “The Week of the working on our letters, numbers, meals and snacks. Healthful foods Young Child” with reading books and counting to 30, and writing our provide energy and help us grow. We learning about ways we are alike and names. Everyone has been doing a want to encourage healthful eating how we are all different. We will also fantastic job! Over the next three habits and exercise routines. During put together special books to take months, we will continue learning this lesson, we will review proper home. these skills and add some more skills hand-washing techniques. with fun themes. Our Wrangler room With only a few months before is unique because Ms Diana and I Next, the month of March brings in a graduation, along with our weekly strive to stimulate the natural curios- new season, spring. Be sure to check- topics, we will be adding more hand- ity of each individual child. The goal of out the front lobby; Wranglers will be writing practice, letter and number our lessons is to get them involved displaying some of our art projects. recognition, and pre-reading activi- with open-ended questions and actual During this month, we will explore ties. I will communicate with the Trot- hands-on experiences. Our environ- different kinds of farm animals. We ter and Bronco teachers to assure ment is neat and organized, which will learn how to care for them as well that each child is familiar with what promotes respect and responsibility as how they provide nutritious foods will be expected of them in Pre-K. If from the teachers and the children. to help us grow. We will do a fun sci- you have any questions, please don’t Our learning centers are clearly de- ence project called name that animal; hesitate to talk with me or Mrs. fined and inviting. Our shelves are the children will hear the sound from Diana. labeled with pictures to enhance pre- the tape player and be asked to name reading skills. Also, we take care in the animal that matches that sound. Parents, as I often offer, please let us making sure each shelf is fully stocked March is also the month we talk know if there are specific areas that with a variety of activities, which help about spring plants, growth and gar- you would like for us to explore with eliminate negative behavior. As teach- dening. Our discussion will include the the children. The project we did on ers, we also consistently model the changes in the weather, the days be- siblings was introduced by one of our behaviors we expect from each child. coming longer, the nights shorter and parents; it was a wonderful time of We teach them to be good example- the grass turning green. We will plant sharing and learning about each setters at school and at home. personal flower pots, and then chart other’s families. Our parent show and their size, shape and color. The month share lesson was also a hit; everyone Okay, what’s up for the next three will close with spiders and insects. We loved our display board. These were months? February is Dental Health will learn that spiders are not insects examples of ideas that came from our month. We will talk about ways to and why. We will also create a spa- parents, so again please feel free to keep our teeth clean and strong; we ghetti spider web and learn lots of enhance our lesson topics. will also discuss the importance of spider songs and finger plays. Our regular dental check-ups as well as insect portion will be just as exciting. Please sign your child in and out. not eating too much junk food, which Get ready, parents. We will be asking Please check your child’s cubby and is not good for our teeth and our bod- for live show and share examples, in folder every day. ies. We will also have a visit from the secure containers, of course. Last year Please initial the behavior space in the tooth fairy. During this month, we we made ladybug Wranglers. What folders every day. will celebrate Black History. We will will the children choose to be this It’s the season for weather changes: learn about the contributions made to year? We will see. cold in the morning and warm in the our country by African Americans. I afternoon. It’s helpful to have a vari- will introduce simple fact sheets and During the final month of the quarter, ety of change of clothes in the cubby handouts for us to explore. We will which is April, we will learn about to help your child stay comfortable. play a fun matching game linking in- space, birds, our earth, our environ- ment and recycling. The children will Wrangler Teachers

The Trotters are well on their way to ing bugs from our very own play- the classroom and observe them as kindergarten readiness! ground. they sprout. When they are strong enough, we will work together to February is dental health month and Toward the beginning of March we plant the vegetables and herbs in our the Trotters will have a special visit should have our very own caterpillars garden. from the tooth fairy on Friday the 8 th . that will transform into butterflies in The rest of the month is packed full of front of our eyes. Keep on the look The later part of March and the Awesome Animals. We will start the out for a sign up sheet for our Valen- month of April will be spent learning month off discovering different kinds tine’s Day Party. about the sky. We will discuss day and of animals, where they live, how they night, the sun and moon, stars, clouds move, and their body coverings. As After wrapping up our Awesome Ani- and lightening. These discussions will we take a closer look at their habitat, mals unit, the Trotters will transition lead us into the topic of weather and we will compare it with our own. We into Nature All Around Us. Together the seasons. The Trotters and Broncos then transition into creepy, crawly, with the Broncos, the Trotters will will have their annual Spring Egg Hunt insects. We will study the characteris- begin to prep the garden for our and Picnic on Wednesday, March 20 th . tics of insects by catching and observ- spring planting. We will plant seeds in

Where do library books like to sleep? - Under their covers! th I cannot believe how quickly the year on February 14 . After Dental Health After learning about plants and how is passing. We are more than halfway we will begin our Unit on Awesome they grow we will observe the sky and through our school year and I am Animals. The unit begins with learn- how it changes from day to night and amazed at the change and growth I ing animal names, how they move and with the weather. This leads right into have seen in your children. Individu- their types of body coverings. Week Week three where we explore weather. ally, the Broncos are working on letter two we will learn about and create Finally, to end this unit we will learn recognition as well as phonological animal homes, including what they are about the four seasons and the changes awareness. This is accomplished made of and what the animals do in we see as the year progresses and the mostly through small group work. I their homes. As we enter week three seasons change. encourage parents to play games at we get to explore our curiosity of home with initial sounds of words and creepy crawly insects. We will catch For the next few months my academic rhymes. As a class we are working on insects from our playground and ob- goals for the Bronco classroom are to being a team and treating each other serve how they move and eat. We will improve reading readiness in each with respect. The Broncos are a very also be observing caterpillars grow child, build vocabulary, add and sub- independent group of youngsters and into butterflies. This is an exciting tract single digits introduce coins and love doing things for themselves. I event for our youngsters. During the their monetary values and for those admire this characteristic but at the first week of March we will finish our who are ready begin reading basic same time we are trying to teach them unit on Awesome Animals with study- sentences. My social goals are to im- that it is okay to allow someone to ing how animals grow and change. As prove peer to peer interactions. Espe- help you. We try to model with the part of this we will learn baby animal cially, working together and including children respectful ways to let some- names. every child. one know when we do not like what they are doing. Our unit on Nature All Around Us Parents, I would like to thank you all begins the second week of March. We for your support as we work to give We have an exciting 3 months ap- begin the unit studying how plants your children the best possible prepa- proaching. We begin February by grow. At this time we will plant our ration for kindergarten next year. I studying Dental Health. The Tooth learning garden out by the playground. have truly enjoyed working with your Fairy will even be visiting our class on The children love taking part in pre- children and look forward to spending th February 8 . We will also be posting a paring, planting and caring for the more time with them as they grow. sign-up sheet for those who would like garden as well as watching as the to bring snacks for our Valentine Party plants grow and begin to produce Thank you, blooms and eventually vegetables. Mrs. Casey

Corral Kids Update: you would never see again. • Expectation pressure from We hope everyone had a great holiday teachers or parents. vacation and has settled into the New Good Communication Helps Chil- • Social-judgment pressure Year. Over this spring semester we dren Succeed In School from peer groups or adults. will be incorporating more science (www.Parenting.org ) Self-pressure. into the program. Some science ac- Children spend one-half of their wak- Your child may be more susceptible to tivities will be teacher directed, and ing hours in school or school-related negative social pressure if he or she is some will be directed by the students. activities. Studies show that children consumed by: We will be experimenting with sink- whose parents are involved in their ing and floating, explosions of sorts, education do better in school than chil- • Personal insecurities. things like sodium polyacrylate, and dren whose parents are uninvolved. • Fears of peer-group rejection. even dancing popcorn. Along with One of the best things you can do to • Personal status. science, we will continue our creative become more active in your child's • arts and crafts projects like building a academic life is to communicate with The need for excitement. structure out of toothpicks, cheese your child's school. You can do that • The need to be noticed. puffs, tootsie rolls, and gummy bears. very easily by: • Personal independence. We have also separated the gym a • Talking to teachers and staff • The need for an identity. little more during homework time for when things are going well • The need for approval. this new semester. We believe that this for your child. Offer compli- Success at any cost. will help all of the children to use this ments to teachers during con- You can help insulate your child from time wisely. versations or through notes the negative effects of social pressure and phone calls. Holidays and School Breaks by following these five steps: • Addressing problems as they Hays CISD will be closed February 1. Identify risk factors. Keep th th arise. Share your concerns 18 for Presidents’ Day, March 11 - your eyes and ears open and th th immediately, while the issue 15 for Spring Break, and March 29 discover the types of social is still small and manageable. for Good Friday. During this time, pressures that easily influence Ask how things are going, Corral Kids will be offering full day your child. and find out what you can do care from 6:30am to 6:30pm. Sign-up to improve the situation. 2. Be protective. Find ways to sheets will be available as we get • lessen the amount of time closer to each date. Arming yourself with ques- your child is left unsuper- tions you want answered. Be vised around sources of nega- We would love to hear from you! prepared, especially if you tive social pressure. will be attending a school Please feel free to email me at anytime 3. Be a teacher. Empower your activity that includes your corralkidsrha@ yahoo.com. This is a child with the skills to help wonderful way for you to let us know child's teachers. • him or her deal with stressful about your child’s expected atten- Volunteering your time. Join and pressure-packed situa- dance, questions about the programs the local PTA, or find other tions. and services that we provide, or any ways to be part of your 4. Monitor and plan. Make sure other questions that you may have. child's world. your child can have his or her Please feel free to drop us a note any needs (acceptance, excite- time, and we will get back to you Pressure-Proofing Your Kids ment, etc.) met, including A.S.A.P. (www.Parenting.org ) maximizing time spent with

positive social influences. I once was lost but now am Your young child experiences social found….. pressure every time he or she is with As we all know, it is more than easy people! Social pressure can be exerted Communicate. Talk with your child to for our elementary age children to, or manifested in a number of ways, shall we say, misplace a few items including: keep your relationship strong. (Parenting.org) now and again: hence our Corral • Verbal pressure from adults Kids’ excellently stocked and over- who criticize or challenge. loaded Lost and Found table. Please • Physical pressure from bul- Q: How many books can you put into an take a moment and take a look; you empty backpack? may just find something you thought lies or siblings. A: One! After that it's not empty.