We started a new social studies unit on how to be a "handy helper." Students brainstormed ways they could be helpful in the classroom, on the playground, in the lunchroom, etc. I have given certificates to all staff members and informed them that if they see a kindergartener doing something nice for someone else or being helpful in any way to give the student a handy helper certificate. Students were told that they could not ask for a certificate by announcing their good deed, but must be "caught" being good.

We practiced counting to and writing the numbers 7 and 8 and introduced the numbers 9 and 10. Any opportunity you have to count things with your child, please do so. We're working on counting from left to right, just like we read, so that students can keep up with which things they have counted and which ones they have not counted. We need to help them learn to organize data.