I must begin by apologizing to Nick. I recorded him talking about his favorite computer game, and then didn't bring home the file. I'll post it in the morning. We had a good day. We did a lot of work on sounds--identifying where they are within a word, stretching words, and blending sounds. I gave students a simple dot-to-dot, with numbers 0 to 10, to complete for their morning work. I was surprised by how few of them knew how to do it. I'll be sure to do more dot-to-dots.

In math, we learned the greater than and less than symbols and compared numbers. Students worked in pairs to put plastic chips onto a 10-frame. They learned that if they had more chips than spaces on the 10-frame, their number was greater than 10. During centers, I pulled reading groups to the back table. We're working on pointing to words as we read them. It is very important that students learn one-to-one matching before we get too far in reading. The books we use in the beginning are very simple and repeat a lot, and I need to know that they recognize the individual words and are not just memorizing the pattern or repeating what the person beside them is saying.

We are reviewing the letter A this week, focusing on the short a sound. Today, students practiced identifying where in a word they heard the short a sound--beginning, middle, or end. They practiced writing the upper and lowercase A.

In math, we did a worksheet which required students to count and to follow directions.
After recess, we played musical chairs. It was good practice for naming the number that is one less.

I told students about the Leonid meteor shower that will be visible early tomorrow morning, weather permitting. I hope to get outside and see it for myself! Have a good evening! Don't forget that we have library tomorrow. Our basket looks like many students have already returned their books.

We had a very artsy morning! Students made paper plate turkeys. They had to trace and cut out 6 feathers. Those who finished early also had the opportunity to make paper bag owls. Both projects turned out really cute and I'm sorry I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll try to remember to post photos on Monday.

We read a really cute counting book after lunch called Christopher Counting. For math, I gave each student a mini white board and dry erase marker. On the easel, I wrote 10 Xs and asked students to write the number 10. Next, I erased an x and asked students to write the number of remaining Xs. We kept going until there were none, so students got some practice counting and writing numbers 0 to 10.

We read the book Ten Black Dots to reinforce our letter of the week and the counting practice we've been doing. In this counting book, we are given examples of how black dots can be used. One black dot can be the moon, two black dots can be the eyes of a fox, three can be the face of a snowman, etc. I gave each student 10 black dots to turn into something.

I am teaching my class the same songs we're working on in sign language club. They are having fun learning the signs for Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. We will have a program just for our families right before the Christmas break so you can see how adorable they are as they sign in unison.

The light rain/snow inspired students to stay inside during afternoon recess to work on a group art project. I put a huge (6 ft x 2 ft) sheet of paper on the floor and told them they would have to work together to determine who would color the sky and who would color the ground, houses, etc. They did a pretty good job of getting along and sharing the space around the paper.

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.

This morning we watched Mrs. Paulson's class put on a play. The kindergarteners were a great audience and earned a popcorn point toward their next party. Students used mini whiteboards to practice handwriting. It seems that we have lots of students forming their letters incorrectly. I am adding a link to a D'Nealian handwriting website so that you can see the method taught at school. http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/ingram/Information/dnealian.gif

In math, students used plastic counters to practice adding and taking away numbers. We learned the "take away" or "minus" sign. Students were shown how to use a calculator and each student got to use a calculator to practice adding and subtracting numbers.

Before I forget, I must remind you all that tomorrow night is the PTA meeting. It will be at 7pm in the library. Also tomorrow are picture re-takes. Thank you all so very much for purchasing every last book at the book fair that was on my wish list. You all are so generous!! We read Splat the Cat today, since the words in the title ended with our letter of the week -- T.

This morning we had our popcorn party to celebrate good behavior. We watched a Magic School Bus video on energy while we gobbled up our popcorn. Tomorrow morning we will go into Mrs. Paulson's room to watch the 1st graders perform a play. It should be a fun day.