This week's newsletter was just posted to the bottom on the class web site. :)

I tried something new for counting practice today. I went to the online stopwatch web site at http://www.online-stopwatch.com/, used the projector to show it on the screen, and had the students count up to 30 and then count back down to zero. I had to ask them to stop at one point because they were saying the number that would come next -- saying 16 while 15 was still showing. I didn't want those who still don't recognize numbers to become confused or to "learn it wrong," so we talked about it and tried again. I think with a little work this will be a great tool for a quick, daily drill.

We watched a movie again for lunch recess. The students were much better about keeping their voices to a whisper if they absolutely had to say something during the movie. It was a Magic School Bus movie about bats. They referenced vampire bats at one point and some students began to worry that this would be a scary movie. Thankfully, by the end they learned that bats are gentle creatures that eat fruit and insects, not people.

Today we had sign language with the other kindergarten class. We reviewed the family signs that were learned on Tuesday. I introduced several new signs by holding up a picture card, showing students the corresponding sign, and giving the card to a student. After everyone had a picture card, I signed a simple sentence about the picture, such as "I want a lamb." The person who was holding the lamb card had to put it back into the basket. Next, this student signed a sentence and the person who had that card had to return it, and so on. The students amaze me with how quickly they are able to learn the signs! Some of the signs they learned today are: lamb (2 signs:baby + sheep),crying baby, motorcycle, helicopter, duck, cow, donkey, beach, camera, fire truck, etc.

We reviewed the meanings of the words across, behind, over, beside, by playing a game of Mother May I? I gave them a command, such as "Go and stand beside the sink." Students had to ask, "Mother, may I?" before following the command or they had to sit down. They loved it!

We did a torn paper project. I gave everyone a large sheet of white construction paper. I did not tell them what they would be making -- I only said to tear the paper into 3 circles of different sizes. (They had a lot of trouble figuring out how to tear a rectangle-shaped paper into a circle.) To ease their pain, I showed them that they would be using the circles to make a snowman. They turned out really cute because they are all so different.

In social studies we talked about where we are in the world. We are in a city that's in a state that's in a country. Students identified Montana on a US map. We read the book Zoom, and explored Google Earth (until it hung my laptop for the remainder of the day).

For spelling, I gave students mini white boards. I fingerspelled words to them which they had to write on their board before telling me the word. Most of them knew the word immediately, but I wanted them to integrate a variety of learning styles.

It was cold enough that students stayed in for all recesses today. The other kindergarten class joined us for a movie during lunch recess. We had to have a talk about the importance of NOT talking during a movie so that others may enjoy it. I have to say that the majority of the talkers were from the other class, but I think it's important to teach students to be courteous of others, especially as they go out to the movies with their families.

We played a Bingo game that required students to identify numbers 1-30. We also played a counting game. We stood in a circle. I randomly chose a number and we counted up to that number. The person who said the chosen number had to sit down, then the next person started back at 1 and we counted up again. After everyone was "out," we played again and this time the person who said the chosen number stood. It was a great game for practicing counting.

Okay, avid readers! I've set up online ordering for Scholastic book orders. The paper order forms won't go home until next Monday, but if you're reading this, you have internet access and can view the order forms online. Click on the link (to the right) for the class web site. On there, you'll click on the Scholastic book orders link. The username is dewskinder and the password is bookorders. You have until Jan. 20th to order. Online orders require payment with a credit card. If you want to pay in cash, turn your order and money in to me by THE 20th. The favorite Authors catalog looks great. Your child knows many of these authors already.

In sign language today, students learned family signs: mom, dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, family, friend, baby, girl, and boy. We learned a song in which they learned to spell mom, dad, love, you, and me. We also played teacher versus class, a game in which I try to stump them by showing them a sign they can't identify. I lost BIG TIME!

I'm glad we were able to play outside part of today because it looks like we may be spending a few days indoors again because of the weather. (We stayed in for afternoon recess and watched a Barney movie about feelings.) We had a lot of fun in math today. I made a new BANG! game for practicing number recognition. Students had to be able to correctly identify the number (1-30) in order to keep the stick. At the end of the game, they arranged their sticks in numerical order.

I taught subject and verb agreement. (The dog runs. The dogs run.) I know that some of the students caught on. They all hear the correct sentence, but trying to convey why it works that way was difficult and confusing for them. Tomorrow they will write their own sentences using correct subject/verb agreement.

I changed center partners today. I think most of the students were happy with their new partner. During centers, I have been testing each student's reading level for upcoming report cards. I am seeing scores that I would normally see later in the year. This is partly because your children are brilliant but also because I started reading groups earlier this year than I have in past years. I know you'll be pleased with your child's progress.

Question of the day: Why do we call someone a "copy cat" when cats don't usually copy what others are doing? Why don't we say "copy dog?"

Welcome back! I am anxious to see the students and to get back to work! This week's newsletter has been posted to the bottom of the class web site. Click on the link to the right to get there. You'll also see that I've added a link to Google Earth, a site that the class will be visiting this week. You can download it for free and play with it at home.