Newsletter for January 14th-18th, 2008

I can’t believe we’re halfway through January already! We have been busy at work learning all about Dinosaurs! Monday, we kicked off our theme by guessing what was in Mrs. Poindexter’s mystery box. Dinosaurs of course! We also started a KWL chart (the K stands for What we Know, the W for What we Want to know, and the L for what we Learned). We completed the K and W portions of the chart. This will help me guide my instruction towards what the children are curious about. We also started a new Predictable Chart called “Dinosaurs can…” The children each though of a few words to complete the sentence. Wednesday, each of the children used our new classroom pointer (it looks like a hand!) and pointed to their sentences and read them out loud. Thursday, we played “Be the Sentence”. I selected 3 of the children’s sentences and wrote them out and cut them apart. I have special necklaces that the children wear that hold the parts of the sentence. We mix the words up and the children help me put them back in order. Friday, the children each took their sentences and illustrated them, these were then put into a classroom book.
During our math time, we have learning how to work with math cubes, mats, and math dot mats. Our first few lessons were to help us get acquainted with the materials. We then started with simple lessons to build our number sense-the ability to match an amount of an object with a number and then be able to count them accurately. We have moved on to simple story problems and the children are so excited each day when I pull out the tub of cubes.
Miss Sweet has begun co-teaching with me and so far has taken on the task of leading the children through our calendar and Morning Message times. Next week, she will also be planning our Shared Reading and Predictable Chart times. She has also taken over the duties of filling out Behavior Cards for those children who need them. Be sure to check out the blog (http://www.poindexterpressonline.blogspot) where I have been posting new things to try with your children, a new poll, and some video clips to share with you child. Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristen Poindexter ☺