Valentine's Day Math

On Wednesday, February 8th, each student was given a little box of candy conversation hearts.  First the children sorted the candy hearts by color.  Next they counted how many they had of each color and recorded that number.  Then they graphed the results.  Finally students compared how many candy hearts they had of each color, and compared their numbers with those of their classmates.  When all finished, students were allowed to eat their Math counters!  Don't you just love Math?

Number One Listener Star

One of our favorite books to read in class is Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow.  The main character, Howard B. Wigglebottom, is a bunny rabbit who has difficulty listening in school.  After he learns to listen, his teacher gives him the Number One Listener Star.  We have adopted this in our classroom and we have two Number One Listener Stars, which students receive when they are exemplary listeners.  The Number One Listener Star is a button which is given to several students each day.  It remains in the classroom.  Ask your youngster if he/she has received the Number One Listener Star.

Field Trip to the JCA: Lunch with the Characters

After the play, our students ate their lunches, while the cast of characters came around to visit with the audience.

 Mama Bear

 Mama Bear

 Papa Bear

 Baby Bear

Goldilocks

Field Trip to the JCA: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears"

Our kindergarten students were very well-behaved as they watched the play of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".  JCA does a great job of presenting plays just for young children.

Celebrating the 100th Day of School

On the 100th day of school, we read 100th Day Worries by Margery Cuyler and Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten by Joseph Slate.  Students put 100 stickers on a 100 grid.  They counted 100 Fruit Loops cereal, by tens, then put them on string to create a yummy necklace.  We had a party, dancing and singing with the songs below.  Finally, we had our 100 mini-cupcakes, 100 cookies, and 100 little glasses of punch.  Whew, what a celebration !!

100th Day Flag Raising and Pep Rally

Terry Parker High School Cheerleaders.

Terry Parker High School Band Members.  One of our kindergarten students has a brother in the band!

Our newly selected Junior Safety Patrol raises the flag.  These second graders are chosen by their teachers for this important job.

Friday, February 3, 2012, was the 100th Day of School.  We began the day with our monthly Flag Raising and 100th Day Pep Rally.  Thank you to the Terry Parker High School Cheerleaders and Band, who came to help us celebrate !!

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Our class collected 138 cans (and boxes) of food for the Souper Bowl of Caring.  Each class that collected at least one hundred cans has earned a popsicle party, so we are looking forward to that.  We have talked about the fact that a popsicle party is really nice, but it is even better to help so many people.  Our class had the second most cans in the whole school.  Merrill Road Elementary School's donation to the Arlington Food Pantry is over 2,700 cans and boxes of food.  Thank you to all of you who sent in food.  Your generosity is much appreciated by our community !!

Non-standard Measurement

In kindergarten, students learn about non-standard measurement, which is measuring with objects and NOT inches, feet, or yards.  On Monday, January 30th, the children measured our classroom using "paper body rulers".  (See the "Sid the Science Kid" video.)  Afterwards they wrote about it in their Math Journals.