The 100th Day of School… and Other Thoughts on Mathematical Thinking
Dear Families,
Today is the 111th day of school (in case you were wondering!) but the really big day was Wednesday, February 23rd, the 100th Day of School. On that day our youngest learners were very excited and proud of all of their activities, from hats, to special math games, to museum collections complete with docent-led tours. Not only is the 100th Day of School a wonderful way to just celebrate mathematics and its importance, but we also like to truly emphasize the very important numeric concept of 100. With their bags of collections brought from home, charts of 100 faces, or grids of 100 animals, children looked at the number 100 in many different ways. We hope they noticed that no matter the shape and size of the collection, 100 is still made of 100 ones (just as ten is made of ten ones whether they are inches, pounds or unifix cubes). This is a central truth that helps children be more flexible in their work in arithmetic.
Children up to first grade celebrated the day (and older children stopped me to ask why they don’t stop all other learning in its tracks to celebrate it too). A few pictures to show the fun below.
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157626106016039″]
To read about the types of mathematical thinking older children are engaging in, click here for an interesting math feature article, “Pushing our Mathematical Thinking in the Classroom: Expanding and Exploring,” by Kate Treitman (Fourth Grade Teacher), Nicole Keller (Fourth Grade Associate Teacher) and Rose Reilly (Lower School Math Coordinator).
Sincerely,
Namita Tolia
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LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS
(click on the links below to view and print notes from teachers)
Diane & Alexia’s 4s-K: Click here to hear some impressive facts that the 4s-Ks gathered during their school study and get an update on their upcoming exploration of stores.
Kate & Nicole’s 4th: Thank you to all families who came to help us celebrate the culmination of our Social Studies unit on European Immigration! Click here for a taste of our historical fiction. For more, please visit the bulletin board outside of our classroom!
All Fourth Grade, from Ann, Lower School Art Teacher: This year’s 4th grade gift to the school will be a fabric quilt. Quilt making uses recycled fabrics and clothing of meaning to the quilt-maker. In preparation for making the 4th grade’s gift to the school this year, we are asking that each child bring in a piece of woven material from a used garment that has been cleaned. By using recycled fabrics, quilts capture and share the memories and experiences of the quilt-maker. Students should bring the items to their classrooms by next Thursday, 3/17.
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LOWER SCHOOL REMINDERS AND EVENTS
For the most up-to-date information visit the school’s online calendar at www.lrei.org/calendar. Click here to download the one-page 2010-11 school calendar.
Spring Break Reminder: Friday, March 18th is a half-day. 2nd-4th grades have a noon dismissal and Fours-1st grade will be dismissed at 11:45. There will be no after school on 3/18. School closes at noon for spring break and reopens Monday, April 4th. Enjoy!
Spring Parent Teacher Conference Sign-up: Parent Teacher Conferences for Lower School are Friday April 8th and Friday April 15th. Information on conference childcare will be available here the week before Spring Break.
Please follow these instructions carefully to make an appointment for your spring parent teacher conference. Click on the link below for your child’s classroom teacher. Clicking takes you to a Doodle site that contains the conference schedule for that teacher. Once you see the choices, please use the blue scroll bar to move sideways to view all of the choices. Once you decide on your appointment, please enter your name and click the box that corresponds to the time you’ve selected. Then hit save. (It’s critical to hit save). That’s it!
If you would like to change your mind any time after pressing save, simply use the original link to return to the schedule and click “Edit an entry” under Functions at the bottom of the page. Then select your own name, and then change your appointment from the choices that are left available.
Galen & Christine’s First Grade
Deborah & Randi’s Second Grade
Kate and Nicole’s Fourth Grade
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adult r (ED): The third term of our adult classes, Adult r(ED), begins after Spring Break. Click here to see a listing for these courses.
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PARENTS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
All parent association meetings are held in the LS Cafeteria at 8:45 am, unless otherwise noted
- Fri, Mar 11, 2011: Literary Committee Meeting
- Mon, Mar 14, 2011: Multi-Cultural Committee Meeting
- Tue, Mar 15, 2011: PA Exec Meeting. w/ Phil
- Wed, Mar 16, 2011: LS-MS POCOC Meeting
- Wed, Mar 16, 2011: Adoption Committee Meeting
- Thu, Mar 17, 2011: Big Auction Meeting
WELL REaD: April 7, 6-8pm in the Sixth Avenue Building.
LOWER SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
All Lower School Assemblies are held in our Auditorium at 8:45 a.m, unless otherwise noted.
Wed, Apr 13, 2011: First Gr. Assembly
Wed, Apr 20, 2011: K’s Music Assembly
Wed, Apr 27, 2011: 2nd Gr. Assembly
Wed, May 4, 2011: 4s/4k Assembly
Wed, May 11, 2011: 3rd Gr. Assembly
Wed, May 18, 2011: K’s Movement Assembly (note change)
Wed, May 25, 2011: 4th Gr. Assembly (note change)
Wed, Jun 1, 2011: 4s/4k Movement Assembly
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LOWER SCHOOL PARENT REPRESENTATIVES 2010-2011
Beth’s Fours Maren Berthelsen, Becca Markley
Fours/K Marjorie Goldner,
Sara Taplitz
Elizabeth’s K Juliet Burrows,
Carmen Lenzi
Luise’s K Shannon Barden,
Yael Goverover
Gina’s 1st Diane Hoffman,
Ceci Van Blerkom
Galen’s 1st Dawn Eig,
Christine Boyle
Rebecca’s 1st Hilary Meltzer,
Mishi Hosono
Tasha’s 2nd Mary Gerzema,
Linda Phillips
Deborah’s 2nd A.M. Homes,
Fia Hatsav,
Julia Wilbur
Dan’s 3rd Holly Glass,
Denise Roederer
Vonick’s 3rd Heather McMaster,
Beth Dary
Dina’s 4th Connie Butler,
Lara Olivieri
Kate’s 4th Susan Harris,
Liselotte Vince