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September 11, 2008

Making math fun

So first grade, math-wise, does offer some fun for Ethan. The first day, they got a "fun packet" of worksheets, including a word search, some counting exercises, a few addition problems. On the first page of addition problems (generally adding two numbers between 1 and 10), Ethan noticed a little label at the bottom that said "Score" with a line after it. (Probably for teacher use.) He decided, logically enough, to add up all the answers to the addition problems, and put the total there. 61.

Then today, they were playing a 'game' of trying to find as many ways as they could to add up to different numbers - 4 through 8 - in a limited amount of time. 5 was last. Apparently Ethan finished with plenty of time to spare, because after putting in 1+4, 5+0, and 2+3, he got creative. "I found SO MANY!" he told me. "I put 10/2, and also 15/3! AND 5+5+5-5-5! Then the time ran out, but I thought of another one: 100/20!"

Posted by ktingey at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2008

First day of school

This morning Ethan woke us up early, before 7. He and Jeff biked to school, which is our planned mode of transportation until the rains begin. (Judging from this morning's weather, it won't be long.) Ethan was excited about the English classroom, and nervous, I think, about the Japanese classroom. I admit, I got slightly teary after Jeff came back from dropping him off, thinking about him in school. My big boy.

I picked him up - wow, lots of parents waiting in a very small space! Ethan was smiling and happy when he came out, though he said his hand was tired from writing. He was at the "midori" (green) table in the Japanese room, and the red table in the English room. Overall, he had fun. We'll see how he feels going every day!

Posted by ktingey at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)