The People Have Spoken

The country was busy on November 6th, Election Day.  So was the Perkins School.  It's hard to say if the kids were as tired as the adults on November 7th, but they were still pretty excited.  

Ms. Mansfield's class had taken their own vote. Obama had done better in our fourth grade than he did in the national tally, but he was still elected president of the United States.  One kid in this class was talking about watching the returns.  "At first he was behind," he said, "and I was worried.  But then later it changed."

Our kids also made some posters for their candidates, in which they wrote about issues important to them, including the need to vote.

Soon it will be back to math and other kinds of history.  Learning the need to participate in a democracy, however, is one of the most important lessons of all.

Getting Ready to Roll

 "What do you know or like about bikes?" Corey and Graham from Boston Bikes asked Ms. Mansfield's 4th grade class. 

The kids' answers came fast and furious:  "I like going downhill."  "I like the idea of doing tricks." "I know how to do wheelies."  "I like BMX bikes." "I know that you need to follow the rules to be safe."

"I like to ride with my friends," added Corey.  

"And, I love the freedom of using my bike," said Graham, "I can ride all around the city without paying for the T."

Corey and Graham are at the Perkins to help the kids learn to ride bicycles and do it safely.  So before our kids "mount up," they get some important lessons.

First: This is not the way you wear a helmet!  

The helmet should lie flat on your head, not tilted back.  You should be able to see it, if you look straight up.  If you can't, your helmet is too loose.

The straps should make a triangle around your ears.

Once you fasten it, you should be able to open your mouth wide.  If you can't, the helmet is too tight!

Why are helmets important?

The kids know this answer.  "So you don't bust your head," one calls out.

What is a big difference between these two bikes?  That's the next question--and, the answer has nothing to do with color or fenders.  It's their brakes!  The yellow bike has brakes on the pedals and you can stop it by pushing the pedal backwards.  The blue bike's brakes are on its handle bars, one lever for the front tire and one for the back one.  

Is a good idea to stop your bike by just pushing on the brake for the front tire?  NO!  Just think about what might happen.

One of the last lessons the kids learned was they must always know their ABCs--for bikes, that is.  Before you start riding, do the ABC check: 

A = Air.  Your tires should feel hard like a basketball.  Give them a squeeze to make sure.

B = Brakes.  Are they working?  

C = Chain.  Is it strung correctly?
 
If so, you're ready to go!


By the end of the hour, this fourth grade class was ready to roll.  Corey and Graham went on to the next class.  

Meanwhile, all the bikes and helmets were just waiting to be used.....

Sh-h-h...Testing In Progress

Yes, the MCAS Math Marathon is over, but the effect of a year of learning and practice will live on. This week, our third, fourth and fifth graders have taken that MCAS, the Massachusetts statewide exams for mathematics.

We have wished them luck, but we also want to pay tribute to how far they have come. So we will show you the first problem each grade had to tackle in our Math Marathon and then the last one. Look at the difference in their complexity.

Third grade's first answered question back in October:



















Their last question in May:























The fourth grade's first answered question in October:


Their last answered question in May:























The fifth grade's first answered question in October:


And their last question in May:























What a difference. That's a lot of learning!

What does "Ouch" Mean?

When Perkins' author-in-residence walked by Ms. Harden's fourth grade classroom, she (me) noticed these vocabulary words on the open door.

Endurance, society, good important words for anyone to know, she thought. Then she saw the top of the sign that said, "Visitors: Please try to incorporate these words into conversation with us!" When she noticed the word, manual, she knew she had to walk right.

The Perkins' author-in-residence is always happy to talk about using words, but the word, manual, had been especially important to her lately. Even though Ms. Hardin was talking herself, Perkins' author-in-residence asked to address the class.

The Perkins' author-in-residence looked down and then raised her left arm. It was encased in a cast. "My arm is broken," she said, "even my wrist. So kids, how do you think this affects my manual dexterity?"


"Dexterity?" someone asked.

"Dexterity means the ability to move well," said Ms. Hardin.

Since the kids already knew what manual meant, they were ready to engage in the conversation.

"Looks like she doesn't have too much of it," one kid answered.

Not bad, using an old vocabulary work and learning a new one. A productive lesson.

Thanks for the MCAS Memories!

We know that the MCAS Math Marathon--both questions and answers--have been the height of your week. But all good things must end. Now you will have to find another place to test yourself on percentages and graphing. The answers to this week's MCAS questions finish up our marathon. The kids have one more week of prep with their teachers and then math MCAS begin the week after that.

So for the last time this year, we'll say, "Here are the answers to this week's questions."

The third grade's:
























The fourth grade's:
























And the fifth's:























HEY KIDS, WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST!

MCAS Math Marathon and the last questions are...

Here we are with the last week of MCAS math on the Perkins Blog. Are the kids happy about that fact? We aren't sure; we'll have to ask and report in. One thing we do know right now is that they have worked hard. We are proud of you, kids.

So for the last time this year--here is the third grade question:























Here's the fourth grade question:
























And, last but not least, the fifth grade question: