As we continue building our 411 community we have been focusing a lot about our own names.  We have been using them to greet each other in the morning, to vote on different topics, and in mathematical ways by comparing them and seeing which ones are long and short.  To help us with comparing we have been reading Catalina Magdalena Hoopenstiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan was her name by Tedd Arnold and Tikki Tikki Tembo no sa Rembo Chari Bari Ruchi Pip Peri Pembo by Arlene Mosel.  Yesterday we practiced constructing our own names out of unifix cubes, using our name cards and one to one correspondence to make sure there was a cube for each letter in our name.  Today we constructed Catalina’s and Tikki’s name out of Unifix cubes and took a vote on which name we think will be longer.  On Monday, we will reconstruct our own names out of unifix cubes and compare them to Catalina’s and Tikki’s.  Next week we will also be delving into more of the children’s likes (favorite color, food, animal, etc . . . )  and Ms. Diane will finally start next Thursday for our art class.