That's because the second-grader wore a large magnet atop her
head as part of the school's annual Vocabulary Hat Day.
Children in all second-grade classes were joined by a few from
other grade levels in wearing hats decorated to describe vocabulary
"We really want to build the students' vocabulary so they become
stronger readers," second-grade teacher Christina Katan said.
During the Friday flag ceremony, hats varying from baseball caps
with words stapled to the front to elaborate chapeaus made with
construction paper or cardboard featured words such as
"procrastination," "illuminate," "fortification" and
The hats were designed to match the word ---- thus, Alize's
magnet with nuts and bolts and the word "magnetic."
A student wearing the word "symphony" featured musical
instruments, and a hat with the word "sportsmanship" displayed
balls from various sports.
Alize, 8, got help with her hat from her grandfather.
"I liked (the assignment) because we could build it," Alize
said, as she showed how a metal nut stuck to an old, magnetized
Her hat also featured a silver-and-red magnet made of
Alize's project serves a dual purpose, Katan said, as magnetism
will be part of the children's science unit later this year.