Week of Jan. 7

We hope you had a wonderful break!  We are looking forward to a fabulous 2013!

There is NO school on Monday the 7^th. (teacher workday)  Enjoy the last day of break!

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Begin our nonfiction writing unit.  We will be teaching others how to do something in our writing.

·       Continue to predict

·       Practice high frequency words during spelling

·       Put words in alphabetical order in order to prepare for dictionary use

·       Read poetry to build fluency

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Read word family poems to reinforce the patterns that many words have

In Math, we will…

·       Make “fractionpillars”. We will be identifying the fractions of colors used.

·       Make “fraction creations”. We will be identifying the fractions of shapes used.

·       Create fractions using cubes

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Science we will learn about living and nonliving things.  We will also explore food chains.

Week of Dec. 17

Holiday Sing-Along: Thursday, Dec. 20^th (1:45-2:15)  Everyone’s invited!  This is such a fun tradition!

Holiday Parties- Friday, Dec. 21^st at 2:00.  You’re invited!

Don't forget to have your child turn in their home reading logs on Friday the 21st. The children earn extra class store money!  The amount is based on the number of minutes read.

Please send a healthy snack with your child.

As the days get cooler (hopefully), please make sure your child has a jacket.  We go outside unless it is extremely cold.

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Choose a piece of writing to publish

·       Predict

·       Discuss main idea

·       Make revisions

·       Fix up stories in order to celebrate

·       Celebrate our writing!

·       Read poetry to build fluency

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

·       Read word family poems to reinforce the patterns that many words have

In Math, we will…

·       Name equal parts of a whole (half, 1/3, 1/4)

·       Describe whole objects or sets using non-unit fractions

·       Describe parts of a set

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Social Studies we will learn about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!  We’ll also learn about fables…

Week of Dec. 10

Holiday Sing-Along: Thursday, Dec. 20^th (1:45-2:15)  Everyone’s invited!  This is such a fun tradition!

Holiday Parties- Friday, Dec. 21^st at 2:00.  You’re invited!

Don't forget to have your child turn in their home reading logs on Friday the 21st. The children earn extra class store money!  The amount is based on the number of minutes read.

Please send a healthy snack with your child.

As the days get cooler (hopefully), please make sure your child has a jacket.  We go outside unless it is extremely cold.

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Peer edit with writing partners

·       Visualize while reading

·       Predict the ending

·       Identify the main idea

·       Read poetry to build fluency

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

·       Read word family poems to reinforce the patterns that many words have

In Math, we will…

·       Combine shapes to make new shapes

·       Sort objects using open and closed sorts

·       Review geometry

·       Classify objects into geometric groups

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Science we will learn the moon and the changes in the sky.

Week of Dec. 3

Thank you so much for donating gifts AND food for the “Christmas is for Children” organization!  What a success!

First grade will have parent conferences in February.  We look forward to visiting!

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Write focused narratives

·       Visualize while reading

·       Identify the main idea

·       Reread to understand

·       Use the word wall and spelling dictionary while writing words we need to learn

·       Increase productivity by trying to begin and finish a story in one session

·       Read books by Jan Brett. With these, we will identify the characters, setting, problem and solution.

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

·       Read word family poems to reinforce the patterns that many words have

In Math, we will…

·       Look for geometric items in real life

·       Identify and describe 2D and 3D shapes

·       Compare and contrast shapes

·       Use geoboards to create and/or duplicate geometric designs

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Social Studies we will learn about Christmas around the world.

Week of Nov. 26

Christmas is For Children Food Drive Week!

First grade is donating pancake mix and plastic bottles of syrup.

Friday is the CIFC Bow, Bag and Tag event.  If you sponsored a child, don’t forget to send the wrapped gift with just the first name written on the label.  Thank you so much for participating!

 First Grade parent conferences will be held in February.  We look forward to visiting with you! 

Old Union’s first annual Super Science Sale will be held from November 26 – 30. This event is much like the Book Fair, except it offers science equipment, educational toys/games, and even live animals to purchase! All students will come to the sale during their class’s Science Lab time that week.  (Tuesday for 1^st grade) Students are welcome to visit the sale during recess (with their teacher’s permission) or after school, as well. Regular hours are 8:00 – 3:30 pm, but the store will be open until 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 29. 

Parents, if you are available during the sale, we would love to have your help! Please visit the volunteer sign-up form online (http://bit.ly/SciSale12) to pick a date and time that is most convenient for you. Please feel free to send the above link to anyone else you know that might be available and willing to help!

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Reread our stories so others can read them

·       Make predictions

·       Visualize to make sense of what we read

·       Make questions as we read

·       Work with a partner to peer edit

·       Hear and record sounds in the words we write

·       Review nouns

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

·       Practice writing letters using correct formation and direction

·       Read word family poems to reinforce the patterns that many words have

In Math, we will…

·       Create shapely Santas using a variety of 2 dimensional figures

·       Create triangle trees

·       Create Hanukah menorahs using geometric figures

·       Identify math in everyday situations

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Science we will learn about wind and weather.

Week of Nov. 12

Visit Old Union’s facebook page!  Visit your teacher’s webpage to get the link…

Wear red, white, and blue on Monday to observe Veterans Day.

3rd Grade Performance & Patriotic Sing-Along

Monday, November 12 - 8:30 AM & 6:00 PM

Veterans will be honored as part of our performance.

If you know a Veteran, please consider inviting him/her to one of our performances.

Old Union’s first annual Super Science Sale will be held from November 26 – 30. This event is much like the Book Fair, except it offers science equipment, educational toys/games, and even live animals to purchase! All students will come to the sale during their class’s Science Lab time that week. Students are welcome to visit the sale during recess (with their teacher’s permission) or after school, as well. Regular hours are 8:00 – 3:30 pm, but the store will be open until 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 29.  

Parents, if you are available during the sale, we would love to have your help! Please visit the volunteer sign-up form online (http://bit.ly/SciSale12) to pick a date and time that is most convenient for you. Please feel free to send the above link to anyone else you know that might be available and willing to help!

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Reread our stories so others can read them

·       Retell using time words

·       Pay attention to the feelings we have when we read

·       Work with a partner to peer edit

·       Write sentences using periods when needed

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

In Math, we will…

·       Find patterns in odd and even numbers

·       Take a survey, tally, and graph results

·       Begin our geometry unit

·       Use attributes to identify 2 and 3D figures

·       Combine 2D figures to make new figures

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Social Studies we will learn about Thanksgiving then and now.

Wondering where your child goes for enrichment on Fridays?  Refer to your teacher's webpage for a schedule to see what week 1 and week 2 are... 

*Friday Classes*

(2 week rotation, switch half-way through class)

November 9 – Dragon Dash

November 16 – Dragon Day

November 30, December 14 – Week 1

December 7, December 21 – Week 2

Week of Nov. 5

Report Cards go home this Friday.  Please sign the signature page and return in the envelope.  The report card is yours to keep.

Don’t forget to add up the minutes read on your child’s reading log.  He/she will receive extra money for the class store based on the minutes read. New reading logs will be sent home for the 3^rd six weeks.

OUES Online Auction!  Nov. 4-11  Log in at:

www.biddingforgood.com/oues

Items for bid include:

Teacher of the day, Rangers Suite, Stars Suite, Personal Posted Parking Spot at OUES, Front of Car Pool Line, Name the Old Union street, café, hall, etc., front row seats at K graduation and programs, Marquee Madness, Directory Cover, Yearbook Cover and more!

We are having a mock election Tuesday!  The children will get to vote for president and learn about the election process!

Old Union’s first annual Super Science Sale will be held from November 26 – 30. This event is much like the Book Fair, except it offers science equipment, educational toys/games, and even live animals to purchase! All students will come to the sale during their class’s Science Lab time that week. Students are welcome to visit the sale during recess (with their teacher’s permission) or after school, as well. Regular hours are 8:00 – 3:30 pm, but the store will be open until 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 29.  

Parents, if you are available during the sale, we would love to have your help! Please visit the volunteer sign-up form online (http://bit.ly/SciSale12) to pick a date and time that is most convenient for you. Please feel free to send the above link to anyone else you know that might be available and willing to help!

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Write focused small moment stories

·       Remember to write and spell the words we know correctly and also look at the word wall when we write words we need to learn

·       Use our “spell check” as a resource when we write

·       Increase productivity by trying to begin and end a new story in one writing session

·       Find words in the story that signify the setting

·       Add setting words to our retell

·       Use reading strategies when we get to tricky words

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

In Math, we will…

·       Find patterns in numbers by identifying even and odd numbers

·       Skip count

·       Use tally marks to show numbers

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Science we will learn about the seasons.

Week of Oct. 29

·       This Wednesday!!! On October 31^st, Old Union will have Storybook Character Parade.  Children may come dressed as a character from a favorite book.  Please make sure your child brings the book as well.  No guns, swords or other scary stuff please… We will get to enjoy reading our books during readers’ workshop.  Parents are invited to the parade.  It will take place first thing in the morning outside by the playground.  If you’d like to send a change of clothes for your child, that will be fine.

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Write so that readers can read our writing

·       Pay attention to punctuation and read with expression according to the punctuation

·       Read with expression according to what’s happening in the story

·       Read and retell stories

·       Divide our writing between readable and unreadable

·       Hear and record sounds in our writing

·       Write sight words we know instantly

·       Make sure we’re using spaces

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

In Math, we will…

·       Order numbers using place value

·       Match numbers with tens and ones

·       Measure a pumpkin in several ways

·       Identify numbers as odd or even

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Social Studies we will review maps and learn about our natural resources.

Children need to turn in 2 spelling homework activities each Friday. Don't forget to have your child read at least 15 minutes a night. 

Week of Oct. 22

·       On October 31^st, Old Union will have Storybook Character Parade.  Children may come dressed as a character from a favorite book.  Please make sure your child brings the book as well.  No guns, swords or other scary stuff please… We will get to enjoy reading our books during readers’ workshop.  Parents are invited to the parade.  It will take place first thing in the morning outside by the playground.  If you’d like to send a change of clothes for your child, that will be fine.

·      It’s Red Ribbon Week!

·       October 22-26

·         Red Ribbon Pledge   ***

·       I pledge to be drug free.

·       I pledge to take care of my body.

·       I pledge to be myself.

·       I pledge to stick up for things I believe in.

·       I pledge to choose good friends.

·        

·       Monday: Hats off to being Drug Free

·       Pledge will be said on announcements.  Students and staff will wear a hat to support being drug free. 

·        

·       Tuesday: Give Drugs the Boot

·       Pledge will be said on announcements.  Students and staff will wear boots to show how to give drugs the boot.

·        

·       Wednesday:  OUES shows good character by Being Drug Free

·       Pledge will be said on announcements.  Wear a team OUES t-shirt to show   school pride.      *** This is picture day for retakes and group pictures

·                 

·       Thursday: I’m Voting for My Future, I’m Drug Free

·       Pledge will be said on announcements.  Students and staff will wear red, white, and blue. 

·        

·       Friday: Team up against Drugs. 

·       Wear a team shirt and be a team player.

In Language Arts this week, we will…

·       Revise our writing with partners

·       Fix up our stories so we can publish

·       Celebrate our writing

·       Think of new ways to read books when we think we’re finished

·       Focus on the characters in the story

·       Learn about the main idea of stories

·       Read with expression and smooth voices

·       Learn that verbs are action words

·       Practice writing sentences using correct capitalization and punctuation

·       Sort words according to their spelling patterns

In Math, we will…

·       Order numbers using place value

·       Participate in “I have, who has” to reinforce place value.

·       Create sets of ones and tens using cubes

·       Problem solve using SSM, SWA, and BSD plans

·       Participate in our math stations!  The children love playing games and doing activities that reinforce concepts that we are learning.

In Science we will be learning about soil!