Week of September 28th

This week in Language Arts we will...

• Begin our unit on writing Small Moment stories
• Work on stretching out thoughts in our writing
• Separate out the many sounds we hear in words and figure out corresponding letters
• Reinforce new vocabulary
• Look for patterns of spelling and sounds through poetry
• Learning the important jobs we have to know and facilitate during reading
• Continue working on learning our top 100 High Frequency words
• Continue working on recognizing beginning sounds in words through spelling

This week in Math we will...

• Continue using tally marks as a vehicle for collecting data
• Continue to strengthen our concepts of graphing 
• Be able to read and interpret different types of graphs (bar, picture, etc.)
• Use data from graphs to solve problems
• Be assessed on our knowledge of graphing

This week in Science we will...

• Continue our unit on matter but specifically in regards to heat, such as
• how does matter change with heat
• predicting and observing changes caused by heat
• enriching our 'matter' vocabulary
• identifying changes causes by heat and by cooling

Announcements

1. Tardy Bell! Ding Ding! The first morning bell rings at 7:45. This is when students are allowed to head to the classroom and begin their learning day. The tardy bell rings at 7:55. Please make sure that your child is here on time. As soon at that tardy bell rings – we officially begin our academic day. When your child is late, he or she is coming in on a learning activity behind peers. Not only does this child feel rushed with the lesson, but it also puts them at disadvantage for completing the task in a timely manner. I know mornings can be chaotic, but if at all possible, please have your child to school on time. Thank you!
2.  iStation. As a reminder, we encourage all students to read at least 15 minutes a night. Remember that one of your reading tools at home is iStation. Earlier in the year we sent home login information so your child could access this program. This program is EXCELLENT and provides us as teachers a great picture of what your child is mastering and is yet to master. There is also a parent portal that you can access as well. We cannot stress enough what a valuable tool this program is. I would personally encourage your child to make this one of his/her reading options at least twice a week. This can replace book time or can be used in addition to it. But it makes a huge difference in your child’s ability. If you have any questions or have lost your login information, please contact me.
3. Twitter. First Grade is all a twitter! That’s right, we are officially tweeting! Please follow us on Twitter @OUES1stGrade to catch glimpses of all our hard working kids throughout the week! 
4. Snacks. Please make sure to send a snack with your child everyday. Little tummies get hungry!
5. Bus Transportation. If your child is going home with a friend on a bus and is NOT a bus rider, please visit the district's website on Alternate Transportation. Here is the link: http://www.southlakecarroll.edu/files/_4ECFQ_/720e1ea3494f58363745a49013852ec4/Alternate_Transportation_Process__Instructions.pdf

Reminder of Encore Schedule (please wear tennis shoes on PE days)

Get out your calendars!

September Events

25-Dragons at Abiline

26-OUES Dad's BBQ Get Together (4:00-6:30pm)

October Events

1-Dragon Dash Pep Rally in the Cafeteria (2:00 pm)

2-National Custodian Workers Day

2-Dragon Dash Pledges (opens on Nov. 2nd and closes on Nov. 20th)

2-Dragons at Coppell (7:30 kickoff)

5-8-CogAT Testing (Grades 2 and 4)

7-Homecoming Carnival, Parade and Pep Rally at Town Square (4:00pm)

9-Homecoming Game vs. Richland (7:30 kickoff)

10-General PTO Meeting in the Café (9:00 am)

12-No School for Students/Staff Professional Development Day

16-End of 1st Grading Period

19-22-ITBS Testing (Grades 2 and 4)

23-Dragon Dash

23-Dragons vs. Colleyville: PINK OUT Game (7:30 kickoff)

26-30-Red Ribbon Week

29- All Pro Dads in the Cafeteria (7:00-7:45)

30-Storybook Character Parade

30-Dragons at Haltom (7:30 kickoff)

Week of September 21st

This week in Language Arts, we will...

• Fancy and fix up a piece of writing
• Read and edit our stories by checking correct usage of capitalization and punctuation
• Practice writing CVC words
• Discover new vocabulary through read alouds
• Practice sorting words that will get us ready for the spelling program

This week in Math, we will...

• Create a graph based on pets
• Problem solve to solve login problems
• Collect and sort data with a survey
• Solve problems of the independently, then as a class
• Participate in our math stations

This week in Science, we will...

• Learn about matter through various experiments and observations

Announcements

1. Snacks. Please make sure to send a snack with your child everyday. Little tummies get hungry!
2. Bus Transportation. If your child is going home with a friend on a bus and is NOT a bus rider, please visit the district's website on Alternate Transportation. Here is the link: http://www.southlakecarroll.edu/files/_4ECFQ_/720e1ea3494f58363745a49013852ec4/Alternate_Transportation_Process__Instructions.pdf
3. Shoe Tying. Tying shoes is an important skill for first graders to master. We ask that you help with this practice at home by working with your child. There are also several apps available to offer more reinforcement if you are interested.
4. Volunteer Background Check If you want to volunteer for OUES/CISD, you MUST first apply online and pass a comprehensive criminal background check.
• Go to www.southlakecarroll.edu
• Click on the For Parents or Quick Links tab at the top of the page
• Click on the Volunteer Program link on the left side of the page
•  You will be able to view the volunteer handbook and complete the application here
• The background check only needs to be completed one time each year and 
• This background check will grant access to all campus activities
5. Class Shutterfly Site. Please make sure you have joined your class shutterfly site.
   This site is the primary means of communication between you and your homeroom moms. It is also the location of all volunteer opportunities for the class as well as a place to share pictures and other information. For more information contact your child's teacher or class homeroom spokesperson. 

Reminder of Encore Schedule (please wear tennis shoes on PE days)

Get out your calendars!

September Events

23-All Pro Dads in the Cafeteria (7:00-7:45)

24-Picture Day

24-All Pro Dads in Cafeteria (7:00 – 7:45)

24-Mom’s Cooking with Kids at TasteBuds Kitchen (6:00-8:00pm)

25-Dragons at Abiline

26-OUES Dad's BBQ Get Together (4:00-6:30pm)

October Events

1-Dragon Dash Pep Rally in the Cafeteria (2:00 pm)

2-National Custodian Workers Day

2-Dragon Dash Pledges (opens on Nov. 2nd and closes on Nov. 20th)

2-Dragons at Coppell (7:30 kickoff)

5-8-CogAT Testing (Grades 2 and 4)

7-Homecoming Carnival, Parade and Pep Rally at Town Square (4:00pm)

9-Homecoming Game vs. Richland (7:30 kickoff)

10-General PTO Meeting in the Café (9:00 am)

12-No School for Students/Staff Professional Development Day

16-End of 1st Grading Period

19-22-ITBS Testing (Grades 2 and 4)

23-Dragon Dash

23-Dragons vs. Colleyville: PINK OUT Game (7:30 kickoff)

26-30-Red Ribbon Week

29- All Pro Dads in the Cafeteria (7:00-7:45)

30-Storybook Character Parade

30-Dragons at Haltom (7:30 kickoff)

Week of September 14th!

Language Arts - In writing this week we continued working on our Small Moment stories. We will continue this study next week. Small moment stories are personal reflections about our daily life...of something that has happened (going to the grocery store, walking to school, climbing a tree) that we turn into a story with a beginning, middle, and end. We also work on correct sentence constructions (capital, periods, etc.) In addition, we are encouraging the students to include details in descriptions through words, pictures, and labels. Next week we will focus on extending our stories across multiple pages to give it the feel of an actual story modeled by our read alouds. By stretching out these moments across pages, it works on visualization as well as detailing. In reading, now that we have established the routine of our workshop, we are focusing on 'Building Good Reading Habits.' Your child should be able to tell you about some of the objectives such as: taking a sneak peek before reading, setting goals, rereading to smooth out our voice for fluency, scooping words together for comprehension, etc. We also introduced Reading Partners and worked on what that looks like in the classroom. Finally, remember that we are always working on sight words and blends in terms of reading and writing. Knowing sight words and being able to pronounce common blends helps in both areas of study! 

Math - This week students will continue working on number awareness/place value including numbers 1 - 120. We will also introduce several problem solving activities and graphing while focusing on the meaning and values of numbers. Our BUILD program will also begin which allows students a time to facilitate hands on math practice into a cooperative learning environment. 

Science - Students will continue working on learning safety features when working in the lab as well as conducting experiments in the classroom. 

Social Studies - Students will wrap up our unit on Authority Figures/Community Helpers. Next we begin discussions on maps - what they are, what they are used for, as well as the important components (legend, compass rose, etc.).  

Announcements

1. OUES Family Picnic. Don't forget about our Family Picnic next Friday! If you are interested in purchasing a meal from In-N-Out burger ahead of time, you must do so in the office  Monday or Tuesday. 75% of the proceeds come back to OUES with the remaining 25% going to a children's charity. Food tickets will not be sold after Tuesday. If you do not purchase a ticket/voucher, you are welcome to bring your own food to the picnic.
   
2. Snacks. Please make sure to send a snack with your child everyday. Little tummies get hungry!
   
3. Bus Transportation. If your child is going home with a friend on a bus and is NOT a bus rider, please visit the district's website on Alternate Transportation. Here is the link: http://www.southlakecarroll.edu/files/_4ECFQ_/720e1ea3494f58363745a49013852ec4/Alternate_Transportation_Process__Instructions.pdf
   
4. Shoe Tying. Tying shoes is an important skill for first graders to master. We ask that you help with this practice at home by working with your child. There are also several apps available to offer more reinforcement if you are interested.
   
5. Volunteer Background Check If you want to volunteer for OUES/CISD, you MUST first apply online and pass a comprehensive criminal background check.
• Go to www.southlakecarroll.edu
• Click on the For Parents or Quick Links tab at the top of the page
• Click on the Volunteer Program link on the left side of the page
•  You will be able to view the volunteer handbook and complete the application here
• The background check only needs to be completed one time each year and 
• This background check will grant access to all campus activities
  
6. Class Shutterfly Site. Please make sure you have joined your class shutterfly site.
   This site is the primary means of communication between you and your homeroom moms. It is also the location of all volunteer opportunities for the class as well as a place to share pictures and other information. For more information contact your child's teacher or class homeroom spokesperson. 

Reminder of Encore Schedule (please wear tennis shoes on PE days)

Get Out Your Calendar!

12^th      CEF Event at Hilton Town Square

15^th      Evacuation Drill to the Church

18^th      OUES Family Picnic (4:30-7:00)

24^th      All Pro Dads in Cafeteria (7:00-7:45) and School Photo Day

25^th      Dragons at Abilene (7:30)

Week of September 7th

Coming Up in Our Curriculum!

Language Arts - This week we will continue focusing on the routines and procedures of our Reading and Writing Workshops. In writing, students will spend time including pictures that correspond with their personal stories. In addition, students will be encouraged to work on spelling strategies in their writing by analyzing beginning (initial) sounds. When challenging words appear in stories, students will also be encouraged to seek out methods of support (alphabet charts, spelling dictionary, high frequency word lists). In reading, students will continue focusing on establishing good reading habits during workshop. Later in the week they will evaluate the differences between good reading habits and bad reading habits and challenge themselves to continue with habits that promote strong reading. 

Math - This week students will continue working on number awareness including numbers 1 - 120. They will strengthen the concept by being able to represent various numbers and their place values in a variety of ways (numbers, pictures, expanded notation, words, etc.) We will also introduce students to new challenging hands out activities that will be part of our BUILD workshop system. Finally, we will also begin our daily "Problem of the Day" that encourages problem solving in a word problem setting.

Science - Students will continue working on learning safety features when working in the lab as well as conducting experiments in the classroom. 

Social Studies - Students will work on a unit including Community Helpers and Authority Figures. We will discuss the various roles and duties not only in our schools but in our community. Finally, we will challenge ourselves by investigating how life would differ without leaders and authority figures as well as determine what role we would prefer to have ourselves. 

Announcements!

Volunteer Background Check

If you want to volunteer for OUES/CISD, you MUST first apply online and pass a comprehensive criminal background check.

- Go to www.southlakecarroll.edu

- Click on the For Parents or Quick Links tab at the top of the page

- Click on the Volunteer Program link on the left side of the page

- You will be able to view the volunteer handbook and complete the application here

- The background check only needs to be completed one time each year and 

- This background check will grant access to all campus activities

Class Shutterfly Site

Please make sure you have joined your class shutterfly site. This site is the primary means of communication between you and your homeroom moms. It is also the location of all volunteer opportunities for the class as well as a place to share pictures and other information. For more information contact your child's teacher or class homeroom spokesperson. 

Reminder of Encore Schedule (please wear tennis shoes on PE days)

Finally, Get Your Calendar Out!

September Events

7^th        Labor Day/No School

8^th        Zoe’s Kitchen Art Showing for OUES (5:00-8:00)

11^th      Dragons vs Midland Lee (7:30)

12^th      CEF Event at Hilton Town Square

15^th      Evacuation Drill to the Church

18^th      OUES Family Picnic (4:30-7:00)

24^th      All Pro Dads in Cafeteria (7:00-7:45) and School Photo Day

25^th      Dragons at Abilene (7:30)