Target

Target Classes After Winter Break

Target classes will resume second semester on Monday, January 14. The first week back, all Target teachers will be in county-level training sessions.

We will welcome all of our new students to our classes the week of 1/14 as well!

Parents of students who have been tested for our program will receive the results in the mail next week.

New Blogs

The Target Teachers will each soon have their very own personal classroom blogs. Be on the lookout!

Week of November 12, 2012 Second and Third Grades

We have been testing, testing, testing and are looking so forward to seeing our Target students the week after Thanksgiving.  Classes for all Second and Third grade students will resume the week of November 26!  Students who have unfinished myths in Mrs. B.'s class need to bring their completed myths with them ready to share with the class!

Week of October 29, 2012 Second and Third Grades

This was the week we were waiting for!  Scientist Allen came from High Touch, High Tech.  He showed us the sun using solar glasses and special solar telescopes.  We were able to experiment and find out how gravity keeps earth and the other planets in their special orbits.  We also learned about the different spectrums of energy in space, like radio and X rays, but our favorite was the color spectrum of light, which entailed our wearing "rainbow" glasses to really discover.  All in all, it was exciting and memorable.

Second graders also did some convergent thinking with "Balance Benders," while third graders worked on their Hands on Equations.  Both groups completed a Halloweeen brainteaser using both convergent and divergent thinking.  Third graders worked on their star PowerPoints.  Some third grade students need to finish theirs for homework.

 

Week of October 22. 2012 Second and Third Grades

Due to Conference Week, we had a short day, with Specials and lunch and a return  to regular classrooms at 12:00.

 Our Second graders are really doing well with our Balance Benders. They can identify equal amounts even when the variables are changed. Great going, Second graders! They also warmed up their convergent thinking by doing some analysis of groups for like characteristics. They completed their study of stars and are beginning to learn about the constellations. They will work more on their constellation research next week.

Third graders have learned how to use Hands On Equations to solve word problems.  This takes more complicated thinking and they had to think convergently to determine how to structure the equation that would solve each problem.  They will be working more on this skill in the future.

Like the Second graders, they also analyzed groups to find the like characteristics.  Some examples were really challenging, but all students were successful by the end of the activity.  We then began our "Who Am I?" star PowerPoint programs.  Some Third graders continued to work on their constellation research as well.

NEXT WEEK, HIGH TOUCH, HIGH TECH COMES TO PRESENT THEIR PROGRAM, "CYGNUS," TO BOTH GROUPS.  WE CAN'T WAIT!

Week of October 15, 2012

We were so excited to see our littlest stargazers this week.  Second graders created and solved equations using balances to find "mystery numbers."  Third graders continued their equation solving with Hands On Equations.

Both groups solved plexors using logical thinking and worked on logic and other activities to strengthen their convergent thinking.

Second graders worked on their star study, determining the different types and sizes of stars.  They began learning about the life cycle of stars.  Some second graders, who had not been able to before, shared their telescope ads.

Third graders continued their study of stars, finishing the life cycles and beginning a study of the constellations.  They will continue learning about constellations next week as well.

HOMEWORK:  Mrs. Bullard's students need to complete the constellation research they started in class if they did not finish it.  They also need to bring their flash drives next week for a special project.

 

Week of October 8, 2012 Second and Third Grades

We missed our youngest (Second Grade) Targeteers this week, but are looking forward to seeing them on the 15th!

Third graders began their day with Hands On Equations and are getting mighty good at making legal moves to simplify equations.  We also worked on logical thinking activities involving "Plexors," which they may have shared with you.  These are fun word puzzles, which are written in strange ways to give clues as to their meanings.

We continued our exploration of stars and constellations in the computer lab.  We also read a book about them together.  As a follow up for our Hubble repair activity, we watched a NOVA special about shuttle astronauts actually preparing for and executing a real Hubble repair.  We had a chance to compare and contrast our experience with theirs and we can truly appreciate the challenges they faced as well as the examples of the evaluative thinking process in use in a real life situation.

We appreciate all of you who have sent in donations for our upcoming High Touch High Tech field trip.  We are looking forward to an exciting program on (Second Grade) Oct. 29, and (Third Grade) Oct. 31.

 

Another Star Struck Web Site for Second and Third Graders

Constellations

Target Tag-A-Long (formerly Teacher Outings)

Join the Target Teachers for a Pancake Breakfast!!

Where: Annex Room 3015

When: Thursday, December 6 at 7:30 A.M.

Starting Bid: $25 with 6 students winning

Teacher Participation: All 3 Target teachers (Ms. Boucher, Mrs. Christofoli, and Mrs. Bullard)

 

Second and Third Grades Weeks of Sept. 17 and Sept. 24

Both second and third graders are using their convergent thinking each week by using math manipulatives to solve and construct mathematical equations. In the Journey Through Space and Time unit study, students reflected on why divergent thinking was important to Galileo's success as an astronomer, and they will continue to have fun discovering the mysteries of telescopes, specifically the Hubble Space Telescope. Learning about telescopes is the perfect segue into learning about stars. Your children will be navigating a website and researching types of stars as well as the life cycle of a star.