April 2016

Dear Parents,
   Wow...is it almost the end of the year already?!?! Our students have done such a phenomenal job in Target this year. We are so proud of them.
    We're looking forward to seeing Genius Hour Projects! We know the students have been working hard on finalizing their research and creating their products at home. Please be sure your child is ready to present on their due date. Rubrics will be sent home before the project date so you and your child are aware of expectations.
     5th grade is eagerly anticipating the culmination of our STEAM mini-unit! High Touch High Tech will be here April 25th to lead us in dissection. All students needed to get 100% on their shark anatomy tests to be able to dissect. In past years, the High Touch High Tech teachers have complimented our students on how well they know the shark anatomy as they are dissecting. The studying pays off!
    4th graders will culminate the year with a STEAM day called Bridge to 5th grade. They'll be studying types of bridges and bridge construction, then engineering their own bridge design.
    1st graders will be wrapping up the year with the Silly Straw Challenge! We are very proud of our youngest Target students. They have grown into Target thinkers this year!
   2nd and 3rd graders will be wrapping up our Mission Possible: Robocode unit. We've had so much fun with our robots. Soon we'll be programming them for some longer and more complex missions. Look out front office...here come the rovers!
   Kindergartners who qualify for testing will be tested in late April/ early May. Results will be mailed in late May.
     As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
                Thanks for your support,
                          Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

March 2016

Dear Parents,
    We have been so busy in Target!
    We are so proud of our fifth graders, This week, they competed in our local school Inventure competition. Every group did a phenomenal job! The winners are.....
1st Place: Go Green Tarp; Mary Grace Z. and Maddy C.
2nd Place: Pen Poke Pack; Ellie K, Ava F. and Tsega T.
3rd Place: Allergy Stickers; Paras S., Aeden R.
People's Choice: The Jet Set; Rose Y., Sarah A, and Erin T
    The top two winning teams will be going on to the state finals at Georgia Tech on 3/16. Good luck!
    5th Grade will now begin the much-anticipated shark unit!
    4th graders are wrapping up Reinventing Shakespeare with a trip to the Alliance Theater on March 10th. We have been focusing on Research-Based Questioning for our Genius Hour Products. We're looking forward to some great presentations in April and May.
     2nd and 3rd graders have begun programming their Recon Robots. They will also be presenting Genius Hour products in April and May.
     1st graders have been doing a wonderful job with PACE. They will be presenting their first Genius Hour Jr soon!
     4th and 5th grade parents, be on the lookout for some information about exciting summer opportunities for gifted students! Keep checking back on our blog for additional information about upcoming summer programs and ideas for gifted students.
               Thanks for your support,
                       Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

 

                                                                                  January 2016

Dear Parents,

    Whew! Testing is almost over! This week, we will be working with the ALP department to finalize our class lists for the new semester.

    We are excited to have some new friends joining our Target classes. New Target parents are invited to attend a parent meeting on January 11^th at 8:30am in the media center. We’ll have some information about our program curriculum, routines and expectations to share with you.

    We’re also excited to have our old friends back after a long break. We are looking forward to continuing the fun and learning with our spring units. 5^th grade will continue with Inventure, focusing on the latter stages of the engineering design process. 4^th grade will be wrapping up our Shakespeare unit with a Shakespearean festival, then delving deeper into Genius Hour. We will be using the RBQ process to guide our research and focusing on developing a more substantial product.  2^nd and 3^rd grade will be learning about coding and computer programming through an innovative new unit. 1^st graders will be working through our introductory Target unit, with a focus on convergent and critical thinking and primary algebra.

   In consideration of the rigor required in our Inventure unit, we have decided to make Genius Hour optional for 5^th grade. Students will need to spend substantial class time and some home time on their Inventure projects, but many students expressed an interest in still completing a Genius Hour assignment. Interested 5^th grade students can see us for guidelines.

   2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th graders will receive information on Genius Hour expectations soon.

  We will also be sending home information on upcoming events (4^th grade Alliance Theatre trip, 5^th grade dissection and Inventure).

   Welcome back!

                  Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

                                                                         December 2015


Dear Parents,
    It's testing season! Our testing window involves a variety of evaluations to determine eligibility for the Target program. We cannot share test results until all students have tested. Letters will be mailed later in  December.  Target classes will resume when the testing process is over. We will miss our regular Target students but we are looking forward to getting some new friends in January. Happy Holidays!
    Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

                                                         

                                                         November 2015

Dear Parents, 

     Sadly, our fall units are drawing to a close! We have had so much fun with all of our grade levels. 1st graders have done a wonderful job learning to become "Target thinkers" with Leonardo Da Vinci! They had the opportunity to complete STEAM activities and develop critical thinking skills based on the work of one of the world's most famous innovators. We are so proud of them! Second and third graders have had a blast with Audrey Aims. We've recreated several art pieces from the past, including an Andean belt, and Egyptian papyrus. We've also learned about the art and science of art conservation. Our 4th grade "bard" have honed their acting and critical thinking skills with "Reinventing Shakespeare". We will be creating and performing parallel scenes in the next couple weeks. Be on the lookout for information about our culminating activity - the Shakespeare festival! Fifth graders have been learning about the Engineering design process and investing famous inventions. They will soon begin developing their own inventions!

   

     We're looking forward to having some new Target friends in January. Our testing window will begin after Thanksgiving break. 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th grade parents of students who would like additional information about the testing process can come to our parent testing meeting. Time and place TBA. Be on the lookout for more information.

                          Thanks for your support,

                                        Mrs. Parsons & Mrs. Sanders

Friday, October 2^nd 2015

October

Dear Parents,

   We’ve had lots of laughter and learning in our classrooms this month!

    1^st graders are developing their divergent thing skills in Leonardo DaVinci: The Ultimate Renaissance Man. We have been completing weekly STEAM activities that Leonardo would certainly be impressed with!

     2^nd graders have been working hard to develop convergent thinking skills. They are becoming very adept at brainteasers! They’ve also been developing algebraic thinking skills through the primary algebra program. We have some very talented future mathematicians!

     2^nd and 3^rd graders tracked down art conservator Audrey Aims in Egypt. We helped her by making papyrus to replicate the Book of the Dead. Before making the papyrus, we had to study acids and bases using cabbage juice as a pH indicator. Our rooms still smell a little. =) We’re looking forward to her next adventure. Where will she go next?

   4^th graders have been honing their acting skills in Reinventing Shakespeare! “The Bard” have been using their critical thinking skills to create still life Tableaux. We’re looking forward to seeing the students multiple intelligence projects due October 8th!

    5^th graders have been practicing their engineering skills and learning about the engineer design process (EDP). They have done an excellent job of collaborating and using evaluative thinking to create products. We’re looking forward to diving into the Inventure program with Georgia Tech very soon!

    All grade levels will be participating in the famous Target Buck Bash during conference week! Please send in old toys (or new dollar store toys) for our auction items.

           Thanks for your support,

                              Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders

                                                                 September 2015

Dear Parents,

    We’ve had a great start to Target! We enjoyed seeing new faces and old friends at our parent meeting. If you missed it, we will hold another orientation meeting mid-year for new or existing Target parents.

    Please be sure to check your child's tally each week. We often include assignment info or reminders and requests. You may want to check your child's tally as soon as your child gets home from their Target day to avoid those night-before surprises. =)

     Our first graders are being introduced to one of the most notable geniuses in history – Leonardo da Vinci! Students are discovering the work, times and continuing impact of the ultimate Renaissance man. They will read, write, discuss, observe, draw, analyze and create as they learn how to be successful Target students!

     Second and third grade students began the year with a mini-STEAM unit called “Storm the Castle’. We learned how simple machines could help propel a catapult. We also learned about life in the middle ages and how catapults have been used throughout history. We’re looking forward to creating our own cardboard castles based on the construction techniques of medieval engineers. We’ll also be hosting a medieval feast as we test and present our catapults!

     Following our STEAM mini-unit, we’ll begin our Problem-based Learning Unit: Audrey Aims. As an art conservator, Audrey Aims works to showcase objects from all over the world. But how do they get there? Why are they important? And what if the people whose lives they represent want them back? We’re about to find out!

    Our 4^th and 5^th grade students have been hitting the slopes in our STEAM mini-unit, Survivor: Colorado! Students used their knowledge of simple machines to design working ski-lifts. The competition to be the winning tribe is heating up as we near the end. Who will outwit, outlast and outplay?!?

   For our Fall semester unit, 4^th graders will be partnering with the Alliance Theatre in Reinventing Shakespeare! This unit is an interactive introduction to Shakespeare - his work, his times, and his continuing impact. It is also an exploration of the 21^st Century 4 C’s – Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity.  Students will actively engage in Shakespeare’s works and creative responses to his work. They will read, write, discuss, recite, perform, and create.

  We’re very excited about the upcoming opportunity for 5^th graders in our Inventure unit. We’ll be partnering with Georgia Tech to participate in a program that allows younger students to participate in the Inventure prize competition. Students will work to design a unique product or invention, prototype and tri-board. They will then “pitch” their idea to a panel of judges in a series of competitions, beginning with our local school competition. We are excited to open the world of innovation to our fifth graders!

   4^th and 5^th grade students were given information about a math camp being held at Walton High School over September break. Please consider this opportunity for your child.

    As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

                       Thanks for your support,

                                        Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Sanders