Welcome to TARGET

1. Welcome to TARGET Presented by: Kirsten Perla

2. It’s All About the Learning! Effort is the key to success!

3. “Success in life isn’t about having ability; it’s whether you look at ability as something inherent that needs to be demonstrated or as something that can be developed.” - Carol Dweck

4. Is interested Has good ideas Learns with ease 6-8 repetitions for mastery Good memorizer Answers the questions asked by teacher Enjoys straightforward presentation Is pleased with his/her learning THE BRIGHT CHILD Is highly curious Has wild, silly ideas Already knows 1-2 repetitions for mastery Good guesser Discusses in detail, elaborates Thrives on complexity of issues Is highly self-critical THE GIFTED CHILD Learning Characteristics of Children

5. Fixed Mindset …think that “they are the way they are” and will often avoid challenges and stick to what they know they can do well.

6. Growth Mindset …believe that intelligence can be developed, that the brain is like a muscle that can be trained. This leads to the desire to improve.

7. Our Target Program Mission To prepare gifted students for an ever-changing global marketplace where they must be self-reflective, goal-oriented problem-seekers and solvers

8. Gifted Standards (the “what” we are teaching/assessing) • Critical Thinking • Students will utilize higher order reasoning and reflect upon their thinking. • Convergent Thinking • Students will reason logically • using induction and deduction • Algebraic Thinking • Students will reason algebraically

9. Standards (cont’d) • Divergent Thinking • Students will think creatively to • generate innovative ideas, products, • or solutions to problems • Evaluative Thinking • Students will evaluate and solve a variety of • authentic problems. • Relationships and Connections • Students will make relationship and connections among various topics and disciplines.

10. Standards (cont’d) Communication Students will interact and exchange ideas, feelings, information, thoughts, and knowledge with others Collaboration Students will work toward a common goal with shared accountability for the final outcome Self-Reflection Students will reflect upon their abilities

11. Standards (cont’d) Respect for Others Students will be respectful members of their communities. Self-Directed Learner Students will be self-directed learners.

12. Projects and Writing Projects and writing are rarely done at home because this is a process class…we need to see them do the work. If projects are done at home, we will not be able to give the student credit. We may occasionally ask students to type or print their writing at home. If so, this is an opportunity for parents to help with revision.

13. Research Research is frequently done at home because we do quite a bit of differentiation, allowing students to choose their topics. Please help your students with research… guiding them as to how to search on the web, what sites are reliable, and what search engines they may want to try. They are sometimes confused and list the search engine as their source. Please help us with this and make sure they give credit to the true source.

14. Our latest “Target Progress Report”

15. Assessment Indicators • (S) Successful : Consistently and independently demonstrates outcomes supporting grade-level standards and elements. • (P) Progressing: Demonstrates outcomes supporting grade-level standards and elements with support. • (D) Does not meet: Limited progress in demonstration of outcomes supporting grade-level standards and elements.

16. Continuation Criteria Quarterly Review A minimum of 7 out of 11 S’s and P’s indicates student is currently meeting essential requirements for continued placement. Annual Review Gifted services are recommended for the following year if student has met continuation criteria 3 out of 4 quarters AND received a minimum of 1 “S” per standard in at least 7 out of 11 standards over the course of the academic year.

17. Changes – A Class in Flux • New students • New classes • Change of teachers • Change of day

18. Target Student Expectations • Has necessary materials (binder, etc.) • Has completed assignments • Uses technology appropriately • Returns signed papers (Tally) in a timely manner • Is prepared to work when class begins • Tries his or her best on all assignments

19. Parent Communication • Target Tallies • Progress Reports • E-mail • Phone Calls • Conferences • Blogs

20. Prevailing Practices • Gifted students should not be expected to make up missed regular classroom work or homework on scheduled Target day. They are expected to know any new concepts introduced that day. • Expect Target homework on Target day

21. Q & A

22. CURRENT AREAS OF STUDY • First: PACE • Second and Third: The One and Only Ivan Zoo field trip on May 9th or 10th • Fourth: Ultimate Connections • Fifth: Genius Hour and finishing up InVenture (Georgia Tech Competition) We have two teams competing at GA Tech.

23. Hands-On Equations • Visual and kinesthetic teaching system for introducing algebraic concepts as early as third grade • Uses game pieces consisting of pawns and numbered cubes • Prepares students for understanding Algebraic problems

24. 3 Hands-On Equations How would you express 2(x + 3) = 9 + x using “Hands on Equations”? 3 9 2x + 6 = 9 + x

25. 3 3 3 3 9 3 3 Hands-On Equations Manipulating the pieces to solve the equation 3 3 3 3 3 2x + 6 = 9 + x

26. 3 3 3 3 9 3 3 Hands-On Equations Manipulating the pieces to solve the equation 3 x = 3