Welcome to TARGET

Presented by:

Leigh Lyjak, Janell Bankhead and Brandye Keasler

It’s All About the Learning!

“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

Learning Characteristics of Children 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

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.

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.

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

Gifted Standards (the “what” we are teaching/assessing)

Cognitive Growth Strand• Convergent Thinking• Divergent Thinking• Evaluative Thinking• Relationships and Connections

Affective Growth Strand• Self-Reflection• Respect for Others• Self-Directed Learner

Cognitive Growth Strand

Convergent Thinking Students will reason logically using induction, deduction, and abduction.

Divergent ThinkingStudents will think creatively to generate innovative ideas, products, or solutions to problems

Cognitive Growth Strand

Evaluative ThinkingStudents will evaluate and solve a variety of authentic problems.

Relationships and ConnectionsStudents will make relationships and connections among various topics and disciplines.

Affective Growth Strand

Self-ReflectionStudents will reflect upon their innate and developed abilities.

Respect for OthersStudents will be respectful members of their communities.

Self-Directed LearnerStudents will be self-directed learners.

Our new “Target Progress Report”

Cognitive Growth Assessment Indicators

• (E) Exceeds: When the student has obtained a complete understanding of the element and has repeatedly demonstrated application and inference beyond grade-level expectation

• (M) Meets : When the student has obtained a complete understanding of the element and has consistently demonstrated independent mastery

• (P) Progressing: When the student has obtained a basic understanding of the element, but has not yet mastered it consistently and/or independently

• (D) Does not meet: When the student has not obtained a basic understanding of the element

• N/A- Element not assessed at this time

Learning Skills & Behaviors

Assessment Indicators• S = Successfully and consistently

displays appropriate learning skills and behaviors

• P = Progressing toward consistent display of appropriate learning skills and behaviors

• N = Needs Improvement to display learning skills and behaviors that lead to success

Spring Units of Study(the how we teach the standards ) 1st & 2nd

Pace

3rd Money Matters

4th and 5th

Independent Study

Continuation Criteria

We will be sending home an “official copy” for you to sign over the next couple of weeks.

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

Target Student Expectations

Has necessary materials (binder, etc.)

Has completed assignments Returns signed papers (Tally) in a

timely manner Is prepared to work when class

begins

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

Prevailing Practices Gifted students should not be expected

to make up missed regular classroom work or homework on scheduled Target day

Target homework permitted on Target day

Q & A

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

Hands-On Equations

How would you express 2(x + 3) = 9 + x using “Hands on Equations”?

3 9 3

2x + 6 = 9 + x

Hands-On Equations

Manipulating the pieces to solve the equation

3 9 3

2x + 6 = 9 + x

3 3 3 3

3 3

3 3

3

Hands-On Equations

Manipulating the pieces to solve the equation

3 9 3 3 3

3 3 3

x = 3