Parents, today I gave report cards to students so they could take them home to you. When I gave the report card and explained the M and D to a first grader, he said "Oh, I thought the X was bad." Then I explained that the X was in the M column and it means that the student met expectations. The response from the first grader tickled me. He said, "Oh, you mean it stands for marvelous and the D stands for the last letter in bad!" This brought to mind what a creative bunch of first graders I have enjoyed teaching !
Yes, the first graders were a marvelous bunch to teach! On our last Target day the students worked with third graders and they really enjoyed making the Mother's Day gift. Hopefully all the Mother’s Day key chains made it home! I read the delightful book, Popcorn Dragon. The book led into a discussion about the problems gifted students have when they brag about their giftedness.
Also, I gave each of the students their “What do I think” journal and encouraged them to take it home and write this summer. This writing activity is certainly optional for each child, but I know how much they all enjoyed writing each week and thought I'd suggest that they continue in the summer. Here are some optional writing prompts:
* Select 5 things to put in a time capsule? Explain why you selected each item.
* What would be the perfect award for your mom and why?
* Summer is here and there are so many bugs. What is something that is not a bug but it "bugs you"? Why does it “bug you”?
*What would be the perfect gift for your dad for Father's Day and why?
* Describe the perfect pet----a cat, dog, or other animal. Describe its antics that make you laugh.
* Finish this sentence..........One person in my family that I admire is _______. Tell what traits you admire about this person.
* The first skywriting appeared in New York City in 1922. If you could write a message in the sky, who would you write it to and what would it say?
*What would the perfect school day be like in second grade? Describe your day and your activities.
Have a wonderful summer! Here's a summer reading option that some of your might enjoy for your child.
Barnes and Noble is once again holding their summer reading promotion. Parents print this journal, kid records reading 8 books, they bring it into the store and choose a free book. :)
http://img1.imagesbn.com/pimages/kids/summerreading/2012/bnsummertearpad.pdf
May 4th~
We had six "Did You Know" presentations today and next week we'll have more students sharing their information with the class. Remind your child that making notes on paper or note cards helps them to be more comfortable as they talk to the class. Everyone likes to use the "Ladybug" (document camera) to project their pictures.
See if you can answer some tough "did you know" questions from our presentations today.......
How does a food disposal work?
Who was George Patton?
What is unique about the parrot fish?
How many kinds of frogs are there?
What was the first basketball hoop?
What is the name of the fins on a killer whale?
What is the capital of Argentina?
We had a special visitor present a "Did You Know" today. A teacher from Argentina was visiting our class. Although she only spoke Spanish, her translator helped us exchange ideas and learn a lot about Argentina. Her visit to the Atlanta area has been sponsored by the Roswell Rotary Club.
In our storytime we learned that "yarnspinning" is another name for storytelling. In the story Yolanda the Yarnspinner uses her imagination to weave wonderful stories and advanced vocabulary to articulate ideas. We'll work more on our "yarnspinning thinking" next week.
Next week we'll celebrate the end of our first grade Target Time together. Jack M's mom is going to help with the celebration. If you'd like to donate $1 for our ice cream sundae party, please send your donation next week in your child's Target pocket folder.
It has been a treat working with my first graders on Friday! What a creative group of students! Each Friday has been exciting and fun as I've guided them in their love of learning and challenges! All of my students will transition to second grade Target next year. It is not necessary for you or your child to do any additional work to be in the second grade program for gifted. If you are moving, please contact me. I will provide you with test records to make your move a little easier.
Have a fantastic summer! Read, play and cherish the time with your inquisitive child!
April 27th~
What a great time we had brainstorming and doing divergent thinking! After watching the Wonderopolis story http://wonderopolis.org/ about a Bonsai tree, I asked students how they would compare a Target student to a Bonsai tree. Afterwards Sybil the Scientist introduced the scientific process and we used our analytical thinking to determine how to classify a strange group of creatures. Then we looked at how a rain forest is like a circus and how they are different. Congrats to Dylan for having the most unique, brainstormed answers to the question in the follow up game of Scratch. Of course, students loved the Squigglicious time of the day when they all shared their divergent responses to a squiggly line. Piper sweetened up our day with a cupcake treat in honor of her birthday. Happy Birthday, Piper!
To celebrate National Poetry Month I read Snuffles by Joan Anson Weber. In honor of Joan's life and love of poetry I gave each student their own copy of her book. Joan was my dear neighbor for years and she died in 2010 at 83. I told my students if Joan were here she would tell them to "keep on their toes and follow their nose" to find great treasures in learning just like Snuffles found great treasures digging underground for treasured truffles.
Our last day of Target will be May 11th, because first graders are celebrating Economics Day on May 18th. I have LOVED getting to know your child and launching their Target time in elementary school. They are adorable and we have a great time together every Friday. Students will continue to work in Target in 2nd grade and it will not be necessary for you to complete any paperwork to make this transition.
For our finale we'll have an ice cream sundae party on May 11th. If you are available to help on May 11th and can help me with this event, please send me an email. :)
April 17th~
Hi, 1st grade parents! We will not have Target this Friday, April 20th. The Target teachers have been asked to help with CRCT testing this week. Students will stay with their regular classroom teacher, as many will have a fun, Friday activity.
April 13th
It was a great Friday the 13th in Target. My only concern was lots of students were going to the bathroom. I hope we all were not immersed in flu bugs, as I've heard there is a virus being shared. We were focused on creative thinking and our "brainfocals" helped us transform a Squiggle and invent a machine for gathering acorns. Super group of divergent thinkers! Although we worked on Primary Algebra, the students did not bring their work home today. I've checked their work and we'll go over the lesson next week and they will bring their problems home to share.
I've asked all students to make a "Did You Know?" presentation by the middle of May. Some students want to share their presentation next week, but it is not mandatory. Students will give at least 5 facts about any topic they want to research. Then they'll bring their five written notes and share their information with the class. Each student will be required to have a visual, project their voice, look at the class during their presentation. Their visual may be anything from a stuffed animal, a book, a picture, poster, etc.
March 30th~
It was an Eggs-cellent day in Target! Students loved the book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones and as I read many of the students enjoyed sharing more facts about animals that are oviparous.........our word of the day. Ask your child if you need a tip about the word. Hopefully they'll remember! :) In keeping with the egg-citing day prior to Spring Break I gave all students a blank egg puzzle for them to color with markers. Students were asked to draw a picture of something they were doing for spring break, something they love, or a oviparous animal. In the pocket folder you'll find the puzzle (hopefully they'll make it home) in a plastic bag and a special card to go along with the puzzle.
We celebrated Laura Grace's and my birthday today with brownies. Thank you, Mary, for the sweet treat! Students loved their brownie and Peep for a treat! All first graders were happy to get their logic booklet, which we'll keep in our binders at school. They love logic problems and the problems provide great challenges for analytical thinking! Have a great Spring Break!
March 23rd
Students discussed the Many Different Side of Me survey and their smarts. They had fun creating shoes to illustrate the different smarts and some ideas of their ideas would be very marketable! We'll finish that activity next week and they will bring home. After we completed a logic problem, I found that the students have a hunger for more logic problems. Promised I'd make a booklet of logic problems for each student to have in their binder. They loved the idea! You'll find " I'm Me" poem in their folder. I did not correct all the spelling as I wanted to encourage the expressive writing without the focus on spelling today. We looked up vary, variety, and variables and discussed how they were alike and then related variable to our primary algebra. We concluded that in primary algebra a variable is a symbol that stands for a number.
March 13th Hi, Parents. First graders will not come to Target on Friday, March 16th, since all students will participate in "Experiment Day". Wanted to give you the "head's up" ....don't send the Target folder on Friday.
March 9th
Jack started off the class by sharing his creative cover page for our binder. Thanks to Jack and his mom for doing a great job and making a cover page for each student. It's super!
Lots of fun today trying to answer our Hink Pinks and then discovering that we could make up Hinky Pinkies as we waiting in line for lunch. Check out the page in their pocket folder and create some rhyming phrases with your family and see if you child can stump us next week. For instance, a washed legume would be a clean bean.
We worked on research using dictionaries ( tough job for some) to find the definition of equitable and variable. When we reviewed how a thesaurus is a research book it was very helpful. Quickly Adam was able to answer one of our toughest Hink Pink using a thesaurus.
Today we began talking about Multiple Intelligences and each student has a survey in their pocket folder. Please complete and return next week. Great class! Love first graders!
We have a couple of students who have an intestinal bug. One child went home with fever. Just thought I'd give you a head's up. Stay well ! :)
March 2
Dr. Seuss special activities were on our agenda first thing this morning and then all had the opportunity to go to the Media Center to listen to East Side’s author, Rosalind Bunn. Afterwards we discussed what all good writer’s need to do………BB (bold beginnings), MM( mighty middles) and EE (excellent endings)! We brainstormed a list of tips for writing, such as, using colorful words, varying sentence beginnings (get rid of too many “I repetitions), and using different kinds of sentences. Then I reminded students not to rush in their editing and we discussed how to edit out writing. Students will write every week in their journals called “What Do I Think?” and at the end of the year each student will bring home a journal filled with their first grade opinions.
Students shared their divergent thinking "Squiggles" and I demonstrated the elimination process in a logic problem. Our culminating activity was a snack treat from Jake’s mom………a yummy and creative snack treat with a Dr. Seuss message inside! Jake loved sharing them with all the class and we brainstormed what Dr. Seuss book each component of the "trail mix" might represent . We really appreciated Jake’s mom making our day so SWEET! Have a great weekend!
Feb. 24th
First graders learned a lot about their Target friends as we shared Personality Boxes today. We found lots of similarities in their love of reading, writing, nature, history, dogs, chess, legoes, swimming, baseball, playing the piano, collections of items and love of humor. Avery completed an Iron Kids Triathlon and Adam was our first grade writing winner for our school and now going to county. Wow! What an awesome class!
Students enjoyed completing logic problems and we'll continue working on logic problems each week. A couple of children struggled with the logic problems. Do not worry as students will continue to improve with practice.
First graders did not know the meaning of a prefix. We focused on one prefix. (equi-) and students have a password for Target next week........equivalent. They all had fun making equivalent sums on the balance beam.
Thank you parents for your support of Target and making donations to support the curriculum. I appreciate you and look forward to our time together in Target!
Two websites that were mentioned in our parent meeting yesterday:
Feb 24th
Ga. State Saturday School session begins March 10th and in the summer there are camp opportunities offered http://education.gsu.edu/saturdayschool
Students love this website and game http://www.setgame.com/
Feb. 17th
Amy Hall teaches Target two days a week at East Side was our substitute since Mrs. Lind was sick. Students shared one thing in their personality box with Mrs. Hall and next week students will continue their Personality Box presentations. Students completed a logic elimination grid and worked on convergent thinking with Dudley the Detective. As logic detectives, students are using clues and finding the one, right answer just like Dudley. Next week we'll do some logic problems independently to practice what we've learned.
Don't forget New Parent Meeting in Thursday, Feb. 23rd, 8:00 in the Media Center for all parents of students who have started Target in February. I will post the presentation on my webpage if you are unable to attend.
February 10th
1. If you have sent in your Student Information form, I entered your names in the Friday News Flash. If you have not returned your Student Information form, please click on the Subscribe link on the bottom of this page to sign up and you'll receive the " News Flash" about Target.
2. Go to the Welcome to Target link on the top of my webpage and enter your contact information.
2. Students will need a 3 ring Target binder. Please read about supplies needed on the Supply List link.
3. Send your child with a healthy snack/water to keep their brains sharp. We'll have lunch at 10:26.
4. If you have a talent, hobby, or job related interest which you’d like to share with my class, please send me an email. We’ll plan a time for you to come to Target.
5. My email address is Cynthia.Lind@cobbk12.org
6. Are you looking for more learning opportunities for your child? Please check out this website for information about Ga. State Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders
http://education.gsu.edu/saturdayschool/
Great first day in Target! Students will be bringing home a pocket folder. Inside you'll find a Target Tally Performance Page, Parent letter, Homework-Personality Box-Explanation, and Target Student Information Page to complete and return. Students were surprised to have mail delivered to them in Target. Please have your child share his/her letter with you. Fifth graders wrote a personal letter to each student telling them all about Target. Students like getting mail so much they ask if they could have another letter next week. Please help make that wish a reality.....Parents, would you please write your daughter or son a short letter telling them what you think makes them unique and why you are proud of them. Please put it in their Target pocket folder for a surprise next Friday.
Please send your child to school with the Target supplies mentioned on my webpage, which can be accessed by going to Class Pages on the East Side webpage.