We spent our morning working on VERY challenging math to solve the Mystery of the Zombie Elves.  The kids gave it a great try, even those that didn't make it to the end of the mystery!  

Later on, we worked on Holiday Stations--using our divergent thinking skills to create Holiday Origami projects and our convergent thinking skills to solve a Holiday Jigsaw puzzle.  We enjoyed some hot cocoa while the kids worked on their stations.

It was a short, busy day!  

Target Classes will resume the week of January 13th.  I hope you can join us for the Target Open House to kick off our new semester on January 13th, 7:20-8am in the Media Center.  

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
​Dr. Kraeger

We had an exciting and fun-filled day in Target!

Stations:
We stretched our divergent thinking skills with a December F2OE.  The kids blew me away with their clever and creative ideas!  They also worked on a Versatiles activity that highlighted their convergent thinking.  

Unit Study:
Most of our day was spent on our Model United Nations Finale activities.  In the morning, honored guests joined us to hear each of our students present about their Country's most challenging Global Goals.  The kids did a great job on this!
Later, we organized our classroom into a Mock United Nations for our Debate.  The kids acted as a Delegate for their country.  We went around the room to hear from each delegate on all of the six Global Goals that we researched this semester.  The responses, questions, and discussions were incredibly insightful, well-reasoned, and sometimes a bit forceful.  The kids strongly demonstrated their depth of knowledge, listening, evaluative thinking, and ability to connect knowledge across topics.  They were continuously responding to the needs of other countries with questions, suggestions, and sometimes even a need of their own.  Bargains were struck between delegates, tough questions were asked and answered, and MUCH learning took place!  It was an AMAZING afternoon!  I am so proud of their hard work and the critical thinking they showed in these activities!  

HW: None-they've worked SO hard already! :)

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We started off strong with a "Waker Upper" to get our brains pumping with creativity.

Algebraic Thinking:
We continued on with our Hands On Equations to keep learning more of the foundational skills of algebra.

Stations:
We used our divergent thinking to create solutions for a "Kindness F2OE".  The kids had amazing ideas!  

Novel Study:
We recorded our Epilogues on Flipgrid today.  Check them out and add a Vibe, if you want!

Unit Study:
The kids brought home Model U.N. Finale Checklists and notecards to finish up their information for our Finale on Wednesday, December 11.  They can send a message on Edmodo if they have any additional questions.

No Target class the week of December 2nd because of Gifted Eligibility Testing.

No Homework!  Enjoy your Thanksgiving Break!

​Dr. Kraeger

We started our day with some creative thinking to finish our Hidden Pictures!  They turned out great!

Algebraic Thinking:
We kept moving with our Hands On Equations doing a new lesson in each group.  The math is getting harder and the kids are up to the challenge!

Unit Study:
We investigated Global Goal-Good Health with some information about childhood immunizations.  The kids did more research on their country's Progress on the global goals.

Stations:
We used our convergent thinking to solve a choice of logic puzzles, either a grid style or a Perplexor.  The kids also combined their convergent thinking with divergent thinking to solve the Waker Upper.

Novel Study:
We watched the Global Read Aloud-Front Desk: "Week 6 Author Video".  Then the kids worked on writing an epilogue for the book.  Next week, we'll create videos using those epilogues.  

Affective Skills:
We continued our Mindfulness Practice with "Cloud Breathing".  We also looked a bit more at Growth Mindset.  Look for a mini Growth Mindset Info Sheet in your child's folder.

HW:  Edmodo- Global Goals Update

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

We started our day by finishing up work from last week.  It seems that some of us are a bit too wrapped up in the social, and may not be finishing up our classwork each week.  Let's see if we can improve that going forward!

Novel Study:
We finished our novel, Front Desk.  The kids LOVED the ending!  We also watched Kelly Yang's Global Read Aloud-Week 5 video.  She is such as amazing author!

Stations:
We stretched our divergent and convergent thinking with two activities: a Hidden Picture and a Gotta Think-"On the Table".  I'm excited to see the finished Pictures!  

Unit Study:
This week we focused on Global Goal 3-"Good Health & Wellbeing".  We studied good nutrition and how our food choices can have global impact.  First we watched "Why Do We Need to Change Our Food System?", then we checked out "Healthy Eating." The kids followed up with research in the lab.

Algebraic Thinking:
We jumped back into Hands On Equations today.  The kids were eager to get back to it, and definitely rose to the challenge!

Affective Skills:
We continued our Mindfulness Practice with "Guided Breathing Exercises".

HW:  Revised Meal Diagram

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

  We had a fabulous day of learning in Target!  The kids outdid themselves with their creative Book Character costumes!  They are SO creative, and so are their parents! 

We started our day off with some catch up work, and then got right down to new stuff!

Novel Study:
We watched the Front Desk-Global Read Aloud Week 4 video and then started reading.  The kids learned that change isn't easy for real people or for book characters, but it can be a good thing.  They also realized that writing letters can bring good results in books and in real life.  

Unit Study:
We continued our investigation of Quality Education, looking a bit more at gender equality in education.  We also focused on what kids can do to have a positive impact on increasing Quality Education around the world, beginning with this video, "SDG 4-Quality Education".  After discussing the ideas about making a difference, we took a closer look at educational opportunities in Chad with this video, "Rain School".  We followed this up with more research in the computer lab, to learn more about the Global Goals and our countries.  
Finally, we shared the Model U.N. Finale Checklist with the kids.  This details requirements for the Culminating Activities, which will be held on Wednesday, December 11th.  Parents/families are invited for the Country Sharing portion of the Activity.  We will do this from 8-9am on December 11th.  We will hold our Model U.N. Debate in the afternoon, with just our Target class.

Affective Skills:
We continued our Mindfulness Practice with "2 Minute Relaxation".  

HW:  Parent Signature on Model U.N. Finale Checklist

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

We started our day with lots of good thinking on our creative activity-"Waker Upper".  

Stations:
We used our divergent thinking to SCAMPER a pencil.  The ideas were incredible!  The kids also flexed their convergent thinking muscles with a choice of a Grid Logic Puzzle or a Perplexor.  

Unit Study:
The kids learned about Global Goal 4-Quality Education.  They watched a brief overview of the Goal and then a picture book, Armando and the Blue Tarp School.   The kids were very surprised about the barriers to education that exist for kids in other countries.  They did some research about their own country's progress toward meeting the Quality Education Goal.  

Novel Study:
We watch the Global Read Aloud Week 3 video with Kelly Yang.  The kids were deep thinkers about the tough situations our main characters faced in this section of the book.  

Affective Skills:
We continued our Mindfulness Practice with Easy 2 Minute Mindfulness.  

HW:  Edmodo Question

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

It was a whirlwind of great learning today!  

Novel Study:
We read a section of our book this morning, after watching a fun video with the author answering reader questions.  The kids want to submit their questions too!  The book discusses so many important social/emotional factors the kids face in school and in life.  The discussions are fantastic!  

Later, we read another section of the book and did a related fluency activity listing American Customs or customs from another country.  It was FUN!

Unit Study:
The kids had "Fish for Dinner" again!  We watched an amazing teen activist plead with the members of the United Nations to support Climate Action.  It was stirring!  Then the kids read sections of a Climate Change article, sharing the key points with small groups.  The activity went pretty well this time, with most kids enjoying and learning from the activity.  

HW:  Edmodo Question
Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

The kids came in eager to begin learning and working.  They have become adept at finding games and puzzles that interest them.  They enjoy the jigsaw puzzles and completed a 300 piece puzzle this morning before class started!  Love that teamwork!

Stations:
We worked on a Perplexor to develop our convergent thinking skills.  Then the kids stretched their creative thinking by transforming a key.  Some didn't get to this and will finish this up next week.  I can't wait to see the amazing ideas the kids come up with!

Algebraic thinking:
We used various strategies to solve an array of different types of math problems.  The kids found some of it really challenging, and had an easier time with some of the problems.  

Novel Study:
We dug into our book, Front Desk, in two session today.  The kids had some excellent comments and questions during our reading today.  There were some pretty intense topics, so we spent a little while in extra conversation.  The kids are growing in understanding of some of the struggles immigrants might face, especially through the eyes of our ten year old narrator.  We didn't finish the last chapter, so the kids can watch it here: Chapter 21.  

​Unit Study:
Today we learned about Global Goal 13-Climate Action.  The kids watched a wonderful video with David Attenborough imploring us to take action!  It is posted on our Target Glog-4th Grade Page.  The kids are also doing research about Climate Action and what steps their countries are taking.  I am working on adding Climate Action Tabs for each country that kids are studying, so give me a couple of days to get that set on the LiveBinder on our Target Glog.
​
Affective skills:
We continued our mindfulness practice with "Kick Logic Back Into Gear".  The kids thought of many really wacky "Worst Case Scenarios" which made the real potential scenarios seem pretty tame by comparison.  This is a great strategy for helping to calm anxiety about performance or competition.

HW:  Edmodo Question-Do you think Hank was treated fairly? How would you feel if you were Hank?  How do you think Mia feels about all of this?

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We squeezed in as much learning as we could around the hearing and vision screening for the 4th Graders this morning.  

Unit Study:
We learned so much about the Global Goal of Clean Water and Sanitation.  The kids know more about illness resulting from poor water sources and inadequate sanitation than they ever wanted to know.  We also learned about the team from Georgia Tech that is working to create a fully complete Toilet System that leaves no waste, is 3 feet by 3 feet, and costs under $450.  This project is being funded by the Gates Foundation.  Cool stuff that will really make a difference in the health and lives of so many in developing countries.  The kids also experienced jigsaw learning and sharing that learning through a "Dinner Party".  They had "Fish" for dinner and LOVED it!  

Novel Study:
We finally started our novel, Front Desk.  The kids were glued to it from the first word!  We didn't quite get finished, so here's a link to Ch. 6&7 and Ch.8&9 so the kids to listen to Ms. Rhone and I read.  

Algebraic Thinking:
We reviewed a bit of our previous lesson before we move on next week.  The kids seem to be ready to move on, learning a new concept next time.

Affective Thinking:
​We continued our mindfulness practice with "Mindfulness Bell".  The kids really enjoyed this one! 

HW:  View the video/audio of the chapters your class didn't get to read yet.  Then, log in to Edmodo and complete the question about the book.  If your child has trouble logging in to Edmodo, he/she should stop in to see me in the morning to review username/password.

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger