Our day had a logical, mathematical start with Versatiles-Perfect Squares!  It was a challenging task for sure!

Algebraic Thinking:
We broke into small groups to begin our work on Word Problems.  We used our Hands On Equations to create equations from the word problems and solve them.  It is very important to learn the basics at this point, so as the problems become more challenging, the kids understand the key steps in solving these problems.

Unit Study:
We worked a bit more on our Survivor Research.  The kids concentrated on creating a plan, storyboard, or script for their project.  After that, we peer evaluated to make sure all the required items were included--using a checklist.  Next week, we'll begin actually creating the project using the plans we've made this week.  The kids have some amazing ideas!

Novel Study:
We read a bit more in our books.  The kids worked on a Thinking Strategy called, "Thinker's Keys-Reverse".  Their task was to make a list of 10 items that would NOT help someone survive in the wilderness.  It was a much harder task than you might imagine because the kids kept thinking of ways the items could help.  Their divergent thinking REALLY came in here!

Affective Skills:
We continued our work with Encouraging Others by discussing ways to recognize our classmates when they are "Bucket Fillers".  We also brainstormed what "Constructive Communication" might mean.  We'll do more work with that next week.

HW: Edmodo-Share next steps for Research Projects

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger 

We started our day off by using our creativity and communication to finish our Thank You Letters to the Rangers at Red Top Mountain Park and also work on our Flipgrid videos about our visit to the Park.

Algebraic Thinking:
We continued our work on algebraic thinking with another Hands On Equations lesson.  We're making good progress as we learn new problem solving strategies!

Novel Study:
We met with our small groups to read more of our survival novels.  The kids are making some great connections between our novels and our Survivor Unit.  The kids discussed today how the character might be able to start a fire using some of the ideas we learned on our Field Trip.  

Unit Study:
We continued our Research by discussing the Project Checklist and Project Choices.  Both of these can be found on the Target Glog-Survivor Page.

Students should have all their research done for two survivors--one from the past, and one from modern times.  They can start on their projects at home if they want to.  We will also be working on the projects in class.

Stations:
We continued to stretch our convergent thinking skills with a Perplexor-"Bug-Eating Contest" and Analogies with Plurals.

Affective Skills:
We practiced our Mindfulness with Mindful Minute.  The kids really enjoyed this and did VERY well.  They even asked for another Mindfulness video!

After that, we read a story, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?.  To focus on lending our teammates encouragement.  We'll dig into that topic a bit more next time.

HW:  Finish Research for both Survivors.  Flipgrid for Red Top Mountain-Check Edmodo for the Grid Code and Edmodo-Messages for your Flipgrid Student ID.  Check out some Apps or Project Choices for next week.  

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

We started our day with a divergent thinking activity called a "Waker Upper".  This particular task was focused on animals, perfect for our trip to Red Top Mountain today!

Algebraic Thinking:
We honed our algebraic thinking with some more work on Hands On Equations.  The kids were VERY confident with this week's Extra Practice lessons.  This is good news, so we'll be ready to move on during our next session.

Red Top Mountain Outdoor Survival Experience:
When we arrived at Red Top, we were met by Ranger Serella and Ranger Amanda.  They started out with an exciting story about how our "Plane" crashed and we needed to learn some survival skills.

Ranger Serella taught us how to start a fire using a cotton ball, a little bit of Vaseline, some magnesium shavings, and a flint and steel.  It took some perseverance, but all of the kids eventually got their fires started.  Check out the photos to see their excited faces!

Ranger Amber taught the kids how to read a compass and use it to find coordinates.  They all agreed that using a compass was A LOT harder than they thought it was.  

We finished up our Red Top Experience with a Shelter Building session.  Some of our shelters even had a porch!  The kids had a great time working together to accomplish their goals.

After a picnic lunch, we got back on the bus and headed to school.  When we got back to school, we got a package from our Flipgrid Pals at Ford Elementary.  They're also studying the Survivor Unit and went to Red Top yesterday.  They sent us letters from their Tribes and some peppermint Lifesavers.  What a neat treat!

Affective Skills:
We continued our mindfulness practice.  After that, we worked on our collaboration skills by using teamwork to re-create a simple structure only following the directions from one person, without seeing the structure for themselves.  They did a decent job, but it was much harder than they thought it would be.

It was a fantastic day!

HW:  Edmodo

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We got our day off to a logical start with a Versatiles activity working on algebraic and convergent thinking.  The kids were able to do really well on this.

Algebraic Thinking:
We worked in our groups again today to learn new ways of solving equations.  Our beginner group learned "Legal Moves", which is the key to solving equations!  Our middle group continued their work on solving equations, while our advanced group learned that "Stars" are the opposite of "Xs".  So, if one of them is negative, the other is positive.

Unit Study:
We continued our Survivor research using online sources, such as the Cobb Digital Library and Webpath Express.  
We also competed in another Challenge, "Face the Cookie" with our Tribes.  The kids had a blast trying to beat this challenge and eat the cookie!  Check out the photos--too funny!

Novel Study:
We read more of our Survival Novels.  This week we reflected about how we've used knowledge from books, movies, TV, or a family or friend to help us in a tough situation.  It was a good connection with our heroes in our Survival Novels.  Then we created transformations of either a hatchet, a spear, or a dolphin, depending upon the novel.

Affective Skills:
We continued our Mindfulness Practice with Mindful Breathing.  The discussion that followed about choosing to breath and relax, rather than get upset when things go wrong, was really good!

Don't forget, our Field Trip is the week we return from Fall Break, on October 3rd.  Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather.  Your child may bring lunch from home or get a sack lunch from the cafeteria.  We will be eating at the park.

HW:  None-Enjoy the Break!
Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We had a VERY short day because of testing with Grades 1 and 3.  We definitely made the most of our time with our 4th Graders today!

Unit Study:
We met with Mrs. Phillips in the Media Center to learn about Biographies of Survivors in history.  Then, we each chose at least one Survivor to read about for our Survivor Research Project.  The kids will be working on the project at school, but will be doing the reading at home.  Most should have a book today.  All the kids should have a book checked out and have started reading it by next Wednesday.  This project will be ongoing for several weeks.

Convergent thinking:
We worked on logic puzzles and analogies to stretch both our convergent thinking and our critical thinking skills.  The kids did very well with the new analogy format.  

Affective Skills:
We continued our work on Group Dynamics with a lesson on Active Listening.  We had an especially good discussion following our viewing of a short video and notetaking about this topic.  One of the big points was to really listen, not just sit with your hand raised-waiting to share what you have to say.  It sounded like some of the kiddos really got the point on that!  Great job!

We also discussed our Field Trip to Red Top Mountain on October 3rd.  Look for the Permission Slip and more detailed information through Remind today!  Please return the Permission Slip and the donation in the Payment envelope within the next week or two.

HW:  Edomod-Thank you to a classmate!

Until next time,
​Dr. Kraeger

We started our day with some creativity by making Word Clouds using Tagxedo.  Check it out in your child's Target Folder.  Please make sure you sign your child's Assignment Sheet each week.  

Unit Study:
We continued our work on Survivors!  The kids generated a list of things they would bring, if they had to leave home.  After creating the list, they discussed and defended their choices.  Kind of hard to defend bringing a game system or 10 cases of bottled water! They continued their work with a partner to start brainstorming ideas for their Survivor Audition video, which they'll film next week.  We also had our second Tribal Challenge-"Move the Bugs!"  We ended with a 3-Way tie, so all Tribes will earn the Reward for next class!  Loved the teamwork and positive comments during our Challenge today!

Novel Study:
We continued reading our Survivor-themed novels today. The focus was on questions we have about the book, as we get more into the story.

Affective Skills:
We did an interesting Group Dynamics lesson called, "What's My Value".  The kids were given a playing card to hold on their forehead without looking at it.  Then, they had conversations with comments according to the "Value" of the card.  Without looking at their cards, they lined up by how they felt after the game.  They figured out pretty quickly whether their card was high or low value after seeing where they fit in the line.  We followed this with an excellent discussion about judging people's value based on superficial traits or appearances.  I was impressed with their insights and connections!

HW:  Edmodo Question
Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

​

We got our day off to a good start with a divergent thinking activity.  The kids described what school would be like without Target.  The answers were funny, creative, and definitely 100% kid!  Check them out by our classroom!

Unit Study:
We continued our work on Survivors!  The kids generated a list of skills/traits that would be helpful for survival.  Then they met with a partner to start brainstorming ideas for their Survivor Audition video, which they'll create next week.

Novel Study:
We started our Survivor-themed novels today.  The kids each chose the novel they wanted to read from our list of 4 books.  We enjoyed reading the introduction in each of the books, and a little bit of background knowledge about each story.  We're looking forward to working with Mrs. Hayes, as she joins us on this novel study.
​
Algebraic Thinking:
We began our math work with a short review of Hands On Equations, Level 1.  After that, we took a Pre-test to assess our knowledge from Level 1, before placing kids in appropriate learning groups for our math time.  The groups are flexible, so if a child makes quick progress, he/she can move to a more challenging group.  Likewise, if the pace is too quick, we can find a group with a bit slower pace.

Divergent Thinking:
We stretched our brains in creative ways with our first F2OE of the year.  We reviewed what Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration are.  The kids liked the variety of tasks and rated which they found easiest and hardest.  We'll do variations of this task throughout the year to help us grow our creativity.

Affective Skills:
We did a fantastic Group Dynamics lesson called, "Broken Square".  The kids had to work together without talking, pointing, or grabbing to create 5 perfect squares from a variety of pieces.

We continued our Mindfulness Practice with a breathing exercise, 4-7-8 Breathing.  Most of the kids found this pretty challenging, but did much better after the second try.  This is a good way to relax or help quiet the mind at bedtime.

A Quick Note about Edmodo:
I only assign one question for Homework each time.  The kids will see it at the top of their posts.  Edmodo sends out an optional Question of the Day.  The kids don't have to answer that,--it's just for fun.  I'll be sending home Parent Sign-Up forms for Edmodo next week.

HW:  Edmodo Question

Until Next Time,
Dr. Kraeger

We had a blast getting our day started making a Chatterpix of our Target Wishes.  The kids LOVE this app--so much fun!  We created our own Name Cards and had a few minutes to play Chess or Checkers.

Next, we worked on our evaluative thinking, Creative Problem Solving, and collaboration with the Cup Stack Challenge. The kids learned a lot about what works and what doesn't.  It will be interesting to see how they do when we repeat this activity with new teams in January!

We learned about a new strategy called "Sketchnoting".  Here's a video for your information about what's behind this method and why I think it may helpful for the kids to learn.  Their preview video was a short clip showing the how/why of sketchnoting.  We learned how to draw different types of people today: i people, h people, bean people, and star people.  And YES, I drew too--even though I am NOT an artist!  We practiced our sketchnoting skills by creating a Rules & Procedures for the Target Classroom page in our Notebooks.  The kids are enjoying getting started with this idea.

After lunch, we focused our attention with some Mindfulness Practice.  We'll do this each week to find ways to relax our minds.

We also watched an introduction to our Survivor Unit.  "Ten Year Old Boy Survives the Wilderness" was a perfect kick-off to our unit.  Stay tuned for more news of Tribes, Challenges, and all things Survival related!!

Finally, we signed up for Edmodo accounts.  A few of the kids were having trouble with their passwords.  They've written their username and passwords on a card to take home.  If they try to type it as written and they still have trouble, please have them stop by the Target room for me to reset the password.  

HW:  Edmodo Question

Until next time,
Dr. Kraeger

Thank you so very much for the sweet gifts for Teacher Appreciation!  I absolutely love working with your children, and you are all so kind to spoil me with the wonderful treats, presents, and lovely notes!
​We had a wonderful last day of Target!

We started the day by finishing our novel.  The kids loved the ending, especially because it was a surprise!  Many of the kids were excited about reading the sequel!

After finishing the book, we used our divergent thinking and communication skills to create a "Lost Chapter".  The ideas were really interesting and creative!  We enjoyed listening to them very much!

We ended our day watching an "old time" version of the story, from a 1970s Disney movie.  It was interesting to hear what the kids liked about this version of the story, what they didn't like, and what was surprising to them.

Have a wonderful summer!
Dr. Kraeger