Today was a great day in Target!  We finished up several ongoing pieces of work and also enjoyed some new stuff!

Convergent Thinking:
The kids warmed up their brains with a math factor review game.  They had to combine strategy and good knowledge of multiplication facts to win the game.  

Algebraic Thinking:
We finished Level 1 in Hands On Equations and will be ready for the end of the Level assessment next week.  We've also worked hard on the second set of verbal algebra problems.  They did a great job with those!

Novel Study:  
Newspaper Article--We finally finished our 1880s style newspaper article.  I saw some wonderful creativity, good writing, and quite a bit of humor in these articles.  Love the wonderful voice in some of the the pieces!

Vocabulary--We learned to create an accordion book foldable today.  It's kind of like a Jacob's Ladder puzzle.  The kids used it to create a vocabulary definitions booklet.  Can't wait to see the finished products!

Reading--We read another chapter in our novel, The Twenty-One Balloons.  Professor Sherman has just started to share his amazing adventure with the crowd.  Can't wait to hear what really happened next week!

Evaluative Thinking:
We used the design process to modify a "Bunny Copter" in multiple ways to try to gain as much "Air Time" as we could when we launched them from the playscape.  After multiple tests, we determined that the lighter copters stayed aloft the longest, and a light breeze helped too!

HW:  Complete Vocab foldable with 4 words chosen from our class list.  For each word:  Write the definition, illustrate the word, use the word in a sentence.  You can add another drawing or synonym/antonym or even example/nonexample, if you'd like.

So glad you're back,
Mrs. Kraeger

The kids enjoyed a surprise visit from our Kids' Chess team for an amazing Chess Workshop.  Everyone had fun building those critical and evaluative thinking skills.  From beginners to advanced players, all extended their skills and communication abilities.

Novel Study:
We shared our Balloon Transformations today.  This really showcased our divergent thinking and communication skills.  It also helps by providing practice in  giving and receiving constructive feedback.  

We finished our research and newspaper project about life in the 1880s.  I can't wait until the kids share their newspapers next time!  Such good work today!

Affective Skills:
We finished up our strengths and weaknesses assessment with a reflection writing about our skills and how we make the best use of them.  

Algebraic Thinking:
We charging right through the rest of Level 1 with more practice on solving basic equations and beginning work on how to solve Word Problems algebraically.  Whew!  That was hard work today!

HW:  Brainstorm 5 Ideas for Parade Transportation for Professor Sherman.


Have a safe and fun Fall Break!
Mrs. Kraeger

Convergent Thinking:
We worked through two tough logic puzzles.  Each week, the kids are doing better and better.  They're stretching their analytical thinking to come to solutions more quickly.

Algebraic Thinking:
Hands-On-Equations were challenging, but the kids are rising to the level.  We're working on making the last two major skills very solid before moving on to Level 2.  

Communication & Relationships/Connections:
The kids finished up their research on the 1880s and began their collaborative writing projects: News articles on the events of 1880s.  It is interesting to see which topics the kids will choose to write about.  This will be a good opportunity for the kids to use their multiple intelligences as they work together to create a good product.  We're combining technology skills, research, collaboration, and communication skills on this project.  

Affective Skills:
We studies a little about our strengths and weaknesses.  The kids labeled theirs on brain drawings.  Next week we will write a reflection about these abilities.

Divergent Thinking:
We read more of our novel, Twenty One Balloons.  In the novel, hot air balloons are EVERYWHERE!  So, our creative project was to transform an ordinary object into a hot air balloon.  

HW:  Finish the descriptive or narrative paragraph about the Balloon Transformation.

Yours,
Mrs. Kraeger