Target Tidbits

Target Tidbits - March 2009

It's hard to believe that March is here and spring break will be just around the corner.  Here are some updates for our Target classes:

I am experiementing with a new form of the Target Tally.  It looks the same as the previous one with the exception of the student evaluation, brainteaser and above and beyond.  I would love to see more students make the effort to go above and beyond the requirements.  That is an expectation of Target students.  Any feedback on the new format is welcome.

March 26, there is a program at Lovinggood Middle School for parents of rising 6th graders.  I don't know the time but you can call the school and I'm sure they will be able to tell you.  I don't have any information at this time regarding Smitha or Tapp.

Third grade is scheduled to go on a field trip to see the King Tut exhibit on May 5.  We are very excited to  have this opportunity.

Please continue to encourage your children to do their best and complete assignments on time.

As always, thanks for your support.

Target Tidbits - February 11, 2009

I am really excited to announce that there are now 75 gifted students at Dowell this year.  The children are in grades 1(10), 2(12), 3(13) ,4(19) ,and 5(21).  It is wonderful to see our gifted population grow.

Here is an update on what the children are learning:

First grade - We are working  on research skills, logical thinking and learning all about things that are round.  The children will be introduced to the compass and will be able to identify diameter, circumference, radius.  I am working with the students on creative writing and brainstorming.

Third grade - The children are learning all about money and the decisions that adults have to make.  The students are involved in a simuation where they are adults making adult decisions regarding money.  They will be deciding where they can live, what car they can afford and will also be faced with unexpected bills that they have to pay.  They students have randomly selected occupations and we will be analyzing their pay checks to see what decisions we as adults have to make.  The students are also researching their occupations and will be presenting them orally in class.

Grades 4 and 5 are back in the middle ages.  We are learning about castles, knights and feudalism.  The students are working on designing and selling a castle.  We will also study chivalry and calligraphy.  Any experts out there, please let me know. 

The children in grades 3, 4 and 5 are also learning Hands on Equations which is another word for algebra.  Please ask them about it.  In addition, the fourth and fifth graders are working on learning new vocabulary as well.

Please encourage your children to go above andbeyond!

On a personal note, my daughter is due to give birth in early March to my first grandchild - a boy!Needless to say, I am very excited.  I will be out for a few days in March but I don't know when.

Happy Valentines Day!

eTarget Tidbits - January 2009

It is the start of the second semester so I want to update everyone on the new units. Testing for grades 1 and 3 are almost completed. We have four new students in first grade with several waiting for further evaluation. Grade 3 has expanded with the addition of 7 new students. Grade 5 tops the list with 9 new students. I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with the new students as well as the "old timers".  In addition, Mrs. Parker is now teaching second grade and the new fifth grade students.  I am working with first, third, fourth and fifth grades.

First grade - We are going to begin with "In the Round".  This is a unit focusing on math.  The children will learn about circles, things that are round, geometry, etc.

Third grade - We are doing a unit on economics which is very relevant to our present day economy.  Students will learn about money, budgeting, and making decisions based on needs vs. wants.

Fourth and Fifth grades - We are going back in time to the middle ages in "Castles, Keeps and Kingdoms".  This is a fun unit dealing with the time period from 500AD to 1500AD in Europe.  We will study about knights, castles, codes of chivalry, feudalism and many other topics.

There will be an "Open House" on January 22 at 7:15AM in trailer #6 for parents of new students.  Anyone is welcome to attend.  If you would like for me to attend a conference, please notify me via email.

If you wish to contact me at any time, the best way is still via email.  Thanks for all you do!

Target Tidbits - November 7, 2008

Here is an update of what is happening in the Target classes.

The last week of classes for this year is the week of 12/1/08.  This occurs so that I can use the last two weeks before the winter break to do testing for grades 1, 3 and 5.  Classes will resume the first week in January and we will begin a new unit.

Our law unit, Nothing But the Truth is almost finished.  The children have been researching and taking notes on note cards on a Supreme Court Justice that they admire  or would like to learn more about.  The rough draft and final draft will be written in class.  At the same time, the children will be working on a likeness  of their S.C.J. using "junk" that they bring in from home.  I have sent home a letter detailing the project along with a rubric of how it will be evaluated.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to use their creative talents.  The presentation of the project will be done on the last day of class.  Oral presentations are one of the gifted standards.  Please encourage your child to practice beforehand as this is a part of their evaluation.  The report should be presented in the first person.

When you sign your child's Target Tally each week, please go over what they have written, particularly in notes and reminders.  Anything that is circled on the Tally is unfinished work that needs to be done at home.  I encourage you to help your child stay organized and to learn to manage their time wisely.  I do not accept the excuse of "we are too busy" or "I don't have time to do homework" as a valid excuse.   The students have a week before they come to class with whatever is due.  A minus on the evaluation part of the Tally is an area that needs improvement.  It does not mean that a child is failing.  We are not perfect and there is always room for improvement.  If your child is absent, please have them come see me to find out what they missed.  I can be reached via email at gail.jacobs@cobbk12.org.

Happy holidays!

Target Tidbits - October 2008

It is the middle of October and our first 9 weeks of school is over.  Time seems tobe going by so quickly.  The unit on law, Nothing But the Truth, is going very well.  Our first field trip to Theatre in the Square was successful.  We are now looking forward to our second field trip on Thursday, Oct. 23 to the Cobb County courthouse.  This is a wonderful trip for the students.  They will get to observe the proceedings in a real court of law.  The vocabulary that we have been studying along with the various branches of government will come to life for them.  Please make sure the children dress appropriately that day.  Children will need to bring sack lunches from home unless they tell me otherwise.  Weather permitting, we will  eat  lunch in the Marietta Square and then return to Dowell.

The report card for the first nine weeks will be going home shortly.  Please review the report card with your children.  Many of the students are not meeting the requirement for "going above and beyond the requirements".  This is an expectation which is part of the gifted standards.  It goes along with being a self-directed learner.  At this level, children should be doing more than just the minimum.  This standard can be met by having the child bring in related articles found in magazines or newspapers, summarizing it and sharing it with the class.  Often times the students come up with questions which we don't know the answer to.  The student can show initiative by going home and finding out the answers and sharing it with the children.  There are any number of ways this expectation can be met.  Encourage your child to do their best and not allow them to just "coast".  We are not expecting perfection, just do your best and be proud of the efforts.  Not all assignments will be graded.  Evaluations done in class offer praise as well as areas that might need improvement.

Please read the Target Tallies before signing them.  This is how I communicate with the parents.  Assignments are not due until the following week if they aren't completed in class.  Don't allow the children to procrastinate.  This is a bad habit which is difficult to break.  Logic puzzles are designed to encourage analytical thinking and deductive reasoning.  If you do the puzzle for the child, they are not learning.  Please just write me a note that your child worked on it at home and was unable to complete it in class.  We go over the solutions and thinking in class the following week.

Organization or the lack of it is a characteristic of gifted children.  Please do not throw away papers from the Target binder.  It is helpful if you can set up a calendar for your child of upcoming due dates to help them stay on track.  I used to have my own children finish an assignment before the due date to help relieve that last minute anxiety.  You never know what else may come up.

Thanks for all you do.

Target Tidbits - September 10, 2008

Now that school is underway, I wanted to give you some updates.  Our fourth grade class has been split into two days, Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Wednesday class will be from Mrs. Adams's and Mr. Porter's class.  I feel like the smaller numbers will be more advantageous for the students and the learning environment.

Our field trips are still on schedule.  Thanks for sending in your donations and permission slips.  The play scheduled for Theatre in the Square has been sold out and is being extended.  I'm looking forward to the performance.

ITBS testing begins next week for grades 1, 3 and 5.  The ITBS test is very important for fifth grade students because it will determine placement for classes in middle school.

Parents, please be sure to read your child's Target  Tally and see what they may need to finish for homework or if there are any quizzes or assignments that are ongoing.  I would strongly encourage you to take the children to the public library when they have to do research.  Technology is wonderful but the library is also a great place to go for information.  The books are often easier for the children to understand.

I gave a quiz to the students on vocabulary words that are important in the Law Unit.  The children who studied did very well.  Those that didn't were not happy with their grades.  I know that the children are not accustomed to studying but now is the time to develop good study habits.  They can make flashcards to study vocabulary words, or  you can quiz them.  Please encourage them at home.  We all want the children to be more responsible and independent but they still need help at home.

Thanks for all you do.

One last thing, the children should not be getting makeup work to complete of classwork they missed on their Target day.  They have a full instructional  class with me and should not be penalized.

Target Tidbits - Update - Aug. 27, 2008

I have received some information regarding a program that is offered to children sponsored by the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development at UGA.  Please visit the following website for information http://www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/programs.html.

The Saturday School for Scholars at Georgia State begins their Fall Session in September.   The website it http://education.gsu.edu/saturdayschool. 

We have had a good start to the school year.  I am excited about our upcoming field trips in August.

Fifth grade parents:  The students will be taking the ITBS tests in September.  Please be aware that these tests are looked at by middle school to determine placement in advanced content classes.  The tests are important.  Please make sure your child has a good breakfast and a good night's rest.

The novel study that we are doing along with the Law unit is Leapholes by James Grippando.

Have a safe and restful Labor Day Weekend.

Target Tidbits August 2008

Welcome back to a wonderful new year!

Here we are back at school.  I hope all of you have had a wonderful summer. 

I have met with the fourth and fifth grade students and gave them a list of supplies.  Fourth grade will be seen on Tuesday beginning on August 19.  Fifth grade will meet on Thursdays beginning on August 21.

Our new unit of study is Nothing But the Truth:  A Study of the American Legal System.  I am excited to be teaching a newly revised unit.

This year Mrs. Parker will be teaching a combination 2nd and 3rd grade class on Tuesdays.  Her unit is The Great Whodunnit.

Open house will be the same day as the PTA meeting, August 21.  We will meet in Cottage 6 from 6:00 to 6:30.  The PTA meeting will start at 6:30.  See you there!

April 2, 2008

With only a few days left before spring break, I wanted to wish everyone a restful week which is well deserved by all.

Update on grade 1:  There are 14 first graders in our gifted program.  This is the largest group of first graders and I am so proud of them.  They are very bright and extremely motivated.  We are continuing with our unit, "Stepping into Target".  The children are learning about different continents, researching feet on the computer, and analyzing literature through the various Cinderella stories set around the world.  In additon, they are gaining knowledge of the gifted program and the expectations.

Update on grades 2 and 3:  We are continuing our study of archaeology.  Last week we went on a field trip to the Univ. of W. Georgia and participated in a "mock dig".  The children had the opportunity to see what real archaeologists do at an excavation.  Our studies include a "taste" of different ancient civilizations such as Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and several others.  The students have researched different archaeological wonders and are putting it together to present with Photo Story 3.  This is a wonderful program on the computer where the children can save pictures, add text, music and different transitions to enhance their presentations.  The students need to bring in magazines and pictures so we can work on "A Bridge to the Future" when we get back from spring break.

Update on Grades 4 and 5:  The sharks have been ordered and we are getting ready for dissection.  The children are finishing up with their big project, writing a research report on a shark .  We have taken notes, written outlines and completed the rough drafts.  Students will need to revise and edit at home as well as write their final draft.  The reports should include:  decorated cover, title page, outline in the correct form, final draft and a bibliography.  In addition, the children will be making a visual model of their shark to go along with the presentation.  Please remember to send in the materials requested.  The presentations should be creative!

I know the children are involved in various activities after school and projects in their regular classrooms.  Please encourage your student not to procrastinate when it comes to an assignment.  I know how easy it is to put things off but it only creates more stress in the end.  I remind the children that "not having time" is not an acceptable excuse.  School should be their first priority.  I appreciate all of your support.

Enjoy your vacation!!

Gail Jacobs

Target Tidbits - January 30, 2008

I did not do a posting in December because of testing so I wanted to update everyone on what is going on in the Target classroom.

The most exciting news is that our numbers have increased.  Dowell is serving 75 students in the gifted program.  Here is the current caseload and schedule:

Grade 1 - 13 (Monday)

Grade 2 - 6  (Friday)

Grade 3 - 17(Thursday)

Grade 4 - 13(Wednesday)

Grade 5 - 26(Tuesday)

First grade is learning about the gifted program in their unit, "Stepping Into Target".  Using the Cinderella books, we learn how to research and use higher order thinking skills.  This is a multi-disciplinary unit that the children enjoy.

Second and third grade are exploring archaeology and learning about ancient cultures in "Puzzled by the Past".  There is an exciting field trip planned for March 28 to the University of West Georgia.  I have borrowed a teaching trunk so that the students were able to look at authentic artifacts found in Georgia.

Fourth and fifth grade are exploring "Predators of the Aquatic Biome".  They are learning about sharks and exploring some of the myths of these amazing creatures.   Right now the students are working on an extensive research packet in the classroom.   The culmination of this unit is the dissection.  Students will have to pass several tests with a grade of 90% or higher in order to dissect.  They will be given two opportunities to do this.

Third, fourth and fifth grade students visited the Theatre in the Square.  We saw a play about Dr. Mae Jemison.  The  Dowell kids were well behaved and did a fabulous job representing our school.  I was proud of them.

An open house was held this morning for parents of new students and returning students.  Mrs. Parker and I showed a powerpoint about gifted children and went over the curriculum with the parents.