Mr. Bill McAllister Mrs. Traci Montague Welcome to Target! Mr. Bill McAllister Mrs. Traci Montague

Meet Your Target Teachers Traci Montague 25th year in Cobb County 16th year in Gifted Services Dually-certified Bill McAllister 20th year in Cobb County 11th year in Gifted Services BOTH teachers support the classroom teachers with the higher level learners

Our Mission To prepare gifted students for the ever-changing global marketplace where innovation is key and where they must be self- reflective, goal-oriented problem-seekers and solvers Preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist.

We are no longer an information society…we are now more concerned with what you can do with that information. Creativity & Innovation is KEY!

The Importance of Creativity & Innovation

Our Mindset for the Gifted Program We are interested in HOW your child thinks: what their thought processes are, what problem solving strategies were used, How they arrive at their answer… Not just whether or not they can get a correct answer. Trying, struggling, failing, and then trying again with a different strategy is more important than being successful on the very first try.

The Target (ALP) program is process-driven. Our ultimate goal is for students to meet the Cobb County Gifted standards. The content and activities help us reach this goal. The program may not look as it did in the past. Focus will be on the standards and performance tasks instead of units. We are not teaching content; we are teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills.

The Core of Quality Instruction In standards-based instruction: The Standards provide the what. Instruction provides the how. Assessments indicate at what level the student is performing and applying the standards. In the Target program we use a variety of assessments to determine student strengths and areas for growth. Among those are tools such as observation, journals, performance tasks, rubrics, and tests.

Target Classes are BYOD Classrooms Requirements of Parents & Students Parents: View BYOD ppt on Big Shanty website Sign & return permission form Students: Follow rules & guidelines Exhibit good Digital Citizenship Be responsible for own device

Gifted Standards 2018-2019

Topics to Support the Gifted Standards 4th Grade Topics Perspectives Survival 5th Grade Topics Ignite (Inventure) Independent Study 3rd Grade Topics Standards Stations - Humor Coding – “Mission Impossible” Chess – “Every Move Matters Process-Based NOT Content-Based Interdisciplinary

A Typical Target Day Cognitive Growth/Critical Thinking The Georgia Performance Standards A Typical Target Day Cognitive Growth/Critical Thinking Problem Solving Logic Puzzles Brain Teasers Pre-Algebraic/Algebraic Reasoning Creative Thinking (FFOE) Inquiry Affective Growth Goal Setting Self & Peer Reflection Collaboration with other students Communication with others Respectful members of the community Self-directed learners These are just some of the components that make up our day and set it apart from the homeroom class. We are more “process oriented.” There is no TYPICAL Target Day! Implications for Gifted Students

Schedule Bell to Bell Teaching – ALL Grades Lunch Schedules 3rd Grade Students go straight to homeroom to check in and then walk directly to us. Target begins as soon as they arrive  3rd Grade –Critical Thinking Activities 4th & 5th Grade – Programming & Coding Classes end at 2:00 as usual 3rd Grade 12:22-12:52 4th Grade 11:23 – 11:53 5th Grade

Instructional Expectations The Georgia Performance Standards Instructional Expectations Advanced Level Projects Above & Beyond (Clubs, Math Olympics, Sci. Olympiad) Homework Task Commitment Accountability Eagle Expectations Come to class each week prepared Agenda, Target binder, pencil, paper, lunch/money, snack, book Binder organized Discuss “your” expectations………………. Implications for Gifted Students

How are assessments gathered in Target? Informal Performance Based Constructed Response Selected Response Gifted SGM’s for 3rd & 5th Grade

Target Progress Report In Target we are reporting your child’s progress at applying the standards, NOT grading your child. Progressing is NOT equivalent to a “C” P’s and S’s mean that your child is being successful in Target Aligned to the Gifted Standards The expectations increase in complexity across grade levels Administered twice a year NOT in Synergy

Prevailing Practices Gifted students are not expected to make up regular classroom work or homework missed due to Target resource service. Target homework is permitted on Target day Target work due to absence must be made up and is due at the next Target class. (Come to ALP upon return) Review agenda on Target day. Appointments on Target days 

Home/School Communication Agenda - Student recorded homework PBIS – We follow school-wide behavior plan E-mail (Please place child’s name in subject line.) Traci.Montague@cobbk12.org William.Mcallister@cobbk12.org Blogs – Access off school website under the staff tab Conferences – Call or email to schedule (No drop ins) Phone calls – (678) 594-8023

Teacher “Wish List”  Individually Wrapped Candies Playground Equipment/Balls Sanitizing Wipes Kleenex Plastic Baggies Sandwich Gallon

Questions