Friday, January 31, 2014

SNOW cute!



So cute...no SNOW cute!  I just love these art creations by GATE students!  Students practiced their following directions activity to create each piece.  A list of directions from what supplies to gather to how to cut and glue the different pieces had to be followed exactly to complete our Catching Snowflakes activity.  Even though all students followed the same directions, each of the pieces turned out just a little bit different showing each of the students' personalities.



I just love them.



They are SNOW cute!


I wonder if we will see more snow this winter?!



Every Child is an Artist...

You may be wondering about the colorful images above.  What could these be?  Who did these?  Where will these colorful pieces of art be found?

All the GATE students have begun a secretive art project that will be unveiled in the near future!  You won't want to miss this!  Great art...great cause...stay tuned....EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST is COMING SOON to AES GATE!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Governor's Wife Visits AES GATE!


Many students at AES had quite a treat today!  Mrs. Dianne Bentley, the First Lady of Alabama, visited Albertville Elementary School.  We are so glad Mrs. Bentley had a few minutes to visit with GATE students!  Mrs. Bentley is no stranger to Albertville.  Governor Bentley's sister, Marjorie Nolan, lived in Albertville.  In fact, she was my neighbor when I was a little girl.  I even took art lessons from Mrs. Nolan!  Last spring GATE students created watercolor dogwood pictures inspired by Mrs. Nolan's watercolors.

While at AES, Mrs. Bentley read to 4th grade Pod 4 students in the media center.  Mrs. Bentley was accompanied by her assistant, Heather Hannah, and two security guards.  Miss Hannah was a gifted student in Albertville many years ago.  (My mother was her gifted teacher!)  The staff was very cooperative in letting us have a photo of the team!


Gifted Education usually does not receive state funding.  Last year was the first time in a long time that gifted has had a line in the budget.  School systems and gifted education teachers are so thankful for this  funding the past two years!  We have been able to add new technology to continue to offer the latest and best to our students, we have been fortunate to purchase art supplies and other curriculum needs for the classroom, and attend quality professional development in order to bring best practices into our classroom.  I was able to give Mrs. Bentley a note of thanks to take home to the Governor and also express my thanks to her of his support of gifted education.  What a way to celebrate!  January is Gifted Education Month!

Thank you to Mrs. Bentley, Miss Hannah, and her team for stopping by AES and especially for her time spent in our GATE class!