Regional Technology Competition was a SUCCESS!

On March 13th the AES Technology Team competed in the Regional Technology Competition held at North Alabama Community College in Rainsville.  The photo above is of most of the members of the team.  Students have worked diligently for months doing research, taking notes, and organizing their information into Keynote presentations, Video Productions, brochures, Prezis, websites, and Scratch computer programming projects.  Students compiled a notebook of required information sharing the steps in the process.  Judges interviewed students and learned about their research and how they created each of these projects.

I was so proud of EVERY STUDENT that day!  Each had a high quality project and each student shook hands, made eye contact, and talked to adults in such a professional manner.  It was a great day for all of us!   Thanks to NACC for hosting such a well organized event!

AES had a few winners that day:

1st place Website Design - Evan and Courtney

1st place - Multimedia - Lily

1st place - Video Production Individual - Emilee

1st place - Video Production Group - Ainsley and Victor

2nd place - Computer Programming - Ethan P.

2nd place Multimedia Group - Will and Cameron

2nd Place - Website Design Group - Ethan W. and Brandon N.

(Somehow these young men escaped getting a picture at the competition...)

2nd Place - Website Design Individual - Ken

3rd place - General Applications Individual - Jacob

3rd Place - General Applications Group - Adriana, Olivia, Belinda

3rd place - Multimedia Group - A.J., Brandon J., Caroline

Proud Mom moment....my daughter, Emilie (on the Evans Tech Team), won 1st place in the IT test and 2nd place in General Applications.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

All 1st place and 2nd place projects are eligible to advance to state competition on April 25th!  Good luck to all!!!

IIM Research Begins in 4th grade GATE

After three weeks of researching notes on their chosen subjects for research projects, 4th grade GATE students have begun the IIM (Independent Investigation Method) Research process.  Students have learned to take notes without plagiarizing.  In class they have begun to cut apart their notefacts and organize them into a logical order.  This is a time consuming and tedious process, but once all their facts are in place, they glue them onto lime green sheets of paper so that they are ready to create a storyboard or map, write scripts, and prepare for their projects.

Students have selected their own topics for research.  My hope is that by choosing their own topics, they will enjoy researching and learning about their topic.  If they enjoy learning about their topics, the organization and planning part of this process is easier.  Once the scripts are written or storyboards are planned, students will begin inputting data in the MacBook computers.  Students also chose the type of computer application they will use as well as if they will work independently or in groups.  Students have chosen to create original websites, produce video productions and podcasts, publish general applications written documents, or create presentations through Keynote.

Our projects for technology competition are always top notch because our students put their hearts and minds together with their creativity and thinking skills!  I am proud of the beginning of this process!  Below are a few pictures of students hard at work organizing notefacts!

Chihuly!

G.A.T.E. students have been diving deep into research about Dale Chihuly and his art of glass blowing.  This past summer Mrs. Shurett (Gifted Teacher at Evans), Mrs. McCulley ( Assistant Principal at Evans) and I attended an international gifted conference called Confratute at the University of Connecticut.  After our week of learning and sharing with other gifted specialists from all over the world, we spent a weekend in Boston, Massachusetts.

One of our first adventures in Boston was visiting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  Through the Looking Glass, an exhibit of Dale Chihuly's glass art, was first on our list!  The bright colors and swirling shapes of his art mesmerized us for hours!  Mrs. Shurett and I were so inspired by this artist's work that we both decided to study Chihuly and create "Chihuly-ish" art in our classrooms!

Both 3rd and 4th grade G.A.T.E. students are learning how to conduct research using our Independent Investigation Method (fondly called IIM - Double I M) in our classroom.  There are seven steps to the IIM method:  topic, goal setting, research, organizing, goal evaluation, product, and presentation.  Together we are using these steps to learn about Dale Chihuly.

Our classroom has been filled with paint, glitter, spray paint, pipe cleaners flower, tissue paper, streamers, coffee filters, markers, balloons, ribbons, clay, glass gems, glue, spray starch, and liquid starch.  We would not win the "cleanest classroom award" this week, but the artwork that we have created would be considered "masterpieces" for sure!

Our dream is to hold a "Night of Chihuly" where students' Chihuly-ish art will be displayed and students can share what they have learned about this great artist.  Incorporating technology in our night will be fun with the podcasts created in GarageBand on iPods for our guests to use to listen about all that fills our museum.  Students will also create invitations, brochures, and posters to commemorate this event!