As You Plan Your Meet and Greet

It's scary to think you have 7 seconds to form an impression on someone. This is important information as you consider your meet and greet talk with parents. I think the main thing they want to leave with is this: My precious child will be safe, loved, and taught by this person. I don't have to worry when I send them to her class this year. 


Just sharing and thinking.......

Positive Public Relations

Tips in developing positive public relations are taken from a back issue of Alabama Education News:

• Contact the parent of every child by phone early in the school year.
• Remember the first thing you say will set the mood for the rest of the class. Not every student comes from a loving home. Look for opportunities to start the day in a positive way.
• Letting the cat out of the bag is much easier than putting it back in. Don’t participate in rumors. Be known as someone of character.
• Don’t say anything negative to anyone who can’t do anything about it. When you have a problem, only address it to someone who can solve it.
• What you say in the grocery store is gospel. You are “the school” to the people you meet. When people overhear what you say in the checkout line, are you bragging on your students, or are you saying things that reflect badly on the school?
• Smile and say “please” and “thank you.”
• Keep parents informed on student progress.
• Return phone calls within 24 hours.

This post by Dr. Buck was taken from TEACHTALLADEGA Blog.

Great Resource for Vocabulary Practice

Check out this cool site covering Vocabulary. 
Tons of cool stuff........Thanks Dr. Buck for posting this to your blog. 

NEW 2010 MATH COURSE OF STUDY

New math Course of Study! Check it out!


A link has been added for your convenience under curriculum link on right side of the blog created JUST for YOU!

MUSIC Schedule 2011-12

MUSIC....MUSIC....MUSIC.....MUSIC.....MUSIC....MUSIC....
Here is the new list of schools with music dates. I hope the schedule and dates work well for everyone.




Graham -- August 15 - October 13



Houston -- October 18 - December 21



Young -- January 9 - March 8



Salter -- March 13 - May 22

Class Rolls in Boxes!

Yep, that's me with my glasses and papers everywhere.

Your class roll has been placed in your box in the teacher workroom. Several of you may have a student listed as "county-awaiting approval" which means Mr. Campbell has not yet approved the out of district application. We do not expect a problem with these students, just note that it is not official.

Please remember that this list may change if students withdrawn before school starts, fail to show at the beginning of school, or you may have a student added. I wish it was a final draft :0(. After August 1, be sure and make contact with each parent by phone, postcard, letter, etc. The more "personal", the more touched the child and parent will be. We need every child that walks through our door. I am proud they have chosen our school to attend.

The Open House schedule is on the teacher blog in case you have forgotten. Please do not share your list with anyone. The office will help you with contact information as soon as we are able to get to our live data. We have had INOW training this week and should be able to get to our information next week. A BIG GIANT thanks to Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Davidson, and Mrs. Armstrong for attending the INOW training session for teachers. They seem to think that you will not have a problem using the new system. In fact, I like that it appears to be more user friendly. You will receive small group training the first week of school, be allowed to log into the training site, and play with the new program without messing anything up!

Let's Have an ABC Order Birthday Party! : Promethean Planet

Check out an example of a flipchart from Promethean Planet......it is free and fun! Just download and use!

Let's Have an ABC Order Birthday Party! : Promethean Planet

School Foundation Checks Now Available!

This post appeared on the Talladega City School Foundation website:

As the summer winds down, teachers are already getting their classrooms ready.


This year, because of changes in the school system due to the closing of Hal Henderson, many teachers were switching schools and positions. The foundation had made the decision for the grants to follow the teachers this year instead of gong to specific schools to accommodate these changes.

Many, if not most, of those changes have been made now, and the Talladega City Schools Foundation is ready to start handing out grants. Any teachers and schools need to present their grant requests to Joel Elliott at RBC Bank in Talladega.
**The check is usually made out to the school so that it can be run through the books.
If you have any questions regarding your grant, feel free to contact any foundation member.

ARI BEST PRACTICES

ARI BEST PRACTICES- Are these a part of your everyday classroom?
• Planning
• Focus on priority skills
• Following program
• Using routines
• Modeling
• Error correction
• Proper pacing
• Conducive classroom arrangement
• Opportunities for student responses
• Teacher monitoring
• Increased amount of reading time
• Related practice
• Use assessments

Top 5 Reasons to Join Promethean Planet

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

1. Planet membership is free.
2. Save time preparing lessons, download ready-made resources.
3. Learn new tips from a global community of teachers.
4. Free Professional Development in your own time.
5. Fresh ideas for new lessons and themes for the classroom.

Fresh Paint Everywhere!

I know you are beginning to have thoughts about the upcoming year and some of those may be about door and wall decorations. Please keep in mind that we have had major painting in all three buildings and all bathrooms! The painter used oil-based paint on the doors and trim work. He suggested hot glue if you are going to put stuff on the painted walls. 
I don't like to dictate what you do in your rooms, but in the main building if you could consider a wreath on your door this would help preserve the work done this summer. Please do not use staples or thumbtacks in the wood. If you have block walls, he suggested hot glue to mount items. Plus, you all now have rails to hang student work. 


I am excited and proud of all that has been accomplished this summer. I don't think the school has ever looked better. The only thing missing is YOU!

2011-12 Committee List Link Now available!

Just sharing the load at R. L. Young. If everyone does his/her part, no one is over burdened. Thanks for your willingness to make our school a good place to learn and grow.

Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. 

Henry Ford 

Worried about INOW? DON'T!

View the how-to videos to ease your anxiety!
Teacher Videos for InformationNOW Teacher Portal Watch INOW for Teachers - General Overview and Basic Navigation Video  Approx. 6 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Posting Attendance Video Approx. 7 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Grade Book Setup Video Approx. 10 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Creating Activities Video  Approx. 9 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Entering Scores and Comments Video Approx. 6 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Averaging and Posting Grades Video  Approx. 15 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Grade Book Reports Video  Approx. 15 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Classroom Reports Menu Video Approx. 8 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Classroom Grades Menu Video  Approx. 5 Minutes Watch INOW for Teachers - Seating Charts Video  Approx. 3 Minutes Watch InformationNOW for Teachers - Lunch Counts Video , Approx. 4 Minutes

***Link was added to right side for future use! :0)

INSTITUTE on August 11

TALLADEGA CITY SCHOOLS

INSTITUTE

August 11, 2011

Talladega High School

8:00 – 8:30….         Sign-In  Refreshments

8:30 – 8:35…       Color Guard and Pledge

8:30 – 8:45…       Mr. Douglas  Campbell 

                            Welcome and Introductions

8:45 – 9:00.......... Principals

                           Introductions -New Employees

9:00 – 9:10........... Introduction of Speaker

                            Mr. Douglas Campbell

9:10 – 10:00         … Speaker

                               Mr. Patrick Henry

10:00…................ Closing Remarks

ARMT SCORES ARE IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosh, I love you, guys! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be at the school next week, if you want to stop by. 

Promethean Boards are Coming!

DRUM ROLL, please......And the boards are going to...

Valerie Harris

Reva French

Cari Wilson

Linda Haynes

Cathy Thornton

Kelly Davidson

Rebecca Armstrong

Joy Bittle

*****I need each teacher on the list to go to her room and mark the location where they want the board to be hung. It needs to be near an electrical plug. This needs to be done ASAP. As soon as the boards arrive, the installers will come to each school to mount them. Access to the main building will not be available until next week, (sorry Mrs. Wilson).

Training will be on August 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Houston Elementary. This will get you started. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Nelson had a board last year. They can also be a help resource.

p.s. John said by the end of the year, the 3 other teachers should have a board, too.