Melinda S. Miller

Test Post

Can't seem to get Blogpress to work on my iPad. This is a test.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad ... Read More about Test Post

The past few days and nights I have been exploring the iPad a little more in depth. (Haven't been able to sleep due to cold and allergy medicine:)) Surely I could find a use for this other than as a consumption device. Seems I might have:) Basically I just started carrying the thing around hoping it ... Read More about I Finally “Get” the iPad

Curtain Call on the June Challenge – Whew!!!

Well that's a wrap! Back in May Larry Fliegelman and I challenged each other to write a blog post every day the month of June. It started with a tweet from Kim and her blog Write Now! The original challenge was to read the book Spilling Ink (I think I read one chapter) and post about a chapter a ... Read More about Curtain Call on the June Challenge – Whew!!!

Ozarks Writing Project Guess Day

Yesterday I had the privilege to be invited to the Ozarks Writing Project guest day. A teacher from another elementary in my district invited her principal and her principal invited me. Let me see if I can briefly describe OWP..... 4 week summer institute for teachers focusing on the craft of ... Read More about Ozarks Writing Project Guess Day

Blogpress for the iPhone

So I'm try g moble blogging AGAIN:) Chris Lehman just posted using this app and he has mentioned it before so now is the time! It makes me think I will blog more but don't get too excited. I could also email posts and don't so that either. I guess we will see. Probably best that I didn't spend the ... Read More about Blogpress for the iPhone

Staffing Changes, Moving on in Life – June Challenge

Since I am running out of ideas for posts, Larry suggested I write about a staff change that was a real challenge for me. All staffing changes are a challenge. Something that affected me more than I thought it would is when a staff member leaves. Teachers/staff leave for a variety of reasons and it ... Read More about Staffing Changes, Moving on in Life – June Challenge

Pogo Stylus – How did I miss this? – June Challenge

Seriously? How did this get passed me? (I am sure I can find some way to blame @scottelias for holding out on me with this:) My fake nails kept me from buying the 1st gen iPhone so if I had known about this.... Steve Jobs could have had another $699 3 yrs ago. Can you remember how expensive the 1st ... Read More about Pogo Stylus – How did I miss this? – June Challenge

It’s an iPhone4 Anniversary! – June Challenge

For those of you who stayed tuned to see if my iPhone4 actually arrived for my 10th anniversary.....it arrived early! Yesterday I semi-secretly tested out my new iPhone. Didn't want to post too much to twitter as I was seeing twitpics of all the lines at all the stores and I felt a little guilty. ... Read More about It’s an iPhone4 Anniversary! – June Challenge

More Evernote Information – June Challenge

This is just a reminder that I took on a challenge to post every day the month of June. Originally it was to post about the book Spilling Ink. However it morphed into posting whatever I could think of at the time. Even though I have failed miserably at the challenge and not been able to post every ... Read More about More Evernote Information – June Challenge

Evernote vs. Dropbox vs. Google Apps – June Challenge

How about that for a mouthful? I have actually used all three. I use Dropbox the least amount of time however most admin. & teachers in my district use Dropbox more regularly than I do. All are accessible on the iPhone. Evernote: My scanner is set up to scan all paper to Evernote automatically. ... Read More about Evernote vs. Dropbox vs. Google Apps – June Challenge

Google Docs Collaboration – Day (? I lost track:)

Next year my building will be using Google Docs to collaborate. Here are some of our current uses and hopefully future uses: Currently: Leadership Team agenda and minutes - The agenda is typed up and shared through Google Apps. We type the minutes directly onto the agenda. There is an original ... Read More about Google Docs Collaboration – Day (? I lost track:)

Traveling Post iPad 3G – Day 13

So I missed yesterday and trying to make up today. Since I had a day trip today I thought I should try out the 3G capabilities. Not such good luck today. From the SW center of MO to the SE corner of the state there is no 3G. Not only did the iPad not connect but neither did my iPhone. Oh, and when I ... Read More about Traveling Post iPad 3G – Day 13

Why I “need” an iPhone4 – Day 11 of challenge

Let's face it, I don't really NEED an iPhone4 but I sure should have one! Below is my Top Ten list why my husband needs to buy this for me for our 10th anniversary: 10. 10 yrs = "Aluminum Anniversary = iPhone has to have some type of aluminum-ish metal in it somewhere. 9. The iPhone is ... Read More about Why I “need” an iPhone4 – Day 11 of challenge

Summer Office Organization – Day 10

My office is a disaster by the end of the school year. For the last 3-4 weeks of school I usually just let it go and keep adding to piles. After the teachers and students are dismissed for the summer I know I will have time to clean/purge whatever is needed. (I wish I would have taken a picture ... Read More about Summer Office Organization – Day 10

Spilling Ink ARRIVED – Day 9 Challenge

Finally, the reason behind all this madness has arrived on my desk! The original challenge was to read and post about the book Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook, daily for the month of June. My dilemma was that it was going to take so long for the book to arrive, what was I to do in the ... Read More about Spilling Ink ARRIVED – Day 9 Challenge

Adult Podcasts for PD for Adults – Day 8

This is about adults listening to podcasts for adults, NOT podcasting for students or students creating podcasts. Although that is really great too, I think we don't realize all the resources out there for us. The first podcast that I ever listened to was WOW - Women of the Web. At the time I ... Read More about Adult Podcasts for PD for Adults – Day 8

#Edcamp KC Fall 2010

@wmchamberlain just tweeted me about #Edcamp KC! Finally an un-conference type of event for the Midwest! According the wiki these are popping up all over the country this year. @kylepace seems to be the instigator, I mean organizer of this event and he needs our help. Please join the wiki and the ... Read More about #Edcamp KC Fall 2010

School-wide Behavior Expectations(aka Positive Behavior Expectations)

The PBS philosophy has been around for a few years. Let me begin by saying we are not going through the formal PBS training provided by our regional PD centers. A couple other schools within my district are going through this process with their staff as well. Sometimes schools/teachers do not ... Read More about School-wide Behavior Expectations(aka Positive Behavior Expectations)

Faculty Review of Administrator

This is my 6th year as elementary principal at Willard East. In an effort to make sure that I am genuinely serving my teachers and students I decided I would have the teachers fill out a survey somewhat evaluating me as a school leader. This was not a researched based survey or some type of hidden ... Read More about Faculty Review of Administrator

Elementary Writing Use for iPad

There are tons of math, games, science, chemistry, etc. upper grade apps for the iPad. Finding uses for the primary grades seems a bit more difficult. Please keep in mind that I have not taken the time to explore this as much as other iPad education users have. Below are a couple of ... Read More about Elementary Writing Use for iPad

My iPad Thoughts So Far – Post 3 of June Challenge

This is actually not my own iPad but one purchased for the school. Our assignment has been to evaluate it for it's use in education. Sooooooo....I'm not doing so well with that:) Here are my random thoughts: I did not sync it correctly and all my iPhone apps ended up on it the first time. I am ... Read More about My iPad Thoughts So Far – Post 3 of June Challenge

Summer Reading List – Post 2 of June Challenge

Hopefully I will get some reading done this summer! I have quite a list and I have started to read each of these books. Book study with teachers - We have just come off a 3 year reading initiative and will now begin to "sharpen the saw." We are reading The Daily 5 and The CAFE Book. My 2nd grade ... Read More about Summer Reading List – Post 2 of June Challenge

Sucker for a Twitter Challenge

Jeesh! Here I go again. Hopefully I can make it all the way through June on this challenge. Today I retweeted a challenge by @teachergirl89......Spilling Ink" challenge... blogging every day in June...Who's up for it? http://tinyurl.com/nc7gg3” Then @fliegs replied he would do it if I did it. Oh ... Read More about Sucker for a Twitter Challenge

Getting Control of Email

My end of the week email goal is always "Inbox Zero." Some of you may notice that every now and then I post to this to twitter. It is a great feeling but never really lasts more than a minute or two before something else enters my inbox. After Lisa Thuman posted her14,000 emails to Inbox Zero post ... Read More about Getting Control of Email