Melinda S. Miller

Assessment Wall Pre-Post

You may be wondering a "pre-post" is. Well let me just explain. I have been wanting to post about our assessment wall since November and it never works out. Yesterday I used my Flip video camera to record the wall and tell about it and now my Flip video camera doesn't work AGAIN!!! Already sent it ... Read More about Assessment Wall Pre-Post

iPhone “App-Aholic”

I always wonder what application other people are using on their iPhones. Recently an article I read talked about how applications are being downloaded for the "wow" factor to show off to your friends. Having just done this by showing someone iFart (Yes I downloaded this moronic program for fun.) ... Read More about iPhone “App-Aholic”

Facebook Junkie

Over the holiday break I added ONE MORE THING TO KEEP TRACK OF! AHHHHHH!!! Facebook. Now I am an addict!Beginning - I actually joined Facebook last year at this time by peer pressure from Scott Elias my podcasting friend from Colorado. At the time I didn't really "get into it" because of the time ... Read More about Facebook Junkie

Happy New Year!!!

If I were any good at keeping at New Year's resolutions mine would be to blog post regularly. Unfortunately this year I have been so busy I haven't made any new year's resolutions. Yipeeee!!! Oh, I have some swirling around in my head...the old faithfuls...lose weight, save money, be a better wife ... Read More about Happy New Year!!!

Thankful for few office referrals

Principals do not tend to discuss how many or few office referrals they have per year, semester, week, quarter etc. My office has seemed pretty quiet lately but I needed some data to see if what I thought was happening was a reality. And it is!!!Last year at this time our students had accumulated 53 ... Read More about Thankful for few office referrals

RtI – Response to Intervention

Is this a bad word in your school?Many of us are finding our way through these new rules and can use all the help we can get. Monday I attended the MAESP luncheon and the presentation was about RtI. It was the best presentation I have attended but that could be because of where my school is in this ... Read More about RtI – Response to Intervention

Chicken Timer for Administrators:)

As much as I take pride in all my technology wisdom sometimes there are just old tools that work better.:):):)Take my chicken time for example. This sits under my desk and is used frequently....You now how you walk into your office or classroom and you know you are supposed to be somewhere in 10 ... Read More about Chicken Timer for Administrators:)

K12 Online Conference

Happy Sunday morning from MO! For the past couple of days I have spent a lot of time in my car, therefore I have been able to make a dent in listening to the 100s of podcasts I have in my iPhone. Yes, I said iPhone and you need one! That is all I am going to say at this time. More on the iPhone on ... Read More about K12 Online Conference

Re-Surfacing Post

I have had so many great blog post ideas lately that I am going to have to revive the Principal Blog. For those of you who know me, listen to Practical Principals, tweet, you know that I had a baby in June. I think I have adjusted to the two kid routine and hope to be able to contribute to the ... Read More about Re-Surfacing Post

Teacher Fear Factor

My students met their goal of collecting $1,400 in Box Tops for Education. I have actually been waiting 4 years for us to meet a goal so I can join the ranks of principals who have kissed pigs, had pie in the face, been human pizzas, and so on. Well I was inducted into that group last night.The ... Read More about Teacher Fear Factor

Melinda + Mac

I made the "switch." I am currently typing on my new MacBook! This has been a yearlong decision-making process. My 5 year old laptop is not going to make it much longer. Replaced the fan 2 or 3 times and the keyboard 2 times. Then it just started shutting off due to overheating.Last night I turned ... Read More about Melinda + Mac

Googe Docs for Administrators

I really feel like we can save paper in schools. As an elementary school principals I see LOTS of paper waste and trash. I have been using google docs personally for just under a year and love having everything accessible anywhere.My personal use of google docs:Originally, I used it to take notes ... Read More about Googe Docs for Administrators

Reflections from MO Principal’s Conference

Long time no post! It has been about 2 or 3 weeks since my inaugural opening of the "Internet Cafe" at the MO principal's conference sponsored by MAESP. Many of you who read my blog or listen to my podcasts know that I took on the task of incorporating a technology component at the conference geared ... Read More about Reflections from MO Principal’s Conference

Talking to Myself???

Okay, I think I am talking to myself! After Educon2.0 and all the "reflective" podcasts that I listen to, I have typed some "reflective" emails to my teachers about meetings we attended together, how a certain school process is going, etc.. You know.........REFLECT! I have now come to the ... Read More about Talking to Myself???

Twitter and Me

It has been about 3 weeks since I have taken the plunge and started "twittering." I thought I would give my review since I was so slow to buy into this tool. Okay, I was absolutely NOT going to ever go here!It all began on EduCon2.0 weekend. If you could not attend the conference in Philly you could ... Read More about Twitter and Me

Having fun with “handwriting” – writing tools

Blogging and typing are fun. Computer copies and archived files are nice when you are in a time crunch. Modeling writing and coloring is not my strength. I would rather type on the computer than "write" any day. I realized I need to do better for my 2 year old.For the past couple of weeks I started ... Read More about Having fun with “handwriting” – writing tools

New Book Study – Assessment for Learning

For those of you who have read my blog and listened to my podcast you are aware that I was not a very big fan of my administrative teams last book study, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. I am sure that if handled correctly and under the right circumstances this book study may benefit some of our ... Read More about New Book Study – Assessment for Learning

I have “blogger’s block:):):)

It is such a challenge to come up with things to write about right now. So I will call it "BB" Blogger's Block. I had a very long post about closing school for snow days. But then my Supt. was the only one of 200 and some schools that did NOT call off school yesterday and it voided all my thoughts ... Read More about I have “blogger’s block:):):)

We’re BaACK! – Practical Principals

Episode 06 = "Ketchup" will be out this week! It's been a while and we sure appreciate everyone who has kept us in their reader and/or subscriptions in iTunes up to date. Between sick kids, grad classes, and pregnancies (me, not Scott of course:)) it has been a challenge to meet up on Skype at the ... Read More about We’re BaACK! – Practical Principals

EduCon2.0 @ SLA in Philadelphia

It is 10PM Central time and I am trying to figure out how to be involved in Educon from afar:) I noticed there are Ustream channels, it is on HitchHikr, and they have a wiki. They have a store items to buy as well. Now if I can just figure out how to take part in all this that would be GREAT!!! I am ... Read More about EduCon2.0 @ SLA in Philadelphia

Giving my teachers a “virtual” tour…….

How do you "show" your teachers a resource room that only 3 people can fit in at a time? Obviously you can't have a faculty meeting in that room. :) Digital pictures are my answers for this!Our district ordered a large number of new books for our book room. It is going to take quite a while to get ... Read More about Giving my teachers a “virtual” tour…….

Podcasting Principal is Back!!!

Tune in this week to this blog and The Podcasting Principal for a new episode. I have been on hiatus for a few months but was able to record last night. Of course there is no school today and I am unable to upload but check your feeds and podomatic for the next episode.I am talking Observations ... Read More about Podcasting Principal is Back!!!

Observations: Formal/Summative

Here's how I do it...........In September I observe all non-tenured teachers. I do this in case I need to work with a newer teacher on planning, classroom management, instruction, parent communication, etc. This is the "dog and pony show" observation. They set the stage and just invite me in. If the ... Read More about Observations: Formal/Summative

Teacher Workday a Success!!!

Our teachers returned to work yesterday. It is a little odd to have a teacher workday on the last Friday of break. Oh well! Pick your battles. I was not able to be in my own building the whole day due to trainings going on in various locations throughout the district.Conco Quarries is a community ... Read More about Teacher Workday a Success!!!