TeachTalladega

Talladega City Schools are STILL HERE!

2009-10-17T12:07:00.005-05:00

Three years ago, Talladega City Schools created this blog under the leadership of Dr. Frank Buck to unite the district. Since that time, the schools have taken off in the development of school-based blogs. Dr. Buck has since retired, but you can continue to follow our schools, by visiting the following websites:

Talladega City School District Click here

Graham Elementary Click here

Hal Henderson Elementary Click here

Salter Elementary Click here

R. L. Young Click here

Zora Ellis Click here

Houston Elementary Click here

Talladega High School Click here

Talladega High School Band Click here

Art in Every Classroom

2009-08-20T08:53:00.000-05:00

Check out this online video library about incorporating art into every classroom by clicking here.

The programs in this video library show classroom teachers and arts specialists using the arts in a variety of successful ways. The 14 video programs — filmed in elementary schools around the country — along with a print guide and companion Web site, serve as a professional development resource for K-5 teachers seeking new ideas for integrating the arts into the classroom. Teachers featured in these programs include specialists in dance, music, theatre, and visual art, as well as classroom teachers from kindergarten through fifth grade. Programs 2 through 6 show Arts Specialists at Work, 7 through 12 present ideas for Arts in the General Classroom, and 13 and 14 address the challenges of Organizing for the Arts.

Beat of a Different Marcher

2009-08-17T08:20:00.000-05:00

Beat of a Different Marcher
By Debbie Silver & Monte Selby

Bobby marches to the beat of his different drummers
Jeffery does his reading, but he can’t do numbers
Shawna’s up and talkin’ 90 miles an hour, again
Can’t find his book or pencil, that would be Ben

Hyperactive, dyslexic, class clown, non-reader
Upper class, no class, off-task, bottom feeder
Little Arty’s a challenge; Martin’s a dream
We’ve seen them all, they all need to be seen.

All children in reach when we find their rhythm --
The step, the dance, the song within them
That’s a better journey, but so much harder
Too extraordinary, but so much smarter
To drum to the beat of each different marcher.

Sandy’s in the slow group, a proven low achiever
She’s the small quiet one, not a class leader
Crayons in her hand, she can draw what she knows best
But no room for pictures on the standardized test.

Ballerina, bricklayer, biochemist, ball player
Diesel driver, drum major, diva-destined, dragon slayer --
Some kids have a chance, with a different choice
To show what they know, they must have a voice.

All children in reach when we find their rhythm --

The step, the dance, the song within them
That’s a better journey, but so much harder
Too extraordinary, but so much smarter
To drum to the beat of each different marcher.

Introspective, oversized, minimized, criticized
Round holes, square lives, not much room for compromise.
There’s a new song not yet written
For each and every child, will we listen?

(reprinted with permission of Streetsinger Music Company

Debbie Silver's Book-check it out!

2009-08-07T07:56:00.001-05:00

To preview pages of Dr. Silver's book, click here.

The revised edition of Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers features Dr. Debbie Silver's poetry, wisdom, and humor with the art of award-winning illustrator Peter H. Reynolds (www.fablevision.com). Teachers and administrators will be inspired by Debbie’s poignant stories and thrilled with the practical advice as they learn about relevant research findings. A valuable discussion guide is included to help interested teams find the rhythm of the differentiated learners in their classrooms. Don't miss your opportunity to read this exciting new resource!

Meet Debbie Silver, Our Institute Speaker

2009-08-02T07:46:00.002-05:00

Our institute speaker is noted author and speaker Debbie Silver. You can read more about her at her website found here.

When I Become a Teacher...

2009-08-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

What kind of teacher are you?

Looking for First Day of School Activities?

2009-07-31T10:58:00.000-05:00

First day of school activities can be found here!

More Information on the Institute Speaker

2009-07-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

The institute speaker's book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching Differentiated Learning, has just been updated and re-released by Incentive Publications. Songs she co-wrote with Monte Selby are featured on his cds. She is married to Dr. Lawrence Silver, and together they have 5 sons.

Audiences everywhere respond to her use of humor and sensitivity to remind them of how important teachers are in the lives of children. Through research-based theory, poignant stories, and hilarious characterizations she connects with the souls of all who are involved in education.

$10,000.00 DRAWDOWN

2009-07-30T14:35:00.005-05:00

Talladega High School's football team is proud to announce the TIGER PRIDE FOOTBALL BOOSTER CLUB $10,000.00 DRAWDOWN! The event will occur on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 6:30 pm. in the THS lunchroom.

Those donating $100 will receive 2 dinners and a chance to win $10,000.00. For more information, contact Julie Bailey at 256-493-2038, Angela Harvell at 256-493-5769, or Les Stephens at 256-223-0426.

Postcards for New Students

2009-07-29T22:27:00.003-05:00

There are many ways to set a positive tone for a great school year with students and parents. One way to do this is by sending a postcard to your class inviting them to open house or any school event. STI Office allows the office to quickly print a demographic sheet complete with the child's home address. For a printable postcard, Click here!

Staples to host Teacher Appreciation Day in August

2009-07-27T09:54:00.001-05:00

Staples will be hosting a "Staples Teacher Appreciation Day" on Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. noon and will include a reusable "eco easy" bag filled with all sorts of special values to help educators in the classroom.

The first 100 teachers will receive a free gift bag, while supplies last. Teachers will also be able to take advantage of Staples Teachers Rewards Bonus Season-every dollar you spend in product purchases will count as two dollars toward earning rewards.

The nearest Staples store can be found by clicking here.

Still Looking for Organizational Training?

2009-07-25T18:38:00.006-05:00

Do you still need to get organizational and time management training this summer before a new school year begins? Dr. Frank Buck is offering several workshops through the University of Montevallo.

Check out the offerings and get all the details here, here, and here!

If You Give a Teacher a Mouse...

2009-07-24T08:33:00.000-05:00

New Teacher Orientation-August 4th

2009-07-21T13:13:00.004-05:00

All NEW Talladega City School teachers will report to Talladega High School lunchroom for a "New Teacher" Orientation on August 4th beginning at 9:00 am.

Teacher Institute will be on August 5th, beginning at 8:00 am. in Harwell Auditorium. You will need to sign in between 8:00 and 8:30 am.

Talladega High School...Where Futures Begin

2009-07-18T09:04:00.005-05:00

Would you like to know what is happening at the High School? Principal Darren Anglin has created a new website just for that purpose. Click here to see this classy new addition to Talladega City School efforts to keep parents and students informed! A link to the side of the blog has also been added for your convenience. Great job, Mr. Anglin!

Motivation from Ralph Marston

2009-07-16T21:43:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite websites is full of motivation (http://www.dailymotivator.com/) In fact,this site offers a new one every day, but Sunday. Here is the inspirational post for this past Wednesday. It seemed to be written just for our district.

Keep Moving Forward

Raise yourself up just a little bit. Then see how very good it feels.
Make a small positive change for the better. And you'll know without a doubt that you can successfully make even greater, more profound changes.

Lift the spirits of someone close to you. Experience how it feels to truly change the world.
Make a modest amount of progress. You'll be learning how to make much, much more.

Take one step toward your goal. And suddenly you're positioned to take the next step.
The smallest positive action can overcome the biggest negative doubt. Even if it's just a little bit, there's always a way to keep moving forward.

Figured Out the Institute Speaker?

2009-07-14T07:35:00.003-05:00

Our institute speaker has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, Canada, Europe, and Asia. This talented person has been a featured teacher for the PBS OnLine Teacher Chat and for KDS Knowledge Delivery Systems.

Teacher Tube...a great resource!

2009-07-13T22:24:00.003-05:00

Looking to include more technology into your classroom this year? Check out teachertube.com. Unlike youtube, it is not blocked inside the system and has wonderful videos on all kinds of topics.
Click here for an example of a video premade about the rainforest...

First Day: Laying the Groundwork

2009-07-13T08:33:00.000-05:00

By Emma McDonald

The first day of school is absolutely one of the most important days of the year. It's the day you set the tone for your classroom for the entire year. Every teacher wants to have a smoothly running classroom, but that's difficult to achieve when you don't know where to start. As a new teacher, you might be feeling as though you're groping around half blindfolded, with only bits and pieces of information, rather than the whole picture. What you need is a vision of what you want your classroom to look like as a positive learning environment. Then you need to take that vision and use the first day of school to lay the groundwork for making it a reality.

Read Emma McDonald's complete article here.

In a Million Words or Less...

2009-07-11T08:04:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite beginning of the school year activities while in the classroom was actually a parent assignment. This voluntary task was done willingly by parents and gave food for thought for the entire school year. The biggest thing it gave was an inside view into the life of my students through the eyes of their first teacher...the parent.

The idea was discovered while taking a college course at the University of Montevallo. It was called, "In a million words or less" and consisted of parents being encouraged to write an essay (no longer than a million words) to tell the teacher anything they wanted them to know. What one might share about their child if you had the leisure of sitting with a cup of coffee and chatting.

The only preparation for the activity is constructing a letter of instructions to give to parents at Open House or at the early beginning of school. It is important to stress that this is an ungraded assignment and the content is more important than their writing expertise. To see a sample letter to parents, click here.

You can read the entire article here.

Excerpts from the article:
"Any teacher who is not currently doing this activity, or something similar, is really missing out," said Matt Dickendesher, who teaches at Sandusky (Michigan) Middle School. "It's a terrific way to learn about our students at the beginning of the year."

"I thought the activity was worthwhile for all involved -- parents, students, and myself. In fact, I even recommended it to other teachers," said Kate Geisen, who taught last year at Whiteside Middle School in Belleville, Illinois, and will start a new job this month as a kindergarten teacher at Whiteside Elementary. "I will definitely have use for this activity in kindergarten. It might be an even more valuable tool at that level."

Final note...
I recently ran into a parent of a former student and we discussed the essay he wrote about his daughter when she was in first grade. He said it was certainly a keepsake because he was able to record his thoughts and feelings about his child at that stage in her life. She is now going in the six grade and he plans to pass these words onto her. What validation to a child to see the thoughts of their parent.

Welcome To a New School Year-2009-2010

2009-07-10T12:17:00.002-05:00

To Faculty and Staff:
Welcome back to a new year that hopefully will be filled with joy, excitment,
and passion for a new beginning. I am posting the events for the first three
days of Institute on this blog. Hope that this will be helpful for you as we
strive to get off to an effective start.
August 5, 2009 System Institute 8:00 - 11:00 A.M. Harwell Auditorium
Lunch 11:30 - 12:30
Faculty Meeting 12:30 - 1:30
BBSST 1:30 - 3:00
August 6, 2009 AMSTI (PLT's) 8:00 - 11:00 Houston Library
Lunch 11:00 - 12:30
Work In Classrooms 12:30 - 3:00
August 7, 2009 Work In Classrooms 8:00 - 11:00
Lunch 11:00 - 12:30
"Open House" 1:00 - 3:00

Talladega City School Employees Return August 5!

2009-07-10T07:21:00.000-05:00

Our institute speaker is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. This person has received numerous recognitions including being named the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Along the way our guest has taught almost every grade level and most every kind of student.

Classrooms that Spark!

2009-07-08T08:51:00.000-05:00

Trying to get "psyched" up for a brand new school year? Click here, to view sample pages from the book, "Classrooms that Spark...Recharge and Revive Your Teaching." This book caught my eye with its easy to digest format and organization.

Book Description

Written by teachers for teachers, this 352 page practical user-friendly book is perfect for busy teachers who are looking for new ideas or to be reminded of "oldies-but-goodies" that really work. Spark that fire of learning in your classroom and be inspired! Don't get burned-out, get FIRED UP with Classrooms that Spark!

Classrooms that SPARK! Is a complete resource with ideas, instructions, and reproducible pages that will help you:

Create a positive classroom environment where a love of learning is fostered

Develop a learner-centered classroom

Teach motivating lessons that engage students throughout the class period

Manage the classroom more effectively

Written in an easy-to-read conversational style

Guides teachers through practical advice and real-life scenarios

Utilizes research-based strategies

Winner of the 2006 Teacher's Choice Award!

CONGRATULATIONS!

2009-07-07T15:22:00.003-05:00

Congratulations, Mr. Douglas Campbell!

Begunning July 1, 2009, Mr. Campbell will lead our system as Superintendent. We are proud to have Mr. Campbell's wealth of experience to continue moving our system forward.

Mr. Campbell has served as Assistant Superintendent for five years. Mr. Campell was principal of Dixon Middle School for three years. He was director of fedral programs and special education for twenty-two years. He was also technology coordinator until Mr. Locklin came on board at the Central Office. Mr. Campbell has been a loyal, valuable, dedicted team member of Talladega City Schools for twenty-three years.

Mr. Campbell's knowledge of the community, students, continuous positive interaction with employees, and experience with the many programs will continue to raise the bar and create a positive working environment. His professionalism and willlingness to work with people at all levels will be an asset to our system, the community, and our employees.

We look forward to a wonderful 2009-2010 school year.

You Want Heroes?

2009-07-07T08:28:00.000-05:00

By Frosty Troy

You want heroes? For millions of kids, the hug they get from a teacher is the only hug they will get that day because the nation is living through the worst parenting in history. Many have never been taken to church or synagogue in their lives.

A Michigan principal moved me to tears with the story of her attempt to rescue a badly abused little boy who doted on a stuffed animal on her desk - one that said, "I love you!" He said he'd never been told that at home.

This is a constant in today's society - two million unwanted, unloved, abused children in public schools, the only institution that takes them all in. Teacher strive to find the best in their students, even where some see little hope.

No other American bestows a finer gift than teaching - reaching out to the brilliant and the retarded, the gifted and the average.Teachers leave the world a little bit better than they found it... They are America's unsung heroes.

To read the whole article, click here.

Selena Nelson...Pilot Club Teacher of the Year

2009-07-02T20:44:00.005-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Raymond L. Young fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Selena Nelson. She was recently selected as the Talladega Pilot Club's Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Nelson is an excellent choice because she is always trying new things to make learning fun and exciting. We are so proud of you!

24 hours in the life of a digital native

2009-06-30T08:00:00.002-05:00

Teachers today are educating students who are totally immersed in the use of technology. View this video below to see an example:

YOU ARE INVITED!

2009-06-23T10:42:00.006-05:00

A Retirement Reception for:

DR. JOANNE HORTON

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009
Magnolia's in Talladega
4:00-6:00 p.m.

All friends, family, and Talladega City School Board employees are invited!

Please join us as we celebrate Dr. Horton's retirement. For the past two years, Dr. Horton has dedicated her knowledge, skills, time and effort to our community and our children. Thank you, Dr. Horton for two years of service to the children of Talladega City Schools. Mrs. Miller said, "Dr. Horton has brought sunshine to our students." We appreciate all you have done and wish you luck in your future endeavors. Happy Retirement!!!! Relax and Enjoy!

We look forward to seeing all of you on Monday, June 29, 2009.

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Joni Baker at 256-315-5610.

Sharpen Your Skills this Summer

2009-06-22T10:22:00.003-05:00

For those of you who missed the Virtual AETC (Alabama Educational Technology Conference), click below to hear a familiar voice and learn more about creating your own blog or managing all of that digital data with ease. It is amazing how the sessions could be viewed from the comfort of someone's home or office computer. You can just login as a guest, if you prefer to not create a free account. Please take note that this opportunity will end at the end of June.

Your Own Blog in 10 Minutes or Less http://v-aetc.alsde.edu/course/view.php?id=16

Managing Digital Data With Ease http://v-aetc.alsde.edu/course/view.php?id=25

Dr. Buck, thanks for sharing this!

University of Montevallo Teacher Leadership Program

2009-06-18T16:32:00.002-05:00

The University of Montevallo Teacher Leadership program is sponsoring a two-day summer academy (July 28-29) to explore what it means to be a “teacher leader” and the role of teacher leaders in school improvement. We would love to have Talladega City Schools represented!

Teachers will receive a $250 stipend for participation and have the option of attending the academy on Montevallo’s campus or at Maplesville HS (via distance technology).

If you are interested, contact Pattie Thomas 223-0321. Your name will be turned in to the University.

Foundation Grants...Any Ideas Now?

2009-06-15T06:50:00.001-05:00

Those who have written successful grants will tell you that the process requires three elements:

Having a need.
Finding a grant source which will fund that need.
Being able to articulate the need in a compelling way.

Each year, the Talladega City Schools Foundation awards grants. Almost without exception, the grants have taken the form of mini-grants awarded to individual teachers. Even better, since the grants are limited to our school system, the pool of people competing for these grants is greatly diminished. Your chances of being funding don't get any better than what you will find with this source. You have just taken care of #2.

Now, let's look at #1. What is it that you need? Teachers always have needs. The only problem is that for most of us, we think of ideas, and then we forget them. The next time one of those ideas occurs, write it down. When another idea occurs, add it to the list. When it comes time to write your grant, you simply choose from the list.

The creativity comes with #3. If you can move the emotions of the people who are reading your grant, your chances of getting funded skyrocket. Please do not misinterpret what I am saying. Emotion without a solid case is fluff. A solid case without emotion is boredom. Combine substance with emotion and you have a winner.

For most people, writing good prose takes time. It means writing and re-writing and re-writing the re-writes. It involves giving your stuff to someone to read who will be brutally honest and putting on your flame-retardent suit while they tell you what they really think. Then, you re-write again.

I mention the element of time because that seems to be one of the reasons people offer for not submitting grants. The Foundation application has remained unchanged for years. You do not have to wait for what is going to be asked to be magically revealed. You can access that application right now by clicking here. Except for the dates, you are looking at the exact application you are going to be asked to submit. That means you do not have to wait on anyone or anything. If you have an idea, you can put that idea on paper starting now. Time need not be a factor.

If your grant asks for a large amount of money, make it easy for the grantee to partially fund your grant. Half a grant is better than none. You accomplish this objective by including a clear budget that indicates what is essential and what could be purchased later.

With a list of ideas and some well-written prose, you are in position not only to submit a grant proposal to the Foundation, but you are also well-positioned to submit grants to other sources. Time is always on the side of the person who is prepared.

(Thanks to Dani Simmonds for the photograph used in this post.)

Did You Know?

2009-06-12T08:03:00.001-05:00

"Did You Know?" is perhaps the most thought-provoking video I have seen in terms of how our country fits into the global picture, what the future is likely to hold, and how technology fits into that picture. It's implications for education are huge.

Three years ago, Karl Fisch was asked by his principal to speak at one of the beginning-of-year faculty meetings. He put together a PowerPoint, and the rest is history. If you have seen a version of "Did You Know?" then perhaps you may wish to visit the author's blog where he explains the story behind this powerful message. That original post is found here.

Over the last three years, various versions have been produced and updates have been made. Here is latest version. What does it mean for our schools? What does it mean for you and me? What are we going to do about it?

Interactive Board Resources

2009-06-10T19:40:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this particular link in a listserv message. Craig Nansen is not someone I know. Evidently, he has a great interest in and knowledge of interactive whiteboards. He has saved all of this links related to interactive boards in a Del.icio.us page. (Notice that this "page" goes on for quite a few pages, as the numbers at the bottom of the screen indicate.)

In looking at a few random links, I found anything from interactive activities that can be used in the classroom to blogs about using interactive whiteboards.

Click here to view this Del.icio.us page.

Could He Fool the Whole World?

2009-06-09T06:37:00.000-05:00

"The moral of this story is not that journalists should avoid Wikipedia, but that they shouldn't use information they find there if it can't be traced back to a reliable primary source..."

Suppose a person fabricated a piece of information and then posted it to Wikipedia. Would the fraud be snuffed immediately? Or, would the bogus information go down in history as fact? That situation happened recently, and you can read about it here.

The implications for the field of education are enormous. I had written recently about the need for us to check our facts before passing on what could be hoaxes. The Internet is a resource for information--both good and bad. The job of finding information is easier now than it has ever been. The job of verifying the accuracy of that information just got tougher. It's the universal trade-off. Students need to understand that. First, however, we must understand that.

Technology throws at us solutions, and it throw at us problems, and then it throws at us solutions to the problems it threw. Staying on top of developments in technology is a wise investment of time. Ultimately, it makes life easier.

As summer arrives, we have more flexibility in our days that at any other time. We have the opportunity to make the summer count for something, if that's our choice. Harnessing some aspect of technology and making it work for us isn't a bad way to make summer count. For the language arts teacher, it may mean perfecting research skills, something relevant to the story which begins this post. For the math teacher, it may mean learning Excel and then wishing you had taken the plunge ten years ago. For the elementary teacher, it may mean getting really good at using that Interwrite SchoolPad through some devoted practice time. For the physical education teacher, it may mean starting a blog to inform other people how they can stay physically fit.

For a school system that is moving forward to meets the demands of a changing world, getting serious about technology is one of the surest ways to turn vision into reality.

Want to Know What a Scam Looks Like?

2009-06-08T04:07:00.000-05:00

If you want to know what a scam looks like, look no further. This is an actual e-mail that I received. It looks oh so official. The bottom line is the scammer wants login information. It's not going to happen, at least not with me. Would you have recognized this was a scam or would you have taken the bait?

Your Webmail Quota Has Exceeded The Set Quota/Limit Which Is 20GB.
Your Are Currently Running On 23GB due to hidden files and folder on your Mailbox.
Please you are to follow the Below information to Validate Your Mailbox And Increase Your Quota.

First Name:
Last Name:
Username/ID:
Password:
Date of Birth:

Failure to follow this process to Validate Your Quota may result in loss Of important information in your Mailbox/Or Cause Limited Access To It.

*Important*
Please provide all these information completely and correctly otherwise due to security reasons we may have to close your account temporarily.We have been sending this notice to all our email account owners and this is the last notice/verification exercise.

Thanks
Localhost Support.

School Daze

2009-06-07T07:46:00.001-05:00

One of the blogs to which I subscribe is Cool Cat Teacher. The author, Vicki Davis, is a technology teacher in Camilla, Georgia. A post from that blog rolling off my RSS feed yesterday which I think is so relevant to all of us as we transition from school to summer. I hope you enjoy School Daze: Recovering the Teacher Within.

On my own blog, this past Monday's post, entitled "Overwhelmed," has generated quite a few e-mail responses from people who were glad to know that 1) their feeling are shared by many others and 2) there is a better way.

Paul Potts, Susan Boyle, and the Problem of Undiscovered Talent in Schools

2009-06-06T02:39:00.000-05:00

Something to think about...

Rubrics in a Fraction of the Time

2009-06-05T20:47:00.000-05:00

Rubrics are great, but they are time-consuming to create. RubiStar is time-saving tool that makes rubrics easy enough you may actual use them! Check out this post from the "Takes from a Teacher's Heart Blog."

I Have a Projector...Now What?

2009-06-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

Getting the tools of technology in the classroom is the easy part. It takes dollars. Making the tools of technology integral parts of the classroom is the tougher. It takes time, creativity, and the willingness to step outside of that which is comfortable.

LCD projectors are becoming pretty universal in our school system. Tech and Learning Magazine recently published an article entitled "Ten Ways to Get Beyond PowerPoint with Classroom Projectors." The short article is practical and offers some very doable suggestions.

Click here for the digital version of that article.

Proud to Be an American

2009-05-31T15:20:00.004-05:00

In our society, it seems that when we gather together for something of importance, music plays a key role. This observation was certainly true of Thursday's graduation. For example, the procession would not have been complete without our band's rendition of "Pomp and Circumstance."

This post features "Proud to Be an American" sung by David Horton. Mr. Horton is the devoted husband of Dr. Joanne Horton. For many, this night was their first introduction to Mr. Horton, yet for two years, he has been a constant supporter of this school system as it seeks to fulfill its vision of moving forward to meet the demands of a changing world.

Pictures from Graduation

2009-05-31T15:09:00.001-05:00

Please enjoy these pictures from the Talladega High School Graduation. As you view the pictures, you will hear Dr. Rice's address in the background.

Thanks to David McDaniel for assembling this video!

Follow Your Passion...

2009-05-29T07:30:00.004-05:00

Graduation is always a special a time for the the graduates and their families. At this time of year, high school graduation are being held in every community in America. One, however, has attracted the attention of the media nationwide and worldwide.

Each year, Dr. Condoleezza Rice accepts only one invitation to speak at a high school graduation. This year, that one was Talladega High School. In addition to hearing the inspiring words of a fellow Alabamian, every senior met and was photographed with Dr. Rice.

Here is the news story as told by ABC 33/40:

Jeremy Campbell of ABC 33/40 spent time with Dr. Rice in this exclusive interview:

Coverage from Fox 6 is here:

Channel 42 featured this spot:

Today's Birmingham News carries this excellent article.

Listed below is the Associated Press article which is appearing today throughout the country:

Associated Press
Published: May 29, 2009

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged graduates of Talladega High School to find their passions in life and follow them.
Rice a native of Birmingham, was the school’s graduation speaker Thursday night. She said she first studied music as a college student and later pursued international studies, although she said she “didn’t have a Russian bone in my body.“
She told the 150 graduates and their families that many years later, when she was leaving the White House lawn via helicopter with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife in 1990, she thought she had made a good decision in changing her major.
Talladega Mayor Brian York gave Rice a key to the city and declared Thursday “Condoleezza Rice Day."

The Anniston Star gave detailed coverage in a story posted here.

Of all of the media attention, perhaps most notable is Chris Norwood's article in The Daily Home. That article appears here. This paper has proven to be a supporter of this school system time and time again. You may view a 29-picture slideshow of the event by clicking here.

To view Dr. Rice's address to the Graduating Class of 2009, click here.

Graduations are happening in every community in America. This one attracted the attention of the nation. As the Class of 2009 begins to make its mark on the world, who knows which of these graduates might just attract the attention of the nation. It can happen...just as it did for one Alabamian. Follow your passion...When you are convinced that you are right, find someone with a different opinion...Don't ever lose your thirst for knowledge. Wise words spoken by someone who has so much in common with the young men and women she was addressing.

There is another story to tell. Check back here on Monday.

Please Remember Me

2009-05-25T01:14:00.001-05:00

On this Memorial Day, we bring you a tribute to our fallen troops.

The music is "Dante's Prayer" by Loreena McKennit. The creator of this video does not give her name, but writes, "The pictures are from various sources on the web, and the editing is done painstakingly by hand using Windows Movie Maker. This took me forever, but I hope it will be appreciated."

Yes, I can assure you it will...

Virtual AETC

2009-05-24T21:12:00.001-05:00

Virtual AETC is just around the corner. Registration will be done on through STIPD. After logging in, search the PD Catalog for VAETC. You will see a list of all of the sessions being offered, and you can sign up for those you like.

I am conducting two sessions:

Managing Digital Data With Ease (VAETC09002) June 12 11:00-12:00

Your Own Blog in 10 Minutes or Less (VAETC09003) June 8 11:00-12:00

After registering, you will receive this e-mail message:

“Congratulations! You have successfully registered for a session in Virtual AETC. First, copy down your STIPD session number/title. Then, go to the following link and create a login to Moodle using your correct name (http://v-aetc.alsde.edu). If you are registering for more than one session, you will only need one login to Moodle. Save your Moodle username and password and use them to access your sessions. Once logged into Moodle, you may find technical requirements, help files, and session links listed within Moodle. For help on registering in Moodle, download the following file: http://ti.alsde.edu/aetc/sitepages/documents/Enrollment%20Instructions%20for%20Moodle.doc Please create your Moodle login as soon as you register so that you won’t be delayed getting into your sessions.”

Interwrite Digital Whiteboard Webinars

2009-05-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

Everyone who has an Interwrite digital whiteboard also has Easiteach software. While there are a variety of Easiteach packages available for purchase, the basic software is supplied with your whiteboard.

Interwrite offers a series of free webinars. You can see the schedule by going here. The chances of the webinar you need lining up with your planning time may not work out easily. On the other hand, this schedule runs through June 11, allowing some time once the school year ends when your time may be more flexible.

Graduation Update

2009-05-22T07:28:00.001-05:00

This is cross-posted from the TalladegaCitySchools blog:

The Talladega High School graduation will be held on May 28 at 7:00 in Mary Dumas Stadium. Note the location. After much discussion within our own ranks and with Dr. Rice's office, we did change from the original location of Harwell Auditorium so that we could accommodate more people. This post contains information that will be important over the coming week. Please check back here as this is the one place where we can put information that will be accessible by everyone.

Since graduation is at the stadium, do I still need a ticket?

Yes. Everyone needs a ticket, and the names of all ticket holders will be on a list. The Secret Service is involved in this event, so security is likely to be stringent.

How do I get my tickets if my child is graduating?

Students turned in names of people for whom they need tickets. Those tickets will be given to the students through Talladega High School.

I am a Talladega City Schools employee. How do I get tickets?

Principals at each school were asked to compile a list of names of those employees who wished to attend graduation. Principals will be given the required number of tickets to distribute to their employees.

I requested tickets by signing up on the this blog. How do I get my tickets?

You should have received an e-mail today. We did get some e-mails bounce back as being undeliverable. Be sure to check your spam filter before calling to inquire. Tickets may be picked up at the Talladega City Schools Board of Education between 8:00 and 3:30 this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. Be prepared to present your identification when picking up tickets.

What happens in case of rain?

Whenever someone plans an outdoor event, a rain plan simply becomes part of the logistics. In case of rain, graduation ceremonies will be moved to Harwell Auditorium.

Will my ticket get me into Harwell Auditorium?

It depends. Two types of tickets are being issued. One type is being issued to the students and their guests, Talladega City School employees, local dignitaries, and "first-come-first-served" members of the public who signed up via this blog. The second type is being issued to those who signed up on the blog. The e-mail you received will tell you which group you are in.

In the event of rain, the lunchroom at Talladega High School will be used to house those who are not able to get into Harwell Auditorium. Those in the lunchroom will be able to watch the graduation ceremony through a live feed.

I didn't request tickets at all. Is there any way I can still go?

Yes. Simply come by the Talladega City School Board of Education on Tuesday or Wednesday between 8:00 and 3:30. You will need to present your identification since we do have to maintain a list of every person who is being admitted. Please realize that in the event of rain, the ticket you will be receiving will not get you into Harwell Auditorium. You will be able to view the ceremony in the THS lunchroom.

How much are tickets?

Tickets are free.

You mentioned security. Tell me more.

Being the most recent former Secretary of State, Dr. Rice still maintains Secret Service protection. Everyone will go through a metal detector upon entering the stadium. A list of names of ticket holders is to be maintained.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Yes. Savor the moment. To have Dr. Condoleezza Rice as our speaker is an honor, and the full magnitude of just how big this is will probably not be realized until next Thursday. This is special for our seniors. This is special for our school system. This is special for Talladega.

Many, many people have worked very hard to make this day possible. When we made the initial contact, we felt we had little hope of her actually coming here, yet we gave it our best shot. That in itself should be a message to our seniors about what is possible when people dream bigger than others think is practical.

Handling the logistics has required hard work, patience, and a little imagination. We are not used to something of this magnitude, and we are learning as we go. That is the second message to this senior class, that if you wait until everything is in perfect alignment before you are willing to step out of the box, you will never step out of the box.

Along the way, there are those who ask, "How can I help?" and those who simply sit back and criticize. That is the third message for our seniors, that they will meet both types of people in their lives and will get to decide into which camp they themselves will fall.

Class of 2009, your day is approaching. Savor the moment.

Thanks!

2009-05-20T03:51:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all of you who came to my retirement reception. I was overwhelmed by the turnout and the many kind things that you had to say. There will be the opportunity for me to speak with many of you privately over the next few weeks. For now, I want you to know how special this day was for me and Davonia.

Moving Forward,
Frank Buck

Professional Development Through Montevallo Regional Inservice Center

2009-05-19T07:32:00.003-05:00

The University of Montevallo Regional Inservice Center has announced its professional development workshop series for this summer.

Click here to access the brochure

You will find some excellent, free workshops. All registration is done through STI-PD.

Log in to STI-PD
Enter "umins09" in the space for PD Title Number on the right-hand side of the PD Title page. Click on the "Search Now" button.
Scroll down to find the PD Title that you want to enroll in.
Click on the highlighted word "List" on the right-hand side of the box.
Find the session that you would like to register for.
Click the "Enroll Now" button.

For more detailed instructions for STI-PD, please visit www.montevallo.edu/ic and click on “STI-PD Instructions.”

In your profile in STI-PD, it will be important that you have an e-mail which you regularly check during the summer. We all have the capability to check our school e-mail from home. On this blog, there is a link that will take you to the e-mail program. From there, you simply enter your username and password. If you do not know you user name or password, another teacher or your principal should be able to help you with that.

Please also note that the University of Monetvallo Regional Inservice Center is not located in Montevallo. It's on Highway 31 in Pelham. Directions are included at the bottom of the brochure.

Online Courses for Professional Development

2009-05-18T09:17:00.000-05:00

Principals received an e-mail Wednesday morning regarding "Summer 2009 Semester eLearning Courses." You can register for any of our courses using PDWeb. To see what courses are offered, you can log into the Moodle site as a guest.

The link that was supplied in the e-mail did not work for me. This one did work:

http://elearning.atim.cc/login/index.php

I was successful in accessing the site. From there, I clicked "Login as a guest" and then "Course Catalog." You can read the course description, and if you see something you wish to take, go to PDWeb, search for the course, and sign up.

All of the courses are free.

Dr. Rice, a Story You May Not Know

2009-05-18T08:26:00.005-05:00

When we think of Dr. Condoleezza Rice, our first thoughts are naturally of her role as U.S. Secretary of State. Fewer know that Dr. Rice is also an accomplished pianist. In April 2006, the New York Times ran this article describing the role which music plays in her life despite a heavy schedule.

The video below features Dr. Rice in a performance for the Queen of England.

Instrument Placement for Ellis Band

2009-05-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

All 6th grade students at EACH elementary school will receive the opportunity to try all of the instruments in an effort to help them make a decision about 7th grade band. We are very excited about this opportunity and hope that the 6th grade students are as well. We began at Graham with a great group of 6th graders. So far this has proven to be a wonderful experience for all involved. We will make our rounds to each elementary school by the first of the week.

If you student is absent on your instrument day and would like to schedule a time to come by the bandroom please feel free to call me at 315-5706. We want every student to have this great privilege.

Thanks to Mr. Bailey for allowing me the time to visit each elementary school and provide this service in an effort to make our band program stronger!

Post written by Danielle Todd

C. L. Salter Follow-Up

2009-05-15T07:15:00.003-05:00

The previous post features a spot from Fox 6 "What's Right With Our Schools." This morning's Daily Home had this to say:

Federal and state governments place a lot of emphasis on standardized testing in schools these days — so when students and teachers go the extra mile to raise test scores, the deserve some recognition.

That’s exactly what a couple hundred of the students, teachers, principal and coach at Salter Elementary School in Talladega received when they went out to the Talladega Superspeedway Wednesday.

The children got to vote for which teachers got a ride around the track and were excited spectators at the event.

We congratulate the students and staff at Salter for their testing efforts and applaud the tracking for helping recognize that accomplishment.

Fox 6 ran a second feature this morning including additional interviews with students and teachers. If the station posts that clip on its website, we will embed it here also.

What's Right With Our Schools...C.L. Salter

2009-05-14T20:04:00.004-05:00

Tonight's Fox 6 "What's Right With Our Schools" segment featured C. L. Salter. The entire school took a trip to the Talladega Super Speedway. In addition to learning about a landmark and an event that is important to our area, the trip served as a reward for the hard work on the DIBELS, ARMT, and SAT spring tests and hard work throughout the year. The entire student body got to participate!

Here is the story as it aired on Fox 6:

New Evaluation System to Replace PEPE

2009-05-14T14:20:00.002-05:00

Next year, there will be a new evaluation system which will replace PEPE. The State Board of Education just approved EDUCATEAlabama. The most important item for you to know at this point is that you will complete a PDP at the end of this school year which you will work on during next school year.

I viewed a webinar on the system when it was in the planning stages. My notes are posted here if you would like to take a look at what the new program will look like.

Good news--There is no Structured Interview.

Bibb County Summer Technology Conference

2009-05-13T01:03:00.000-05:00

Bibb County Schools will be hosting a technology conference on July 13-14. Information on the conference is found by clicking here. Registration is free to those in the University of Montevallo Inservice Region (which would be us) up through the first week in July. Registration will be handled through PDWeb.

If you have a session you would like to present, you may complete this form.

Thanks to Dr. Alesa Judd, Assistant Superintendent of Bibb County Schools, for making this opportunity available.

Something for Nothing...Don't Be Fooled

2009-05-11T10:15:00.005-05:00

"Want a free computer? Just forward this e-mail to 8 people." Not only did someone send me that e-mail , but I received it three times within the span of a few weeks. The latest something-for-nothing e-mail guaranteed a gift card to Applebee's for simply forwarding the message. Shouldn't I forward it to my entire address book just in case it's for real? Well...no. It's a hoax. Two things tell me that:

Common sense. (Come on. Why in the world would anybody be giving away free computers or free food for just forwarding an e-mail?) By the way, there is no mechanism currently in existence that would allow a company to track how many times someone had forwarded a message anyway.
A quick little copy and paste into Google routine. It takes all of five seconds, and armed with this simple technique, you can figure out which e-mails are on the up-and-up and which are hoaxes.

Here is all you need to do:

Highlight a hunk of text from the e-mail and use the Copy command (Control-C).
Go to Google.
Click in the search line and use the paste command (Control-V).
Hit enter.
Sit back and watch the fireworks. You are going to get hits that tell you instantly whether or not you have hooked a hoax.

Aren't Hoaxes Just Simple, Harmless Fun?
If you call wasting your own work time, contributing the problem of junk e-mail in everyone's in-box, and clogging up your employer's server simple, harmless fun, I guess you have a good point.

Teaching Students to Distinguish Fact From Fiction

Why do I go to the trouble to determine the truth in an e-mail before I pass it on? The reason is simple: I am a teacher. Truth matters.

Our world has become one in which good information is only a few key strokes away. Unfortunately, the same holds true for bad information. If teaching young people how to distinguish fact from fiction was important for generations gone by, it becomes an absolute necessity today.

How can we teach our students to question what they read? (To give credit where credit is due, many of them do a much better job of this than we as adults.) I wish I had the complete answer. At least, as a start, I do feel this: Truth will only be important to them if first it is important to me.

Being Part of the Solution
Whenever I get one of these suspect e-mails, the drill I follow is:

Under no circumstances add to the problem by forwarding the thing.
Use the "copy-Google-paste" routine I described earlier.
Copy the URL of one of the sites that explains the hoax.
Go back to the e-mail and hit "Reply."
Paste the URL into the message.
Just above the link, I generally include the message, "Run for your life! It's a hoax!"
Hit "Send."

For all to many people, e-mail is already out of control. The problem of junk is an ever-growing problem. The power to be part of the solution is an option open to each of us.

QlipBoard

2009-05-07T15:16:00.003-05:00

During our last professional development day, Janet Taylor talked to the Salter faculty about a site called "QlipBoard." My suggestion would be to go to the site and click the link on the left that says, "Why QlipBoard." You can see finished products. If it looks like something you want to use with students, you can work backwards from there.

Interactive Whiteboard Site

2009-05-04T23:17:00.000-05:00

If you have a digital whiteboard of any make (Interwrite, SMART, Promethean) or digital slate, here is a site that provides free resources that will work with any brand of equipment you have. Thanks to Kerry Palmer, principal of Trinity Presbyterian Middle School (Montgomery) for putting me onto this site.

Tickets to THS Graduation

2009-04-30T14:22:00.004-05:00

As one would image, interest in the THS Graduation Ceremony and our speaker Dr. Condoleezza Rice is high. Due to the seating capacity of Harwell Auditorium, we must limit the number of people who may may be seated in that facility. First preference is given to the invited guests of our students, employees of the Talladega City Board of Education, and local dignitaries. Remaining tickets will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. A plan will be formulated to handle the overflow that we are not able to seat in Harwell Auditorium.

As people ask you how they can obtain tickets, please direct them to TalladegaCitySchools.blogspot.com. There, they will find a link on the right-hand side of the screen through which they can put their name on the list. There is no cost for the tickets, but there is a limit of two per party.

Save the Date--Foundation Dinner

2009-04-29T11:07:00.001-05:00

The Talladega City Schools Foundation Dinner for next year will be Tuesday, April 13, 2010. The event will be held at Shocco Springs.

We hope that by publicizing the date this early, we will avoid conflicts with other school-sponsored activities.

Please mark your calendars!

Condoleezza Rice to Speak

2009-04-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

We are excited that the Daily Home is the first newspaper in the nation to have this story!

http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2009/dh-talladega-0429-cnorwood-9d28v4229.htm

Pandemic Flu

2009-04-28T09:09:00.003-05:00

Pandemic Influenza is a topic that is very much on the minds of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Operational plans that they have at this point are posted here. During the coming year, we anticipate plans being created extended down to the school level as to exactly what we would do in the case of an outbreak. A good plan is like the insurance we carry on our automobiles or homes. We hope we will never have to use it. Having a plan gives us that piece of mind in knowing that it is there if we need it.

Click here to view Alabama Department of Public Health plans.

The Center for Disease Control also offers this information on Swine Flu.

THS Jazz Band Entertains at Hall of Fame Induction

2009-04-25T12:22:00.004-05:00

The Talladega High School Jazz Band provided the entertainment for this year's International Motor Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The band provided 45 minutes of music without ever repeating a selection. For the many who came from far away to attend this prestigious event, the only impression they have of the Talladega City School System is the one these young people gave them.

The jazz band represented us well, as does every facet of this band program wherever it goes. A great deal of preparation went into what turned out to be a stellar performance. They also had a great deal of fun along the way. Click on the presentation below to see what we mean.

Two Roads

2009-04-16T21:06:00.004-05:00

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

At the close of my senior year thirty-two years ago, my closest classmates were preparing to enter the University of Alabama as Computer Science majors. To the surprise of many, I took a different road—education. It was a choice that has served me well and a field that has allowed me to use a variety of talents. It is a profession to which I have given much. It is a profession which has given back in return.

Two roads diverge again for me now. One path is familiar and comfortable. The other offers both a challenge and a chance to affect change on a larger scale, and it is that road I am choosing to take.

I will be retiring at the end of June.

If I had it all to do again, I would do very little any differently. Four school systems and 28 years brings one in contact with a wide variety of people. Along the road, I have been privileged to work with some incredible talent, and a fair share of it has been during this last 12 years here in this place.

Over a year ago, our school system revisited its vision and found that the words “moving forward” encapsulated how this system sees itself. The slightly longer “Moving forward to meet the demands of a changing world” recognizes that the world we must prepare for tomorrow will be different than the one in which we live in today. New tools and new practices will replace the old, and my desire is to be a part of the process for making that journey easier for others.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Moving forward,

Frank Buck

Digital Whiteboard Demonstrations

2009-04-13T01:49:00.001-05:00

Interwrite has developed a series of instructional videos on using EasiTeach, software which comes with your Interwrite digital whiteboard. You can view these at any time by going to this address.

Talladega City Library Media Guide

2009-04-12T16:07:00.001-05:00

Several years ago, our library media specialists composed a guide to help standardize practice throughout the system and serve as a tool to help new library media specialists. The guide however, was spread across two dozen Word files and was not accessible to teachers as a whole.

I have combines all of the multiple files into one single document. It is posted where everyone can access it.

Click here to go to the Talladega City Library Media Guide.

You can also get to the document by going to: TeachTalladega>Downloadable Documents>Curriculum>Library>Library Media.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

2009-04-10T02:33:00.000-05:00

Goldilocks is a lively girl who has one big problem: she can't keep her hands off Other People's Things! Join us as Goldilocks gets into trouble with everything from a jewelry box to a bird's nest and see what happens in that little cottage in the woods while the bears are out for a walk. In a new twist Goldilocks is caught on tape and is taught a lesson by the bears and the audience. She learns that unless she is invited she won't touch Other People's Things!

This adaptation is being performed by the Birmingham Children's Theatre at the the Historic Ritz Theatre. Students in grades K, 1, and 2 from all Talladega City Schools will attend a performance of this work on April 14. Thanks to Tom Wofford, Executive Director, for bringing this performance to our students.

Energy Action Workshop

2009-04-07T10:32:00.004-05:00

The Alabama Dept. of Economic & Community Affairs Energy Division and National Energy Foundation is offering a half-day workshop for those interested in starting an "Energy Action Patrol" student conservation group at their school.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, April 15 at the Jefferson County School Central Office from 11:30 to 3:30 P.M. Lunch is provided.

This workshop is open to teachers in grades 5-8. Dr. Horton is interested in sending one teacher from either 5th or 6th grade and one teacher from either 7th or 8th grade.

The sponsoring organization will pay $50 towards the substitute, you will receive 4 hours of professional development credit, and you will be provided with a full complement of materials.

Additional information is provided is located here.

If you are interested in attending, you may contact Dr. Buck directly.

Interwrite Resources

2009-04-01T10:48:00.002-06:00

Teachers at each of our schools have Interwrite boards (digital white boards) and/or SchoolPads. This post contains information on resources that are available. While this time of year gets busy for many of us, this post and links to its resources will always be available to you.

Ready made Easibooks (Lessons in Easiteach)

Free Webinars

Video Tutorials

Technical Support

Ready-Made Lessons

Tutorials

WebEx Offerings

Music Appreciation...

2009-03-29T13:00:00.003-06:00

The following article was written by Chris Norwood and published on the front page of the Daily Home this past Friday. Erin Thielker is the teacher responsible for arranging this wonderful experience for our children.

The students at C.L. Salter Elementary School had a very special educational experience in music Thursday. An education manager from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra came and taught a series of classes to kindergartners through third graders, culminating with a simulated orchestral performance.

Each class was divided into four sections: percussion, woodwinds, brass and strings. Each group pretended to hold an instrument from that family and make a specific sound, with Meaghan Heinrich of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham. “This is a something new for the symphony, expanding educational programs and adding in school workshops and performances,” she said.

The visit to Salter came about after a class from the school visited the symphony in Birmingham last year. One of the teachers on that trip pointed out “Salter doesn’t have a music teacher or any music classes right now, but she really wanted them to have some more exposure to music in class. So this was a good chance for us to do a test run,” Heinrich explained.

The program will be expanding in the future to include not just other schools but other members of the orchestra as well. “As the education manager, I am not a full time player,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll be sending more full-time performers and groups starting next year.”

Salter Principal Jenni Griffin said the school felt very fortunate. “We really hit a jackpot with this,” she said.

And the students had a ball, too.

After completing their performance and taking a bow, the second grade group requested some music as they were leaving the classroom. Heinrich obliged, playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” on the oboe.

Summer School Positions for Elementary and Jr. High

2009-03-28T13:06:00.003-06:00

Summer school will be held for elementary and junior high school students beginning June 1 and running through July 2. Times are 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. The program is being offered to students in grades 3-8.

Positions have been posted for two elementary and two junior high school teachers. If you are interested in teaching summer school, please send me a letter of interest. The posting deadline is March 31 or until the position is filled.

Language Arts Documents for Elementary School

2009-03-25T03:33:00.005-06:00

Two sets of documents have been posted to the Downloadable Documents section of TeachTalladega. For each grade level, there is a correlation between the Hougton Mifflin Harcourt Language Arts books and the Alabama State Course of Study: Language Arts. There is also a correlation between the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Language Arts books and StoryTown.

Click here for correlations to the Course of Study

Click here for correlations to StoryTown

Want to Bring TeachTalladega Straight to Your E-Mail?

2009-03-22T13:12:00.000-06:00

Blogs have become part of our culture, and with most things in life, there is some "best practice" for handling them. Those who like to read multiple blogs may find they are spending more time than they would like going to each site, especially when there is no guarantee there will be new content there.

What if every time something new appeared on one of your favorite blogs, it came to your e-mail? In the case of this blog, you are one mouse click away from making that happen. On the right-hand side of this screen, you will see a link that will allow you to subscribe to this blog through your e-mail. Click it, fill in your e-mail and other instructions you see on the next page. After that, you will never have to worry about missing a post from this blog again....unless, of course, you don't check your e-mail mail. I can't help you there.

Helping Students Identify Reliable Information

2009-03-18T10:26:00.000-06:00

For today’s student, finding information is easy. One Google search returns more information than a month spent in the library could ever hope to reveal. Much of that information is great. Unfortunately, much of that information can be unreliable. How do we help students separate fact from fiction?

North Carolina State English University English professor Susan Miller-Cochran and Mesa Community College’s Rochelle Rodrigo have composed a checklist to help. Their point is that students need to ask two questions? First, does the information change over time as opposed to being static. Secondly, has the information been reviewed? To download both a blank copy of the chart they have composed and a completed example, click here.

To read the full article, as it appeared in eSchool News, click here.

Web 2.0...What Is It?

2009-03-14T02:01:00.000-06:00

Web 2.0...This buzzword got it's start in 2003 and has been gaining steam ever since, but most people still haven't the foggiest notion of what it means. In a nutshell, Web 1.0 was about you and I being consumers. Information on the web was put there by people in far-away places who knew lots about programs such as Deamwaver or FrontPage and had access to servers where they could host their stuff.

Web 2.0 is about creation and participation. What you are reading right now is an example of Web 2.0. It's about the average person being able to share knowledge with the whole word. It's blogs and wikis. It's MySpace and YouTube. It's the ability for you and me to have space on the internet absolutely free where we can post our pictures, our thoughts, and our very best ideas. It's the idea that we are givers as well as takers in a global exchange of ideas. It's the absurd notion that an encyclopedia could be constructed by simply letting anybody who wanted to write whatever they liked, a notion so absurd it's actually working.

So how many Web 2.0 tools are there and what are there? It's a good question, and the answer grows daily. There is a site, however that attempts to answer that question.

Click here to Go2Web20.net

As you mouse over each icon, you will see a short explanation of what the site does. The great thing is that most of them are free.

School Calendar for 2009-2010

2009-03-12T07:25:00.000-06:00

At its March 9 meeting, The Talladega City Board of Education approved the calendar for the 2009-2010 school year.

The calendar can be viewed by clicking here.

Virtual AETC

2009-03-11T06:48:00.003-06:00

The Alabama Educational Technology Conference has been canceled for this year due to proration. The good news is that a "Virtual AETC" is being planned. That constitutes the bare bones of what you would need to know at this point.

For those who are a little more interested in the subject, I have posted some additional information that I know at this point and some personal reflections on my own blog. If you are interested, that post is here.

Assistant Superintendent Honored at National Conference

2009-03-10T07:36:00.003-06:00

ThinkCentral Customer Letter

Pictured from left to right: Rick Carder (President National Association of Federal Program Administrators), Assistant Superintendent Talladega City Schools Douglas H. Campbell

WASHINGTON DC -- On Monday, March 2nd, 2009 Assistant Superintendent Douglas H. Campbell was awarded the Alabama State Leadership and Dedicated Service Award by the President of the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators (NAFEPA) in Washington DC. Each year NAFEPA presents the association’s state leadership award to current members who have assumed significant roles in the support and promotion of activities and goals of the state affiliate organizations. Recipients from across the United States are honored at an awards luncheon held as a part of the association’s annual national conference. Mr. Campbell is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Association of Federal Education Program Administrators for District 7.

Tuesday, Mr. Campbell and other conference administrators went to the nation’s Capital and met with members of congress. During their visit the Alabama delegation met with Senator Mike Rodgers and visited the office of Representative Artur Davis.

With new players in the Department of Education and the status of NCLB on everyone’s agenda, this year’s conference afforded Mr. Campbell an opportunity to meet with some of the new members of the U.S. Dept. of Education. Similar to his work on the Alabama State Department of Education Task Force for Parent Involvement in 2001 and Computer Competencies in 1996, Mr. Campbell will use this experience to help design future federal program services.

Snow Girl Coming to the Ritz

2009-03-09T02:06:00.001-06:00

"The Snow Girl" is an Russian Folk Tale
Adapted by Michael Price Nelson

Set in a land of pure white snow and ice, this fable based on a Russian folk tale, finds the wood carver, Ivanovitch, and his wife, Maroosha, wishing for a child of their own. One night in the woods, Ivanovitch builds a snow statue of a young girl who suddenly comes to life and begins to dance. The rest of the story is told in dialogue and through dancing, with the snowgirl facing challenges and learning what it is like to be human and living in a real family. Exquisite ballet dancing and exotic Russian music transform this land of cold and ice into a warm and endearing family experience.

This adaptation by Michael Price Nelson is being performed by the Birmingham Children's Theatre at the the Historic Ritz Theatre. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 from all Talladega City Schools will attend a performance of this work on March 11. Thanks to Tom Wofford, Executive Director, for bringing this performance to our students.

Introduction to Photo Story

2009-03-07T02:41:00.000-06:00

Photo Story is a surprisingly easy and very effective way to blend photographs, music, and voice into an effective presentation. The February 2009 issue of Smart Computing Magazine includes an excellent two-page article which explains the basics.

You can read the article digitally by clicking this link.

One example of a use of Photo Story is the district overview we presented at the opening of our District Accreditation review a year ago. You can view that presentation by clicking here. A second example, entitled "The Faces of Talladega City Schools" can be viewed by clicking here.

Do You Have a Story to Tell?

2009-03-05T19:55:00.000-06:00

From Eye on Education's Tales from a Teacher's Heart blog:

We hope you have been enjoying our Tales from a Teacher’s Heart. But we know that every teacher has a story to tell, and we want to hear from you! What is the most memorable relationship or experience you have had with a student? Tell us your story by commenting below or emailing us at tfath@eyeoneducation.com. We will post one of your stories on the blog in April. Thank you for reading, and thank you for all your hard work and service!

Well...anyone have a story they want to share? Someone's will be shared, and it might as well be one of ours!

All-County Honor Band

2009-03-03T03:57:00.001-06:00

The Talladega All-County Honor Band concert was held Saturday in Harwell. The event attracted band students from across Talladega and Coosa Counties. The two bands played to a full house. Here are some sights from the rehearsals and the concert.

Siftables

2009-03-01T19:39:00.000-06:00

MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too. Is this the next thing in hands-on learning?

All-County Honor Band

2009-02-27T19:50:00.005-06:00

Almost 200 students came together today to participate in the Talladega All-County Honor Band. Students were selected by audition. They rehearsed all day today and will rehearse Saturday morning.

The event consists of two bands. The Junior High All-County Honor Band is being conducted by Steve Reagan, assistant band director at Gadsden City High School. The High School All-County Honor Band is being conducted by Russ Waits, band director at Gadsden City High School. Both groups rehearsed at Zora Ellis Jr. High School with the junior high band in the band room and the high school band in Harwell Auditorium.

The event will culminate with a concert to be held on Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 P.M. The concert will be held in Harwell Auditorium. The concert is open to the public. Admission is $3.

Webspiration

2009-02-25T03:48:00.000-06:00

Many of you are familiar with "Inspiration," a software package which allows mind mapping. Right now, there is a free web-based version call "Webspiration." The site is in Beta, so anything can happen, and it might not always remain free.

After signing up for a free account, you can begin using the software immediately to create mindmaps. You can save your creations (which will automatically have their own URLs). You can invite other people to view and/or edit your mindmaps.

To sign up, click here.

To see a simple example I put together in about 3o seconds as a first stab at learning the software, click here.

Bands Advance to State Assessment

2009-02-24T09:02:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to the Zora Ellis Junior High Band and the Talladega High School Band for their recommendations to compete in the Alabama State Concert Band Assessment. To advance to State Assessment, a band must receive recommendations from two of three judges at District Assessment. Both the Zora Ellis Band and THS Band received recommendations from all three judges.

Zora Ellis will perform on March 2 at 1:00 P.M. The location is Briarwood Presbyterian Church. Talladega High School will perform on March 4 at 5:00 P.M. The location is Gadsden High School.
The complete schedule for the Alabama State Concert Band Assessment can be viewed by clicking here. The event is free and open to the public.

About the Posts Which Follow

2009-02-22T01:52:00.000-06:00

Tom Wofford, the new Executive Director of the Ritz, has arranged two productions for our students. Principals have been given information regarding dates and times, and am sure are making preparations. The two posts which follow give you some information about the productions. The post on "The Snow Girl" will be re-posted both here and on TalladegaCitySchools on March 9. The post on "Goldilocks" will appear on both blogs April 10.

A study guide is available for both productions. These study guides provide activities that you can do with your students both before and after the productions. Writing prompts are provided. The study guide will make the experience much more meaningful for the students.

Click here to download the study guide for "The Snow Girl."

Click here to download the study guide for "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

The Snow Girl to Come to the Ritz

2009-02-22T01:50:00.002-06:00

"The Snow Girl" is an Russian Folk Tale
Adapted by Michael Price Nelson

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

2009-02-22T01:48:00.000-06:00

School Calendar for Next Year

2009-02-19T15:42:00.002-06:00

The Calendar Committee met this afternoon and tallied the votes for next year's calendar.

By a vote of 199 to 89, the winner is Option 1.

To view both calendar options, click here.

At the bottom of the screen, you will see tabs that say "Option 1" and "Option 2." Click on the tabs to view each of the two calendar options. The major difference between the two calendars involves spring break. Option #1 has spring break where it has traditionally been. Option #2 would have moved spring break to after testing.

The next step is for the recommendation from the Calendar Committee to go to Dr. Horton. She will then make a recommendation to the Talladega City Board of Education.

Congratulations, Mrs. Thomas!

2009-02-18T07:24:00.004-06:00

Pattie Thomas was named "Outstanding Alumna" for her work in Teacher Leadership. The award was given by the University of Montevallo College of Education and was presented during their annual Alumni Recognition Dinner.

In addition to her work as principal at Raymond L. Young, Mrs. Thomas has assisted numerous teachers in achieving "National Board" certification. She has consistently kept the focus on children and making sure they receive the best all-around education possible.

It's always good when one of our own is recognized for outstanding contributions to education. Congratulations, Mrs. Thomas!

What's in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Education?

2009-02-16T16:03:00.002-06:00

We have heard much about the "stimulus package." So, exactly what is in there for education? The information below comes from the Principal's Policy Blog sponsored by the National Association of Secondary Principals. If you want to see the increase our school system will receive, the link at the very bottom of this post will even give you that.

Below is a chart of highlighted programs and funding levels in the recovery package, followed by selected program descriptions:

Program	Funding Level
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund	$53.6 billion
Title I	$10 billion
School Improvement Grants	$3 billion
Teacher Incentive Fund	$200 million
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	$11.3 billion
Education for Homeless Children and Youth	$70 million
Qualified School Construction Bonds	$22 billion
Qualified Zone Academy Bonds	$1.4 billion
Impact Aid	$100 million
National School Lunch Program	$100 million

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
The funds provided under this program are intended to prevent and restore state cuts in education and other services.

Governors must use 81.8% of these funds to support elementary, secondary, and higher education. School districts receiving these funds may only use them for activities authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Perkins (Career and Technical Education), and for school modernization, renovation, and repair of public school facilities (including charter schools), which may include modernization, renovation, and repairs consistent with a recognized green building rating system.

Under this program, the U.S. Secretary of Education is authorized to award Incentive Grants to states that made significant progress in achieving equity in teacher distribution, establishing a longitudinal data system, and enhancing assessments for English Language Learners and students with disabilities.

In addition, for fiscal years 2009 – 2011, states are required to maintain their funding levels for elementary and secondary education at least at the FY 2006 level. However the U.S. Secretary of Education may waive or modify this requirement for states and districts that have experienced a precipitous decline in financial resources.

Targeting Assistance to Low-Income, High-Need Students and Supporting Innovation
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act recognizes the essential link between education and increased U.S. global competitiveness and economic prosperity by providing $22.3 billion for programs under ESEA and IDEA

The bill provides significant new support for programs such as Title I and IDEA, which target funding to the low-income, high-need students and schools that have been hardest hit by the economic recession. The recovery bill also provides funding for innovation in education, such as the Teacher Incentive Fund, which supports efforts to develop and implement teacher and principal performance-based compensation systems.

This bill also requires the Institute for Educational Sciences to conduct a rigorous national evaluation that assesses the impact of performance-based compensation systems on teacher and principal recruitment and retention in high-need schools and subjects.

State and District Funding Levels
Many of the education funds in the recovery package will be disbursed over two years, with the first half of funds becoming available on July 1, 2009, and the second half on July 1, 2010.

In the coming weeks and months the U.S. Department of Education will also issue guidance and regulations to assist states and districts in their applications for and uses of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund grants. For additional information, please visit www.ed.gov.

Many educators are anxious to know how much their state and district will likely get under the recovery package. To answer those questions, the Congressional Research Service has created two documents which estimate funding allocations for the state and district levels.

To view the state tables visit http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/ARRA-estimatedstateeducationfunding-20090213.pdf.

To view the district tables visit http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/ARRA-estimatedallocationstoLEAs-20090213.pdf.

Another Online Math Tutorial

2009-02-15T10:12:00.004-06:00

Last week you read about Khan Academy. This week, we bring to your attention MathTV.com, a second online math tutorial. This site does require you to register in order to see most of the lessons. Registration, however, is free.

With MathTV.com, you view a teacher demonstrating on a white board how to work problems. Most of the problems offer a selection of several different instructors, including a Spanish-speaking instructor. The videos range from basic mathematics through Calculus.

Above and Beyond in Talladega City Schools

2009-02-11T10:51:00.003-06:00

The Talladega City Schools Foundation would like to know about the good things going on in our schools. Do you have any students, teachers or others who are going above and beyond the basic educational experience?

The Foundation wants to help share the good news about our City Schools. Please let the Foundation know about your success stories by sending an email to Jeanne Rasco at mjrasco@bellsouth.net

It's Grant Time Again!

2009-02-11T10:37:00.004-06:00

The Talladega City Schools Foundation is now accepting applications for this year's mini-grants. All educators are encouraged to apply. This year, the Foundation will award approximately $10,000. The Foundation is looking to fund "educational opportunities" beyond the required minimum state program for students.

This link will lead you to the application :
http://teachtalladega.blogspot.com/search/label/Talladega%20City%20Schools%20Foundation

Applications must be turned into Central Office by 4:00 p.m. on February 27, 2009.

Good Luck to all Schools!

Workshops on Technology Course of Study

2009-02-09T06:01:00.000-06:00

Janet Taylor will be offering a 1/2 day workshop on using the Alabama Course of Study: Technology to integrate technology into your lessons. Teachers are asked to bring your textbook and/or lessons in which you wish to integrate technology. The workshops will be held in the Graham library using Mac laptops that will be provided.

There are three different workshops, each designed for a different grade span:

Grades K-2 July 7th 8:30-11:30 A.M.
Grades 3-5 July 8th 8:30-11:30 A.M.
Grades 6-8 July 9th 8:30-11:30 A.M.

To sign up, go to PDWeb and search the PD Title Catalog for PD Title UMTiM and PD Title Technology Course of Study.

Free Math Tutorial

2009-02-08T10:08:00.001-06:00

When it comes to online math tutorials, it’s tough to beat the Khan Academy. Clicking on the link takes you to the list of tutorials they offer ranging from basic arithmetic up through Calculus. The entire site is free.

Clicking on any of the lessons takes you to a YouTube video. You will hear the teacher explain the problem just as if he was sitting beside you. You see the problems being worked just as if the teacher was writing on the board as he was talking. You won’t find a lot of bells and whistles. What you will find is solid, easy-to-understand explanations at a pace slow enough that it can be understood. This one is a winner.

Submitting Technology Maintenance Requests Online

2009-02-04T17:02:00.002-06:00

Submitting technology maintenance requests for John Locklin just got easier--on both ends.

On the right-hand side of the screen, you will see a link that says "Submit Technology Maintenance Request." Clicking that link and following the instructions ensures that John will have all of the information he needs without you having to supply more than is required. It will save time on your end.

It will save time on John's end as well. Requests come to him in scattered e-mails and a constant stream of telephone calls throughout the day. Maintaining focus on the task at hand while you are also fielding five phone calls is not easy.

When you submit your request, it is instantly added to a spreadsheet that John sees. Every outstanding request for the whole school system will be on one list which he can sort by school and check off when completed.

This system is fully functional as of today, so you may begin using it now instead of calling and sending e-mails.

eLearning Spring 2009 Semester Openings

2009-02-02T07:45:00.001-06:00

The Spring 2009 Semester begins in less than two weeks and we still have openings in our three Algebra courses (K-2; 3-5; 6-8) and in our three Life Science courses (K-2: 3-5; 6-8). Due to the numerous requests, we have also added EDU4465: Wikis, Blogs, Podcasts, and Skype to the schedule. If you have not registered for any of these classes through STI PD, please do so in the next week so we can finalize our course rosters. If you are unable to take any courses this term, please tell your friends of your wonderful learning experiences (if they haven’t bee so wonderful, please tell me). You can login as a guest to our Moodle website (http://elearning.atim.cc/login/index.php) and get a closer look at all of our courses. Thanks in advance.

Tom Dreilinger
State Project Director
e-Learning for Educators-Alabama
Technology in Motion, ALSDE
334-670-1884
http://elearning.alsde.edu

TeachTalladega

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Art in Every Classroom

Beat of a Different Marcher

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Debbie Silver's Book-check it out!

Meet Debbie Silver, Our Institute Speaker

When I Become a Teacher...

Looking for First Day of School Activities?

More Information on the Institute Speaker

$10,000.00 DRAWDOWN

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Motivation from Ralph Marston

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Teacher Tube...a great resource!

First Day: Laying the Groundwork

In a Million Words or Less...

Welcome To a New School Year-2009-2010

Talladega City School Employees Return August 5!

Classrooms that Spark!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You Want Heroes?

Selena Nelson...Pilot Club Teacher of the Year

24 hours in the life of a digital native

YOU ARE INVITED!

Sharpen Your Skills this Summer

University of Montevallo Teacher Leadership Program

Foundation Grants...Any Ideas Now?

Did You Know?

Interactive Board Resources

Could He Fool the Whole World?

Want to Know What a Scam Looks Like?

School Daze

Paul Potts, Susan Boyle, and the Problem of Undiscovered Talent in Schools

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Please Remember Me

Virtual AETC

Interwrite Digital Whiteboard Webinars

Graduation Update

Thanks!

Professional Development Through Montevallo Regional Inservice Center

Online Courses for Professional Development

Dr. Rice, a Story You May Not Know

Instrument Placement for Ellis Band

C. L. Salter Follow-Up

What's Right With Our Schools...C.L. Salter

New Evaluation System to Replace PEPE

Bibb County Summer Technology Conference

Something for Nothing...Don't Be Fooled

QlipBoard

Interactive Whiteboard Site

Tickets to THS Graduation

Save the Date--Foundation Dinner

Condoleezza Rice to Speak

Pandemic Flu

THS Jazz Band Entertains at Hall of Fame Induction

Two Roads

Digital Whiteboard Demonstrations

Talladega City Library Media Guide

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Energy Action Workshop

Interwrite Resources

Music Appreciation...

Summer School Positions for Elementary and Jr. High

Language Arts Documents for Elementary School

Want to Bring TeachTalladega Straight to Your E-Mail?

Helping Students Identify Reliable Information

Web 2.0...What Is It?

School Calendar for 2009-2010

Virtual AETC

Assistant Superintendent Honored at National Conference