Winter is Here!

Well, winter has appeared blowing it's cold temeratures right into our faces. I am glad for a wool coat with a hood. I hope everyone stays warm.
Here is wishing all a wonderful holiday season as we only have a few days of school left.
Congrats to the Pulaski Middle School band and chorus on a wonderful concert yesterday. I wish I could hear your concert tonight, but I am singing in the Messiah sing-a-long being held tonight in Blacksburg. Also, I am hoping to get to Dublin Middle School's concert which is Thursday night, but I am worried that we are going to have another snow storm. If I can drive, I'll be there.
When we come back from break, I will be asking everyone WHAT BOOK DID YOU READ OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK?
So, get a book or magazine and read!!!

P.S. -also super fun, pull out a card table or find a place in your house and:
DO A PUZZLE! My family has always had a puzzle out, and there are some really inexpensive ones at dollar stores. Puzzles are fun!

Back to School and Fall too!

Well we are back in school and I am now only teaching gifted classes at the middle school level . . , and loving it!
Check out a great website for kids, parents and teachers too:
http://www.hoagiesgifted.com/

I LOVE fall, and can't wait for cooler weather. But, where is it!

Later,
Mrs. Perry

Comment on 612's Wiki

Today's leader is the steward of the vision and must work collaboratively with the stakeholders to ensure there is ownership by all to the vision. The leaders of the day must promote a positive school culture founded on strong values which keeps at its central focus the learning environment and an effective instructional program. Today's educational leaders are no longer school managers, but rather instructional leaders. Leaders model the joy of and respect for learning while encouraging all stakeholders to be active participants/role models in the learning process. To be successful, today's leaders MUST incorporate multiple audiences and engage all stakeholders in the learning community. Leaders together with stakeholders promote the valuing of academic rigor, self-esteem, respect, quality of experiences, research-based decisions, self-sufficiency and motivation, and reflective leadership. They must create a community where all stakeholders are working to improve connections, coherence, capacity, commitment, and collaborations. Leaders foster teamwork. There are many ways that today's leaders can create both good and effective schools. Today's school leaders must be well organized, great time managers, utilize technology, share decision-making and enable others for leadership. Today’s leaders are personal in their commitment and in their relations with stakeholders. Today's leaders use communication skills to can enhance and improve the effectiveness of schools and student achievement e.g., emails for parental contacts regarding homework and school activities, online gradebooks that allow parents the access to their students grades at all times, and instant alerts to inform parents or guardians of urgent information. The shared vision of the school should include strong relationships within the community that can only enhance the learning opportunities. Schools should be an integral part of the community, nurtured by today’s school leaders.

WOW! SCHOOL'S OUT!!!

Today is the last day that teachers work and I can tell you that we are exhausted! But we are glad that there is finality to the school year. Whether you like it or not, it was a success - - - because it is over!

We made it!

Now to turn my attentions to RU and my graduate courses, my children, my garden and getting back in shape.

Let me know what you are doing this summer and remember to
KEEP READING!

Love,
Mrs. Perry

May 2010 . . . . . yet it is almost June!

Hi everyone and yes it is almost June, can you believe it! We are now in the midst of taking SOL exams and finishing up the end of the year studies.

I am back in school too, did you know that? I am a student at Radford University. Most of my work is online. There is lots and lots of reading. And I love to read so that part is great to me, but most of all I love learning. These courses from Radford are full of things I really want to, and need to learn. Can't beat that!

So keep focused in your studies and on your tests.

Also - Melodies is singing our end of the year concert June 2nd at DUMC and also singing at Critzer, Snowville, PES and PMS on June 8th. Hope to see you there.

Love,
Mrs. Perry

Folktales - anyone?

Here is a great site for folktales from around the world.

http://www.unc.edu/~rwilkers/title.htm

This one will be great for my third graders who will be writing their own folktale.

Tell you a tale later!
Love,
Mrs. Perry

Reality Strikes

Lets get ready to RUMBLE! I say this because it is time for us to be thinking about writing!!!! This means - the writing SOL time is at hand. Remember the varied forms and reasons for writing.

The reasons (purposes)for writing are: to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to actuate.

The varied forms of writing are: narrative, descriptive, persuasive, imformative, explanatory/exposition, imaginative . . . all YOUR CHOICE!

When given a writing prompt, you might want to ask yourself - will I write a story? Then, if the answer is yes, use the plot structure format of a story to develop and organize your writing.

If the answer to the story question is no, then set up your paper in a modified bing, bang, bongo format. I usually write seven paragraphs, adding two detail or "story within an essay" paragraphs to the bing, bang, or bongo that I feel is the most essential or requires more detail.

Another important aspect of writing is to have a personal anecdote, story or connection that you can bring to your writing. Ask yourself - how will the reader remember me?

Write on!!!

Love,
Mrs. Perry

Snow, snow, and more snow

Hi everyone, and yes we are stuck at home with another snowstorm. Also, there should be another one this next weekend. So - we will have to think of other things to do.
Here are some ideas -

Geomertry
http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=GeometryWorkbench

Fractions
http://fen.com/studentactivities/MathSplat/mathsplat.htm

Lots of math
http://www.marshallschools.com/teachers/makingsa/Mathstudent.htm

Just for you B. H.!
http://www.greatdaytolearn.com/

Communication Arts
http://emints.eldo.k12.mo.us/~msteward/commarts%20resources.html

More math
http://www.sums.co.uk/playground.htm
or
http://teachers.emints.org/FY06/taylorr/math.html


language arts, science, etc. links
http://teachers.emints.org/FY06/taylorr/langarts.html

just copy and paste into a new webbrowser.

BLOG ME BACK!!!
Love,
Mrs. Perry

P.S. I am doing everything I possibly can to avoid cleaning!!!!