Even though I try to limit emails, I want to make sure you receive District communication. Hopefully, between Principal Weekly Notes and my "communication" you are kept in the "loop".
Please keep me posted as to how the "Brenda's Blog Bits" are working for you. I owe two McKinley teachers coffee cards for being the first ones to respond and one Candalaria teacher for "adding comments" on the blog page:). Thanks for the input!
Writing Festival Information:
May 10,2012 6PM – 8:30, Parrish Middle School Each year Capital Reading Council of the ORA and Salem-Keizer School District host a writing festival open to all the elementary schools in Salem-Keizer for the purpose of recognizing and celebrating excellence in writing. Schools participate by reviewing student writing, nominating one piece from each grade level to be presented for display the evening of the event.
At 6:00PM the doors open with parents, teachers, students roaming down the aisles of Parrish Middle School multipurpose room enthusiastically reading the many genre pieces represented. The crowd’s excitement rises as students see their text displayed and joyfully announce "Here it is!" all the while munching on cookies and balancing juice in hand.
At 6:30, the crowd is invited into Parrish auditorium to hear the guest author’s presentation, this year
Each child walks across the stage receiving a signed copy of the author’s book, certificate of participation and a heart bursting with pride. "I am a writer."
We invite you all to come celebrate the efforts of our students by supporting the importance of writing in their life. See you at
Look for information arriving at your school the first of March. Please start collecting those writing piece NOW for possible entries. Thank you so much. Marie Smith, co-author of B is for Beaver, watch the award ceremonies and hear the recitation of a few outstanding pieces of children’s writing. What a gift this is to our students to have a purpose and audience for their writing. Parrish on May 10, 2012 at 6PM. Kathy Moran
New Professional Book:
You’ve Got to Reach Them to Teach Them shows the reader how to engage students and bring out their best, and how to create an environment in which students feel confident and safe enough to take risks, make mistakes, and immerse themselves in stimulating learning experiences. Above all, this book demands that an authentic joy for learning be returned to the classroom. You’ve Got to Reach Them to Teach Them examines topics such as relationships, emotions, environment, and expectations, all of which have a major impact on student engagement.
Each chapter is divided into three segments.
1.
2. Notes From the Field illustrates the chapter s topic in a real-life frame through mediums such as journal entries, vignettes, and student comments. The Discussion provides a closer look at the topic, including research and the topic s importance and relevance in the classroom. 3. Steps Toward Solutions offers practical strategies for implementing the discussed ideas in the classroom. The author provides space for the reader to reflect on his or her thoughts at both the beginning and end of each chapter, and encourages the reader to set a goal of one new strategy as a result of the information given in the chapter.
Seven Strategies of
Assessment FOR Learning
More Information on the
Academy for Teaching and Learning
Six (2 hour) class sessions over Winter/Spring Term
Contest from Lenovo: Open to all students K-8
er School District employees.
The class and materials are free to Salem‐Keiz
One graduate level credit may be purchased from WOU. This class is also open to teachers who previously took the Assessment FOR Learning class.