MRVED Business

Last Week for the Call for MELT Presentations & Session Ideas

The call for presentations will close on November 1st.  The MRVED is once again looking for people to present at the annual MELT conference in January.  The 2014 installment of the MELT will be held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School on January 20.  This is a great day to showcase some of the great things you are doing in your classrooms.  Presenters will be paid a small stipend for their efforts.  If you are interested in providing a session, please click on the link below and fill out the form.  Filling out the form does not guarantee or bind you to providing a session.  If you don't want to present, but have great ideas for possible sessions, please click on the correct link below to provide the MRVED with your suggestions.

If you are willing to present and provide a session click HERE

If you do not want to present, but have ideas for sessions, click HERE

Meeting Updates
Title I
The Title I teachers came to the MRVED for their 2nd ever best practice meeting on October 8.  Brandon and Karen facilitated the learning around effective feedback and depth of knowledge.  The afternoon was spent networking and sharing ideas.  Overall it was a great day of learning and networking.

Music
The music instructors gathered at the MRVED for their annual best practice meeting on Wednesday, October 9.  The day was full of conversation and sharing.  Part of the morning was spent networking in job-alike groups, with all instructors coming well-prepared for their networking.  21st Century Skills was also a focus of the morning and the teachers really got into discussing and learning about what it looks like in their classrooms.  During the afternoon, Jessica Leibfried from the Perpich Center met with the teachers to discuss what the Perpich Center can do for them professionally.  Jessica will be continuing to work with the teachers during MELT in January.  Overall a great day was had!

Art
The art teachers met at the MRVED on Thursday, October 10 for their best practice meeting.  The day started off with a presentation and discussion from OSHA on safety in the art classroom.  After the OSHA presentation, Jeremy Holien from the Perpich Center met with the teachers and discussed and facilitated 21st Century Skills and curriculum alignment with the instructors.  The rest of the afternoon was spent networking and discussing possible MELT sessions for the art teachers.

MRVED UPCOMING MEETINGS:
October 29, 2013 - Math
October 30, 2013 - Superintendents' Council
November 5, 2013 - FACS (meeting will be in Marshall)
November 6, 2013 - Principals' Council
November 14, 2013 - Guidance Counselors

Math and Science Frameworks

The Minnesota Department of Education and SciMath MN partnered a couple years ago to develop an online version of the Math and Science Frameworks.  It is a great website to get standards aligned resources and ideas.  The frameworks are user-friendly and aligned to the most current version of the standards.  If you haven't been out to the website in awhile, give a look over today.

Watch a 12 minute tutorial on the Math and Science Frameworks

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

6. Interact meaningfully with every student

What it looks like: "Teachers interact with students, getting to know them and demonstrating interest in them as individuals and as learners.  They also bring a positive personality to the classroom, displaying enthusiasm for learning and modeling for students how their particular subject areas can be worth of lifelong pursuit." (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 197)

Why it is important: "Research shows that students with weak relationships with teachers are more likely to disengage from school.  Conversely, strong positive links have been found between student performance and teacher-student relationship variables, such as empathy, warmth, nondirectivity, and sensitivity to students' social and emotional needs." (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 197)

MRVED Business

Call for MELT Presentations & Session Ideas

The MRVED is once again looking for people to present at the annual MELT conference in January.  The 2014 installment of the MELT will be held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School on January 20.  This is a great day to showcase some of the great things you are doing in your classrooms.  Presenters will be paid a small stipend for their efforts.  If you are interested in providing a session, please click on the link below and fill out the form.  Filling out the form does not guarantee or bind you to providing a session.  If you don't want to present, but have great ideas for possible sessions, please click on the correct link below to provide the MRVED with your suggestions.

If you are willing to present and provide a session click HERE

If you do not want to present, but have ideas for sessions, click HERE

Science Best Practice Meeting Update
The Science teachers gathered at the MRVED on Thursday October 3 for their annual best practice meeting.  This year the teachers had the opportunity to work with Minnesota Department of Education specialists John Olson and Doug Paulson.  The teachers spent the day working with teaching science through literacy.  They had the opportunity to participate in a lesson that incorporated lots of reading and writing.

Title I Best Practice Meeting Update
The Title I teachers met at the MRVED on Tuesday, October 8th for their 2nd ever best practice meeting.  The meeting was well attended and the teachers had the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities that dealt with providing effective feedback and depth of knowledge.  The afternoon was spent networking and sharing ideas and resources.  Overall it was a great day for all!

Upcoming Meetings:
October 11:  Title III Paraprofessionals
October 16:  MRVED Professional Development Day
October 23:  Business
October 25:  Technology Coordinators
October 29:  Math
October 30:  Superintendents' Council

Geographic Information Systems and Google Sketchup State Licenses

ArcGIS

Geospatial technologies are one of the three fastest growing technology fields (Source: U.S. Department of Labor). To introduce students to the geospatial tools and skills that will be required for many high-demand jobs of the future, Minnesota, through a partnership of organizations and individuals, have negotiated a statewide license for ESRI Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.

The software will be available at no cost to qualified organizations in Minnesota. These include, but are not limited to:

• All K-12 public, private and charter schools
• Homeschools
• K-12 aged formal and non-formal youth groups (including afterschool and summer programs)

If your district is interested in acquiring a free site license for the ArcGIS software, have your technology coordinator contact mde.schooltechplan@state.mn.us or Doug Paulson, STEM specialist at MDE.

Google Sketchup

The Minnesota Department of Education also has a state site license for Google Sketchup Pro.  Google Sketchup is a 3D drawing program.  There is no cost to the districts as the state has secured funding through a variety of sources.  If your district is interested in acquiring a free site license of Google Sketchup Pro, have your technology coordinator contact mde.schooltechplan@state.mn.us or Doug Paulson, STEM specialist at MDE.

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

5. Engagement and Motivation

What it looks like: Teachers hook students at the beginning of each lesson using a variety of activities.  Teachers should provide student choice in learning activities, use mysteries and puzzles, as well as novelty and variety in the classroom to engage and motivate students. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 197)

Why it is important: "Student motivation accounts for more variance in student success than ability.  Studies have found that student interest in core subjects declines as they progress through school".  Using choice can motivate students, and puzzles and mystery can help engage students. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 197)

Goodwin, B., & Hubbell, E. R. (2013). The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day. Alexandria, VA: ASCD - See more at: http://www.mcrel.org/products-and-services/products/product-listing/100_199/product-111#sthash.NJswMvKe.dpuf


For something to think about on motivation, see Daniel Pink's TED talk.  He offers research based ideas on how to increase student motivation in your classroom.

MRVED Business

Call for MELT Presentations & Session Ideas

The MRVED is once again looking for people to present at the annual MELT conference in January.  The 2014 installment of the MELT will be held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School on January 20.  This is a great day to showcase some of the great things you are doing in your classrooms.  Presenters will be paid a small stipend for their efforts.  If you are interested in providing a session, please click on the link below and fill out the form.  Filling out the form does not guarantee or bind you to providing a session.  If you don't want to present, but have great ideas for possible sessions, please click on the correct link below to provide the MRVED with your suggestions.

If you are willing to present and provide a session click HERE

If you do not want to present, but have ideas for sessions, click HERE

Agriculture Best Practice Meeting Update

The Agriculture instructors assembled on Thursday September 26 at K&M Manufacturing in Renville.  The group had the opportunity to tour the building, seeing new equipment and techniques.  They also had the chance to visit with management talking about the process as well as what skills are needed to succeed in this area.  Great conversation was had over lunch.  In the afternoon, Gail Polejewski met with the instructors to talk Perkins and the group shared resources and ideas for the rest of the afternoon.  Overall it was a great tour and another chance to get together and network.

Last Chance To Register for October 16 Common Day Activities
Registration will close on Wednesday, October 9 at 4:00 to participate in any of the professional development activities.  See the flyer for registration information.  Sessions being offered are:

Google Docs @ LQPV
Middle School Math Data Day @ MRVED
MCIS Training @ MVALC
Diversity Day @ Prairie's Edge Casino

October 16 Flyer Link

Meet Karen Jacobson

Karen Jacobson is the Director of the MRVED. Hired as Assistant Director in November 2001, Karen became the MRVED Director in July 2007. Prior to joining the MRVED, Karen worked as the Community Initiatives Director for the Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation, served as the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coordinator for several area schools, and began her career as an Extension Educator in Chippewa County. She earned her Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, in 1990.

Karen and her husband, Steve, have two grown sons. Scott is a Mechanical Engineer for K & M Manufacturing in Renville and is married to Michelle who is the finance manager for Yellow Medicine County. Thomas is a registered nurse at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital. He is single. ;-) When not at work, Karen enjoys wine tasting, traveling, following football (Go Bears!), spending time with her new horse, and is a volunteer Pole Vault coach for the Montevideo Track and Field team.


Upcoming Meetings
October 4: Online Teachers
October 8: Title I Teachers
October 9: Music
October 10: Art
October 11: Title III Paraprofessionals

Digital Public Library of America

The Digital Public Library of America is an awesome resource if you are looking at bringing any primary resources into your classroom digitally.  They have an extensive collection of primary sources on a variety of topics.  There are also a couple apps you can download to be used on iPads.  Head out there and take a look today!

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

4. Measure Understanding

What it looks like: Course grades should reflect what a student knows, not what a student does or how he/she acts. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 196)

Why it is important: Grade inflation gives students a false impression they have learned something.  Students learn how to play school, rather than learn material.  Grading nonacademic factors also lowers expectations for students. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 196)

Goodwin, B., & Hubbell, E. R. (2013). The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day. Alexandria, VA: ASCD - See more at: http://www.mcrel.org/products-and-services/products/product-listing/100_199/product-111#sthash.NJswMvKe.dpuf