MRVED Business

Communication Briefings:
I don't think I use the following words very often but thought I'd share this little tidbit anyways.

• Purposefully vs. purposely      The best strategy for keeping these similar words straight is to think of purposefully as positive and purposely as negative. Use purposefully to describe behavior aimed at reaching a goal.  Use purposely when you want to show that someone did something willfully or intentionally.  Examples:
• She worked purposefully to finish the job ahead of the deadline.
• He purposely withheld the information she needed until he knew it would be too late for her to act on it.                                                                     

Training Opportunity:
Ortonville is bringing a fantastic preK training to Ortonville called S.M.A.R.T. pre-K. The training focuses on helping children become developmentally ready to learn the skills that we're asking them to learn at younger and younger ages, and programs that have implemented it have found it to be highly effective. Kids are learning skills faster, retaining them better, and teachers are dealing with fewer behavior problems. As a result of this, programs are finding fewer kids are needing extra services as they progress through school, which is a huge long term cost savings for the district.

SMART Training


Upcoming Meetings:
April 1, 2014    Guidance Counselors
April 8, 2014    Principals' Council & TAC Combined Meeting
April 11, 2014  Title III Teachers
April 23, 2014  Superintendents' Council
April 23, 2014  MRVED Board (7:00 p.m.)

First Days of School - How to Increase Positive Student Behavior

"Significant people use significant words and actions to increase positive behaviors." (Wong, 69)

This week in Harry Wong's book, The First Days of School, we will enter our final chapter in the first part of the book what positive expectations can do in the classroom.  This first part was all about making connections, creating a safe and inviting environment, and increasing positive student behaviors.

How to Increase Positive Student Behavior

We'll start with a quote from the book; "How a person behaves in the journey of life is directly related to what a person expects to happen in life."  There are 5 concepts Harry Wong points to in his book that will help a person achieve whatever they want in their life, they are:

• Addressing a person by name
• Saying "please"
• Saying "thank you"
• Smiling
• Showing care and warmth

For this week, we will break down each of these five concepts.  Remember, your students will mimic your behaviors.  Model good behavior, and you will be surprised at how your students respond.  What you give is what you will get.

Address a Student by Name

Why does a salesperson repeatedly use your name when trying to sell you something?  It's because it makes you feel wanted and important in the short relationship you have with that person.  What can we learn from the sales people and how does it relate to education?

You are trying to sell "information" to your students.  If they never feel like they are a part of this relationship, and they are only there to listen to how wise you are, they won't buy.  Students also tend to pay attention better when you use their name.  "When you use a person's name you are saying to that person, "You are important enough to me to identify you by name." (Wong, 70)

Say "Please," Please

Think about a time you were in a service-oriented business (grocery store, restaurant, etc...), if you have a good experience and are treated well, you are likely to return.  If you are treated poorly, you are very reluctant to go back to that business.  What can education learn from the business world?  Treat your "customers" with respect, and they will be a satisfied customer and will return.  "Kindness begins with the word please."  Wong suggests placing the word "please" on your worksheets and/or assignments.

Thank You

Please see the "please" section.  "Thank you says to others that you appreciate their effort and kindness." (Wong 72)

A Smile, the Frosting on the Cake
A smile is the universal language of understanding, peace, and harmony.  It is also the most effective way to create a positive climate, to disarm an angry person, and to convey the message "Don't be afraid of me; I am here to help you." (Wong, 74)

It All Adds Up to Love
Wong says, "When you look at the truly effective teachers, you will also find caring, warm, lovable people.  If you address your student by name, say please and thank you, and smile, it shows you care and love your students.

Creating the environment for learning is one of the first steps to becoming an effective teacher.  It all starts with the classroom environment and the teacher attitude.  Without the things outlined in the first part of Wong's book, becoming a highly effective teacher is an uphill climb!

Reflection
Take a moment and reflect on your own classroom and attitude:

• Is your environment a safe place to learn?
• Is your environment inviting?
• Do you treat all students will respect?
• Do you model saying please and thank you, all with a smile?

Tech Tip

Gradebook and PBIS App

iDoceo

iDoceo is a grade book, planner, diary, schedule and resource manager all in one app.

Its spreadsheet engine will calculate averages as you input your assessment data.

You can insert and edit any kind of information for a class, student and semester visually, no more boring spreadsheets.
Scroll, expand, filter, export, import and view your information at any time. No internet connection is required.

iDoceo will work with any kind of grading system, you can even create your own. You will not miss your old paper grade book again.

This gradebook is awesome for the teacher on the go!  Elementary music and physical education teachers love this app as it works great on the iPad!  It is very customizable to meet your needs.

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is a behavior system that rewards or deducts points based upon certain behavior you observe in the classroom.  It is very user friendly and can be used in any grade level.

Tips for Testing

Testing Tips
Testing season can be a stressful time for both teachers and students.  Check out these great tips from edmentum.  There is everything from watching a cute video on testing, to stretching, to using peppermint to increase scores.  It's worth a quick glance!

MRVED Business

Communication Briefings - 3 Common Errors
Even professional communicators, make mistakes - usually because of haste rather than ignorance.  Here are some of the most common:

1.  Between you and I. The correct form is "between you and me."  Between is a preposition like with or from, so use an objective pronoun: me.
2.  All ready.  Unless you are referring to a group - "We were all ready to go" - you should use the adverb already, meaning by this time.  Example: We already covered that.
3.  It's.  Easily misused, the word it's is a contraction meaning it is.  The word its is a possessive pronoun.

Upcoming Meetings
March 25  Pathways to Postsecondary
March 26  Superintendents' Council
March 28  MRVED Professional Development Day - trainings at LQPV and Dawson-Boyd (contact Brandon Raymo - braymo@mrved.net - to register or for more information on these trainings)

April 1  Guidance Counselors - RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH 18
April 8  Principals' Council & TAC Joint meeting
April 11  Title III Teachers
April 23  Superintendents' Council
April 23  MRVED Board (7 p.m.)

Teachers of Tomorrow Summer Institute

2014 Teachers of Tomorrow Summer Institute
Minnesota State University Mankato is hosting the 2014 Teachers of Tomorrow Summer Institute July 15-19.  This institute is for high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have an interest in the field of education.  The cost is only $50 and would be a great opportunity for any kid that is interested in becoming a teacher.  If you know of any student that would be interested, pass on the flyer and application to them or have them watch the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HAI-MzSOaM

Website
Flyer
Application

First Days of School - Inviting Students to Learn

"Effective teachers have the power and the ability to invite
students and colleagues each day and in every class to learn together."

We will continue our series centered around Harry and Rosemary Wong's book, The First Days of School.  Wong outlines the three characteristics of an effective teacher as:

• Has positive expectations.
• Is an extremely good classroom manager.
• Knows how to design lessons for student mastery.

For the first couple weeks, we will focus on positive expectations.

How to Invite Students to Learn - Chapter 9
Wong's chapter on inviting students to learn is heavily influenced by William W. Purkey's concept of "Invitational Education".  Invitational education is centered around the following:

• People are able, valuable, and responsible and should be treated accordingly.
• Helping is a cooperative, collaborative alliance in which process is as important as product.
• People possess relatively untapped potential in all areas of human development.
• Human potential can best be realized by places, policies, programs, and processes that are intentionally designed to invite development, and by people who consistently seek to realize this potential in themselves and others, personally and professionally.

To fulfill the above propositions, invitational education employs the following:

• Opportunities are everywhere, but little happens until invitations are sent, received, and acted on.
• A positive self-concept is the product of inviting acts.
• One inviting act can make a positive difference even if everything else is disinviting.
• We will always be invited if we are giving the party.
• Human potential is always there, waiting to be discovered and invited forth.
• To maintain a consistently inviting stance is the essence of an effective teacher.

Are you Invitational or Disinvitational?

• Do you greet your students every day?
• Do you smile and listen to your students?
• Is your environment inviting?

Invitation

An invitation is a message that states that the person being invited is responsible, able, and valuable.  "The critical ingredient needed for people to realize their fullest potential lies in the kinds of invitations extended to individuals by the significant people in their lives." (Wong, 64)

Teachers are significant people in any students lives.  Educators need to know the power of being invitational in the learning process.  If a student does not feel safe and invited to learn, the chances they will learn decreases.  Here are a couple examples of being an inviting teacher:

• A teacher says, "this kid can't read"...instead the teacher could say, "this kid can't read.  How can I help him/her?"
• Having live plants in your classroom.
• Greeting students at the door every day.

Four Levels of Invitational Education

1. Intentionally Disinviting - Deliberately demean, discourage, defeat, and dissuade students.
1. Examples: "I failed 12 students last semester."  "I've only given one A in 16 years of teaching."  "You will never amount to anything."
2. Unintentionally Disinviting - Are not deliberately negative, but often say things to demean students.
1. Examples: "If you don't want to learn, that's your problem."  "I was hired to teach history, not all these other things."  "I teach only students who want to learn."
3. Unintentionally Inviting - Generally well liked and effective, but are unaware of why they are effective.
1. Examples: "Aren't you sweet."  "I enjoy teaching."  "Great job!"
4. Intentionally Inviting - Have a professional attitude, work diligently and consistently, and strive to be more effective teachers.
1. Examples: "Good morning, have a great day."  "Please tell me more."  "You can do better; let me show you how."

Tech Tip

PBS Kids Interactive Whiteboard Games
If you are a PreK-3 teacher, and have an interactive whiteboard in your classroom PBS Kids Whiteboard site is for you!  This site has a variety of games designed specifically for your interactive whiteboard.  The games range from basic math to learning the alphabet.  Take 5 minutes to browse through it today!

March 28 Offerings

LQPV & Dawson/Boyd will be offering training opportunities for all teachers in the MRVED on March 28, see details below:

Typical or Troubled Training at LQPV from 7:45-8:45

• Early identification of mental health problems and the importance of intervention. 
• An overview of mental disorders and the key warning signs. 
• The impact of a mental health issue on the teen and school community, why getting appropriate care and treatment is critical, and the difference between 'typical' and 'troubled' behavior. 
• The role school personnel (or other adults in the community) can play in helping a teen get help - and why taking action and referring is important. 
• An overview of how the school's referral system works and the steps to take action to connect a student to help. 
• How to talk to and engage teens, parents, or school counselors.
• For more information visit the American Psychiatric Foundation website.

ACE's Training at Dawson/Boyd from 12:30-3:00

• An Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) describes a traumatic experience in a person's life occurring before the age of 18 that the person recalls as an adult.
• 55% of Minnesotans report experiencing one or more ACE in childhood.
• For more information about ACE visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Both of these opportunities are open to all MRVED schools.  If you are interested in participating please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net) at the MRVED for more information and/or to register.  There will be limited spots available.  If you plan to attend, please let Brandon know by the end of the day Tuesday, March 25.

MRVED Business

FACS Meeting Update
The FACS teachers gathered at the MRVED on March 11 for their 2nd meeting of the year.  The morning was spent on completing program approval forms.  In the afternoon the group participated in a 21st century skills activity and networked.  There was much laughter and great ideas shared all day long with this great group of women!

Communication Briefings
This week's tidbit is entitled:  Nonwords

You might be surprised to hear this, but some of the words that you hear—and, perhaps, use—every day are not really words, in the strictest sense. Here are a few “words” in common usage that you will not find in the dictionary:

• Nevermind. If you mean “disregard” or “do not consider that any longer,” use two words: never mind. As one word, nevermind is an outdated American noun that means heed, as in “I never gave that any nevermind.”
• Irregardless. The correct word is “regardless.”
• Alot. Use two words: a lot.
• Alright. Again, use two words: all right. Alright is a nonstandard version that is gaining acceptance but has not yet achieved legitimacy.

— Adapted from “Words That Aren’t Words,” Grace Fleming, http://homeworktips.about.com.

Upcoming Meetings
March 17  CEO meeting
March 18  Guidance Counselors
March 20  Social Workers
March 21  Business
March 25  Pathways to Postsecondary
March 26  Superintendents' Council
March 28  MRVED Professional Development Day - trainings at LQPV and Dawson-Boyd (contact Brandon Raymo - braymo@mrved.net - to register or for more information on these trainings.)

First Days of School - How to Help All Students Succeed

"The most important day of a person's education is the first day of school, not graduation."  These words are the basis of Wong's book and ring throughout every chapter.  Although we are nearing the last quarter of school, many of the tips Wong gives are not only important on the first day of school, but throughout the whole year.

First Days of School - How to Help All Students Succeed

As we mentioned last week, we are starting a new series centered around Harry and Rosemary Wong's books, The First Days of School.  Wong outlines the three characteristics of an effective teacher as:

• Has positive expectations.
• Is an extremely good classroom manager.
• Knows how to design lessons for student mastery.

For the first couple weeks, we will focus on positive expectations.

How to Help All Students Succeed - Chapter 7

How to Welcome Students to School (Wong, p.47)

• Organize a first day of school celebration.
• Stand at the bus stop and welcome them.
• Stand at every entrance to the school.
• Hang a welcoming banner.
• Have guides in the hall.
• Have your name and room number clearly visible.
• Make sure the first message over the loud speaker is a welcoming one.

A second quote in this chapter that is really powerful is, "School is a concept wherein students are welcome to learn and enhance the quality of their lives without fear of intimidation or harm..." (Wong, p.48)

The bottom line is students need to feel welcomed, cared for, and safe in order to even begin to be successful.  Sometimes, as educators, we overlook some of our students most basic needs and don't understand why he/she is not understanding material or staying caught up in class.  Sometimes we need to stop and think about how the student feels in your environment.

Resources

20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment

Fostering a Healthy, Safe, and Supportive Learning Environment: How High Poverty, High Performing Schools Do It

PBS Kids Writers Contest Deadline Approaching

Pioneer Public TV is teaming up with public television stations around the country to once again offer the PBS Kids Writing Contest to promote the advancement of creativity and literacy skills in the Pioneer Public Television region.

The contest is designed for students from kindergarten through third grade. Contest rules are available by visiting www.pioneer.org/writerscontest or by calling the station toll free at 1-800-726-3178. In addition to the writing, contestants are required to submit at least 5 illustrations to go along with their entry. Prose, Poetry, Fact or Fiction and invented spellings -- all are accepted in this contest.

The deadline for submitting contest entries is March 31, 2014. The winner will be selected by a panel of poets, teachers and writers from the Pioneer Public Television region. The winning entry will have a video of the story posted to Pioneer Public TV's web site. Cy Robertson-Hare, a 3rd grader from Vermillion, South Dakota, was the winner of last year's contest and his story "A Boy Named Jonathan" can be viewed online at www.pioneer.org/writerscontest.

The winning entry from Pioneer Public Television will in turn be entered into a national contest where a panel of judges will select the top 12 winners. National winners will be announced during the summer of 2014. Several prizes are being offered to the winners in the national contest including tablet computers, e-readers and gift cards.

Tech Tip

Google Tools
Google is a lot more than just a search engine.  Here is a list and description of a variety of Google tools you can use:

• Google Docs - Word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, drawings, forms
• Google Drive - Cloud storage
• Google Calendar - Online calendar
• Google Cultural Institute - World Wonders Project, Art Project, Historic Moments
• Google Storybuilder - Create your own story video
• Google Keep - Voice memo's and checklists
• Google Scholar - Search scholarly online materials
• Google Books - Buy and rent books
• Google Sites - Create websites
• Google Alerts - Setup email alerts whenever a word or phrase is found online...like your name or school!
• Google Cloud Print - Print from anywhere
• Blogger - Create a blog
• Google Play - App, Music, Movie store

March 28 Offerings

LQPV & Dawson/Boyd will be offering a couple training opportunities for all teachers in the MRVED on March 28, see details below:

Typical or Troubled Training at LQPV from 7:45-8:45

• Early identification of mental health problems and the importance of intervention. 
• An overview of mental disorders and the key warning signs. 
• The impact of a mental health issue on the teen and school community, why getting appropriate care and treatment is critical, and the difference between 'typical' and 'troubled' behavior. 
• The role school personnel (or other adults in the community) can play in helping a teen get help - and why taking action and referring is important. 
• An overview of how the school's referral system works and the steps to take action to connect a student to help. 
• How to talk to and engage teens, parents, or school counselors.
• For more information visit the American Psychiatric Foundation website.

ACE's Training at Dawson/Boyd from 12:30-3:00

• An Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) describes a traumatic experience in a person's life occurring before the age of 18 that the person recalls as an adult.
• 55% of Minnesotans report experiencing one or more ACE in childhood.
• For more information about ACE visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Both of these opportunities are open to all MRVED schools.  If you are interested in participating please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net) at the MRVED for more information and/or to register.  There will be limited spots available.

MRVED Business

Agriculture and Industrial Technology Meetings
The agriculture instructors met at the MRVED on Tuesday, March 4 and the industrial technology teachers met on Thursday, March 6.  The morning was spent getting all their program approval forms and documents ready to be submitted to the state as a requirement to obtain Perkins funding.  Both groups filled up on pizza, chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad at Pizza Ranch over lunch hour.  In the afternoon the group participated in a 21st century skills activity and networked.  As usual it was a great time with a great bunch of people!

Communication Briefings (by Mary)
This will be a new section to our weekly blog.  Communication Briefings is a monthly newsletter that our office used to receive. As I was organizing my workspace, I came across a binder of these newsletters and started perusing them.  The more I looked through them, the more I thought that I should share some of the tidbits in the newsletters in an effort to promote clearer communication among our peers and students.  So each week, I will select a little something that I found interesting and worth sharing.


Tricky Pairs is this week's title.

1. Accept and except. Accept is a verb meaning receive or take. Example: “Please accept my apology.” Except is most commonly used as a preposition meaning excluding. Example: “I like all your ideas except the last one.”
2. Affect and effect. Affect is a verb that means to alter or influence. Example: “How will the cutbacks affect our budget?” Effect is a noun meaning result. Example: “The cumulative effect will be dramatic.”
3. Between and among. Use the word between when describing a one-on-one relationship between two subjects. Example: “That is between you and Bob.” Use among when referring to more than two subjects. Example: “I divided my tasks among my co-workers.”
4. Cite and site. Cite is a verb meaning to mention. Example: “Can you cite your sources?” Site is a noun referring to location; these days it often refers to an Internet page. Example: “I hired someone to update our site.”
5. Complement and compliment. Both words can be used as nouns or verbs. Complement refers to completeness. Example: “We offer a full complement of products to meet your needs.” “That brooch complements your outfit.” Compliment means praise. Example: “I want to pass along a compliment.” “We must compliment you on your grace under pressure.”

Upcoming Meetings
March 11  FACS
March 14  Title III Paraprofessionals
March 17  CEO meeting
March 18  Guidance Counselors
March 20  Social Workers
March 21  Business
March 25  Pathways to Postsecondary
March 26  Superintendents' Council
March 28  MRVED Professional Development Day - trainings at LQPV and Dawson-Boyd (contact Brandon Raymo - braymo@mrved.net - to register or for more information on these trainings.)

March 28 Offerings

LQPV & Dawson/Boyd will be offering a couple training opportunities for all teachers in the MRVED on March 28, see details below:

Typical or Troubled Training at LQPV from 7:45-8:45

• Early identification of mental health problems and the importance of intervention. 
• An overview of mental disorders and the key warning signs. 
• The impact of a mental health issue on the teen and school community, why getting appropriate care and treatment is critical, and the difference between 'typical' and 'troubled' behavior. 
• The role school personnel (or other adults in the community) can play in helping a teen get help - and why taking action and referring is important. 
• An overview of how the school's referral system works and the steps to take action to connect a student to help. 
• How to talk to and engage teens, parents, or school counselors.
• For more information visit the American Psychiatric Foundation website.

ACE's Training at Dawson/Boyd from 12:30-3:00

• An Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) describes a traumatic experience in a person's life occurring before the age of 18 that the person recalls as an adult.
• 55% of Minnesotans report experiencing one or more ACE in childhood.
• For more information about ACE visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Both of these opportunities are open to all MRVED schools.  If you are interested in participating please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net) at the MRVED for more information and/or to register.  There will be limited spots available.

New Series - The First Days of School

During the months of January and February we highlighted a feature called Brandon's Brainwork.  I hope it gave you the opportunity to reflect and think about a few aspects of your teaching.  Our last series of the year will be based on The First Days of School by Harry & Rosemary Wong.  Each week we will highlight a certain chapter in the book and provide resources to go with the chapters.



Laying the Groundwork
According to Harry Wong, the three characteristics of an effective teacher are:

1. Has positive expectations for students success.
2. Is an extremely good classroom manager.
3. Knows how to design lessons for student mastery.

Over the next couple months we will highlight different pieces of each of these three characteristics.

Positive Expectations

• AKA...High expectations.
• Means that the teacher believes in the learner and that the learner can learn.
• Whatever the teacher expects from the learner is what the learner will produce.
• It is essential that the teacher exhibit positive expectations toward all students.

Classroom Management

• Practices and procedures that a teacher uses to maintain an environment in which instruction and learning can occur.
• Discipline has very little to do with classroom management.
• The teacher must establish a productive and cooperative working environment.

Lesson Mastery

• Student's demonstration that a concept has been comprehended or a skill can be performed at a level of proficiency determined by the teacher.
• Student success in the subject matter of the class will be the result of how well the teacher designs lessons and checks for mastery.

Tech Tip

FBI SOS
The FBI Safe Online Surfing is a great site for teaching online safety to 3rd-8th graders.  The curriculum is all game based, decision making.  Teachers can sign up and then receive instructions on setting up their classroom.  This way the teacher can then track their students as they go through the program.

Other Online Safety Resources

NetSmartz

Common Sense Media