MRVED Business

Physical Education and Health Best Practice Meeting Update
The day started off with Brandon showing the group some of the latest and greatest apps and websites for the Health and/or PE classroom.  After that, the group looked at the SAMR model for technology integration and had time to digest a lot of new information.  An article was read and discussed on competition in the Phy Ed classroom.  It was a very interesting discussion among groups on a somewhat controversial topic in physical education.  The group then split into districts teams and aligned the standards K-12.  Lunch was great as usual.  In the afternoon the group networked and looked at the health standards and had another productive discussion.

MRVED Meetings

November 13, 2014  Social Workers
November 18, 2014  FACS - MTG CHANGED TO DECEMBER 16, 2014
November 20, 2014  Industrial Technology
November 21, 2014  Community Ed
November 26, 2014  Superintendents' Council

MELT Networking Session Facilitator

The MRVED is looking for facilitators of networking groups.  As a facilitator you are not expected to be the expert in the room, but rather move the discussion along.  The goal of a networking group is to share resources and ideas with people who have the same interest.  They are meant to include a give & take.  Bring something to share and take something away that someone else shared.  The only networking groups that will be offered are those that have a willing facilitator.  If a networking group does not have a facilitator, it will not be held.  If you would like to sign up, please click the link below and add your name to the list next to the group you would like to facilitate.  The networking sign up will close at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday November 18.  If you have any questions, please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net).

MELT Networking Group Facilitator Sign Up

Repair Kit for Grading - Fix 8

Fix 8: Don't assign grades using inappropriate or unclear performance standards; provide clear descriptions of achievement expectations.

The first thing that needs to be done to create a high-quality and organized grading system is to set clear learning objectives.  These can have many different names; learning targets, objectives, goals, power standards, etc...  Regardless of their name, these should be established by a team of teachers.  By going through the process of establishing the essential learning, teachers have the opportunity to work with the standards and get to know exactly what it is that students need to know.

The second thing that needs to happen is for the team of teachers to develop indicators of performance.  Whether it be something as simple as proficient or not proficient, or a 4 points scale of exceeds, meets, partially meets, does not meet.  But, it is vital these indicators are discussed and agreed upon with clear definitions.

Rubrics create a clear roadmap of what needs to be accomplished to reach certain performance standards.  The use of rubrics is key into developing a standards-based report card system.  Creating them does take a little work, but once created the teacher can clearly communicate particular marks given.

Tech Tip - Google Classroom

If you are looking for a free learning management system for your classroom, give Google Classroom a try.  A learning management system is a tool used to effectively conduct an online class.  Google Classroom works very well with schools that have Google Apps for their students.

If you are looking for a place to teach a class either fully online, or in a blended environment, teachers of the MRVED also have access to Moodle.  Other options include Schoology or Edmodo.