MRVED Update

MELT Update

Melt 2018 is fast approaching and preparations are well underway.  This year there are over 30 sessions to choose from per hour.  There are many new sessions offered this year as well as some popular sessions from years past.  Some groups will also have the opportunity to network.

Registration
Last year we experimented with sending out the MELT brochure a couple days prior to sending the registration link.  This allowed people to set their schedule and read through the descriptions prior to registering.  This seemed to work really well.  The process will be the same this year.  The brochure will come to you on Monday December 4 from your Principal.  The link to register will come to you on Wednesday morning from your Principal.  Principals, look for this information from Mary please.

We cannot stress enough the importance of registering as early as possible.  Some sessions fill really fast, therefore the later you are in registering, the greater the risk of not being able to get into those sessions.

TIES Conference

The biggest educational technology conference in the midwest is happening December 9-12 in Minneapolis.  The TIES 2017 Education Technology conference takes place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis.  This conference is jam-packed with tons of breakout sessions and excellent keynote speakers.  You can preview the breakout sessions by looking at the schedule.  You can also follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #TIES17.  If you are going, feel free to send Brandon an email or a Tweet as he will be attending as well.  If educational technology interests you at all, this is the place to be in Minnesota in December!

Simple Ways to Help Young Kids Develop Self Control

I stumbled across this article on Edutopia the other day.  It is about ways in which to help kids develop self control.  As a parent of a nine, four, and one year old, the tips provided here were very helpful and easy to do.  This is a great article for any teacher to read and could also be something to provide parents in your newsletters home.

Simple Ways to Help Young Kids Develop Self Control by Dr. Donna Wilson and Dr. Marcus Conyers

Tech Tip of the Week - Peergrade

Have you ever had students provide feedback on their peers work?  Peergrade allows you to do just that, but digitally!  Students can turn in their assignment, and the program will randomly distribute the work to students to provide feedback on.  The basic plan is free!  Check it out today!

Innovator's Mindset - Learn, Lead, Innovate

We are on Chapter 5 of the Innovator's Mindset by George Couros.  This chapter is full of great information, so we'll cover only a snippet of the chapter.  If you haven't already obtained the book, you still have plenty of time to get it and get caught up through chapter 5.

Chapter 5 is titled Learn, Lead, Innovate and the main purpose of this chapter is to show the characteristics of someone who can lead people through innovation.  It rings loud and clear throughout the chapter that you first must be a learner in order to lead.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is in this chapter, "Would I want to be a learner in my own classroom?" (Couros 83).  This is so true!  You need to put yourselves in the shoes of your students to feel empathy toward their school experience.  If you know what they are feeling, you can create real and authentic learning experiences for them.

Couros identifies 8 characteristics of the innovative leader:
1. Visionary - You need to see beyond the obvious
2. Empathetic - Feel for the learner
3. Models Learning - Be a learner yourself
4. Open Risk-Taker - Model risk taking
5. Networked - Open your mind to new ideas and people
6. Observant - Really look at the world around us
7. Team Builder - Need to be collaborative
8. Always Focused on Relationships - Foster the relationships

If you are going to lead innovation, you need to model learning & risk taking.  If people see you doing it, they are more likely to follow along.  Open your mind to new ideas and people and be willing to venture into the uncomfortable to make innovation happen.  It wouldn't be innovation if it wasn't uncomfortable.

MRVED Meetings:
December 1, 2017    Title III Teachers
December 14, 2017  TAC
December 15, 2017  Principals' Council
December 20, 2017  Superintendents' Council
December 20, 2017  MRVED Board (7:00 p.m.)

MRVED Update

MELT Networking Session Facilitator Sign-Up

The MRVED is looking for facilitators of networking groups for the 2018 MELT in January. 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 3:00 p.m. on Friday November 17. If you have any questions or cannot access the form, please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net).

MELT NETWORKING SIGN UP LINK

MELT Update

The annual MELT (MRVED Educators Learning Together) conference is shaping up to be a another great conference.  There will be over 60 different sessions to choose from throughout the day.  We have had a record number of local teachers willing to present this year as well as many new faces.  Registration materials will be coming the first week of December.

Teacher License Renewal Information

There will be changes to teacher licensure and relicensure in the coming year.  There will be a new 4 Tier system put into place.  You can find a definition of each Tier in the legislation document linked below:

Teacher Licensure Legislation

There are still many unknowns with the new tiered system, so the state is delaying any 2018 renewals to 2019.  This information can be found in the following document:

License Status Changes for Renewal Applications

Teacher licensure is a legislative issue & MDE is striving to do what is best to carry out the legislation.  Currently the software they have in place does not have the capability to accommodate the Tiered system, thus the 1 year extensions on the licenses.

If you have any questions, please contact your local continuing education committee or consult the Minnesota Department of Education Board of Teaching Website.

Innovator's Mindset - Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

As we continue on our journey through Innovator's Mindset a reminder that George Couros will be our keynote speaker in March.  Keep in mind these summations are simply a taste of what the book offers.  Innovator's Mindset is a very good and quick read.

Couros ends this chapter with, what I feel, is one of the most important phrases in this chapter, "If we want meaningful change, we have to make a connection to the heart before we can make a connection to the mind (Couros, 79).  This quote couldn't be more true, and Couros talks about it extensively in this chapter.  If people don't trust you personally, why would they be willing to take a risk for you.  Applying this to the classroom - If kids don't trust you and really know you, they will not take a risk to be innovative in your classroom.

Couros offers three questions to consider for leaders trying to instill a culture of innovation into their schools.  I also think the three questions can apply to kids as well.

1. Do people often ask me for permission or guidance?
2. Have I created an environment where risks are not only encouraged but expected?
3. How have I highlighted the great work being done by our school to others in and out of the organization?

These three questions are valid for any leader or teacher.  Think about them and reflect on your own environment.

Couros also talks about creating a learning environment that is personalized to each individual.  He says, "Staff professional development can provide opportunities for creating a shared understanding of the group as a whole, but we also have to remember that the whole is made up of individuals (Couros 75)."  I think this also applies to the classroom as well.  We often lesson plan for the whole and forget that our class is not necessarily a whole, but made up of individual students.

The bulk of the chapter is about relationships, but there is so much more packed into it.  It really is worth the read.  I simply point out different aspects that stand out to me.  It really is a great read!  Pick up a copy today and follow along.

Tech Tip of the Week - Planboard

Planboard is for the teacher who wants to stay organized.  It's a great, FREE way to lesson plan and pace.  One of the best features is being able to reuse the lesson plans year after year.  So, if you still use the old fashioned paper and pencil calendar to lesson plan, try Planboard today.







MRVED Meetings:

November 17, 2017   Principals' Council
November 22, 2017   Superintendents' Council

December 1, 2017      Title III Teachers
December 14, 2017    Teachers' Advisory Council (TAC)
December 15, 2017    Principals' Advisory Council
December 20, 2017    Superintendents' Council
December 20, 2017    MRVED Board (7 p.m.)