MRVED Update

MRVED Business

This is the last update of the 2017-2018 school year.  We hope you gained something from reading the updates this past school year.  We strive to create and pass along content that is relevant to our member school districts.  If you ever have a topic or something you think other teachers would enjoy reading or attending, please let Brandon know and he will gladly place it in the update.

Have an enjoyable break!  As every year, the MRVED offices will be open all summer, so stop by, grab a piece of candy (or a cup of coffee) and say hello.  We always enjoy summer visitors and hearing about all your adventures during the break.  If you need anything over break, do not hesitate to let us know. Get rejuvenated and some rest for another school year. Thank you all for another great year and we will see you in September!

Paraprofessional Conference
The Paraprofessional Conference is going to be on August 15, 2018 at the Benson Schools. Walking Tacos will be served for lunch that day. Registration information has gone out to the districts, please register if you have not.

Upcoming Meetings
May 23 Superintendent's Council

June 13 MRVED Board

June 27 Superintendent's Council

August 15 Paraprofessional Conference

Last Update of the School Year

Wow!  Another school year has come and gone.  It's amazing how fast a school year can go.  This year we had some amazing opportunities in the MRVED.  We started the year in August with your annual paraprofessional training for over 150 paras from our districts.  We then jumped right into our October professional development day which featured a variety of sessions.  One of the biggest names in PLC's, Solution Tree, joined us to help strengthen the PLC process in our schools.  We also were able to hear from one of the hottest and upcoming stars in education, Kayla Delzer.  The October day also featured a variety of curriculum breakout sessions throughout the day.  A couple months later, in January, the annual MELT conference was held at LQPV High School.  This year was bigger and better than ever.  The MELT featured over 100 sessions from local teachers to a professor from Duke University.  From the MELT it was "full-steam" ahead to our spring common day, held in Dawson.  Here we had the opportunity to hear from one of the best minds on innovation, George Couros.  Couros hit a note with many of our teachers and provided the MRVED districts with what they needed to hear to move forward in the area of innovation.

The MRVED would like to thank all the teachers and staff in our nine districts who participated, help plan, and worked the common days.  It is no easy task to host these events and each district that hosted did a phenomenal job.

Next year is the year of the PIRATE!  Teach Like a Pirate!  Dave Burgess will be our keynote in October and we will keep the Pirate theme going all year.  If you have not had an opportunity to see Dave in action, spend some time on his website or looking at YouTube videos.  His book, Teach Like a Pirate is a book you won't be able to put down either.  We look forward to "arrrrrgubly" the best year ever!

You can see all the great action from this year by following the Twitter hashtag #WeAreMRVED.

Summer Reading List

Every year I like to provide a summer reading list for those that are looking for some casual reading throughout the summer.

Teach Like a Pirate - Dave Burgess

Kids Deserve IT - Nesloney & Welcome

Innovator's Mindset - George Couros

Education Write Now - Various

Let us know what you are reading by telling us on Twitter with the hashtag #WeAreMRVED.

A Powerful Way to End the School Year

Year-end mapping!  What a great idea to end the school year.  You could do it in a variety of ways, but it could be a collage of the most memorable learning throughout the year.  I picture a collage of pictures in the hallway outside my classroom for everyone to see what we learned throughout the year.  It's a great way for kids to see the progression of learning.  Here is an article on the idea of year-end mapping.

Edutopia Article

Top 12 Ways Teachers Can Rock Summer Break

By the end of July many teachers are wondering where their summer has gone.  Here is a short list of things you can do on your summer break (that is, if you are not working already).

Top 12 Ways Teachers Can Rock Summer Break

Tweet us this summer with the hashtag #WeAreMRVED to show us how you are rocking your summer break.  In all the busyness of summer, don't forget to get in a little "me" time as well.  Enjoy it, every summer seems to go faster and faster!

MRVED Update - March 28, 2018

Mary's Retirement Bash

Please join the MRVED staff on Friday, April 6th from 2:00 - 5:00 as we celebrate the retirement of Mary Brown.  Mary is retiring on April 6th from the MRVED after 24 years of service to the organization.  Please come wish her well in her retirement and offer your appreciation for the many years of service.  Refreshments will be served.

Mary Brown Retirement Flyer

MRVED Business

March 29 Information. The next MRVED Common Day is on March 29. It is going to be held in Dawson at the Dawson-Boyd School and George Couros is the keynote speaker. George Couros is the author of  The Innovator's Mindset. There will be over 500 staff attending on March 29. The schedule for the day looks like this:

8:00- Breakfast-compliments of the administrators
9-9:45- District Time-Staff Prep for George Couros
10-11:45-George Couros Keynote Speaker
11:45-12:30-Lunch
12:30-1:30-Elementary meet w/ George Couros
                   Secondary in District time
1:30-2:30-Secondary meet w/ George Couros

                 Elementary in District Time

Upcoming Meetings

March 2018
March 29, 2018     George Couros (Common Day)

April 2018
April 11, 2018  MRVED Board (Executive Committe prior to this mtg)-NEW DATE
April 20, 2018  Title III Teachers
April 25, 2018   Superintendent's Council

May 2018
May 23, 2018    Superintendent's Council

Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences with Dr. Jane Kise

Learning Forward MN is offering a workshop with Dr. Jane Kise.

Learn to examine new initiatives and strategies to manage polarities, which are conflicting sets of values that, over time, benefit from interacting with each other. Understand how to map the values and concerns of various stakeholders. Experience using that information to plan professional development, determine action steps, and identify potential implementation imbalances. Hear how polarity thinking minimizes pendulum swings in policies by addressing competing needs and setting common goals.

When: Friday May 4, 2018
8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Where: Roseville Skating Center
2661 Civic Center Drive
Roseville, MN 55113
Cost: $150 includes workshop, light breakfast, lunch and book

Registration Link

Tech Tip of the Week - Rocketbook

Rocketbook has been featured in the past.  Since the last time it was featured, there have been numerous updates to the app.  Rocketbook is "smart" notebook.  It allows the user to use the camera on their device to scan in a page of written notes.  The user can then interact with the written notes digitally and send them to a digital home.  There are different notebook options to choose from, one notebook requires a microwave to clear, whereas the others require moisture or dry-erase.  It really is a cool product, check it out today!

Rocketbook Website

The Innovator's Mindset - Chapter 13 & 14 & Wrap Up

We will wrap up the book The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros one day before Couros is set to be with MRVED teachers.  It's set to be a great day of learning and conversation.  Couros will make you laugh, cry, and reflect all in the same breath.

Chapter 13 & 14 Recap - Are We There Yet? & The Biggest Barrier and "Game Changer" to Innovation in Education
As I read chapter 13, I was reminded yet again that a standardized test can only measure certain things and not necessarily measure the things that Couros mentions in his book.  Yes, the test can measure how we are doing in math, science, and reading, but it can't measure creativity or the ability to problem solve.  Couros suggests surveying the students and asking these 3 questions:
1. Do you consider yourself as a successful, contributing member of society?
2. Why did you give the answer above?
3. What impact do you think school had on your answers?

You won't get a nice pie chart or visual graphic of these answers to measure, but the answers will tell you what you really want to know.  Did your schooling contribute to being an active member of society?  If one really thinks about it, do you ever look at someone and say, "boy, he's really bad at science.", probably not!  But we have looked at someone and wondered what role they play in society.  This little example should tell us what we value more as a society, and that maybe what our schools value and what society values are misaligned.

To get realigned we need a mindset shift - thus The Innovator's Mindset.  We need to create a culture in our schools that value the 8 characteristics of the innovator's mindset.  We need to let our legislature know what it is we value.  We also need to allow the pendulum to swing back from the focus on standardized test to creativity and problem solving.

Chapter 14 is a continuation of chapter 13, but does a nice job of summing up the book.  In chapter 14 Couros writes, "If we only teach students the curriculum, we have failed them. (Couros 223).  Insisting that there is more to school than just learning "the facts", there is a hidden curriculum.  This "hidden curriculum" is the 8 characteristics of the innovator's mindset that we have a difficult time measuring.

One of the most telling paragraphs in this book comes at the bottom of page 226.  Couros talks about a new app that came out and some people only focus on barriers of the new app, where others see the new app as an opportunity.  My favorite quote follows, "You choose your perspective.  It's okay to ask questions.  Just make sure your questions aren't really excuses in disguise." (Couros 226-27).

In closing the book, I will leave you with one last quote, "...the biggest barrier to innovation is our own way of thinking.  I am also reminded of the biggest game changer - and it isn't technology.  The biggest game changers in education are, and always will be, the educators who embrace the innovator's mindset." (Couros 227)

MRVED Update - March 14, 2018

MRVED News
The next Common Day is March 29 in Dawson-Boyd with George Couros as the keynote speaker. The day will start with breakfast (compliments of the administrators) and everyone will break off into district time to prep for Couros before attending his presentation. Everyone will receive a personalized agenda when they arrive so they know where to go and when. The full schedule:

• 9-9:45 District Time-Staff Prep for George Couros
• 10-11:45 George Couros Keynote Speaker
• 11:45-12:30 Lunch
• 12:30-1:30 Elementary with George Couros
•  Secondary in District Time
• 1:30-2:30 Secondary with George Couros 
•  Elementary in District Time

Upcoming Meetings

March 16- Title III Paras
March 23-Principle Meeting
March 28- Superintendent Meeting
March 29-George Couros (Common Day)

April 11- MRVED Board
April 20- Title III Teachers
April 25-Superintendent Meeting

MREA News

The Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) offers districts a great news resource on their website.  MREA does an excellent job at informing districts on legislative and school issues.  Spend a couple minutes getting caught up on the latest in Minnesota education news by going to the news section of the MREA website.

Science Standards Review Committee Applications

The application for the Mn Science Standards Review Committee will likely be posted on the MDE Science page on March 26. This committee will review current standards and recommend any changes.

Committee members will represent teachers, administrators, professors, scientists, business and
community. It will have geographic and diversity distribution. We especially encourage you to recruit
scientists and community members that could make a contribution.

The committee will meet approximately monthly from August through April, for full day sessions.
Applicants will have to commit to the full schedule of committee meetings. Technical writing teams
(mostly teachers) will meet more frequently and likely electronically. The committee schedule and
assumptions guiding the committee work will be posted at the same site. The review process and
considerations are described in a series of articles at the MnSTA Science Standards page. The deadline for submitting applications is April 13. Contact John.C.Olson@state.mn.us for questions.

5 Parent Resources to Support Children in Being Safe & Responsible Digital Citizens

In our ever more connected world, it becomes even more important that we are teaching our kids how to navigate the vast reaches of the internet.  Tech & Learning came out with a list of 5 resources you can send home with parents or students to support them in keeping the kids safe online.

5 Digital Citizenship Resources for Parents

Innovator's Mindset - Create Meaningful Learning Experiences for Educators

This chapter is a great reminder that if we expect our students to be self-guided learners, we ourselves need to follow suit.  We need to take control of our own professional learning.  Will Richardson says, "Kids wouldn't wait for a blogging workshop.  Adults shouldn't either" (Couros, 184).

Couros takes the same graphic from a previous chapter about 8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom and applies it to professional development.  If we want things to change, our professional development needs to look different.  Couros states, "...if lectures and traditional staff meetings ar the only way we try to improve the profession, we are more likely to maintain the status quo than move forward." (Couros 182)

The 8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom (Professional Development) are as follows (read the chapter to get examples from Couros).
1. Voice - Being able to share ideas
2. Choice - Choosing what to learn
3. Time for Reflection - Time to reflect on learning
4. Opportunities for Innovation - Time to be innovative and support
5. Critical Thinking - Questioning the status quo
6. Problem Finders/Solvers - Not only solve problems, but find problems that exist
7. Self-Assessment - Being able to assess if we are doing things correctly
8. Connected Learning - Being connected to others

Bottom line is that we expect our students to be innovative, but our students will never be innovative if our teachers, administrators, and schools are not innovative.  Our schools need to take the same approach we want our teachers taking with their students.  Couros says it best, "...people need to move from their point A to their point B.  Learning doesn't happen by simply distributing information" (Couros 199).  These are two critical pieces of information to understanding innovation and progress.  We are all at different points, so the important thing is that we are able to go from our point A to our point B.  Learning and innovation will not happen by providing a staff meeting on innovation, people need to experience it.  Couros offers a variety of ideas on how to do that in this chapter.

MRVED Update - February 28, 2018

MRVED Business

The next MRVED Common Day is March 29. It will be held at the Dawson-Boyd Schools with George Couros as the keynote speaker. Registration for the March 29 common day opened on February 26. Just a reminder this will close on March 9 @ 4pm. Here is the link again to register. Registration Link

Upcoming Meetings

March 16-Title III Paras
March 23-Principal's Council
March 28- Superintendent's Council
March 29- George Couros (Common Day)

April 11- MRVED Board (Note DATE change)
April 20-Title III Teachers

Minnesota State Standards Update

There are going to be many changes in state standards in the upcoming school years.  Make your voice heard and apply to be on committees or attend town hall meetings.  If you have any questions, please let Brandon know.

Arts - 1st Draft in comment period until March 1 - Link (Don't miss the opportunity to comment)
ELA - Next review in 2019-20 School Year - Link
Health/PE - New Standards in 2018 - Link
Math - Next review in 2021-22 School Year - Link
Science - Next review in 2018-19 School Year - Link
Social Studies - Next review in 2020-21 School Year - Link

In short - you should see new standards in:
Science - 2019
ELA - 2020
Social Studies - 2021
Math  - 2022

Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health Annual Conference

When: April 15-17
Where: Duluth, MN
Who: Anyone who works with children

The MACMH Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference features an awesome lineup of keynotes and breakout sessions.  It's one of those conferences that has a little bit of everything for everyone.  You can take advantage of early-bird pricing until March 8.

Conference Website

Tech Tip of the Week - Using Alexa in the Classroom

Over the past month I have had a couple teachers ask me for ideas on how to use an Amazon Echo (or Alexa) in the classroom.  My children each have an Echo Dot and they love it.  I enjoy sitting and listening to my 5 year old ask Alexa all sorts of questions.  We use ours so much that our 1 year old actually tries to tell Alexa what to do - from time to time the 1 year old will enunciate well enough that Alexa catches on.  Here are a couple things you can do with Alexa in your classroom and then a variety of links that will provide you with more ideas and/or skills to teach Alexa.

1. Set a timer
2. Random number generator
3. Roll dice
4. Flip a coin
4. Lookup a definition
5. Tell a joke
6. Ask for weather forecast
7. Set a reminder
8. Do math problems

Alexa Skills for the Classroom - Erin Ermis & Emma Kopitzke
Voice Commands for Alexa
Alexa: Your New Teacher Assistant - Dr. Bruce Ellis

The Innovator's Mindset - Embracing Open Culture

The chapter on embracing open culture is mostly about how to make meaningful connections.  One of my favorite quotes in this chapter is right at the beginning.  Couros says, "today, isolation is a choice educators make" (Couros 168).  This statement couldn't be more true.  Connectedness and collaboration should be the norm, not the exception.  With 24/7 access to experts on any topic, teaching in isolation should no longer happen.

I was reminded again the other day about the concept of 21st century skills and how many people still look at them and talk about them as if they are futuristic.  We just started the year 2018 - 18 years into the 21st century.  I think we can start talking about 21st century skills as if they are the skills our students need today.  The same goes for our teaching.  Are we still teaching as if we are in the 20th century?  Are we still in our silos?  Have we embraced the open culture of today?  Have we allowed our students to harness the open culture for learning?  Are we showing our students how to navigate the 21st century world of open culture?

Couros uses the examples of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc... to show how some schools have embraced this open culture.  Most teachers would agree, they learn best from other teachers.  There is a vast network of teachers on Twitter willing to share their content, teaching strategies, and ideas.  On Twitter, the information flows to you - you don't even have to search for it!  Couros talks in depth about how to make the learning in your classroom go viral.  He provides one example, and it phrases it in a question; "What if all teachers tweeted about one thing a day they did in their classrooms and took five minutes to read other teachers' tweets?" (Couros 177)  Think about that!  Think how powerful that could be.  Think about the ideas that could be generated.  That is an example of an open culture.

There is obviously much more to this chapter and I encourage anyone to read Innovator's Mindset before George Couros speaks with the MRVED on March 29th.

MRVED Update - February 14, 2018

MRVED Business

Reminder that March 29th is the next MRVED common day, which will be held in Dawson at the Dawson-Boyd Schools. George Couros will be presenting this year. The Principals will be getting an email this week with more details as well as what information we will need from them on Friday, February 23rd(Principal Meeting at MRVED).The registration link will be sent out to Principals on February 26th with the last day to register being March 9th at 4 p.m. Principals will be responsible for sending that email/registration link to all staff that will be required to attend.   The schedule for the day will look like this:

• 9-9:45- District Time-Staff Prep for George Couros
• 10-11:45- George Couros Keynote Speaker
• 11:45-12:30- Lunch
• 12:30-1:30- Elementary meet w/ George Couros
                      Secondary in District Time
• 1:30-2:30- Secondary meet w/ George Couros
                    Elementary in District Time

Upcoming Meetings

February 22- TAC
February 23- Principals
February 28- Superintendents

March 16- Title III Paras
March 23- Principals
March 28- Superintendents
March 29- George Couros- Common Day

Tech Tip of the Week - Seeing AI

Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world and describe nearby people, text and objects.

Optimized for use with VoiceOver, the app enables you to recognize:
• Short Text - Speaks text as soon as it appears in front of the camera.
• Documents - Provides audio guidance to capture a printed page, and recognizes the text, along with its original formatting.
• Products - Scans barcodes, using audio beeps to guide you; hear the name, and package information when available. (works with iPhone 6 and later)
• People - Saves people’s faces so you can recognize them, and get an estimate of their age, gender, and emotions.
• Scenes (early preview) - Hear an overall description of the scene captured.
• Currency - Recognizes currency notes. (Requires iOS 11)
• Color - Identifies color.
• Handwriting - Reads handwritten text like in greeting cards
• Light - Generates an audible tone corresponding to the brightness in the surroundings.
• Images in other apps - Just tap “Share” and “Recognize with Seeing AI” to describe images from Mail, Photos, Twitter, and more.

You HAVE to try this app!  It is AMAZING!

 

What Are Your Teaching Fundamentals?

If you are searching for a good PLC activity and discussion, ask each member of your group to list their own fundamentals of teaching.  What do you need to be successful as a teacher?  I think it would lead to some interesting conversations about what each of you believe to be your core values when it comes to educating students.  This idea comes from Suzanne Farrell Smith who wrote an excellent article for Edutopia.  You can read it HERE.  If you do this activity in your PLC, Brandon would love to see your notes from the discussion.

New Health and Physical Education Standards

Minnesota has adopted new Health and Physical Education Standards and were released on January 30 of this year.  The standards and supporting documents can be found on the Minnesota Department of Education Website.

The standards are to be fully implemented in all school districts by the 2021-22 school year. Full implementation of the 2018 Minnesota Academic Standards in Physical Education is defined as:

• By the 2021-22 school year, instruction in physical education in grades K-8 must include all the 2018 Minnesota physical education standards and grade-level benchmarks.
• Instruction at the high school level must include all the 2018 Minnesota physical education standards and grade-level benchmarks for grades 9-12 beginning with the 2021-22 freshman (9th grade) class.
• All school districts are required to develop assessments to ensure students are meeting the benchmarks.

The recommended transition timeline for the physical education standards/grade-level benchmarks is identified in the following phases:

• Development Stage; February 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
• Transition Phase 1, District Planning; January 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019
• Transition Phase 2, District Alignment/Optional Phase-in 1; July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020
• Transition Phase 3, District Alignment/Optional Phase-in 2; July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021
• Full Implementation; 2021-22 school year

More details regarding the transition timeline can be found on the Recommended Transition Timeline.

The Minnesota Department of Education will be developing sample assessments during the Developmental Phase of the Transition (February 1 - December 31, 2018) and will be releasing them during the transition phase 1 (January 1 - July 30, 2019). Districts may either utilize these model assessments, or develop their own, to measure student progress on meeting each benchmark.

Time allocations and credit requirements for physical education are determined at the local school district level. During the transition phases, school districts are encouraged to ensure enough time is allotted for student learning to meet all the grade-level benchmarks.

Innovator's Mindset - Less is More

Less is more.  We have all heard this phrase, but have we ever thought about it in the context of schools?  Couros spends a large portion of this chapter discussing this concept as it pertains to staff development.  Although less is more in staff development is important, this chapter really made me think about what we are teaching our kids.

Couros says, "educational organizations need to focus more on depth than breadth.  Quality should always override quantity." (Couros 154)  This quote made me think about how much content we throw at our kids on a daily basis.  Are they (students) really ever able to grasp onto anything and dig deep?  Think about it...6 or 7 hours of a constant barrage of new information!  Have you ever been to a full day workshop and been blasted with new information for that amount of time?  Think about how you feel when you are done with the day, or let alone by lunch!  Do this five days a week!  Couros also uses the phrase, when referring to staff development, "...knowledgeable in all but masters of none" (Couros 155).  This phrase can apply to our kids as well.

A phrase I hear often from teachers is, "If I had time to explore, I could be/do ______".  I think we could throw a lot of words into that blank, but one to focus on would be "more creative".  Couros talks about the link between allowing more time on a task to creativity.  The more time you have to work on a task, the more creative you can be.  This is difficult to do in our structure of school today, so we need to think differently about this issue.  We need to become innovative in how we schedule and use our time.  If time has a positive correlation to creativity, and we are striving to make a "creative generation", then our schedules are counter intuitive to our cause.  Sure we can do things like Genius Hour, Hour of Code, etc..., but what do all those "initiatives" have in common...they are a one-shot deal, not to mention they use the term "hour".  Creativity knows no time frame, but yet we try to put a time frame around it...why?

One might argue, and Couros touches on this in the chapter, that if we focus on creativity, we will lose the basics - reading, writing, math.  Couros argues just the opposite.  Creativity should boost these skills.  Couros quotes Yong Zhao from the ISTE 2012 conference, Zhao states, "Reading and writing should be the floor, not the ceiling".  This is so true when thinking about creativity and innovation.  Just because we add in "Genius Hour" or a makerspace, does not mean we need to lose our reading, writing, and math or physical education for that matter.  How can WE think creatively to incorporate the basics into our lessons that will allow our kids to be creative?  WE need to innovate how we do things not only in our classrooms, but also education as a whole.

MRVED Update - January 31, 2018

MRVED Business

MELT Recap

MELT evaluations came back in and the reviews were quiet positive.  About 85% of people that participated in MELT gave it an overall rating of a 4 or 5.  This is awesome!  Many thanks to the people that presented and made the day what it was.

Senators and Representatives Meet with MRVED Superintendents

The MRVED Superintendents met with local Senators and Representatives on Wednesday, January 24.  The legislators that were in attendance were Senators Dahms & Lang and Representative Miller.  The group spent the time discussing future legislative issues.  It was a great opportunity for both the legislators and superintendents to discuss issues pertaining to education in a smaller, intimate environment.

MRVED Meetings:
February 2, 2018  Title III Teachers
February 7, 2018  MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 22, 2018  TAC
February 23, 2018  Principals' Council
February 28, 2018  Superintendents' Council

Teacher Licensure Rulemaking Comment Period

The rulemaking for the new teacher licensure legislation is currently under review.  You can comment on the rulemaking until March 9, 2018.  It is strongly suggested you spend a couple minutes looking through the rulemaking document as it will have an impact on renewing your license.  Information on the hearings and comment period instructions can be found on the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings website.  If you have any questions on Teacher Licensure, feel free to contact any member of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).

Tech Tip of the Week - Google Story Speaker

Make interactive, talking stories without coding. Play your story instantly on Google Home.

Story Speaker lets anyone create talking, interactive stories with no coding required. Just write your story in a Google Doc, push a button, and every Google Home device linked to your account can play it. You don't need to know how to code. 

Basic and advanced templates get you writing quickly. There's a lot Story Speaker can do, including respond to what players say, give random responses, and remember what the player said. You can even export your story and so anyone with a Google Home can hear it. (Experimental!) This is not an official Google project. It's just a fun little experiment.

Will Letter Grades Survive?

A great article came across my Twitter feed this past week.  It really makes you think and question your own grading habits.  It is a very quick read and well worth your time.

Article Link

Innovator's Mindset - Powerful Learning First, Technology Second

Chapter 9 in Innovator's Mindset by George Couros is on the use/role of technology in our schools.  As the previous chapters, this one does not disappoint.  Couros writes some remarkable things that really make you think and question what you are currently doing.

Couros paints a picture at the beginning of the chapter that kids today have endless opportunities to learn, even before they enter school.  This statement is so true!  I think about my 5 year old, her favorite app is YouTube and she loves watching tutorial videos.  We have this information at our fingertips and yet, have not fully embraced the idea.

However, it takes more than just throwing devices into the classrooms.  There needs to be a shift in the mindset of teaching and learning.  We can't continue to do what we did prior to the devices being in the room.  Couros says that technology is not only a tool, but a "transformational" tool.  On top of it being a transformational tool, it should be a "personalized" transformation tool.  Think about the power of the device in the hands of our students.  With the tools we have we should be personalizing learning for our students in a way in which transforms the teaching and learning process.

Couros also talks about the importance of balance.  The balance between the learner and the technology.  Although we have all this power, we need to remember that the learner has something to learn in the process.  Sometimes we get fully wrapped up in learning the device and wanting to know the full potential of the device and we forget the learning process for the kids.

To end the chapter, Couros gives us four questions to guide our technology:

• What is best for kids?
• How does this improve learning?
• If we were to do ____________, what is the balance of risk vs. reward?
• Is this serving the few or the majority?

MRVED Update - January 17, 2018

MELT

Another year, another MELT!  We hope you enjoyed the day and learned lots.  A big THANK YOU to Lac qui Parle Valley High School for allowing the use of their building.  The whole LQPV staff does an excellent job at hosting and making sure the building is ready for 600+ adults and 100+ sessions.

Be sure to fill out the 2018 MELT Evaluation.  The evaluations are critical to planning future events.  All comments and ratings are compiled and reviewed by the Superintendents, Principals, and Teacher Advisory Council.  Please take a moment to provide your honest feedback about the day.

A special thank you goes to Mary Brown.  Mary has helped plan umpteen MELT's over her career and does a flawless job at it.  Mary puts more time and effort into this day than anyone knows and realizes.  She makes the day go!  With that being said, this was Mary's last MELT!  Mary will be retiring in April of this year.  If you see her, please tell her "Thank You" for all the hard work she has put into making this day a success for so many years.  Thank you Mary - From the MELT Committee :-)

4th Annual New Teacher Support Summit - Minnesota ASCD

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: TIES Conference Center
Who: Principals, Superintendents, Mentors, Instructional Coaches

What:
Join Dr. Tina Boogren, Marzano Research Associate and author of Support Beginning Teachers, for the 4th Annual New Teacher Support Summit.

Give new teachers the time and professional guidance they need to become expert teachers.  Investigate key research and examine the four types of support - physical, emotional, instructional and institutional - that are crucial during a teacher's first year in the classroom.  Explore the unique needs of new teachers of color.  Discover essential strategies for K-12 mentors, coaches and school leaders to develop an effective mentoring program school wide.

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain an understanding of how to establish a solid foundation for mentoring relationships.
• Acquire specific strategies to provide essential physical, emotional, instructional, and institutional support for beginning teachers.
• Frame essential instructional support strategies within a common language of instruction, including how to engage in goal-setting, focused practice, focused feedback, observations, and discussions of teaching in order to immediately and continually improve instructional practice for the beginning teacher.

Register Here

Innovator's Mindset - Strengths-Based Leadership

Chapter 8 in Innovator's Mindset by George Couros is on strength-based leadership.  Although much of the chapter focuses on leadership at the administrative level, there are still many takeaways for teachers.

He starts the chapter off with the example of how we currently deal with a student who struggles in school, in this example math.  The typical response to a student that struggles in math is to give them more math work or recommend an extra math class.  Which often times does not lead to improvements in math, but rather a hatred of math.  Couros uses the "what if's" from the previous chapter.  What if we did school from a strength-based model?  What if we allowed kids to explore their passions and strengths instead of focus on weaknesses?  Couros does not advocate ignoring the weaknesses, but rather claims it can actually encourage students to improve at their weaknesses.

What if we did the same thing with teachers?  What if teachers were allowed to teach in the grade level and content areas they were most passionate and strong at?  Many teachers would say they are teaching in the grade level and content area they are passionate about, but there is probably that one grade level or content area the teacher doesn't particularly like.  Couros asks the question of his staff, "What is your dream job?"  He uses the example of having a 4th grade teacher say they would really love to teach kindergarten, and he had a kindergarten teacher say they would love to teach older kids.  He made the swap and both excelled and loved what they were doing.  Imagine doing that in your school?  Think of the opportunities we could create for kids?

Couros ends the chapter with this quote, "By focusing on strengths first and building from there, as opposed to working from a deficit model that focuses only on where we need improvements, we create an environment where people feel they have a purpose in their classrooms and for the entire school."

Winter Olympics Teaching Resources

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea start on February 9th.  The Olympics provide many teachable moments from history of the games, counting medals, geography of the host city, geography of countries, history as to why certain countries do better than others, art projects, etc...  The list could go on and on!  The Teachers Corner has provided a great list of resources to help teach the Winter Olympics in your classroom.  Check it out today!

Tech Tip of the Week - Insert Learning

Insert Learning is a newer tool on the edtech block that has the potential to make some big waves in the near future.  Insert Learning allows you to "insert" sticky notes, questions, discussions, highlighting, etc... on any website.  You, the teacher, can then assign that website to your students.  So if you have an online article you want your students to read, but have a few questions to go with it.  Use Insert Learning to add those aspects to the website and assign it to your students.  It really is pretty intuitive.  Give it a try today, you won't be disappointed.

MRVED MEETING SCHEDULE

January 24, 2018         Superintendent's Council
January 26, 2018         Principal's Council
January 29, 2018         Technology Coordinator Networking Meeting

February 2, 2018         Title III Teachers
February 7, 2018         MRVED Board (7 pm)
February 22, 2018       TAC

MRVED Update - January 3, 2018

MELT Update

MELT registration closed before Christmas break.  This year we will have 600 teachers attending.  You will be receiving an email a couple days prior to MELT from Gloria Stotesbery with important information regarding everything you need to know about the day.  Please look for and READ that email.  Presenters will be receiving an email from Brandon in the next day or two regarding rooms, number of participants, etc...

The Biggest Education Stories of 2017 and 2018

NPR ran a story over Christmas break highlighting some of the biggest education stories of 2017 and what that means for 2018.  It's a quick read and will get you in the "know" on education issues at the national level.

Biggest Education Stories of 2017 and 2018 from NPR

In Minnesota one of the biggest changes will be teacher licensure.  You can read about what changes were made effective January 1 on the MDE website.

Resource for Cyber Bullying

In our world today it is important to talk to kids about the effects of cyber bullying.  Many of the lessons on this topic are cute, funny, childish, etc...  Many do not tug at your heartstrings.  This Was Louise's Phone will definitely show the harshness of cyber bullying today.  In full disclosure, there is bad language throughout the website.  What the site does is take you through the phone of a teenager that was cyber bullied and eventually killed herself.  This is a very powerful website to show how nasty cyber bullying can be.

Tech Tip - PDFCandy

Have you ever ran into an issue with a PDF file and wished it was in a different format?  Perhaps you wanted to take a file and turn it into a PDF, but didn't know how.  PDFCandy solves all your problems!  It is a super easy way to work with PDF's.  Give it a try today, it's pretty intuitive.

The Innovator's Mindset - Creating a Shared Vision

The next chapter in The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros is all about creating a vision statement for your organization.  The vision statement shouldn't just be a flashy catch phrase that looks good on your letterhead.  It needs to be something that all people in the organization believe and strive for.  Couros starts the chapter off with this quote from Wilferd Peterson, "Big thinking precedes great achievement".  That thinking needs to be laid out prior to any execution for people to have success.

Depending on a variety of different things, your current vision statement might need to be changed or tweaked.  If your vision statement was created in the 1990's, think how much the world has changed in 25 years!  The vision for your students today should be a little different than it was 25 years ago.  It's a good idea to revisit your vision statement every so often to ensure it still encompasses what today's students need.

Couros also talks about 8 characteristics of learning environments that inspire innovative thinking.

Students should have voice.  With technology today, we can help students amplify their voice through social media, YouTube, local newspapers, etc...

Students should choice.  Choice in what and how a student learns.  "Providing choice allows students to build on strength and interests to make learning relevant and fulfilling (Couros, 112)."

There should be time for reflection.  Much like a teacher goes from one class to the next without reflection, students do the same thing.  They jump from math to reading to science without ever having time to reflect on their own learning.

There should be opportunities for innovation.  This could be anything from "Genius Hour" to "Innovation Week" to embed daily into your classroom.  Bottom line, students need time to explore their passions.

Students are critical thinkers.  This one is probably easier said than done.  We should be teaching kids to respectfully ask questions and challenge ideas.  This helps everyone have a deeper understanding of the material and ideas and fosters innovation.

Students are problem solvers/finders.  Students should have the opportunity to not only solve problems, but also find problems that exist.  This goes hand-in-hand with being a critical thinker.

There should be self-assessment.  "Teaching students how to assess themselves rather than just do it for them, provides them another opportunity for reflection (Couros, 114)."  Teaching kids to self assess does not happen over night.

The learning should be connected.  How do we connect our content areas?  How do we connect with people/experts from around the world.  We, as teachers, need to reach outside of the box to make connections and show kids real world learning.

MRVED MEETING SCHEDULE

January 9, 2018           Title III ParaProfessionals
January 15, 2018        MELT
January 24, 2018         Superintendent's Council
January 26, 2018         Principal's Council
January 29, 2018         Technology Coordinator Networking Meeting

MRVED Update - December 13, 2017

MELT Update

MELT registration was fast and furious on day 1 with almost 500 people registered by the end of the day!  The deadline to register is 4 PM on December 20th.  If you have not registered yet, please do so today.

IF YOU WILL BE HOSTING A STUDENT TEACHER THIS SPRING PLEASE FORWARD REGISTRATION INFORMATION TO THEM PLEASE.

MELT 2018 Registration Link

Tech Tip of the Week - Osmo

Osmo is an awesome tool for classrooms in the lower elementary.  Osmo works with an iPad as an attachment.  It allows kids to use manipulatives on the table or floor and and manipulate things on the screen.  There are a variety of games and activities that come with it.  Check it out today!

Teaching Current Events

Over the past few weeks there have been no shortage of current events.  Many of the topics within our current events have been touchy subjects, but important ones nonetheless.  So...how do we teach current events to our students?  At what age is it appropriate?  How much time should we spend?  Is it worth it?

Each person has their own opinion on each of these questions.  Below you will find a series of articles on teaching current events to your students and possibly provide some clarity to the questions above.

Teaching Current Events in the Age of Social Media

8 Smart Ways to Teach Current Events

25 Great Ideas for Teaching Current Events

50 Ways to Teach Current Events

Innovator's Mindset - Engage vs Empower

This is the 3rd time I have read this book, and I love this chapter every time I read it!  There are some very powerful statements from Couros in this chapter that makes me question what education can and should look like.  Couros is definitely not saying what we are currently doing is wrong or bad, simply, can we do it better?

I love the image to the right.  Engaging students means getting kids excited about what we want, empowering students means getting kids excited about what they want!  Are we empowering our kids with learning or simply engaging them?  Do we ever give them the ability to learn what they want within your content area?  Couros gives the example of YouTube being the largest learning platform in the world but yet we still block kids from using it in our schools.  It's not shocking that kids misuse YouTube because teachers are engaging them and not empowering them to learn.  If we are empowering kids, it gives them a reason to use YouTube with a purpose.

Our schools are now investing time into innovation days or genius hours, which is great.  But Couros warns that these should not be stand alone single events that happen.  Innovation day and genius hour should be happening in all our classrooms as part of our pedagogy.  Think about the kid that learns to play guitar on his own by watching YouTube videos.  He didn't learn that skill by doing "genius hour" once a month!

Couros also talks about the difference between school and learning.  See the chart below for a summarization.

MRVED MEETING SCHEDULE

December 14, 2017    TAC
December 15, 2017     Principals' Council
December 20, 2017     Superintendents' Council
December 20, 2017     MRVED Board (7 p.m.)

January 9, 2018           Title III ParaProfessionals
January 15, 2018        MELT

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

MRVED MELT 2018 Call for Presentation Proposals

The MRVED Educators Learning Together (MELT) conference will be held at Lac qui Parle Valley High School on January 15, 2018. To help make this conference the best ever, we need your help. The MRVED is looking for enthusiastic people willing to present on something great happening in your classroom. This can be anything from Google Drive to differentiation techniques in your classroom. Technology or no technology proposals are welcome. Presenters will be paid a small stipend for your work. You may submit as many presentation proposals as you wish.

We are especially looking for any Pre-K teachers willing to present!


**By filling out this form you are not committing to presenting, just providing the MRVED with your name and topic.**
2018 Call for Presentation Proposals Link

October 18 Information

The October 18, 2017 day of professional development is set up slightly different this year.  It is being held at two different locations, the Kilowatt Center and Yellow Medicine East High School, both in Granite Falls.

Administrators have designated PLC leaders from their district who will attend an all day Solution Tree training at the Kilowatt Center in Granite Falls.  Your agenda is as follows:

7:15 - 7:55 a.m.     Coffee and rolls

8:00 a.m. - Noon    Solution Tree training

​12:00 - 12:30 p.m.  Catered lunch

12:30 - 3:00 p.m.    Solution Tree training continues

​Please note that your start and ending times are different then the teachers who are attending at the Yellow Medicine East high school.  You start earlier and end later.

***************

The remaining staff will be attending a day of professional development at Yellow Medicine East High School.  Your agenda is as follows:

8:00 - 8:35 a.m.  Coffee, juice, cinnamon rolls, yogurt in the YME gym

In the morning you will be split into 2 groups.  One group will attend Kayla Delzer's presentation first and then attend a breakout session.  The 2nd group will do the opposite.

8:40 - 10:20 a.m. Kayla Delzer presentation or breakout session

10:30 - Noon        Kayla Delzer presentation or breakout session

12:00 - 12:50 p.m. Lunch provided by YME Food Service

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.     District time - your district will be planning the afternoon portion of this day.

Only staff attending at Yellow Medicine East High School need to register.  Registration closes this Friday, October 6 at midnight.  Any questions on registration, contact Mary Brown at mbrown@mrved.net or 320-269-9297.

For those of you attending the PLC training, we are videotaping Kayla Delzer's presentation and will be posting it on a private youtube site.  Your district will receive information on how to access this presentation.

Tech Tip of the Week - PBS Learning Media

PBS Learning Media is THE destination for high-quality, trusted digital content and solutions that inspire students and transform learning. Developed in partnership with the WGBH Educational Foundation and supported by public media stations nationwide, PBS LearningMedia engages educators and learners at all levels with content from America’s #1 Educational Media Brand.

There are over 100,000 resources in this database for ALL grade levels.  From documents, to short video clips, to actual lesson plans and activities.  PBS Learning Media is a rich, FREE resource for any classroom!

Fire Prevention Week Resources

Fire Prevention Week is observed October 8-14 this year.  The theme is "Every Second Counts, Plan 2 Ways Out".  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has some excellent resources to share with your classroom and with your community.  Even if you don't bring any of this into your classroom, it is good information for you and your family.

Innovator's Mindset

We continue our series on The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros.  This week we will talk about Chapter 2, which is titled, The Innovator's Mindset.

Couros starts by talking about one of the most impactful books I have ever read, Mindset by Carol Dweck.  Before I started the book, I anticipated, due to the title, Couros would bring Dweck's work into the conversation.  Dweck talked about the difference between a fixed and growth mindset.  With a growth mindset the learner believes that with hard work and practice you can learn anything.  Your intelligence is not "fixed", you are capable of learning anything.

Combine the definition of a growth mindset with that of what it means to be an innovator and you get someone that believes that they can learn anything and develop something that is new or better.  With this combination, you get the Innovator's Mindset.

Couros also talks about failure in this chapter.  He talks about failure being part of the innovation process, but cautions against focusing too much on failure.  Couros says, "Having the freedom to fail is important to innovation.  But even more important to the process are the traits of resiliency and grit."  This is so important!  Nobody will ever remember you for the 1,000 failures you have, they remember you for the 1 time you got it right.  The innovator still needs to persevere through the process and succeed.

Couros mentions many other things in this chapter, but I highly suggest you purchase the book and follow along.  Couros will be our keynote speaker for the common day this Spring!