Welcome Back

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to school!  We hope that your summer was relaxing and rejuvenating.  2017-18 is going to be the best school year ever.  We can't wait to interact with the 650+ teachers of the MRVED in the coming school year.

This year is going to be an AWESOME year as a MRVED.  One of the highlights this year is that we have not one, but TWO top-notch big name speakers coming to speak to us.  This Fall Kayla Delzer will be in attendance at our first common in-service day.  If you have not seen or heard Kayla, she is phenomenal and you are in for a real treat.  You can check out her website HERE.  More information will be coming about the October common day soon, in the meantime, here is her TEDx talk from 2015.

Then, this Spring, George Couros will be keynoting our Spring common in-service day.  Couros is another rock star presenter that delivers a great message to all educators.  You can find more information about him HERE, or check out his TEDx talk from 2013.

We also can't forget that MELT 2018 is going to be the best yet!  Featuring some of our very own rock star teachers sharing and showing inspiring things happening in their classrooms.

We can't wait for all the great opportunities we have before us this year.

#weareMRVED

#WeAreMRVED

For those of you on Twitter, we are encouraging the use of the hashtag #WeAreMRVED to promote great things happening in your school or classroom.  If your classroom or school uses Twitter give us a follow and we will follow you back.

@MNRVED

Arts Standards Review Process

Are you interested in helping to review and revise Minnesota’s K-12 arts standards? Consider joining the Arts Standards Review Committee! Before applying to the committee, please read the Assumptions for Guiding the Standards Committee’s Work and the Standards Review Timeline documents posted below. Serving on the committee requires an intense time commitment of at least one two-day and nine full-day committee meetings from October 2017 through May 2018. The initial two-day meeting is scheduled for October 30-31, 2017, at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), and is required of all committee members. Applications will be accepted August 22-September 19, 2017. Committee members will be announced on the MDE website on September 29, 2017.

MDE and the Perpich Center for Arts Education will cover mileage costs for all committee members as well as meal and lodging costs for those travelling from great distances. MDE and the Perpich Center for Arts Education also will cover the cost of substitutes for all teachers selected for the committee. For more information about the standards review process, contact Alina Campana (763-279-4183).
Minnesota Department of Education Website

Tech Tip - SeeSaw

If you have been looking for a way to use the tablets in your classroom?  Look no further than SeeSaw.  SeeSaw is an AWESOME App that allows students to capture their work and then easily submit to the teacher.  SeeSaw is great for K-12, but probably geared more toward the Elementary level.  If you think signing in to the app will be an issue for the kids, it's not.  You can setup your class list and student log in is a breeze.  Students can also scan a QR code or create their own accounts, depending on age.  The app works if students have their own device, or if you have a classroom set.  It does not matter your age group or how your devices are distributed, this app works in ALL environments!  Teachers who have used this app, absolutely love it!  It's free, give it a try right away this 1st quarter.

Innovator's Mindset

For the past couple years we have highlighted a couple books in the MRVED Update.  Last year we looked at What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker.  This year we will examine The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros.  Couros will be the keynote speaker for our common in-service date in March 2018.

I highly recommend purchasing the book The Innovator's Mindset and following along as we examine a chapter for each MRVED Update this year.  This book is amazing and could possibly change the way you approach your classroom on a day to day basis.  Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.

Tech Tip - Osmo Updates

Osmo
We have highlighted Osmo before in the update.  Osmo is a great tool for kids in elementary.  They have added a variety of other games since we last highlighted it.  Check out one of the new activities in the video below.

Osmo is a great way to get kids to interact with technology as well as use their hands.  It's a great learning tool!  Go to the Osmo website to see all the new things they have.

Tech Tip - RocketBook

RocketBook
Thanks to Beth Jahn from YME for sharing this with me.  She saw this at the TIES conference this past weekend and passed it along.

Are you the type of person who loves your electronic device, but despises taking notes with it?  Would you rather just take notes on paper and then somehow get those notes to your device.  Well, now you have that ability with RocketBook.  They have free pages on their website you can download and use directly with the app.  This is a great idea and can be used in schools with 1:1 iPads, but the kids struggle to take notes on them.  Check it out today!

Tech Tip - Osmo

Osmo
If you have an iPad in your room, this is a must-have!  Osmo offers a unique way to interact with your iPad. You have to watch the video to see what it can do.  I will be ordering one for my family!

(The 50% off is no longer available)

What do I need to use Osmo?

You just need an iPad with a camera. Osmo is compatible with: iPad 2, iPad (3rd Generation), iPad (4th Generation), iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air and iPad Air 2.

How much does it cost?

The Starter Kit is $79, the Genius Kit is $99. The Numbers game (if you already have a Starter Kit) is $29.

What exactly will I get when I buy Osmo? (What’s in each kit?)

A Starter Kit includes a white iPad stand, a red reflective mirror for the iPad camera, two sets of game pieces (two complete alphabet letter tile sets and wood tangram shapes). Masterpiece and Newton don’t require any pieces. All of these apps are available to download from the App Store free of charge but you need the Osmo system (base + mirror) to play them.

A Genius Kit includes all of those items, plus a set of high-quality number and dot tiles for the Numbers game.

What is the educational value of each game?

Osmo fosters learning in key areas such as: social-emotional skills, creative thinking, art, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and common core.
Tangram fosters spatial relational skills.
Words teaches spelling and critical thinking skills.
Newton fosters creative problem solving skills.
Masterpiece teaches drawing and creative confidence.
Numbers teaches counting, addition and multiplication.

Tech Tip - Front Row

Front Row
Front Row is an individualized math and ELA program that allows students to practice at their own pace. Their curriculum is completely Common Core aligned, and covers every standard in K-8 math.

Students start Front Row by taking a diagnostic test that places them based on their capability. Then, they answer practice questions that vary based on what the student knows. If a student gets stuck, they see remediation material and videos that help them understand the topic at hand. If they do well, they move on to harder material! The kids love using Front Row because it’s so engaging.

The Front Row dashboard is just amazing for teachers. It shows where each student is stuck, and whether they need help, and it also gives materials that can help them! What’s really amazing is the printables feature, which allows teachers to generate a personalized printable sheet for each student that gives practice where they need it.

Overall, Front Row is an amazing time saver, and students really love it. Sign up is super easy, just go to http://www.frontrowed.com and click on the sign up button. It’s free!

Front Row Resource Folder

Resources for iPads in the K-2 Classroom

Resources for iPads in K-2 Classroom
I often get K-2 teachers asking me for ideas on how to implement the iPad into their classroom.  This is a difficult question for me to answer as I have never taught in a K-2 environment.  We all know there is a world of difference between a primary classroom and a high school classroom.  So I continually try to fill my toolbox with information and tools that can assist the primary teachers.  I recently came across this article and resource guide from Edutopia.  It offers some great practical tools and ideas for the primary classroom. Even though it was published 2 years ago, it still has some great, relevant information.

Resources for iPads in the K-2 Classroom

iOS 7 Beginners Guide

iOS 7 Beginners Guide
If you or your school has updated their Apple devices to iOS 7, you are probably wondering how to use the operating system to its full potential.  Start out by taking a look at "The Beginner's Guide to the iPad and iOS 7" by Edudemic.  There are also great tips at teachingwithipad.org.

Digital Public Library of America

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

Make You Think

All your apps should fit on one screen!

Karen came across this great article from eSchool News about using the iPad as a tool for the 4 C's, consumption, curation, creativity, and connection.  It is a great reminder that our tools are not always about content specific applications, but rather should be used for a broader purpose.  Once you realize the capabilities of the device, whether it be an iPad, Chromebook, Desktop, etc..., it can be seen as so much more than just a "drill and kill" device.  The article provides great examples of how an iPad can be used as a device for the 4 C's.  It's another reminder that our devices are merely just tools for education.

The Evergreen iPad: Why all your apps should fit on one screen by Tom Daccord