MRVED Update - January 9, 2019

MRVED Meetings

January 11, 2019 - Title III Paras
January 21, 2019 - MELT
January 23, 2019 - Superintendents' Council
January 25, 2019 - Principals' Council

NOTE:  Gloria Stotesbery has resigned and Mary Brown will be filling in until we rehire for the position.  Should you have any questions or needs, please email Karen Jacobson (kjacobson@mrved.net) or Brandon Raymo (braymo@mrved.net).

MELT Information

The MELT will soon be here.  An email will be sent in the next week with all of the details of the day.

MRVED Region Map

Someone recently asked a really good question; "How big is the MRVED?".  Below is a link to a map of the MRVED region as well as a spreadsheet that provides information about distance between the MRVED school districts.

MRVED Region Map
Spreadsheet of Distance

MRVED region - Google My Maps

MRVED region

Tech Tip of the Week - Microsoft Translator

It's been all Google the past couple years, so it's time to take a look at an innovative piece of technology from Microsoft.  Microsoft Translator is a website and app that does exactly what it says, it translates.  The technology in the translator website/app is really amazing and has awesome reviews.  If you are in need of a translator, or teach a foreign language, check it out and let me know how well it works.

Ditch That Textbook - Part 1, Why Go Digital

If you have not picked up your copy of Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller yet, do so today.  It is a great read and one that you will find picking up time and time again.  There are so many great ideas in this book that you will want to keep it close by when lesson planning.  Matt Miller also has a blog/website for Ditch That Textbook (DTT) that has even more great ideas!

My synopsis, by no means should take the place of reading the book.  These are simply my thoughts, ideas, and questions about the chapters as I read the book.

Part 1 of the book is a super-quick read and lays the groundwork for why we need to change the way we "do" education.  It's also the reason why we need to "ditch the textbook" and go digital.  I won't go chapter by chapter through part 1, but will share my thoughts over the whole part.

The question that I kept asking myself as I read this part was: Are we really preparing our kids to be successful in the world in which they are going to work?  Our industrial model of education needs to change.  There is a disconnect from what our kids are going to do for work/life and what they are learning in school.  I'm not talking about the content we are teaching our kids (math, science, social studies, reading, etc...), I'm talking about the disconnect with other skills.  Miller says it best, "A disconnect exists between what the workforce wants from graduates and what schools teach them to be and do.  Math, science, social studies, and English are important, but employers are also looking for communication, digital literacy, problem-solving, and creative-thinking skills (Miller, 43).

Miller also made me think when he talks about comparing our educational experience as a child to that of the children we are teaching.  Even a 1st year teacher, fresh out of college, had a vastly different elementary experience than that of our kids today.  Miller talks about, and I can vividly remember, taking the walk to the computer lab for your 45 minutes of computer time for the week and playing Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, or printing large banners on an archaic word processor.  Our kids today don't have to leave the classroom to go to the mystical world of the computer lab.  They don't even have to have "computer time".  They can pull out their device right in the comfort of their own classroom and access a million times more information than we could have even dreamed of during our 45 minutes of "computer time".  Stop and think for a moment about everything our kids today have access to that we didn't as kids.
Kids today can:

• Video chat with an astronaut in outer space
• Watch actual footage of the JFK assassination or the moon landing
• Research any question they have within seconds
• Create multimedia presentations in a day

This list could go on and on and on.  Sure, we had access to actual footage of the JFK assassination, but think about what it took in order to watch it.  We would need to go to a library, look up where the video is located in the library in the card catalog, locate the video, locate a player and TV that could play the video, then rewind or fast forward to the part we wanted to see.  All this is assuming our library even had a video on the JFK assassination, because if they didn't, we would have to request it from a neighboring library.  Then we would have to wait at least a week to get the tape.  Our kids today can go to YouTube and find the actual footage in less than 30 seconds.  Think about that access and what it has done in how we can educate our kids.  Amazing!

 I'm really looking forward to reading the next couple chapters as Matt Miller will fill our toolbox and arm us with ideas to teach the kids of today.  Come along on the journey with me.  In the next update, we'll look at Part 2 - Ditch That Mindset, chapters 8-13.

MRVED Business

Upcoming Meetings
January 8, 2016  Title III Paraprofessionals
January 13, 2016  Community Ed
January 15, 2016  Principals' Council (11:30 a.m.)
January 18, 2016  MELT (LQPV High School)
January 27, 2016  Superintendents' Council

Happy New Year
This is the last update of 2015.  We hope you have a restful and peaceful break.  The MRVED offices will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and will be operating on a limited schedule December 28 - January 1.  If you plan to stop by the office during this week, please call to make sure someone is in the office (320-269-9297).  Happy New Year and enjoy your break.

Best Practice Meeting Updates
World Languages
The World Language teachers gathered at the MRVED on December 8th for their annual best practice meeting.  This group is always very talkative and obviously passionate about their content area.  The morning was spent participating in an activity on grading practices.  There was some awesome discussion over each scenario presented.  The group then had the opportunity to showcase an activity they use to teach vocabulary.  It was a great activity where many different activities were shared.  Lunch was spectacular as usual.  In the afternoon the group networked and had the opportunity to hear Brandon talk about lesson planning with technology.  Another great meeting with a great bunch of passionate educators!

Social Studies
Brandon's favorite group ;-) (Disclaimer: Brandon is a social studies teacher).  The social studies group started the meeting off like all other best practice meetings, with the activity on grading practices.  The discussion was deep and reflective from this group.  After talking grading, the group aligned their curriculum and courses to the current standards.  The laughter and discussion over lunch was fun to take part in.  The afternoon consisted of networking and Brandon talking lesson planning with technology.

TAC & Principal Meetings
Our December TAC and Principal meetings were cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

MELT Registration
You have less than a week to register.  See the other blog post for more information.  So far 400+ people have registered and a number of sessions are closed.

MRVED Business

Best Practice Meeting Updates
English Language Arts
The English Language Arts educators gathered at the MRVED on Tuesday December 2nd for their annual best practice meeting.  The room was filled with 34 teachers ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade teachers.  The morning started with Brandon sharing some of the latest and greatest web tools for the classroom, which transitioned nicely into a session on the SAMR model.  The group had the opportunity to talk about creating a lesson through the SAMR model.  The morning ended with aligning their standards and curriculum K-12.  After lunch they finished their curriculum work and met in networking groups.  The group did an excellent job of networking, sharing many new resources for the classroom.  The day ended with a grading practice activity.  Overall it was another great day with almost every teacher bringing something new back to the classroom.

World Language
The World Language teachers attended their annual best practice meeting on Thursday, December 4th.  The day started with networking and discussing issues related to World Languages.  After that, the group had the opportunity to spend the rest of the day with their Minnesota Department of Education specialist Ursula Lentz.  The teachers had the opportunity to hear and learn from her.  Ms. Lentz has a wealth of knowledge in the realm of World Languages and it was a great day for everyone.

Best Practice Meetings
December 10, 2014  MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
December 12, 2014   Title III Teachers
December 15, 2014  District Assessment Coordinators (DAC)
December 16, 2014  FACS
December 17, 2014  Superintendents' Council
December 18, 2014  Teachers' Advisory Council (TAC)
December 19, 2014  Principals' Council (starting at 11:30 a.m.)

MRVED Business

Meeting Updates
World Languages
The World Language teachers assembled at the MRVED on Friday, December 6th for their annual best practice meeting.  The morning was spent discussing 21st century skills and how it relates to World Languages.  After a great discussion, the group reviewed and revised their local standards one last time before board approval.  Lunch at Pizza Ranch was filled with laughter, stories, and awesome discussion.  In the afternoon, the group shared some awesome resources, we did some rhythmic clapping exercises and we (excluding Brandon) even danced!  It was an awesome day, with an awesome group of people!


MELT Reminder
If you have not registered for the MELT yet, you should do so right now!  With over 500 teachers expected, sessions are filling up fast and we will close sessions when they reach capacity.

MELT Brochure

MELT Registration Link

MRVED Upcoming Meetings:

December 18, 2013  Superintendents' Council
January 8, 2014  Principals' Council
January 10, 2014  Title III Paraprofessionals
January 20, 2014  MELT (at LQPV High School)
January 22, 2014  Superintendents'  Council