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Friday, October 4, 2013

MRVED Business

Call for MELT Presentations & Session Ideas
The MRVED is once again looking for people to present at the annual MELT conference in January.  The 2014 installment of the MELT will be held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School on January 20.  This is a great day to showcase some of the great things you are doing in your classrooms.  Presenters will be paid a small stipend for their efforts.  If you are interested in providing a session, please click on the link below and fill out the form.  Filling out the form does not guarantee or bind you to providing a session.  If you don't want to present, but have great ideas for possible sessions, please click on the correct link below to provide the MRVED with your suggestions.

If you are willing to present and provide a session click HERE

If you do not want to present, but have ideas for sessions, click HERE

Agriculture Best Practice Meeting Update
The Agriculture instructors assembled on Thursday September 26 at K&M Manufacturing in Renville.  The group had the opportunity to tour the building, seeing new equipment and techniques.  They also had the chance to visit with management talking about the process as well as what skills are needed to succeed in this area.  Great conversation was had over lunch.  In the afternoon, Gail Polejewski met with the instructors to talk Perkins and the group shared resources and ideas for the rest of the afternoon.  Overall it was a great tour and another chance to get together and network.









Last Chance To Register for October 16 Common Day Activities
Registration will close on Wednesday, October 9 at 4:00 to participate in any of the professional development activities.  See the flyer for registration information.  Sessions being offered are:

Google Docs @ LQPV
Middle School Math Data Day @ MRVED
MCIS Training @ MVALC
Diversity Day @ Prairie's Edge Casino

October 16 Flyer Link

Meet Karen Jacobson
Karen Jacobson is the Director of the MRVED. Hired as Assistant Director in November 2001, Karen became the MRVED Director in July 2007. Prior to joining the MRVED, Karen worked as the Community Initiatives Director for the Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation, served as the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coordinator for several area schools, and began her career as an Extension Educator in Chippewa County. She earned her Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, in 1990.

Karen and her husband, Steve, have two grown sons. Scott is a Mechanical Engineer for K & M Manufacturing in Renville and is married to Michelle who is the finance manager for Yellow Medicine County. Thomas is a registered nurse at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital. He is single. ;-) When not at work, Karen enjoys wine tasting, traveling, following football (Go Bears!), spending time with her new horse, and is a volunteer Pole Vault coach for the Montevideo Track and Field team.


Upcoming Meetings
October 4: Online Teachers
October 8: Title I Teachers
October 9: Music
October 10: Art
October 11: Title III Paraprofessionals

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!

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

4. Measure Understanding

What it looks like: Course grades should reflect what a student knows, not what a student does or how he/she acts. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 196)

Why it is important: Grade inflation gives students a false impression they have learned something.  Students learn how to play school, rather than learn material.  Grading nonacademic factors also lowers expectations for students. (Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 196)

Goodwin, B., & Hubbell, E. R. (2013). The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day. Alexandria, VA: ASCD - See more at: http://www.mcrel.org/products-and-services/products/product-listing/100_199/product-111#sthash.NJswMvKe.dpuf


Friday, September 27, 2013

MRVED Business

Call for MELT Presentations & Session Ideas
The MRVED is once again looking for people to present at the annual MELT conference in January.  The 2014 installment of the MELT will be held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School on January 20.  This is a great day to showcase some of the great things you are doing in your classrooms.  Presenters will be paid a small stipend for their efforts.  If you are interested in providing a session, please click on the link below and fill out the form.  Filling out the form does not guarantee or bind you to providing a session.  If you don't want to present, but have great ideas for possible sessions, please click on the correct link below to provide the MRVED with your suggestions.

If you are willing to present and provide a session click HERE

If you do not want to present, but have ideas for sessions, click HERE

TAC Meeting Update
The Teacher Advisory Council met on Tuesday, September 24 for their first meeting of the year.  The morning was spent doing a "big picture" activity and evaluating where our districts are with certain initiatives.  There was great educational conversation around each one of the initiatives.  The afternoon was spent brainstorming possible MELT sessions.  Overall it was a great day with awesome conversation!

Meet the MRVED- Pam Bruns
Pam is an office assistant for the MRVED and ALC offices.  She returned to MRVED in 2004 following a 13 year retirement to be home with her children. Pam maintains the Independent Study program records for MRVED/Montevideo Valley Area Learning Center, and the Adult Basic Education records for our region.  Pam and her husband Gary have two children Molli, a senior at Minnesota State Mankato and Derek, freshman at University of St. Thomas, St. Paul.  She enjoys time at Lake Florida with family and friends, playing a little golf and reading. Pam is an active member at Trinity Lutheran Church with Worship Team and the annual Trinity Drive-In committee.

October 16 MRVED Common Day

October 16 MRVED Common Day
There are a number of events planned for the October 16 MRVED common professional development day.  A number of schools are sharing their offerings for this day.  Please see the link below for a flyer describing all the events in detail.  Pay close attention to the contact person for registration and register soon as there are limited seats available for all sessions.



Google Drive, Calendar, and Chromebook Training held at LQPV @ 7:45-9:30
MCIS Training held at the Area Learning Center @ 8:30-3:00
Middle School Math Data Mining held at MRVED @ 8:30-2:30
Diversity Day held at Prairie's Edge Casino in Granite Falls @ 9:00-2:40

If you would like to register for any of these offerings, please see the flyer for more information.

October 16 Flyer Link

Interactive Math Websites for Primary Teachers


Are you a primary teacher looking for ways to engage your students in math?  Try this great list of interactive math sites compiled by a fellow teacher.


There is also an EverySchool website from the United Kingdom that has some awesome interactive games on them.  The website is broken down by content area.  Many of the games would be a great addition to a SmartBoard library!