Physical Education/Health Best Practice Meeting Update
This year we ended up combining the physical education and health teachers for their annual best practice meeting. It turned out to be a great day. The group started off the day with a 21st century skills activity and had great discussion around what it means to be a 21st century educator and student. The group then did an activity on providing effective feedback to students and had another great discussion. Brandon shared some technology before lunch. After lunch the teachers had the opportunity to network and share resources. The day ended looking at academic vocabulary. Another great year with a great bunch of teachers.
Social Studies Best Practice Meeting
Brandon's favorite group (because he is a social studies teacher) came to the MRVED on Thursday for their best practice meeting. The day started once again with a 21st century skills activity. Brandon then had the opportunity to model some technology and have a discussion about the impacts of AR technology on education. The group broke for lunch and had a great time sharing stories and catching up over the dinner table. After the lunch the teachers came back and had the opportunity to hear from a couple ladies from PBS as to what PBS can offer for their classrooms. The last thing the teachers did was network and they were on their way home. It's always nice for Brandon to catch up with his former colleagues and the teachers thoroughly enjoyed the day.
MRVED Meetings:
February 12, 2014 Principals' Council
February 20, 2014 Teachers' Advisory Council
February 26, 2014 Superintendents' Council
March 4, 2014 Agriculture
March 6, 2014 Industrial Technology
Friday, February 7, 2014
Olympic Resources
Are you looking for a way to incorporate the Olympics into your classroom this coming week. Here are a few resources to help you do that.
Brandon's Brainwork-Classroom Management
Classroom Management
Classroom management is one of those things that every teacher can improve on. One of the best books on classroom management is Harry Wong's The First Days of School. If this book is not in your professional library, it should be! Harry Wong defines classroom management as "all the things that a teacher does to organize students, space, time, and materials so learning can take place". Each person handles classroom management in their own unique way, but there are a couple characteristics that define a well managed classroom. According to Wong, they are:
- Students are deeply involved in their work.
- Students know what is expected of them.
- There is relatively little wasted time.
- The climate of the classroom is work-oriented but also relaxed.
A couple strategies Wong gives for classroom management are:
- Start the class with an assignment, not roll.
- Post your assignments in the same place and manner every day.
- Permanently display your classroom rules and expectation.
- Have procedures for everything! Teach and practice the procedures.
- Dismissal at the end of class
- When students are absent
- For quieting the class
- Handing in papers
- Starting the class
- Be over-prepared!
Reflection Questions
1. Are you over-prepared every day?
2. Do you have consistent procedures for everything in your classroom?
3. Did you, or have you, practiced the procedures?
4. What part of classroom management am I strong in? What can I share with a colleague that would help them with classroom management?
5. What area of classroom management am I weak in?
Resources
Harry Wong- The First Days of School & Professional Reference
Tech Tip
Valentine Day Resources
Valentine's Day is next week. If you are looking for ways to incorporate this day into your classroom activities, look no further than Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers!
Valentine's Day is next week. If you are looking for ways to incorporate this day into your classroom activities, look no further than Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers!
- Valentine Classroom Ideas
- Valentine Craft Ideas
- Valentine's Day Teacher Resources (Teachers Pay Teachers)
Friday, January 31, 2014
MRVED Business
Best Practice Meetings Resume & Weather Policy
Best practice meetings will resume next week with Phy Ed and Health on Tuesday and Social Studies on Thursday. We look forward to seeing all your smiling faces.
As a reminder, please review the MRVED weather policy (posted below) in case of inclement weather.
However, even if the meeting is still being held, if the weather is unsafe to travel in your area, stay home! We want you to be safe. If the meeting is on time and you cannot make it, please let us know (320-269-9297) so we don't worry about you. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 320-269-9297.
MRVED will also submit meeting cancellations and/or updates on WCCO’s TV channel and website wcco.com (See School Closings under Quick Links). We will be listed under MRVED (just our initials.)
MRVED Meetings
February 4, 2014 Phy Ed & Health Combined
February 5, 2014 MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 6, 2014 Social Studies
February 7, 2014 Title III Teachers
February 12, 2014 Principals' Council
February 20, 2014 Teachers' Advisory Council
February 26, 2014 Superintendents' Council
Best practice meetings will resume next week with Phy Ed and Health on Tuesday and Social Studies on Thursday. We look forward to seeing all your smiling faces.
As a reminder, please review the MRVED weather policy (posted below) in case of inclement weather.
MRVED Weather Policy
Since we are located in the Montevideo School District area, if Montevideo schools are open and on time, we will hold the meeting. If Montevideo has a late start, the meeting will be cancelled and rescheduled. However, even if the meeting is still being held, if the weather is unsafe to travel in your area, stay home! We want you to be safe. If the meeting is on time and you cannot make it, please let us know (320-269-9297) so we don't worry about you. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 320-269-9297.
MRVED will also submit meeting cancellations and/or updates on WCCO’s TV channel and website wcco.com (See School Closings under Quick Links). We will be listed under MRVED (just our initials.)
MRVED Meetings
February 4, 2014 Phy Ed & Health Combined
February 5, 2014 MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 6, 2014 Social Studies
February 7, 2014 Title III Teachers
February 12, 2014 Principals' Council
February 20, 2014 Teachers' Advisory Council
February 26, 2014 Superintendents' Council
Tech Tip
Interactive Simulations for Math and Science
Thank you to Amanda Peterson from Renville County West for sending me this link. This looks like a great resource for any grade level in math or science.
Description from PhET website:
PhET provides fun, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena for free. We believe that our research-based approach- incorporating findings from prior research and our own testing- enables students to make connections between real-life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the physical world.
To help students visually comprehend concepts, PhET simulations animate what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click-and-drag manipulation, sliders and radio buttons. In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop-watches, voltmeters and thermometers. As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause-and-effect relationships as well as multiple linked representations (motion of the objects, graphs, number readouts, etc.)
To ensure educational effectiveness and usability, all of the simulations are extensively tested and evaluated. These tests include student interviews in addition to actual utilization of the simulations in a variety of settings, including lectures, group work, homework and lab work. Our rating system indicates what level of testing has been completed on each simulation.
All PhET simulations are freely available from the PhET website and are easy to use and incorporate into the classroom. They are written in Java and Flash, and can be run using a standard web browser as long as Flash and Java are installed.
Thank you to Amanda Peterson from Renville County West for sending me this link. This looks like a great resource for any grade level in math or science.
Description from PhET website:
PhET provides fun, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena for free. We believe that our research-based approach- incorporating findings from prior research and our own testing- enables students to make connections between real-life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the physical world.
To help students visually comprehend concepts, PhET simulations animate what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click-and-drag manipulation, sliders and radio buttons. In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop-watches, voltmeters and thermometers. As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause-and-effect relationships as well as multiple linked representations (motion of the objects, graphs, number readouts, etc.)
To ensure educational effectiveness and usability, all of the simulations are extensively tested and evaluated. These tests include student interviews in addition to actual utilization of the simulations in a variety of settings, including lectures, group work, homework and lab work. Our rating system indicates what level of testing has been completed on each simulation.
All PhET simulations are freely available from the PhET website and are easy to use and incorporate into the classroom. They are written in Java and Flash, and can be run using a standard web browser as long as Flash and Java are installed.
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