Tech Tip

Remind 101
If you are looking for a way to safely communicate with parents and students, Remind 101 is for you.  Remind 101 is a free messaging service that gives teachers and coaches the ability to text groups of people without ever exchanging personal information.  They recently updated their service to allow users to attach a file to the text and/or email.  Remind 101 is a very useful service and the best part, it is free.  Give it a try today!

Minnesota Learning Summit

The Minnesota eLearning Summit is the premier gathering place for K-12 and College/University educators and innovators committed to effective learning
and use of technology in the upper midwest!

Summit Dates: July 30-31, 2014

University of Northwestern - St. Paul

Open. Online. Opportunity.

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The Summit program includes:

• Relevant Keynote speakers addressing the needs of K-12 and College/University educators in the 21st Century.
• A variety of workshop sessions focused upon elearning tools, resources, services, eFolios, and best practices.
• Opportunities to network with professional colleagues and service providers through posters sessions.
• Exhibitors.
• Takeaways.

MN eLearning Summit is designed to emphasize:

• The importance of collaboration for K-12 and College/University educators.
• eLearning tools, resources, services, applications, and solutions.
• Networking opportunities for education professionals to meet, collaborate and contribute ideas for the effective use of instructional technology in and out of the classroom.
• A shared vision for utilizing resource-rich tools that reach 21st century learners.
• The importance of developing creative strategies when budgets and personnel are stretched in order to address the challenges of student learning, assessment, and student retention.

What to expect at the Minnesota eLearning Summit:

• We anticipate a gathering of 400+ educators, innovators, and presenters.
• Concurrent breakout sessions covering topics of eLearning including blended, flipped, digital learning.
• Specific tracks for all skill levels - entry level users to experienced practitioners.
• Vendors exhibiting the latest resources and tech solutions.
• Extended learning and hands-on sessions facilitated by expert practitioners.
• Opportunities to network effectively with professional colleagues Certificate of attendance for CEUs.
• On-campus overnight lodging in well-furnished housing facilities.

Registration and other pertinent information can be found on the eLearning Summit Website.

MRVED Business

Summer Professional Development

The MRVED will be hosting a variety of Summer professional development opportunities in the months of June and July.  Look for the flyer in the coming weeks.  Be sure to register early, as there is a minimum number of participants needed to run each workshop.

Communication Briefings
Do you know when to use the word between and when to choose among?  Both words are prepositions, and many writers use them almost interchangeably.  However, their use and meaning vary.

• Use between to refer to a relationship involving two of something.  Examples:  The selection committee will choose between Chris and Carol.  The competition between the two of them is fierce.
• Use among to refer to a relationship involving any number above two.  Examples: The ballots circulated among the committee members.  Among the seven members, only two have not yet voted.

Upcoming Meetings
April 8, 2014   Principals' Council & TAC Joint Meeting
April 11, 2014 Title III Teachers
April 23, 2014  Superintendents' Council
April 23, 2014  MRVED Board (7 p.m.)

First Days of School - Classroom Management

Classroom Management

The second characteristic of an effective teacher is being a good classroom manager.  The next part in Wong's book talks about classroom management strategies.  This will be the focus of this series for the next couple weeks.

"Effective teachers MANAGE their classrooms.  Ineffective teachers DISCIPLINE their classrooms"

Classroom management refers to all of the things that a teacher does to organize students, space, time, and materials so that instruction in content and student learning can take place (Wong, 84).  Linking back the previous section, Wong says, "The most important thing a teacher can provide in a classroom...is security" (Wong, 85).

Characteristics of a Well-Managed Classroom

1. Students are deeply involved with their work, especially with academic, teacher led instruction.
2. Students know what is expected of them and are generally successful.
3. There is relatively little wasted time, confusion, or disruption.
4. The climate of the classroom is work-oriented, but relaxed and pleasant.

Techniques
Characteristics	Effective Teacher
High level of student involvement with work	Students are working.
Clear student expectations	Students know that assignments are based on objectives. Students know that tests are based on objectives.
Relatively little wasted time, confusion, or disruption	Teacher has a discipline plan. Teacher starts class immediately. Teacher has assignments posted.
Work-oriented but relaxed and pleasant climate	Teacher has invested time in practicing procedures until they become routines. Teacher knows how to bring class to attention. Teacher knows how to praise the deed and encourage the student.

Here are a couple ending quotes from this chapter on classroom management:

"A well-managed classroom is a task-oriented and predictable environment." (Wong, 88)

"It is the responsibility of the teacher to manage a class to see that a task-oriented and predictable environment has been established." (Wong, 88)

During the next couple weeks we will be looking at the different aspects of a well-managed classroom, according to Harry Wong.

MRVED Business

Communication Briefings:
I don't think I use the following words very often but thought I'd share this little tidbit anyways.

• Purposefully vs. purposely      The best strategy for keeping these similar words straight is to think of purposefully as positive and purposely as negative. Use purposefully to describe behavior aimed at reaching a goal.  Use purposely when you want to show that someone did something willfully or intentionally.  Examples:
• She worked purposefully to finish the job ahead of the deadline.
• He purposely withheld the information she needed until he knew it would be too late for her to act on it.                                                                     

Training Opportunity:
Ortonville is bringing a fantastic preK training to Ortonville called S.M.A.R.T. pre-K. The training focuses on helping children become developmentally ready to learn the skills that we're asking them to learn at younger and younger ages, and programs that have implemented it have found it to be highly effective. Kids are learning skills faster, retaining them better, and teachers are dealing with fewer behavior problems. As a result of this, programs are finding fewer kids are needing extra services as they progress through school, which is a huge long term cost savings for the district.

SMART Training


Upcoming Meetings:
April 1, 2014    Guidance Counselors
April 8, 2014    Principals' Council & TAC Combined Meeting
April 11, 2014  Title III Teachers
April 23, 2014  Superintendents' Council
April 23, 2014  MRVED Board (7:00 p.m.)

First Days of School - How to Increase Positive Student Behavior

"Significant people use significant words and actions to increase positive behaviors." (Wong, 69)

This week in Harry Wong's book, The First Days of School, we will enter our final chapter in the first part of the book what positive expectations can do in the classroom.  This first part was all about making connections, creating a safe and inviting environment, and increasing positive student behaviors.

How to Increase Positive Student Behavior

We'll start with a quote from the book; "How a person behaves in the journey of life is directly related to what a person expects to happen in life."  There are 5 concepts Harry Wong points to in his book that will help a person achieve whatever they want in their life, they are:

• Addressing a person by name
• Saying "please"
• Saying "thank you"
• Smiling
• Showing care and warmth

For this week, we will break down each of these five concepts.  Remember, your students will mimic your behaviors.  Model good behavior, and you will be surprised at how your students respond.  What you give is what you will get.

Address a Student by Name

Why does a salesperson repeatedly use your name when trying to sell you something?  It's because it makes you feel wanted and important in the short relationship you have with that person.  What can we learn from the sales people and how does it relate to education?

You are trying to sell "information" to your students.  If they never feel like they are a part of this relationship, and they are only there to listen to how wise you are, they won't buy.  Students also tend to pay attention better when you use their name.  "When you use a person's name you are saying to that person, "You are important enough to me to identify you by name." (Wong, 70)

Say "Please," Please

Think about a time you were in a service-oriented business (grocery store, restaurant, etc...), if you have a good experience and are treated well, you are likely to return.  If you are treated poorly, you are very reluctant to go back to that business.  What can education learn from the business world?  Treat your "customers" with respect, and they will be a satisfied customer and will return.  "Kindness begins with the word please."  Wong suggests placing the word "please" on your worksheets and/or assignments.

Thank You

Please see the "please" section.  "Thank you says to others that you appreciate their effort and kindness." (Wong 72)

A Smile, the Frosting on the Cake
A smile is the universal language of understanding, peace, and harmony.  It is also the most effective way to create a positive climate, to disarm an angry person, and to convey the message "Don't be afraid of me; I am here to help you." (Wong, 74)

It All Adds Up to Love
Wong says, "When you look at the truly effective teachers, you will also find caring, warm, lovable people.  If you address your student by name, say please and thank you, and smile, it shows you care and love your students.

Creating the environment for learning is one of the first steps to becoming an effective teacher.  It all starts with the classroom environment and the teacher attitude.  Without the things outlined in the first part of Wong's book, becoming a highly effective teacher is an uphill climb!

Reflection
Take a moment and reflect on your own classroom and attitude:

• Is your environment a safe place to learn?
• Is your environment inviting?
• Do you treat all students will respect?
• Do you model saying please and thank you, all with a smile?