Tech Tip of the Week

Are you looking for a neat way to grab the attention of your students?  Are your students looking for a different project idea?  Look no further!  Newsjack.in is an awesome website that allows you to take any website and edit the contents.  See this EXAMPLE.  Newsjack.in is so easy to use, elementary students would have a blast using it!

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

Reminder: This series of posts comes from the book The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching by Bryan Goodwin & Elizabeth Ross Hubbell.

10. Help students develop deep knowledge

What it looks like: "Teachers introduce new knowledge by helping students connect it to prior knowledge.  They help students make meaningful patterns, assembling disparate bits of information into coherent patterns.  They consider what students will think about with each assignment and aim to focus thinking on deep knowledge"

Why it is important:  "The goal of learning is deep knowledge- the ability to connect ideas, see patterns, and apply learning in novel situations- which in turn, is key to memory.  Effective teaching strategies do not always work; they must be applied with intentionality according to the knowledge teachers are helping students develop."

(Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 198)

MRVED Business

MELT Networking Facilitators

The MRVED is looking for facilitators of networking groups.  As a facilitator you are not expected to be the expert in the room, but rather move the discussion along.  The goal of a networking group is to share resources and ideas with people who have the same interest.  They are meant to include a give & take.  Bring something to share and take something away that someone else shared.

The only networking groups that will be offered are those that have a willing facilitator.  If a networking group does not have a facilitator, they will not be held.  If you would like to sign up, please click the link below and add your name to the list next to the group you would like to facilitate.  If you have any questions, please contact Brandon.
Networking Facilitator Signup

MELT Update
MELT planning is coming together nicely!  There are currently 40+ sessions on the docket with many networking sessions scheduled in throughout the day.  Please consider being a networking facilitator if you feel strongly about networking with colleagues.  Registration will be out in early December.  Be sure to register early as many sessions filled up quickly last year.  Look for the registration materials to be delivered in an email as well as the weekly update.

MRVED Meetings
November 21, 2013 Industrial Technology (Tour K & M Manufacturing)
November 26, 2013 Superintendents' Council (NEW DATE)
December 3, 2013    Language Arts
December 4, 2013    Community Ed
                                 MRVED Board (7:00 p.m.)
December 5, 2013    Health
December 6, 2013    World Languages
December 9, 2013    District Assessment Coordinators (DACs)

Early English Language Development (E-ELD) and Early Spanish Language Development (E-SLD) Standards Webinars

WIDA is hosting a series of free webinars, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on the dates indicated for early childhood practitioners across all early care and education programs (Head Start, child care, preschool, pre-kindergarten, home visiting, etc.).

Before joining any of the webinars, check your system requirements. Audio for the webinars will be either through the computer speaker and microphone or through a phone. To check speakers and microphone settings, join the session and go to Tools-Audio-Audio Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen. To use a phone, join the session and go to Tools-Telephone-Use Telephone for Audio and enter the phone number and PIN on the screen.

Language in Play: Introduction to the Early English Language Development (E-ELD) Standards - Monday, November 18, 2013

• This webinar will provide a more in-depth view of each component of the E-ELD Standards Framework. Each component will be reviewed and implications for use as well as implementation in various early care and education programs will be discussed.

Participate in Language in Play webinar.


Understanding Language Growth: The E-ELD Performance Definitions - Wednesday, December 11, 2013

• This webinar will provide a detailed examination of the Performance Definitions including:
• Foundational concepts and research that guided development of the Performance Definitions;
• Similarities and differences with WIDA’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework; and
• Considerations for use of the Performance Definitions in planning curriculum and monitoring growth of early English language development.

Participate in Understanding Language Growth webinar.


Playing with Language: Understanding and Using the Model Performance Indicator (MPI) Strands - Tuesday, January 14, 2014

• This webinar will build a deeper understanding of the MPI strands including:
• The connection between the Early English Language Development (E-ELD) Standards and the MPIs;
• Identifying elements of a MPI strand;
• Using MPI strands in everyday practice; and
• Implications for instruction and assessment.

Participate in Playing with Language webinar.

Sophia

If you are looking for video resources for your classroom, look no further!

Sophia was created with a vision of transforming education through a vibrant online community of teachers and learners. Our goal is to provide self­-paced, inspirational and relevant curriculum to learners of all stages and ages.

To achieve that vision, Sophia built a customizable education platform that offers more than 37,000 academic tutorials. Taught by thousands of teachers using the Many Ways model, learners can choose teaching styles that appeal to their own unique way of learning. By combining rich content with online flexibility, Sophia gives our community success skills that will last a lifetime.

12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

9. Make the most of every minute

What it looks like: "Teachers plan lessons to ensure bell-to-bell learning for students.  Routines are established to ensure efficient transitions and classroom logistics."

Why it is important: "A few wasted minutes per class period can add up to weeks of lost learning time.  Time on instruction has a greater effect on student achievement than socioeconomic status.  Even more important is academic learning time- the actual time students are on task and learning."

(Goodwin & Hubbell, pg. 198)

The Well-Managed Classroom by Harry Wong

Recap of 1-8

1. Standards should be the guide

2. Student set personal learning objectives for each lesson

3. Performance expectations are clear

4. Measure understanding against high expectations

5. Engage student interest with every lesson

6. Interact meaningful with every student

7. Use feedback to encourage effort

8. Create an oasis of safety and respect