MELT - Evaluations and Thank You

MELT
First off, thank you to everyone who participated in MELT this year.  A special thank you to all the presenters and facilitators who make the day what it is.  If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the evaluation for the day.  We take all the feedback, present it to our various groups and make changes based upon the feedback.

MELT Evaluation Link

MELT Information

2017 MELT
The 2017 MRVED Educators Learning Together (MELT) Conference is fast approaching.  If you have not registered yet, please contact Mary (mbrown@mrved.net) at the MRVED office to do so immediately.

The conference this year has over 600 people registered with around 100 possible sessions throughout the day.  Look for an email a couple days prior to the conference with specific information about the day.

We look forward to having a great day with you all!

MRVED Business

Upcoming Meetings
January 10, 2017  Title III Paraprofessionals
January 16, 2017  MELT
January 25, 2017  Superintendents' Council
January 27, 2017  Principals' Council

February 3, 2017  Title III Teachers
February 15, 2017  MRVED Board (7 p.m.)

MELT Registration

MELT Registration is Open
2017 MELT Registration opened on Monday, December 12 and will close on Thursday, December 22 at 3:00 p.m.  Over 400 people registered on the first day.  Some sessions have been closed due high registration numbers with a couple more ready to close.  If you have not registered already, do so today!

MELT REGISTRATION LINK

MELT Information

MELT
The 2017 version of the MELT (MRVED Educators Learning Together) conference will be held on January 16, 2017 at Lac qui Parle Valley High School.  From the feedback we received from the MELT last year, you will see some minor changes:

• Passing time will be lengthened from 10 to 15 minutes.
• This is to allow our presenters to have ample time to set up.
• This also allows people to visit the restroom or concessions between sessions and still have enough time to make it to their next session.
• Lunch will be shortened to 45 minutes.
• You spoke, we listened.
• Concessions will be available in the hallways between sessions (pop and candy).
• You will get the session brochure a couple days prior to being able to register.
• This will allow you to go through all the sessions and choose what is best for you without being rushed to register.
• The brochure will be released on December 8, 2016.  Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. on December 12, 2016.  Your building principal will receive the registration link and send it to all staff the morning of December 12.
• Registration will close on December 22, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.

This will be the largest MELT ever as we are expecting 650 people.  So it is so important to register by December 22, 2016 as the number of people attending fuels a lot of additional decisions that are made over the Christmas break with respect to that day - room assignments, lunch, bussing, etc.

MELT Networking Facilitator Sign Up

The MRVED is looking for facilitators of networking groups for the 2017 MELT in January.  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, it 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.  The networking sign up will close at 3:00p.m. on Friday November 18.  If you have any questions or cannot access the form, please contact Brandon (braymo@mrved.net).

MELT NETWORKING SIGN UP LINK

MRVED Business

October 19, Professional Development Day
The MRVED wishes to thank everyone for their participation in our first common professional development day on October 19.  We hope the day was beneficial to you as an educator and helped move you forward in your professional learning.  The MRVED would also like to thank the people who were willing to facilitate the meetings.  Without them, this day would not be possible.

If you have not already filled out the evaluation for the day, please do so.  You can access the evaluation by clicking the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyfc3X_UtiPxyJp1Xnm61aglJF_jww522PK3lxFnvdpoTTsg/viewform

We look forward to providing another excellent day of professional development on January 16, when we will all gather for the MELT conference.  This year is shaping up to be the best MELT yet with many new presenters.  You still have time to submit a presentation proposal.  More information can be found at the link below.

http://mrvedupdate.blogspot.com/2016/09/melt-2017-call-for-presentation.html

MRVED Meetings

November 18, 2016   Principals' Council
November 23, 2016   Superintendents' Council

December 2, 2016     Title III Teachers
December 5, 2016     District Assessment Coordinators
December 15, 2016   TAC
December 16, 2016   Principals' Council
December 21, 2016   MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
December 21, 2016   Superintendents' Council

MELT Presenters

MELT Presenters
The MRVED is still actively pursuing teachers to present at the MELT (MRVED Educators Learning Together) conference in January.  Please see this previous post that explains all about presenting.  If you know someone who is doing something great in their classroom, encourage them to present, or if you are doing something great, please fill out the form.

MRVED Business

MELT Call for Presentation Proposals
The 2017 MELT Call for Presentation Proposals has been sent out,  See the previous weeks blog post explaining the Call for Presentation Proposals.  Proposals are due by October 26.  If you know someone who is doing awesome things in their classroom, encourage them to present.  Or, if you, yourself, are doing something awesome, show it off!

MRVED Upcoming Meetings

October 19, 2016  MRVED Common Day for Best Practice Meetings
October 26, 2016  Superintendents' Council
October 28, 2016  Principals' Council

November 18, 2016  Principals' Council
November 23, 2016  Superintendents' Council

MELT 2017 Call for Presentation Proposals

MELT Call for Presentation Proposals
It is that time of the year again!  Time to start looking for teachers to present at the MELT (MRVED Educators Learning Together) Conference in January.  The past few years we have had some great presentations by our local teachers.  Hopefully this year can be better yet.  Last year, there were over 100 sessions to choose from throughout the day with about 1/4 of them being led by local teachers.  My goal is to get to 50% led by local educators.  This is a great opportunity to share some of the awesome and unique things going on in your classroom.  If you would like to present, please fill out the form (linked below).  If you know of someone who would do an awesome job, encourage them to present.

Stipend:

• $100 - Present one, 1-hour session
• $150 - Present the same 1-hour session twice
• $150 - Present one, 2-hour session
• $200 - Present two different 1-hour sessions

Please Note:

• If you want to present as a team, only one proposal needs to be submitted.  The person that makes the proposal will be the contact person for that group.  The team shares the stipend.
• Submitting a proposal does not commit you to presenting.  You are only providing the MRVED with information that you are interested in presenting.
• Brandon will contact you by the end of October if your session was selected.
• You may fill out more than one proposal.

Possible Session Ideas:

• Cross-Curricular Projects
• School Readiness
• SMART Training
• Teaching Vocabulary
• 6+1 Traits of Writing
• Writing in the Elementary
• Daily 5
• Daily 3
• STEM/STEAM
• Coding
• Math Strategies
• Reading Strategies
• Technology: SMARTBoard, Tablets, Content Area, Grade Level, Apps

2017 MELT Call for Presentation Proposals Form