Time is Running Out to Register for Summer Institute

Don’t miss the opportunity for you and your teachers to participate in this year’s Heartland Summer Institute. Educators may sign up for all of the following sessions or choose those best meeting their needs. We are looking forward to hosting this event at the FFA Center on the DMACC Campus. It is a new facility that is very well suited to educator’s learning needs. Food will be provided by Johnston Schools. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog.

Overview of Iowa Core Characteristics of Effective Instruction
June 13, 2011 @ FFA Enrichment Center on DMACC campus
Activity Number: IS016399111201
($10—materials, breaks, and lunch)

This session is intended for teachers and administrators who were unable to attend last summer. Participants will be provided with learning opportunities to gain deeper knowledge of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction. The session will be facilitated by Heartland’s Iowa Core Network members.

Iowa Core Summer Institute: Teaching for Deep Understanding
June 14–15, 2011 @ FFA Enrichment Center on DMACC campus
Activity Number: IS016299111201
($20—materials, breaks, and lunch)

Featured speakers include: Jason Glass, Director of the Iowa Department of Education; Molly Boyle, Waukee Teacher and Iowa Teacher of the Year; Dr. Jean Donham, University of Northern Iowa; and Mary Schmidt, Gifted and Talented Consultant at Heartland AEA. The two-day session will focus how to teach the important concepts of the Iowa Core Curriculum, how to design meaningful tasks and how to engage students in higher order thinking. In addition to featured speakers, Heartland consultants will also support learning in specific content areas.

New to Summer Institute: Session for Administrators and Leadership Teams!

Collaborating to Lead the Iowa Core
June 16, 2011 @ Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: IS016492111201
($10—materials, breaks, and lunch)

This last day of the summer institute is designed for administrative teams and/or leadership teams. Dr. Troyce Fisher of SAI and the Wallace Foundation will be a featured speaker and facilitator. The focus of the session will be on the leadership that will be needed to implement instruction that leads to deep learning for students. Teams will have an opportunity to engage in conversation around the important drivers for system reform that result in improved learning for students. Learning opportunities will be designed to allow teams to reflect on how learning about the Iowa Core is connected at all levels of the system. Leadership needs at the district, building, learning team, and individual teacher level will be addressed.

DIBELS Next Developer to Provide Training, June 27 & 28

There is an opportunity this summer for interested teachers to attend training on DIBELS Next (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) provided by Dr. Roland Good, one of the leading developers of DIBELS Next. Participants will dig deeper into learning about the DIBELS Next measures and how to make instructional decisions. The two-day session will be held June 27 and 28 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines (4300 Beaver Avenue).

There is limited funding to pay teachers to attend these sessions. Teachers can register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog using activity number RE029399991201.

Curriculum 21 Conference, June 21-23

The Curriculum 21 conference is a high quality professional learning opportunity that directly addresses 21st Century learning for students. This year the conference is being co-sponsored by Iowa ASCD and the Curriculum Mapping Institute. The conference will be held June 22-23 at the Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill. Teachers and school leaders are encouraged to attend. Click here to download a flyer for this event.

New Eligibility Criteria for Reading Recovery i3 Grant

All elementary schools that choose to train a Reading Recovery teacher will receive the i3 grant if the district submits the Memo of Understanding. The grant will cover the following costs of training a Reading Recovery teacher:

• $2150.00 towards the cost of training
• Tuition and fees for six hours of UNI graduate credit
• Books, materials and supplies
• Professional development allowance of $2000.00

You may download the following materials to apply:

• Memo of Understanding
• Priority Criteria
• Heartland AEA Reading Recovery Brochure

Please contact Sue Hayes at shayes@aea11.k12.ia.us if you would like more information on the Reading Recovery i3 grant.