Friday, February 24, 2012
Requested Item: School/District Academic Composite Calendar
Each year, Heartland AEA makes a composite calendar with all our schools'/districts' start dates, teacher workdays/in-services, early dismissals, holidays/no school days, etc. We create this composite by gathering districts' and non-public schools' calendars. We make the composite to help our regional directors, practitioners, library staff and van delivery staff be more aware of what's happening in your district and how best to serve you. When your 2012-2013 academic calendar is approved, please send it to Claire Sowder at csowder@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Iowa's AEAs are "Impacting Lives"
Through their many years of service, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have impacted the lives of many Iowa children, youth and educators. Individuals have shared how Iowa’s AEAs have supported them in the latest edition of Impacting Lives, a blog newsletter that shares AEA stories across the state. Find the Impacting Lives blog at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/.
- Providing Resources to Brighten Children's Futures: Caroline’s Story
- Supporting 1:1 Schools in Northeast Iowa
- Early Intervention Brings Boy’s Speech Up to Speed
- Collaborating to Build Social Skills
- 21st Century Learners Conference: Great Day of Learning for Green Hills Area Educators
- Swift Interventions Unleash Boy's Potential
- Assistive Technology Works for Student with Autism
- Braille Contests Offer Unique Experiences for Visually Impaired Students
- Closing the Achievement Gap for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
- Iowa’s AEAs – Partners in Education!
March Curriculum Network Meeting
The March Curriculum Network Meeting will be held on Friday, March 2 in Rooms 13A & B of the Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston). We will begin at 8:30 a.m. with Our Time–Our Topic discussions.
The morning will also include a brief overview of the Iowa Core Investigation materials for Mathematics and English/Language Arts. A more in depth session will be offered in the afternoon (1:15-3:00 p.m.) in Rooms 13A & B.
The focus for the afternoon centers around the following questions:
The morning will also include a brief overview of the Iowa Core Investigation materials for Mathematics and English/Language Arts. A more in depth session will be offered in the afternoon (1:15-3:00 p.m.) in Rooms 13A & B.
The focus for the afternoon centers around the following questions:
- How do you "unpack" the Iowa Core standards?
- Do my teachers have a deep understanding of the Iowa Core in the areas of Mathematics and English/Language Arts?
- How will I/do I know this?
- What do I need to plan to support the teachers in developing or expanding their understanding of the Iowa Core content?
Spring 2012 HEART Classes
We will be offering a HEART for administrators and HEART behavior module class March 6 in the computer lab of the Heartland Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive).
If you are interested, you may register for either one or both sessions. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
HEART Overview
The HEART Overview for Administrators class is intended for school leaders new to HEART and those who want a refresher. In this training we will cover the use of HEART, security setup and cleanup, as well as general Q&A. This class is intended for building/district leaders who will be responsible for local implementation of HEART. Among others, this may include superintendents, principals, technology and/or curriculum coordinators, but may also include building/district clerical personnel who provide major support for HEART.
March 6, 2012 from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: AS003792111204
HEART Behavior Module
The HEART Behavior Module class will cover the setup and operation of the behavior module as well as some discussion of its use in a building/district setting. We recommend the behavior training be attended by at least one administrator and another person who will assist with technical support (primarily building data files for import). We also encourage the school to invite members of the AEA team such as the School Psychologist and/or School Social Worker, as they may be able to assist in the implementation of the behavior module in your building/district.
March 6, 2012 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Activity Number: AS003692111201
Questions can be directed to Connor Hood at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14506 or chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
If you are interested, you may register for either one or both sessions. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
HEART Overview
The HEART Overview for Administrators class is intended for school leaders new to HEART and those who want a refresher. In this training we will cover the use of HEART, security setup and cleanup, as well as general Q&A. This class is intended for building/district leaders who will be responsible for local implementation of HEART. Among others, this may include superintendents, principals, technology and/or curriculum coordinators, but may also include building/district clerical personnel who provide major support for HEART.
March 6, 2012 from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Activity Number: AS003792111204
HEART Behavior Module
The HEART Behavior Module class will cover the setup and operation of the behavior module as well as some discussion of its use in a building/district setting. We recommend the behavior training be attended by at least one administrator and another person who will assist with technical support (primarily building data files for import). We also encourage the school to invite members of the AEA team such as the School Psychologist and/or School Social Worker, as they may be able to assist in the implementation of the behavior module in your building/district.
March 6, 2012 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Activity Number: AS003692111201
Questions can be directed to Connor Hood at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14506 or chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Heartland Regional iPad Trainings
Many school districts across the state are integrating iPads as the technology of the future often through an adoption of a 1:1 technology initiative or by purchasing individual classroom sets. To help schools and educators successfully infuse iPads into instruction, Heartland’s Educational Technology team has scheduled a series of regional iPad trainings where participants explore various iPad apps that support the Universal Constructs of the Iowa Core.
If you are interested, you may register for either one or both sessions. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
March 5, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Room 13B of Johnston REC (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: TE092992111203
May 1, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Zion Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
Activity Number: TE092999991201
May 7, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Adel AEA Office (602 Visions Parkway)
Activity Number: TE092992111205
May 10, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Indianola AEA Office (115 W. Salem Avenue)
Activity Number: TE092992111204
If you are interested, you may register for either one or both sessions. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog on our home page. Copy the appropriate activity number and paste it into the search box on the registration page in the browser.
March 5, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Room 13B of Johnston REC (6500 Corporate Drive)
Activity Number: TE092992111203
May 1, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Zion Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
Activity Number: TE092999991201
May 7, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Adel AEA Office (602 Visions Parkway)
Activity Number: TE092992111205
May 10, 2012 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Indianola AEA Office (115 W. Salem Avenue)
Activity Number: TE092992111204
Reflection of AIW Regional Collaboration Day, February 17, 2012
Approximately 680 educators representing 36 buildings in 15 Heartland districts are currently improving their instructional practices through involvement in Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW). For each of the past four years, teachers incorporating authentic pedagogy into their instructional practices have gathered in the middle of winter to collaboratively score and discuss teacher tasks, student work and actual classroom instruction through DE-sponsored events. AIW offers teachers opportunities to reflect on their practice, through research-based criteria within a framework, while gathering feedback from colleagues, all in order to change what goes on in the classroom toward the benefit of improved learning for all students.
On Friday, February 17, Heartland sponsored its first AIW Regional Collaboration Day (and the fifth as part of statewide efforts). More than 250 K-12 educators attended the full day at Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. They gathered in similar content areas, by grade band, and, through the facilitation of a Heartland-area AIW teacher-leader, scored tasks/assessments, pieces of student work and reviewed video clips of instruction brought by presenting teachers seeking feedback. In addition, several individual participants were captured on video offering thoughts on the practices of authentic pedagogy; some teams were recorded while scoring and discussing artifacts from classrooms. The video recordings will be compiled into an informational DVD for agency and LEA use.
The Heartland AIW coaches welcome your questions or comments on AIW. Please direct your feedback to an AIW team member listed below.
Becca Lindahl, blindahl@aea11.k12.ia.us
Teresa Bellinghausen, tbellinghausen@aea11.k12.ia.us
Mary Schmidt, mschmidt@aea11.k12.ia.us
Sue Ford, sford@aea11.k12.ia.us
Linda Moehring, lmoehring@aea11.k12.ia.us
On Friday, February 17, Heartland sponsored its first AIW Regional Collaboration Day (and the fifth as part of statewide efforts). More than 250 K-12 educators attended the full day at Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. They gathered in similar content areas, by grade band, and, through the facilitation of a Heartland-area AIW teacher-leader, scored tasks/assessments, pieces of student work and reviewed video clips of instruction brought by presenting teachers seeking feedback. In addition, several individual participants were captured on video offering thoughts on the practices of authentic pedagogy; some teams were recorded while scoring and discussing artifacts from classrooms. The video recordings will be compiled into an informational DVD for agency and LEA use.
The Heartland AIW coaches welcome your questions or comments on AIW. Please direct your feedback to an AIW team member listed below.
Becca Lindahl, blindahl@aea11.k12.ia.us
Teresa Bellinghausen, tbellinghausen@aea11.k12.ia.us
Mary Schmidt, mschmidt@aea11.k12.ia.us
Sue Ford, sford@aea11.k12.ia.us
Linda Moehring, lmoehring@aea11.k12.ia.us
Des Moines Arts Festival® Seeks Student Artists for On-Site Exhibition
The 2012 Des Moines Arts Festival® is now accepting submissions for student artists to participate in the Nurturing a Student’s Vision: Celebrating Artists K-12 student art exhibition (NSV) on-site at the Festival on June 22-24, 2012, in downtown Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park! Sponsored by Hubbell Homes, Des Moines Art Center and Des Moines Arts Festival® this program spotlights the creativity of central Iowa’s youngest artists!
Art teachers from eligible schools in the Heartland area may select artwork from up to four students to submit for the exhibition. These selected pieces from students in grades K-12 will be showcased for all to see at the NSV display throughout the three-day Festival weekend. The artistic achievements of these participating students will also be celebrated at the Visionary Artist Ceremony on June 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Festival. Each student will receive a Certificate of Appreciation along with a Des Moines Art Center Student Membership presented by Rick Tollakson, Hubbell Homes President and CEO.
In addition to the exhibition, a jury will choose artwork from five of the participating students to be made into banners that accompany the exhibit on-site at the Festival. Following the Festival, these banners are displayed at the Des Moines Art Center. The entire exhibition will be showcased at downtown Des Moines’ Central Library for six weeks following the Festival.
Art teachers who are interested in participating in the NSV program should visit http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/student_artists.php for all submission forms and guidelines. Letters of intent are due to the Festival by March 16, 2012, to confirm participation.
Please direct NSV participant questions to Ryan Garvey at (515) 286-4923 or rgarvey@desmoinesartsfestival.org.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Art teachers from eligible schools in the Heartland area may select artwork from up to four students to submit for the exhibition. These selected pieces from students in grades K-12 will be showcased for all to see at the NSV display throughout the three-day Festival weekend. The artistic achievements of these participating students will also be celebrated at the Visionary Artist Ceremony on June 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Festival. Each student will receive a Certificate of Appreciation along with a Des Moines Art Center Student Membership presented by Rick Tollakson, Hubbell Homes President and CEO.
In addition to the exhibition, a jury will choose artwork from five of the participating students to be made into banners that accompany the exhibit on-site at the Festival. Following the Festival, these banners are displayed at the Des Moines Art Center. The entire exhibition will be showcased at downtown Des Moines’ Central Library for six weeks following the Festival.
Art teachers who are interested in participating in the NSV program should visit http://desmoinesartsfestival.org/student_artists.php for all submission forms and guidelines. Letters of intent are due to the Festival by March 16, 2012, to confirm participation.
Please direct NSV participant questions to Ryan Garvey at (515) 286-4923 or rgarvey@desmoinesartsfestival.org.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
UNI Jacobson Center to offer Literacy Coaching Preparation Program to Iowa School Districts
The Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy at the University of Northern Iowa offers teachers a variety of educational and professional development opportunities to enhance literacy education and ultimately improve literacy learning in all children. A key initiative of the center is the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL), a model developed by the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. UNI's Jacobson Center is one of seven national training centers for the PCL, which features a systemic approach to school reform, based on preparing literacy coaches to work with school districts on best practices in literacy instruction.
PCL is dedicated to increasing student achievement. It includes high quality professional development, research-based instructional practices and a comprehensive assessment system. Highly prepared literacy coaches are the key to this effort. PCL literacy coaches are prepared by the Jacobson Center and other PCL centers during the course of a year-long training program. The Jacobson Center will welcome its first class of literacy coaches this summer at the Summer Institute scheduled June 25 through 28 at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls. Districts and Area Education Agencies are encouraged to send teams of teachers and administrators to the Summer Institute and to apply to have teachers trained to be PCL coaches.
Schools can apply for financial assistance for literacy coach preparation. The program is geared toward current teachers who hold a master's degree in literacy education or other related fields; are employed as a literacy coach in his/her school; hold a minimum of three years of teaching experience; and work in a school with a Reading Recovery program. School administrators must also apply and agree to implement the PCL model with integrity.
Prospective literacy coaches earn 21 hours of UNI graduate-credit coursework. They implement PCL in their schools during their year of preparation, conducting and facilitating professional development sessions with their school faculty and working with their principal to establish school-wide assessment and instructional systems.
For more information about PCL, the summer institute and to apply for the program, visit www.uni.edu/coe/pcl or contact UNI's Jacobson Center at (319) 273-2053 or jccl@uni.edu.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
PCL is dedicated to increasing student achievement. It includes high quality professional development, research-based instructional practices and a comprehensive assessment system. Highly prepared literacy coaches are the key to this effort. PCL literacy coaches are prepared by the Jacobson Center and other PCL centers during the course of a year-long training program. The Jacobson Center will welcome its first class of literacy coaches this summer at the Summer Institute scheduled June 25 through 28 at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls. Districts and Area Education Agencies are encouraged to send teams of teachers and administrators to the Summer Institute and to apply to have teachers trained to be PCL coaches.
Schools can apply for financial assistance for literacy coach preparation. The program is geared toward current teachers who hold a master's degree in literacy education or other related fields; are employed as a literacy coach in his/her school; hold a minimum of three years of teaching experience; and work in a school with a Reading Recovery program. School administrators must also apply and agree to implement the PCL model with integrity.
Prospective literacy coaches earn 21 hours of UNI graduate-credit coursework. They implement PCL in their schools during their year of preparation, conducting and facilitating professional development sessions with their school faculty and working with their principal to establish school-wide assessment and instructional systems.
For more information about PCL, the summer institute and to apply for the program, visit www.uni.edu/coe/pcl or contact UNI's Jacobson Center at (319) 273-2053 or jccl@uni.edu.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards
Adobe Youth Voices invites educators to participate in the Aspire Awards, giving young creatives the opportunity to have their work showcased publicly. This media festival seeks to recognize outstanding creative projects that demonstrate imagination and expression along with an evident motivation for social change.
Register: Sign up with Adobe Youth Voices Essentials and receive free creative curriculum covering subjects from printed posters to animated video.
Choose your format: The Aspire Awards will accept entries in the following categories (choose the format that best fits your students and their creative goals):
Need help finding project ideas? Check out the free creative curriculum offered by Adobe Youth Voices Essentials.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Register: Sign up with Adobe Youth Voices Essentials and receive free creative curriculum covering subjects from printed posters to animated video.
Choose your format: The Aspire Awards will accept entries in the following categories (choose the format that best fits your students and their creative goals):
- Animation
- Audio
- Graphic Design
- Digital Photography
- Documentary
- Music Video
- Narrative
- Poetry/Experimental
Need help finding project ideas? Check out the free creative curriculum offered by Adobe Youth Voices Essentials.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
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