Heartland AEA offers the MackinVIA online resources free of charge to area schools. A component of the online resource is the award-winning interactive ebooks, CyberSmarts, which address Internet safety and digital citizenship. CyberSmarts is available through the MackinVIA portal at www.mackinvia.com, then click "Groups." Students can create an avatar and experience learning simulations that provide hands-on experience in navigating the online world in a safe, controlled environment.
Shannon Miller from the Van Meter district will explain the instructional uses and how CyberSmarts can be used in the classroom. We think teachers will be excited about CyberSmarts—not only the content, but the deep level of interaction and thinking that the students will experience. CyberSmarts will help students make good decisions in an online environment.
The webinar will be held on February 6, 2014 from 3:30-4:15 p.m.
Here is a link to register for this webinar: http://bit.ly/1bghuve
You will receive an e-mail the day before the webinar giving you access information, so please register by February 4 so that this information can be sent to you.
Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.
Presenter
Brandon Busteed will share research findings of how schools are
increasing student engagement, hope and well-being and why these
measures are more important than tests and grades. Mr. Busteed will hold
a presentation for superintendents during the Heartland Administrators’
Association Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, and an additional session
for principals, district administrators and curriculum directors will be
hosted that afternoon from 1:00-3:00 p.m. It will be a great
opportunity for superintendents or principals to bring in school teams.
Click here
to register. Use the sharing functions below to email this post to
interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook
or Google+ pages.
The IEC has several new vendor-partners with savings opportunities to offer you this year. Each of our partners has gone through a rigorous bid and evaluation process to insure they are able to provide high quality products, competitive pricing and excellent customer service.
Please forward this notice to others within your school or district who may be interested.
Enablemart, part of the School Health family, offers a complete line of special needs products to help meet your IEP goals.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Diverse_Learning/Enablemart
Egan Supply Company offers a full line of supplies and equipment to clean and maintain your school facilities. Products are supported by a highly experienced team of cleaning and maintenance experts who will provide the service after the sale.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Buildings_Grounds/Custodial_Supplies/Egan_Supply
Henry Schein provides medical supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals for your school’s health related needs.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Health_First_Aid_Group/Henry_Schein
iCARE is an online anti-bullying application for web and mobile devices. It helps engage an entire school and give students a way to work together to make their schools safe from bullying.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/School_Management_Group/Student_Course_Management/eWalk__iCoach_and_More__Media-
Interior Systems, Inc. specializes in modern school dining transformations that will take your cafeteria from simple to sensational! Increase foodservice revenues, create a school showplace and promote school pride.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Furniture/Cafeteria/Interior_Systems__Inc_
Iowa Prison Industries offers a full line of general cleaning chemicals and supplies for your facilities, including products that comply with Iowa's Green Cleaning mandate for schools and public buildings. Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Buildings_Grounds/Custodial_Supplies/IPI
TLC Sensory makes weighted blankets, lap bags and sensory buddies that were developed by a clinical therapist to help children and adults with Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s and other behavioral challenges.
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Diverse_Learning/TLC_Sensory
Xpedx has the products, expertise, environmental programs and procurement solutions you need to provide healthy, clean environments, reduce costs and meet sustainability goals. 1-2 day quick turnaround to receive most items!
Contact information and pricing: http://www.iec-ia.org/pages/IEC/Buildings_Grounds/Custodial_Supplies/xpedx
View the latest Impacting Lives update at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/ for stories about the many ways Iowa's AEAs are making a difference.
In this issue:
- Teachers Receive Hands-on Autism Learning Experience
- ISU Students Make Communication Easier for Sam
- Northwest AEA/Schleswig school success: The Power of RTI for Preston
- Helping Districts Navigate Their Changing Populations
- The Road Less Traveled: One Student’s Struggle with Learning
- Northwest AEA/Hunt school success: Mom expresses gratitude for teamwork
- Alex Betz: A Shining Example of the Power of High Expectations
Like a certain article? Make sure to use the sharing functions below each post to email it to interested teachers/community members or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ pages.
Heartland AEA will be
undergoing an exciting project to replace the heating and cooling (HVAC)
system in our Johnston Regional Education Center (REC) at 6500
Corporate Drive. The project will bring important improvements to the
environment of the building, leading to increased comfort for our staff
and visitors. It will also increase the overall energy efficiency of the
building. The project is slated to take place between February 1 and June 1, 2014.
This
means that all meetings and activities during this period, with the
exception of the February 4 HAA meeting, will be relocated to alternate
locations. Most meetings have been moved to the former Walnut Creek
Campus building at 815 8th Street in West Des Moines. We will be calling
the building the Heartland AEA West Des Moines Campus to avoid
confusion with the current Walnut Creek Campus down the street.
The
West Des Moines Campus building has many rooms, both large and small,
to accommodate different types of meetings. It is handicapped
accessible, has ample parking and is close to various restaurants. We
will do our best to provide as many amenities as possible, including
wireless Internet, some rooms with dedicated LCD projectors and access
to copying and printing. While it won’t have the same amenities as the
Johnston REC, it will be more than adequate to serve as a temporary
meeting space during the remodeling project.
The REC building will be open during the remodeling project except during the week of March 15-22.
No one will be allowed in the building during this week, and there will
be no van delivery to schools. We apologize for any inconvenience this
may cause.
Our goal is to create a better environment in our REC
building, and we thank you in advance for your understanding during
this project. We would appreciate it if you would pass this message on
to everyone in your district or school.
If you have any questions, please contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager, at dgean@heartlandaea.org.
Click here to view photos from the West Des Moines Campus.
The new Special Education Procedures Manual and Special Education Procedure Release Notes, both dated January 15, 2014, are now posted on the Iowa IDEA website at www.iowaideainfo.org. These documents are currently posted on the front page of the IDEA website in addition to their permanent location under the IEP drop down menu > Statewide Special Education Procedures > Manual.
If you have any questions, contact Misty Christensen, Regional Director/Assistant Director of Special Education, at mchristensen@heartlandaea.org.
As you are aware, the new Early Literacy Law (Iowa Code Section 279.68 and IAC 281-62) contains several requirements for Iowa schools that are now in effect. One of the requirements is that schools provide universal screening and progress monitoring using Department-approved assessment tools. The approved list is located at: www.educateiowa.gov/early-literacy-implementation
To assist districts with the implementation of these expectations the Department of Education as part of Collaborating for Iowa's Kids (C4K; made up of Iowa's Area Education Agencies, Local Education Agencies, and the Department) is currently working on a plan to provide all Iowa schools with access to Iowa TIER, the Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST) and the Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDIs). To better prepare for this opportunity, we would like you to take a brief survey to help us determine the number of districts that want access to these tools.
To help you determine your need for and interest in these tools, you will need to know the technology requirements for successful connection to the Iowa TIER system, and you may wish to read additional information on the FAST and IGDIs assessment packages. All of this information can be found at: www.educateiowa.gov/early-literacy-implementation
During training for these tools, schools will be asked to bring an Internal Coach, Technical Coach, Data Specialist, Content Specialist, and a Building Leader (Principal). Please remember that the funds your district receives pursuant to Iowa Code 279.68 can be used to pay for this training opportunity. More information on the training will also be posted as it becomes available at: www.educateiowa.gov/early-literacy-implementation
Please take the time to complete the survey* by February 7, 2014. We would only like one survey response per district. It will take approximately five minutes. You may wish to read the provided information prior to beginning the survey or open the Early Literacy Implementation web page in another window so you can refer to it as you answer the questions.
*All superintendents received a link to the Early Literacy Implementation survey earlier today (Friday, January 24) in an email sent from the Iowa Department of Education. It is important that there is only one survey response per district.
Click here to find documents that support fine arts instruction alignment to the universal constructs from the Iowa Core. The resource is to be used by administrators, teachers, area education agencies, students, parents and other individuals who have an interest in arts education in Iowa.
