Our Mission
To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.
Our Goals
- Increase learning growth for students
- Decrease the gap in achievement
- Increase annual graduation rates
- Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Welcome to October! Although we are several weeks into the new school year, many school districts are just now welcoming new immigrant and refugee students. We know that EL students often arrive steadily throughout the school year and come from countries that present new language and culture learning opportunities. This newsletter focuses on resources to support some of our newest immigrant families from Afghanistan and Ukraine. Please access the new newsletter at this at this link.
The Heartland AEA Future Ready Network meeting on Oct. 20 will be a District Career Guidance Plan Workshop. This network meeting and workshop will be offered as a hybrid option. District teams can join in person in the Heartland AEA, 602 Visions Parkway in Adel or via zoom at this link.Districts are encouraged to bring members of their District Career Guidance Team to review their plans and explore the trends with feedback to continue to improve opportunities for all students. This workshop will include the morning network time from 8:30-11:30 a.m., with guest speaker, Erica Woods-Schmitz, Education Program Consultant for Academic and Career Planning from the Iowa Department of Education.In the extended afternoon work time from 12:30-3:30 p.m., districts can continue to work on revising and updating their plans with their teams and support from AEA consultants. Please complete this survey by Oct. 7 to indicate how and if your team is attending so we can plan for space and activities accordingly. Visit the Heartland AEA Future Ready Website to stay up to date on news, resources, past network Zoom recordings and more! For more information, contact Sue Schirmer.
Join us for three webinars to learn more about Gale, including one of our new digital resource offerings: Gale in Context: High School! Both district and AEA staff are invited to join the webinars to learn more about these resources for K-12 students. All three sessions will be recorded. Please register even if you are unable to attend in real-time so you can get access to the recorded sessions!
Gale Resources for the High School Classroom
Oct. 19, 2022
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
REGISTER NOW!
Discover all the resources available to support learning and curriculum in the high school classroom. Explore the available content within the resources and learn or enjoy a refresher on the navigation and document management tools available within the Gale resources.
Support Learning in the Middle School Classroom with Gale
Oct. 26, 2022
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
REGISTER NOW!
Learn how Gale resources can supplement your middle school units of study and curriculum standards. Discover more than articles and periodical information but also videos, audio, images and more. Walk through the tools and features of the resources, share best practices and model how to use Gale resources in the classroom.
Explore Gale in Context: Elementary
Nov. 2, 2022
2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
REGISTER NOW!
Gale in Context: Elementary gives students a safe place to find answers to their questions, practice research skills and explore age-appropriate premium sources about their favorite subjects. Discover engaging multimedia, articles and facts and highlight features to help educators and consultants increase student engagement and enhance classroom instruction.
If you have any questions, contact: Tracie Marshall, Media/Technology Project & Purchasing Coordinator, tmarshall@iowaaea.org.
In this issue of the Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter:
- October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month
- Instructional Response to Universal Screening Data
- UFLI Parent Resource Hub
- Vocabulary
- Topic Reads
- Learning Bit by Bit - Automaticity
- Professional Learning Opportunities
Introduction to Learning Acceleration will lead development sessions for district and school instructional leaders as well as AEA consultants to ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to provide students access to grade-appropriate assignments and strong instruction.
- The Opportunity Myth
- Introduction to learning acceleration and systems reflection on readiness
- Ensuring access to strong grade level instruction to accelerate to grade level
- Observational tools and feedback for accelerated instruction
TNTP Learning Series: Introduction to Learning AccelerationCost: 1 hour recertification credit = $235.00 (Instructor fees + license renewal)
Participation only - $200.00 (Instructor fees)
- Led by TNTP (The New Teacher Project) via zoom
- Intended Audience: Administrators, AEA Staff, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Instructors, District & School Leaders
- Virtually October 24, 2022, November 2 & 11, 2022, December 1, 2022 (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Registration: #204431 HL Introduction to Learning Acceleration
Course credit is awarded once all requirements are met and the end of the course date (December 15, 2022)
More information here: Virtual learning series flyer
COMING 2023!
TNTP Learning Series: Application and Coaching
Learners will engage in a variety of instructional methods (group processing, modeling, lecture, group presentations, coaching) to accomplish these learning goals:
- utilize the transformational ideas and seven principles that define a Fierce Conversation in group and real-life situations
- identify key conversations that will support individual professional development and the development of the organization
- prepare and implement Team Conversation, Coaching Conversation, Delegation Conversation and Confrontation Conversation
- develop and submit a personal communication plan
Dates & Times: Oct. 27 & 28 and Nov. 10 & 17, 2022 (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Held via Zoom
Registration Link: Course 180172, Section 313360
Cost: $170 + $200 for a 12-month Fierce for Life membership (required materials) = $370
2 License Renewal Credits (approved for Evaluator Approval renewal)
Additional Courses Available for Evaluator Approval Renewal CreditHeartland AEA also has multiple sections of Cognitive Coaching Level 1, Cognitive Coaching Level 2 and Education Technologies for Administrators that are available for Evaluator Approval renewal credit. These courses are listed on the statewide Evaluator Training Course Schedule on the Iowa Department of Education website.
Please circulate this Ed.D. information to promising leaders.
The ISU Ed.D. program in School Leadership:
- specializes in P-12 Systems Leadership and provides recommendation for Superintendent and AEA Chief Certification
- is designed for working practitioners and is offered online with limited face-to-face opportunities
- an Ed.D. dissertation specializes in the work of a professional practitioner, resulting in improved understanding, experience and outcomes
The next cohort begins May 2023. Final application deadline is March 1, 2023. You may explore the program through the following links:
Tuition Information
EdD Curriculum
Graduate Education Handbook
PowerPoint with Program Information
The application process can be found at: Ed.D. Application Process
Contact the ISU Professors of Practice:
