Friday, November 6, 2009

November Iowa Core Curriculum Update

Registration information for Day Two and for Day Three Leadership Training is now posted on the Heartland AEA Web site. On the right side of the home page, click on Heartland’s Iowa Core link. Scroll to the bottom of that page and click on Year 2-Days 2 and 3 Registration Flyer. Registration is a must to ensure space and materials for each participant. Each session requires registration.

Other news: The PowerPoint presentation from October’s training is available on the Web site under Year Two Resources by Topic.
The team has addressed over 100 questions in a question and answer document that is also found on the Heartland Web site.

For questions or further information, contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Iowa Core Curriculum, at lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Poverty Simulation to be Held November 13

Heartland will be offering a poverty simulation session on November 13 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at New Hope Assembly of God Church. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self-sufficiency on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources. Although participants use “play” money and other props, fictional scenarios and time limits, the simulation is not a game. It is a tool that enables participants to view poverty from different angles in an experiential setting.

In order to ensure we can hold the simulation, we need to have 40 participants registered, otherwise it will be canceled. If you are interested, please register today! Go to Heartland's Professional Development Catalog to register. The Activity Number is HU016199991001.

Literacy, Language & Communication for Children with Significant Disabilities

Click here to find out more about participating in a professional development and research project to address "Literacy, Language and Communication for Children with Significant Disabilities." This project promotes the comprehensive literacy learning of Iowa students with significant developmental disabilities.

Interested teams must submit a letter of intent along with their application (form can be downloaded here) by December 16, 2009 to Dr. Amy Peterson at (319) 273-7852 (fax) or Schindler Education Center 186, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0601.

Sheltered Instruction Class for ELL Teachers

“Introduction To Sheltered Instruction for Teachers of ELLs” is the hottest ticket in town and we are offering training in January! Check out Heartland AEA Professional Catalog for more information to share with your staff.

The targeted audience is all educators who work with K-12 English language learners including content and grade level teachers who have NOT taken Sheltered Instruction previously.


This 2-day course will provide participants with a research-based framework to guide differentiated lesson planning, delivery and assessment that meet the needs of ELLs and other diverse learners in the mainstream or sheltered classroom. Teaching strategies and demonstrations specifically designed to facilitate simultaneous learning of language and content will be presented and demonstrated.

NOTE: Priority will be given to partner institutions within the Heartland AEA area. Des Moines Public School participants must register with the permission of Vinh Nguyen.


A stipend of $200 will be provided to participants who complete all course requirements. Details on how to receive the stipend and submit the assignment will be given at class.


Dates: January 9 & 16, 2010 (100% attendance is required for credit.)
Times: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Stoney Creek Inn
Address: 5291 NW 84th St., Johnston

Instructors: Shelley Fairbairn and Stephaney Jones-Vo

Activity number: ES004299991001

Rooted to Grow: Diverse Learners in the 21st Century

The annual Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) will be held on February 9-10, 2010 at Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. A Pre-conference will take place on February 8. This year's theme is "Rooted to Grow: Diverse Learners in the 21st Century."

Eight speakers have been invited to speak at the conference. The mission of the annual event is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators and service providers.
Schools are encouraged to bring a team.

For budgeting purposes, please send the number of participants you will be registering for the ICLC and Pre-conference to Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us no later than November 30, 2009.


After sending your anticipated number of participants to Pat Latham, you may register each participant through the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/iowa_culture_language_conference/.


Make sure to register before December 11, 2009 to receive the Early Bird Rate. Title III will only fund the Early Bird Rates to your district.
The following are conditions Title III will fund:

Pre-conference registration based on ELL enrollment
  1. Schools without English language learners will receive reimbursement for one participant to attend a Pre-conference session (up to $100 registration fee, only).
  2. Schools with one or more English language learners receive reimbursement (up to $100 registration fee, only) for each of three participants to attend the Pre-conference sessions.
Iowa Culture and Language Conference Registration and Sub-pay based on ELL enrollment
  1. Districts with 75 ELLs and up will be reimbursed for 10 participants.
  2. Districts with 15 to 74 ELLs will be reimbursed for 3 participants.
  3. Districts with 10 to 14 ELLs will be reimbursed for 2 participants.
  4. Districts with 9 and below ELLs will be reimbursed for 1 participant.
Participants must have full attendance at the Pre-conference or ICLC to qualify for Title III reimbursement. The Heartland AEA sign-in table will be located by the registration booth, lower lobby of the Polk County Convention Center.

Signed, hard copies of Title III claim forms for both the Pre-conference and ICLC (one form for the Pre-conference, another for ICLC) must be submitted no later than February 26, 2010 to Jeri Messenger at
6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131.

Second Heartland AEA-sponsored Immigration Forum

Join us for our 2nd Annual Heartland AEA-sponsored Immigration Forum on February 9, 2010 from 2:45-5:00 p.m. The Immigration Forum is held in conjunction with the Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) which is being held February 9-10 (with Pre-Conference on February 8) at the Polk County Convention Complex at 501 Grand in Downtown Des Moines.

The Immigration Forum will include a panel of national and local experts who will share facts about refugees and immigrants in Iowa and implications for educators. This rare opportunity to meet representatives knowledgeable on laws and issues related to immigration offers an excellent networking and learning experience for educators and partners in education.

The the Immigration Forum is FREE! Consider bringing a team from your area and complete a registration for each participant. Registration can be done on the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/iowa_culture_language_conference/.

For more information, contact
Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680 or Gilmara Mitchell at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679

Heartland AEA and Heartland AEA and Southeast Polk Schools to co-host Dr. Donna Beegle in All-Day Poverty Workshop

Heartland AEA in collaboration with Southeast Polk Schools (Central Place) will be bringing in Dr. Donna Beegle to conduct an all-day poverty workshop at the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Altoona on January 20, 2010. Dr. Beegle is a highly experienced national public speaker, discussion leader and trainer and is the author of "See Poverty, Be The Difference", a resource book for professionals who work with people in poverty. Her book can be ordered by adding an additional $25 to the cost of registration. Early Bird registration (good from now until January 4) is $35 which includes lunch. Click here for the registration form. Send the completed form with applicable payments to Central Place/EPIA, 6540 NE 12th Avenue, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327.