DVD Suggestions for Your Districts’ Fall Inservices

Reserve the following DVDs online through our Media Library or call the Heartland AEA library at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14323.

Seeing red cars. #256075, 10 min.
Explains how focusing on what we don't want gets in the way of doing our jobs and completing tasks. It can impede teamwork and communication. Focus on what you want.

It's a way, not a day: bringing your values to life. #256252, 22 min.
Anchor an organization's values in staff hearts and minds: proclaim it, live it, celebrate it.

2 million minutes: a documentary calculating the educational divide. #255787, 54 min.
Shows 6 high school students in China, India and U.S. It contrasts educational opportunities, philosophies and global vision.

Shout it out. #256339, 90 min.
Adaptation of the stage musical "The Voices Project" (2005) is based on the lives of Vermont teens. It follows them through academic pressure; friction with peers, teachers and parents; trying to fit in, trying to find one's self, fear of the future; nostalgia for the past; friendship; and first love.

You are not alone. #256278, 29 min.
Quinn Bradlee talks about his experiences as a kid with learning disabilities. Flashback vignettes. Topics: being different, being ignored, friendship, bullying, relationships, gaining self-confidence, responsibility and self-advocacy.

Total quality at Prairie View Elementary (Cedar Rapids): a new way of learning. #256289, 17 min.
Students work in teams, plan with a systems approach, use diagrams to solve problems, set goals and chart their progress.

Who moved my cheese? #253834, 13 min.
This animated parable reveals profound truths about change. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in your life.

The first day of school in a responsive classroom. #256112, 40 min.
A 3rd grade teacher sets a tone of safety, friendliness and focuses learning on the very first day of school.

Morning meeting activities in a responsive classroom. #256117, 35 min.
Shows activities in urban, suburban, and rural classrooms.

Morning meeting greetings in a responsive classroom. #256114, 35 min.
Features 11 meeting greetings in grades K-5 for any time of the year.

Teaching with poverty in mind, elementary school. #256296, 30 min.
Teaching with poverty in mind, secondary school. #256297, 30 min.
These programs look at school-wide success factors that support the whole child and foster a school culture that refuses to let students fail.

Preview the following at http://www.simpletruths.com. The DVDs use music and a montage of inspirational quotes.
Gone through any changes lately? #256298, 4 min. Laughter is an instant vacation: humorous quotes on life. #256264, 3 min.
Pulling together: the ten rules of high performance workteams. #266306, 3 min.
Priorities for life: capacity and energy. #256259, 5 min.
Priorities for life: change. #256260, 5 min.
Priorities for life: leadership. #256261, 5 min.
Priorities for life: priorities. #256262, 5 min. Priorities for life: excelling in a changing world. #256157, 6 min. Priorities for life: reaching the next level and beyond. #256156, 5 min.

The “Did you know?” video about information and technology was updated in January 2011. It is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8W1WuxGniE.

Free Training Sessions for New School Nurses

Hiring a new school nurse for 2011-2012? Heartland AEA is sponsoring two FREE half-day training sessions for new school nurses on September 2, 2011. School nurses can register on the Heartland AEA Professional Development Catalog using the activity numbers below. Registration should be done by August 31 to receive free resource packets.

The morning session will teach new school nurses how to conduct vision screening using University of Iowa guidelines. The activity number is NU000792111201.

The afternoon is the annual half-day workshop. It gives an overview of laws, rules, regulations, and policies that govern the practice of school nursing. The activity number is NU001092111201.

Summer Iowa Intel Teach Master Instructor Courses

Intel Teach courses provide professional development to help K –12 teachers of all subjects learn how to integrate technology effectively for 21st century teaching and learning, promoting problem-solving, higher order thinking, and collaboration skills. Iowa Intel Teach Master Instructor Courses will be offered in June and August. Click here for more information about these summer courses.

Note: Thinking with Technology Tools 1 & 2 can be offered for two license renewal credits or two graduate credits through June 30. While the course content will remain the same after July 1, the syllabus will need to reflect two license renewal or one graduate credit.

Register by June 3 for Heartland Summer Institute

Last week we sent a reminder about our Heartland Summer Institute being held June 13-15 at the FFA Center on the DMACC Campus and our new session for leadership teams on June 16 at the Johnston Regional Education Center. Please register by Friday, June 3 so that we may have an accurate number for the event. Educators may sign up for all sessions or choose those best meeting their needs. Food will be provided by Johnston Schools. Click here to see session descriptions. Register through the Heartland Professional Development catalog.

More Mobile and Social Technologies in Schools

The NASSP is looking to change the conversation about mobile computing and social media in schools. They issued a position statement advocating greater access to and acceptance of technologies like smart phones and social networking sites. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/3m4fbt2.

To support this conversation plus the movement toward 1:1 schools, Heartland AEA will provide search widgets for mobile online database searching and new online ebook content. Imagine the possibilities when a teacher can help a student in the hallway, lunch room, gym or on the field find information/research with their smart phone or tablet. Check with the teacher librarians this fall for more details on how you, teachers and students can get connected.

Linked Attachments Available from Last Week’s update

We became aware that there were linkage problems with two attachments in last week’s update. The problem was permissions oriented and has now been fixed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Curriculum 21 Conference flyer – Go to the article
Heartland AEA Reading Recovery brochure – Go to the article

American Red Cross Launches Ready Rating

The American Red Cross has just launched a newly designed website, ReadyRating.org, to help schools, colleges and universities, and other organizations better prepare for emergencies. Ready Rating is a free, self-paced, web-based membership program that helps an organization measure how ready they are to deal with emergencies, and gives customized feedback on how they can improve their efforts.

Ready Rating begins with a comprehensive assessment of whether a school is prepared to handle a disaster. Members score themselves on how prepared they are and receive steps they can take to improve their readiness planning. Ready Rating also encourages schools to work with their students, employees and families to get prepared at home.

For more information please visit www.readyrating.org, or call (877) 715-0123.

Iowa ASCD’s Curriculum 21 Conference to add Core Component

Last week we reminded you about the Iowa ASCD’s upcoming Curruiculum 21 Conference. The organization has decided to add a new component, "Mapping to the Core," which will now be a major part of the two days to the workshop. Click here on more information about “Mapping to the Core.”