Friday, February 22, 2013

Update on Wormeli and Fisher Learning Opportunities

Registration for Rick Wormeli's session on Standards-Based Grading on April 8, 2013 has been closed. The session is currently full.

We have expanded our space for Doug Fisher's session on the Gradual Release of Responsibility. The session will be held on April 12, 2013 at the FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny DMACC Campus. Registration is still available on our Professional Development catalog using activity number SI014399111301. For more information about this session, read our January 18 article located here.

Reminder: Regional iPad Trainings

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 apps that correlate with the 4 Cs (Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Communication) of the Universal Constructs of the Iowa Core.

Carroll AEA Office (906 N. Grant Rd, Suite 160)
February 28, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111302

Carroll AEA Office (906 N. Grant Rd, Suite 160)
March 28, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111303

Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
April 12, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE092999991301

Adel AEA Office (602 Visions Parkway)
April 18, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111306

Johnston REC (6500 Corporate Drive)
July 22, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE092992111401


Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.

RtI Statewide Data System and Assessments

Click here for a letter that was released yesterday by the Iowa Dept. of Education. The letter is an important announcement about the RtI data system and assessments, a major step in Iowa's commitment to promote early literacy results.

ITEC IT Conference, March 21-22

Iowa Technology and Education Connection (ITEC) will host their annual technology conference March 21-22, 2013 at Ames Middle School. The conference focuses on supporting school IT Staff with sessions that include network security, filtering solutions, iOS management, wireless solutions, virtualization, BYOD, Chromebooks and much more. For more information and a place to register, go to http://www.itec-ia.org/en/it_conference/.

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.

Registration Open for Iowa 1:1 Institute, April 4

The fourth annual Iowa 1:1 Institute (i11i) will be held at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines on April 4, 2013. The purposes of the institute are to:
  • Help Iowa’s 1:1 districts learn from each other about innovative teaching, learning and administrative practices that are occurring in their districts;
  • Build excitement and ‘buzz’ around 1:1 laptop computing initiatives in the state; and
  • Help others who are interested in 1:1 computing learn more about how to get started and be successful.
The institute is open to anyone interested in 1:1 laptop computing initiatives in PK-12 schools, whether they currently are working in such a program or just want to learn more. Registration is $50/person. Participants are responsible for their own travel, parking, and meal expenses. Register at http://iowa1to1.com/

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. 

Character Counts Iowa Looking for 2013 Award Nominees

Character Counts In Iowa is proud to recognize Iowans who show good character at the 2013 Iowa Character Awards in August. Currently they are looking for nominees for this year's award. Students, teachers, schools, organizations, sports teams can all be nominated. Go to http://www.charactercountsiniowa.org/ica for the online nomination form. Click here to find a flyer to help spread awareness.

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.

Brain Injury Quick Guide for Schools

Visit the Advisory Council on Brain Injuries at http://www.idph.state.ia.us/acbi/HRSAGrant.aspx to access the Brain Injury Quick Guide for Schools. Scroll down the page to Pediatric TBI & Schools.

This Guide is a product of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Brain Injuries, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Grant Wood AEA and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa. The development of this guide was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grant #H21MC06748.

In addition to the Quick Guide, you will find links for the Pediatric Brain Injury Webinar Series hosted by the Iowa Department of Public Health in partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa.


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.

Friday, February 15, 2013

February Impacting Lives Update

In the latest Impacting Lives update to hear from parents and teachers of how the AEAs have improved student outcomes. 
  • Milestones Meaningful to This Mom
  • Success for LuCasey: A Family’s Journey
  • North Union Learners Benefit from Prairie Lakes AEA Transition Grant
  • People Who Make A Difference: Hearing Teachers

Regional iPad Trainings

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 apps that correlate with the 4 Cs (Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Communication) of the Universal Constructs of the Iowa Core.

Carroll AEA Office (906 N. Grant Rd, Suite 160)
February 28, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111302

Carroll AEA Office (906 N. Grant Rd, Suite 160)
March 28, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111303

Zion Lutheran Church (4300 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines)
April 12, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE092999991301

Adel AEA Office (602 Visions Parkway)
April 18, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE096792111306

Johnston REC (6500 Corporate Drive)
July 22, 2013
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Activity Number: TE092992111401


Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.

Meeting the Common Core Standards for English Workshop, April 12

Heartland AEA will host a morning workshop on April 12, 2013 as an overview of the Character Development & Leadership Curriculum and accompanying Role Models Textbook.  This is a high-interest program that is used in 1,300 secondary schools nationwide, including 68 schools in Iowa.  This program has been implemented in a multitude of ways, including elective leadership classes, advisory approaches and as a full curriculum for English and/or reading writing recovery classes.  By the end of the 4 hour workshop, participants will have and educated understanding of how this program aligns with common core standards for English, prepares students for school and life and creates leaders and citizens for the next generation.
 

Meeting the Common Core Standards for English Through Teaching Character
April 12, 2013
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Johnston REC
Activity Number: WK031392111301

Behavior Workshop to Support Student Mental Needs, April 25

Heartland AEA will host a one-day presentation on April 25, 2013 that will describe and illustrate how private events (e.g., anxiety, anger, frustration,) contribute to disruptive behaviors displayed by students within school settings. Dr. Steege will describe and illustrate the Behavior Analytic Problem Solving Model (Steege & Watson, 2009) in analyzing the complex array of variables that elicit, evoke, occasion and reinforce disruptive behaviors. The presentation will include a blend of lecture, clinical examples, discussion, and applied learning experiences. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:
  • Identify and describe each of the components of the BAPS model
  • Describe how anxiety, frustration, and anger contribute to disruptive behaviors
  • Identify multi-component function-based interventions that address the complex array of variables that contribute to occurrences of disruptive behaviors
This workshop is designed for individuals with a background in functional behavioral assessment, specifically, educators who routinely assess and program for students K-12 with complex behavioral and mental health needs, including AEA/Related Services staff (e.g., special education consultants, school psychologists, school social workers) and District staff (e.g., administrators, behavior interventionists, guidance counselors, special education teachers).

Behavior Analysis of Private Events: Supporting Student Mental Health Needs
April 25, 2013
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center (1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny)
Activity Number: DL010299111301

Call for Presenters for Summer Academy in Technology

Last year Heartland AEA offered a two-day Summer Academy in technology. The academy was filled with various sessions showcasing technology tools infused into the classroom in support of Iowa Core, Each session was about a half-day in length allowing the participants to learn, explore and work with the session resources.

This summer the Summer Academy will be held at Woodward-Granger School district on June 10-11, 2013. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and what you are doing in your classroom to infuse technology, please send an email to Denise Krefting at dkrefting@aea11.k12.ia.us with your topic and a brief explanation of the learning goals of your presentation. There will be a presentation reimbursement of $100 and mileage for those presenting.

February AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online Blog Updates

The February Blog Updates for AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online are now available. For real time updates, follow AEA PD Online on Twitter @aeapdonline.

New Trainings Available on AEA PD Online Moodle

Below is information on three new online trainings available on the AEA PD Online Moodle site.

Harassment in the Workplace: Recognition and Your Responsibilities
Audience: This course is intended for all school employees.

Description: This course looks at what harassment in the workplace looks like, focusing specifically on both sexual harassment and workplace bullying. This training will help individuals identify, prevent, and respond appropriately to harassment

TPACK - Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge Integration
Audience: In-service PreK-12 teachers and AEA course developers.

Description: Technology, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) is a framework to help understand the importance of aligning good technology integration with the curriculum and important student strategies.  This course provides an overview of TPACK, including focus on developing lessons with a Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge focus.

Health Information Privacy (HIPAA) Compliance
Audience: The intended audience for this course is any educator, nurse or school employee who might come in contact with student health information or records.
Description: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996. And yet, many school employees do not understand how HIPAA applies to student health information that is maintained by schools. You may not know when, or if, student health records are exempt from HIPAA regulations, or what steps to take if HIPAA does apply to your school. This training will give you an overview of the law and a practical understanding of how that applies to your work.

Earn Your ESL Endorsement through Heartland/Drake Partnership

Heartland AEA and Drake University will be partnering again to offer an ESL Endorsement for educators in the Heartland AEA area. Heartland AEA will financially support 15 educators with a $2,500 stipend. The estimated tuition cost for the endorsement is about $6,500. Click here to register for one of two informational sessions about this learning opportunity.

If you have questions, please contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at (515) 270-9030, ext. 14379 or sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us or Stephaney Jones-Vo, ESL/Diversity Consultant, at (515) 270-9030, ext. 14680 or sjonesvo@aea11.k12.ia.us.


Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.

Save the Date: Our Kids Summer Institute, June 18 & 19

Save the Date for the annual Our Kids Summer Institute which will be held June 18 & 19, 2013 in the Des Moines Metro Area. Network with other Iowa educational professionals and learn new strategies for working with English Language Leaner students.

Common Challenges after Brain Injury Webinar, Feb. 20

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Brain Injuries and partners at the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Education have put together a series of free webinars for teachers, school staff, school coaches and AEA staff.

The fifth webinar, Common Challenges after Brain Injury, is scheduled for February 20, 2013 from 3:45-4:45 p.m. CST. It will be facilitated by Natasha Retz is the Director of Programs and Services and Neuro-Resource Facilitation Coordinator with the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa.

Reserve your webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/215205561


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 to Host Literacy and Reading Recovery Events

The University of Northern Iowa's College of Education, the Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Learning, and UNI's Reading Recovery Center of Iowa will host two literacy events in April. The first Jacobson Center and Reading Recovery Literacy Academy will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, in the Maucker Union Old Central Ballroom. The 45th Annual Elementary Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 19, at the Schindler Education Center.

Each event will feature several breakout sessions featuring presentations by literacy experts from universities across the nation. Keynote speakers are Richard Elmore, Harvard University's Gregory R. Anrig Professor of Educational Leadership, and Steven Kellogg, children's author and illustrator.

Registration is now open. Reading Recovery teachers, teacher leaders and reading specialists are encouraged to attend; however, the event is open to the public.

To register or for more information, visit www.vpaf.uni.edu/events/brc/ or contact Debra Rich, program administrator, UNI Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy, at (319) 273-6960 or debra.rich@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.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Heartland AEA Legislator Contact Sheet

Click here for a list of the contact information for all Iowa House and Senate members in Heartland’s area. It includes addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Legislators are also listed by district in the back pages.

February Issue of Educator Connection with World of Media Available

Click here for the February issue of the Educator Connection and World of Media which was e-mailed to all area educators earlier this week. You can search by keyword, download pages or print specific pages. Most articles include correlations to the Iowa Core. Note that there are a few articles that you may want to give directly to students. There is a unique URL for each page making it easy to share.

February ESL Reminders

The I-ELDA testing window is now open, February 1 to April 30, 2013. If you have reported English Language Learners on the fall BEDs report or if you have had new students enroll in your district that have been identified for ESL services, they must take the I-ELDA. Click here for ordering information.

As you prepare for Kindergarten roundup you can download and use the Home Language Survey from Transact. The survey found here is the one that has been approved for use in Iowa. This Home Language Survey must be given to every student in your district and kept in his or her permanent folder. This is the first step in identifying students who may be in need of ESL services. If a language other than English is indicated through this survey the student must be given a screener to determine the need for English Language Development services.

For more information please contact

Stephaney Jones-Vo
(515) 270-0405 ext. 14680

Pat Latham
(515) 993-4596 ext. 11228

February 2013 School Leader Update

Click here to download the February 2013 issue of the School Leader Update. This issue includes some positive news about statewide enrollment, an update about the newly revised Iowa Early Learning Standards and the Department’s extended guidance on collaboration and peer review.

February Edition of "Each and Every Child"

Click here to find a link to the February 2013 edition of "Each and Every Child" brought to you by the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Student and Family Support Services. This issue includes a feature of a Des Moines middle school which was struggling with student proficiency in reading. Last fall’s testing showed that only 33 percent of students were considered proficient. A few months later during winter tests, however, 49 percent are now proficient. Read about what the education team, including Sue Severson from Heartland AEA, did to bolster students’ reading comprehension.

The e-newsletter is designed to enhance communication between parents and teachers. Please forward it to your parents in your district and use the stories as opportunities for discussion.

Green Hills AEA to Host Google Summit

Green Hills AEA, in close collaboration with Glenwood Schools, is hosting a Southwest Iowa Google Summit. Alan November will be the keynote speaker for day one of the two-day summit. The dates of the summit are July 15 and 16, 2013. The registration fee is $75. Click here for a brochure with more information. If you would like to present at the summit, go to the following link to submit a presentation idea.
http://goo.gl/Nh8iA 


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. 

Your Life Iowa: Iowa’s Bullying and Suicide Prevention Hotline

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Now there’s a new, statewide “go-to” resource where youth, parents and educational professionals can find the answers they need about bullying.

The Your Life Iowa Hotline offers advice and guidance 24/7 from trained counselors who are just a phone call or text away. Call (855) 581-8111 or test “TALK” to 85511 or visit yourlifeiowa.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.  

Friday, February 1, 2013

Superintendents: February 5 HAA Meeting

Download a PDF or Word Doc of the February Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held from 9:00-11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, February 5 at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive) in Room 13A and B. All handouts will be available on the Google Site at bit.ly/HAA2012.

Assigning an Incomplete Grade in Professional Development Courses

A situation has recently come to our attention. Many of our course instructors are assigning "Incomplete" grades to people who have no intention of finishing the course. Some of these are due to illness or personal situations requiring them to miss part of the class. If this is the case, please have the individual contact professional development to withdraw from the course or transfer to another course.

By our guidelines, we cannot have an "Incomplete" grade listed on the books for longer than one semester after the completion of the course. For example, John takes a course this spring, but doesn't get his assignment in by the due date because of some personal situations. The instructor agrees to give John an "Incomplete." The course work MUST be completed by the end of the summer semester, otherwise, our policy states the grade will convert to an "F".

Once we convert the grades to an "F", bookkeeping is affected (especially if it is for Drake credit) and sometimes, this comes as a shock to the participants. We understand that sometimes an "Incomplete" is in order, but make sure there is a realistic expectation that the course will be finished. Otherwise, they should be given an "F" or transferred to another course.

If you put comments in the comment section of the grading page, please do not assume that professional development will see this comment. These comments are for your purposes as an instructor, they are not part of the official course information.

If you have any questions about this policy or procedure, please contact Sue Schirmer, License Renewal Coordinator at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us, (515) 270-0405 or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14379.

Standards Based Grading Conference at Grant Wood AEA

Click here for a flyer for an upcoming Standards-Based Grading Conference that will be held on April 24, 2013 at Grant Wood AEA. The conference is designed to help educators learn how to effectively implement a standards-based grading (SBG) system. Educators from Solon, Clear Creek Amana, and Van Meter Schools are hosting the event for secondary educators, administrators and others interested in learning more about SBG. 

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.

Eating Disorder Awareness 2013 Events

The Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa is hosting a learning event I Am Enough on March 2, 2013 at Waukee High school. The event is in conjunction with Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) and will help participants increase their understanding of eating disorders and explore body acceptance. The event is open to teachers, administrators, students and families, and CEU credits are available fore interested educators. The following links are resources that can be passed on to educators, students and families that may be interested in attending.

I Am Enough Brochure
I Am Enough Poster
ISU's Body Image and EDAW Calendar of Events


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.

Save the Date: Urbandale Schools to host Langford Four-Day Quality Learning Seminar

The Urbandale Community School District is hosting the Four Day Quality Learning Seminar, facilitated by David Langford on August 5-8, 2013. More information will be shared at a later time. 

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.