Friday, February 15, 2019

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

New Year, New Student Planners! Order Your School’s Today!

Quality, affordable and beautifully-designed student planners are available for your school through Heartland AEA’s Creative Services Department. Planners can support student engagement and awareness of school events, activities and projects. Visit Creative Services Online to choose your planner style from the many options we offer. Place your order by May 1, 2019 to ensure delivery by the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.

Independent Sight Word Practice for Young Readers? Using This New Resource from Heartland AEA -- Yes!

Heartland AEA has created a super easy, fun and inexpensive way for your students to practice sight words independently and get immediate feedback. All you need is a mobile device or a smartphone connected to the Internet and the “My Sight Word Practice Set” from Heartland AEA. See how it works in this video and then order your own My Sight Word Practice Set from Creative Services Online.


Heflebower to Present the Next Strand of Standards-based Learning on Targets, Scales and Rubrics

Teachers, curriculum directors, instructional coaches and other educators are invited to learn more about Standards-based Learning (SBL) Targets, Scales and Rubrics from Tammy Heflebower, Ed.D.

In this session, Dr. Heflebower will focus primarily on the creation of proficiency scales and their place in the broader, upfront work of deconstructing standards and the understanding and development of aligned assessments. She will speak of how proficiency scales fit into the instructional cycle and into the learning partnership between teacher and students. The work of creating proficiency scales is a seismic shift from our past practices of using a 100-point grading scale which converts points given to percentages.

For more information, contact Susie Bentley, Heartland AEA Regional Director, at sbentley@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 Ext. 18114.

Strand of SBL Framework: Learning Targets, Scales & Rubrics
Feb. 28, 2019
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA

Register at this link: http://bit.ly/2S2XOf5

Could Fridays Get Any Better? Only If You Join Us for Standards-Based Learning “Framework Fridays!”

EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2018-19 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you--you don’t need to attend all nine. Come learn with us!

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
Next Session: March 1, 2019
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Visit our website to register and check out upcoming Framework Fridays.

Are You Ready for Something New in Tech Integration? Announcing Heart of Innovation Summer Summit!

Save the Date! The Heart of Innovation Summer Summit on June 13 is a kick off to year-long blended learning opportunities as you pursue innovation in your classroom with support from Heartland AEA. Enjoy a day full of networking and learning alongside your education peers, featuring Jennifer Williams, Ed.D., and presentations from local and nationally-known leaders in education!

Conference tracks include:
  • Promoting Creativity in Every Classroom
  • Communicating Student Learning and Guided Informed Action
  • Building a Collaborative Learning Environment for All
  • Fostering Curiosity to Empower Critical Thinking
This is a FREE event for Iowa K-12 educators and administrators!