It is no secret that principals play a critical role in the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards. But many administrators still need tools and resources to help them envision the full range of supports that students and teachers need.
We are pleased to share with you the "NGSS Overview for Principals." This overview is designed for school leaders and was developed in consultation with states, districts and principals.
The resource underscores the principal's crucial role in promoting quality science education and offers practical strategies that can be incorporated into existing school plans. It highlights key NGSS instructional and conceptual shifts and contains links to additional implementation information, based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education.
Heartland AEA is excited to have the opportunity to partner with NBC Learn by providing teachers with high-quality, standards-aligned digital video resources to complement their instruction. We want to be sure districts have every opportunity to utilize these outstanding resources.
As a special offer, NBC Learn will identify and align these resources to your secondary curriculum at no cost. Attached are three examples: Geometry, Physics and 11th Grade U.S. History. They work to customize the alignment with however you choose (whether it’s a direct embed or an addendum format, etc.). You can send your curriculum directly to Jane.Rho@nbcuni.com. NBC Learn has already done some alignment with Des Moines Public Schools.
Your teachers and students have access to over 18,000 video resources, primary sources, current events and text resources designed for use in the classroom. In addition, the Cue Cards for each video contain a written transcript.
NBC Learn will also help set up training webinars and share e-newsletters to provide additional supports for instruction. Again, you can contact Jane directly.
Questions may be directed to Susan Schrader at sschrader@heartlandaea.org
or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14332.
We are pleased to announce that many of the Iowa Reading First videos are now available online at the AEA Digital Library. Log in with the school online database username/password.
- Search by topic, title or presenters (like Emily Calhoun, Nell Duke, Timothy Shanahan, Linda Kucan, etc.)
- Watch the entire video or the smaller, individual clips.
- Stream or download the video or clip.
- Search by specific keywords such as graphic organizers, sequencing, story structure, constructing visual representations, fluency, phonemic awareness, PWIM, read aloud, talk aloud, nonfiction, fluency and readers theater, ELL, vocabulary, comprehension and much more.
- Copy/paste a persistent link to a specific video or clip.
To see all the videos and clips, search: Reading First OR Every Child Reads
These videos will be excellent supports in professional development programs and will also support individual teachers as they learn and practice their knowledge and skills.
A new SIS manager support group will be starting up this month. Three experienced SIS managers (Kendra Wolf of A-D-M, Sandra Lathum of Norwalk, and Cathy Fitzgerald from Ames) are going to help get the group organized. This support will come in three main forms:
1) a number of face-to-face meetings held at central locations at strategic times of the year -- the dates of these meetings will be determined by the members of the group.
2) a number of online meetings using the Zoom video conference software -- the dates of these online meetings will be determined by the members of the group.
3) a listserv, similar to the ones used by the tech coordinator and tech integration groups.
The first meeting will be held via Zoom on Feb. 11 from 9:30-11 a.m. The first part of the meeting will focus on State reporting, including the new Civil Rights reporting requirements. If you are unable to attend this first online meeting, a summary of what was discussed will be posted to the listserv. (Please note that this first meeting date is changed from the original plan of Jan. 23.)
More information will be sent in the next week about how to log in to Zoom meetings, as well as how to join the listserv. We hope this new group will provide strong support to its members, in the same way that our tech coordinator group functions.
If you have questions, contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology at (800) 255-0405, ext. 14324.
A new SIS manager support group will be starting up this month. Three experienced SIS managers (Kendra Wolf of A-D-M, Sandra Lathum of Norwalk, and Cathy Fitzgerald from Ames) are going to help get the group organized. This support will come in three main forms:
1) a number of face-to-face meetings held at central locations at strategic times of the year -- the dates of these meetings will be determined by the members of the group.
2) a number of online meetings using the Zoom video conference software -- the dates of these online meetings will be determined by the members of the group.
3) a listserv, similar to the ones used by the tech coordinator and tech integration groups.
The first meeting will be held via Zoom on Jan. 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. Part of this initial meeting will be organizational in nature, but most of it will focus on discussing the state reports that are due in the coming weeks. If you are unable to attend this first online meeting, a summary of what was discussed will be posted to the listserv.
More information will be sent in the next week about how to log in to Zoom meetings, as well as how to join the listserv. We hope this new group will provide strong support to its members, in the same way that our tech coordinator group functions.
We know that students use
Google for its one-click feature. Students now
have that one-click access but with one BIG difference—the results are
from reliable and trusted sources of information. Heartland AEA’s new
SUPERSearch combines many of our online databases into one search
interface!
There are separate interfaces for elementary, middle school and high school
students listed on our grade-specific online resource pages. Each grade span links to different age-appropriate databases.
What are the benefits for students?
- It addresses the practical reality that students want in a Google-like search experience.
- It provides quality full-text search results.
- It includes links to thousands of research starters - think of it as a curated, vetted Wikipedia.
- It’s a tool to help
students personalize their research—save to folders, social media,
persistent links and automatic citation generator.
- It’s an expectation
for college and career readiness. Many Iowa colleges and universities
provide this type of search interface for their students.
To become college and
career ready, the Common Core Standards require that students master
digital literacy, which is the ability to gather facts from narrative or
informational texts in any source or format, understand and use the
information appropriately, and then be able to communicate it to others
using a variety of print, audio and visual media.
Another piece of digital
literacy is digital inquiry. Not only must students evaluate and analyze
their reading, they must learn to ask questions that go beyond
assembling simple facts to gathering information that helps them reach a
new level of understanding. Reading critically and asking deeper
questions that lead students to new understanding is at the heart of
digital literacy and higher order thinking skills.
Watch a short video demonstrating the SUPERSearch features and get started on your learning journey!
Upcoming Webinars
You’ll learn why students and teachers will want to make this their first stop for research!
This fall a variety of
resources have been shared for implementation of Chapter 62. Many of
these resources have been pulled into a Google Drive folder
for easy access. It may be helpful to bookmark the link as additional
resources will be added throughout the year. Some of the resources in
the folder include:
- DE Parent notification template and family partnership tools
- DE guidance documents for Early Literacy Implementation
- Q & A for Chapter 62, September 2014
- Archived Zoom session facilitated by Heartland AEA on 11/3/2014
This fall a variety of resources have been shared for implementation of Chapter 62. Many of these resources have been pulled into a Google Drive folder for easy access. It may be helpful to bookmark the link as additional resources will be added throughout the year. Some of the resources in the folder include:
- DE Parent notification template and family partnership tools
- DE guidance documents for Early Literacy Implementation
- Q & A for Chapter 62, September 2014
- Archived Zoom session facilitated by Heartland AEA on 11/3/2014
As part of your subscription to Britannica (through Iowa AEA Online), students can access primary sources in Annals of American History Online.
There are two ways to access:
Visit http://www.america.eb.com/
OR
Visit http://school.eb.com and click on Additional Databases in the top banner.
Annals of American History Online gives a unique view of American history through primary source documents. Discover the backbone of American history, society and culture with a year-by-year documentary of American thought, action and daily life.
Read the original words of more than 1,500 authors who made and analyzed American history through speeches, writings and interviews. Containing over 2,000 primary source documents from 1493 to the present day, plus hundreds of images and multimedia clips, this database is ideal for student research and thought-provoking classroom discussions. Includes a built-in citation generator. For grades 6-12.
The database is purchased by the AEA and requires a username and password assigned to your school. If you do not know your school's username and password, ask your school librarian or contact the Heartland AEA Library at (800) 255-0405 ext. 15799.
In November Heartland AEA will begin offering Zoom sessions related to Chapter 62 requirements, FAST assessments and implications for our practice. Mark your calendars for these optional sessions. Details about joining the November session are below. Watch The Administrator Connection for details on how to join the December session.
Nov. 3, 2014
1-2 p.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon
Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/776587538
Or join by phone:
+1 (415) 762-9988 or +1 (646) 568-7788 US Toll
Dec. 10, 2014
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon
On Oct. 15, 2014, the Iowa Department of Education hosted a webinar regarding the Parental Notification requirements of Chapter 62. During this session, the DE provided a template for schools. Additionally, a Family School Partnership sheet was provided. For in depth information regarding these tools, access the archived webinar on the DE website.
We have linked the Parental Notification Template and Family School Partnership Sheet here, and they can be found on the DE website as well.
Website Announcement
From Brad Buck, Director, Iowa Department of Education
I’m excited to share that IowaCore.gov is now available. This new, user-friendly website is a major step forward in supporting your hard work to implement the Iowa Core standards in schools across the state.
IowaCore.gov is for educators, parents and other stakeholders to better understand, access and deliver the Iowa Core standards. For the education community, this website is the centerpiece of what’s called the Iowa Core Resources Project. This project is about providing the concrete tools and resources that teachers need to put the Iowa Core into practice. Teachers and school administrators have been asking for this information, and we are now in a position to provide them.
The Iowa Core Resources Project was made possible with a $1 million state appropriation approved by Iowa legislators in 2013. This funding was used to develop a new Iowa Core website and to secure examples of optional instructional resources that teachers can use, if they so choose, to implement the Iowa Core in kindergarten through 12th grade. More than 8,000 resources are available at no charge in a central, searchable online location called IowaLearns.org, which is accessible through IowaCore.gov. The materials are adaptable to fit the individual needs of local classrooms.
The new Iowa Core website also provides much more information about the standards to parents and other Iowans. The Explore the Core section provides the standards in a user-friendly format that is searchable by grade level and subject. The parent guides found under the Parents & Community section provide an overview of the Iowa Core standards, examples of what students are expected to know and be able to do and activities that can be done at home to support this learning. The math and English language arts portions of the parent guides were completed in partnership with the National PTA, while the science, social studies and 21st century skills portions were developed by Iowa teachers.
Please take some time to become familiar with the website and help us tell Iowans about this great new resource that will support Iowa Core implementation. The Iowa Department of Education will continue to improve and expand the new website. You can help us by filling out a feedback form found under the "Contact Us" section of IowaCore.gov. Questions about the website project can be directed to Brad Niebling at brad.niebling@iowa.gov.
Toolkit
From Brad Buck
As described in my announcement of IowaCore.gov to the field, the resource toolkit is designed to assist school administrators and other instructional staff in discussing the new website. Because we also understand you may be fielding questions about the Iowa Core in your communities, I’m including a set of talking points that may be customized to fit your individual needs, as well as a fact sheet and FAQ that may be distributed as handouts or posted online if you see fit.
The website communications toolkit includes the following elements in a single document that you can easily forward to other stakeholders:
- Website talking points
- Sample text that may be customized for use in education newsletters or on websites
- Sample letters that may be customized for use and distributed to teachers, parents/families, and school board members
- Sample tweets
We hope you find these resources helpful and welcome your suggestions for improvements. Questions and feedback about these communications resources may be sent to Staci Hupp Ballard at staci.hupp@iowa.gov.
Access to Resources
You will be asked for a username/password to access some of the IowaLearns resources available through IowaCore.gov. The username/password combinations that are used to access AEA online resources are being used, with a slight modification.
Go to IowaCore.gov.
Click Educator Resources tab.
You’ll notice the IowaLearns section. Many of the resources are available through Guest access. Others require a username/password. Staff will use the school online database username/password used for our AEA online resources (Learn 360, EBSCO, Gale, etc.) BUT the prefix “dr” must be added to the beginning of the password (dr stands for digital resource). Ask your teacher librarian for your school’s username/password combination.
We have compiled a document of frequently asked questions regarding Chapter 62 requirements.
Topics include:
- Chapter 62 requirements and resources
- Universal Screening
- Progress Monitoring
- Early Childhood and Transitional Kindergarten
- Intensive Instruction
- Parental Notification
As additional questions arise, responses will be added to this resource. If you have further questions, contact your Regional Director.
Heartland AEA will be hosting eight days of instructional coach training through the New Teacher Center beginning Oct. 29 and 30. The remaining six days are spread throughout the year. Grant Wood AEA opened two cohorts over the summer, and they filled both of them. The state has asked Heartland AEA to host a cohort for the west side of the state due to inquiries from other districts around the state.
The cost for this training is reduced due to a state appropriation given to the AEAs. The cost of the training is $1,000 per participant and is open to coaches from districts that did not receive the TLC grant.
This flyer has additional information. It would be helpful if participants would register by Sept. 26 since the New Teacher Center has to have 40 participants to hold the training.
