Early Childhood Professional Learning Sessions: Creative Curriculum and Gold Assessment

The Introduction to Creative Curriculum has been scheduled. This two-day course will explore the philosophy of The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, the theory and research supporting it and an overview of the Creative Curriculum Framework. Early childhood educators, special education teachers and preschool teachers serving children on IEPs who are new to Cretive Curriculum are encouraged to attend. Interested school personnel should register through the Heartland Professional Development Catalog and enter the activity number listed in the appropriate field.

Introduction to Creative Curriculum for Preschool
Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston) in Rooms 3, 4 & ICN
November 10 & 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Activity Number: EC007092111101

Save the date for an additional Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment that will be offered February 1 & 2, 2011. The location is to be determined.

Heartland AEA and Iowa’s AEAs on Facebook and Twittter

We realize that many of you are on Facebook and Twitter, and we thought it would be great to join you! Heartland AEA will be using Facebook and Twitter to post information about resources, classes, good news stories and other fantastic reads.

Follow Heartland AEA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HeartlandAEA

Like Heartland AEA on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnston-IA/Heartland-Area-Education-Agency/159484134081654

Iowa's Area Education Agencies (our statewide AEA system) also has social media accounts. Get quick and current updates on education issues, policies and professional learning opportunities available around the state.

Follow Iowa's Area Education Agencies on Twitter at http://twitter.com/iowa_aea

Like Iowa's Area Education Agencies on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/iowaaea

Winter is Approaching…Be Ready for Inclement Weather

As winter approaches, we’re all reminded that inclement weather is around the corner. Check out the notification systems available through the Iowa Educators Consortium at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/School%20Administration

IEC purchases allow schools to take advantage of aggressive pricing based on the purchasing volume of many Iowa schools. Always remember to check in on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/ to take advantage of the newest available cost-saving services!

UNI College of Education Professional Development Webinars

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education is launching a new 2010-2011 professional webinar series for educators, Hot Topics in Education: Professional Development Webinars. These free one-hour webinars taught by faculty and staff will be offered once a month, September through May. The webinars allow educators an opportunity to learn from UNI experts in the comfort of their classroom, office or home. This year's webinars will feature popular topics such as classroom management, core standards, achievement gap, technology in the classroom, STEM education and more. Participants can choose the topics of their interest.

Do you want to learn classroom management strategies? Join the next free Hot Topics webinar, Classroom Management for the First-Year Teacher, at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010.

For more information about these free webinars and to register for this presentation, visit www.uni.edu/coe/professional-development-webinars

IAHPERD Convention, November 19-21

The IAHPERD Convention (Iowa Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance) will be held from November 19-21 at the Davenport West High/YMCA complex. A pre-conference workshop will take place on Friday, November 19. For more information on the convention, visit http://www.iowaahperd.org/.

Reminder: Title III Reimbursement and the ICLC

The Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) will be held in Coralville, Iowa at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Pre-conference sessions will be on November 1, 2010, with conference sessions on November 2-3, 2010. All the information you need to register can be found on the Northwest AEA website, http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/iowa_culture_language_conference/

The early bird registration rate has expired, however, Title III will pay the full $140 fee for the next 50 participants who register. If you have already registered at the $140 rate, Title III will cover your registration.

If you have already registered a team from your district and would like to register additional people, please contact Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14861. There is a possibility that Title III funds can help.
Title III will pay for the registration, sub pay for the conference, and offer a small mini-grant to help defray travel costs. There are a few guidelines, however.

• Districts with 75 ESL students or more may send 10 participants under Title III funding.

• Districts with fewer than 75 may send 5 participants. Of course, your district may send as many participants as wanted, however, Title III won’t be able to cover funding for more than the allotted slots.

• Title III will provide a mini-grant to help pay for travel expenses. Districts with 75 ESL students or more qualify for a $200 mini-grant. Districts with fewer than 75 ESL students qualify for a min-grant of $100. Districts do not need to apply for this mini-grant, it will automatically be noted on the reimbursement claim form.

• Claim forms for district reimbursement will be sent to one district administrator after the conference. Reimbursement will be made only to the district, not to individual participants.

• Participants will not need to sign in at the conference, however, administrators will need to list all participants from their district on the reimbursement claim form. For the district to receive reimbursement, participants must attend the entire pre-conference day and/or both conference days they are registered for. Please note the beginning and ending times. If you cannot stay until the last session is over each day, you do not qualify for Title III support.

Iowa one of 31-State Consortium Awarded RTTT Assessment Grant

At the October 5 HAA meeting, Kevin Fangman, Interim Director of the Iowa Department of Education, shared that the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) was awarded a $160 million Race To the Top assessment grant. Iowa is one of the states associated with the 31-state SBAC. Click here to download the press release of the announcement and an explanation of how the federal funds will be used.

E-Rate Revision Supports Cell Phone Use in Schools

The E-Rate program will now allow schools to create and fund mobile pilot programs—dedicating federal dollars to devices such as smartphones, iPads, and netbooks that can be used in school, and at home, to access school materials. Read more at http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping/887213-443/e-rate_revision_supports_cell_phone.html.csp

Iowa’s Mosaic Diversity Conference, October 18

Iowa’s Mosaic Diversity Conference
The Changing Diversity Footprint: From Reflex to Inclusion www.iowamosaic.org
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sheraton Hotel, 1800 50th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

Iowa's Mosaic Diversity Conference is the premier statewide training and networking opportunity for those interested in human diversity. It is sponsored by Friends of Iowa Civil Rights, Inc., an independent non-profit corporation. The 2010 theme is The Changing Diversity Footprint: Moving From Reflex to Inclusion. Iowa’s footprint has changed. Our population is now a rich variety of cultures and backgrounds; people with talents and visions of opportunity and success for themselves and their families. This year’s conference will focus on creating a welcoming state that not only embraces differences in its population but provides opportunities for its people to take their talents and ambitions as far as they want to go while infusing Iowa with economic vitality.

Featured general conference speaker, Michael Sidney Fosberg, will present Incognito. This story of intrigue and mystery unfolds as Fosberg searches for his biological father. As Fosberg shares the story of his history and identity, he takes the audience on their own journey of discovery about themselves and their perceptions of identity and stereotypes.

There will also be the addition of the Eagle Summit: Dialog for Leaders to this year’s Conference. This stimulating, thought-provoking program is specifically designed for leaders in government, business and diversity. The Eagle Summit agenda will feature speakers, Julius Pryor III, and Dr. Edward Hubbard, an award presentation, and round table discussion designed to identify collaborative actions we can take to make Iowa a welcoming place of opportunity.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION - Register online at www.iowamosaic.org.

• Register by this Sunday, October 10 for the early bird discount.
• Eagle Summit early bird registration - $150.00/person. (Registration will include access to general conference activities following the Eagle Summit). This session is reserved for business and government leaders, and diversity professionals.
• General Conference early bird registration fee - $100.00/person
• College and high school students’ registration fee - $35.00/person. A limited number of scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis. Please email your request to shirley@avinsandinc.com.

Questions can be directed to Alice Vinsand at (515) 225-1051.

State PEC Transition Conference relocated to Polk County Convention Center

The location of the Parent & Educator Connection Transition Conference, Great Expectations, has been changed to the Polk County Convention Center (501 Grand Avenue in Des Moines). The conference will still be held October 27 & 28, 2010. This move is necessary as the original location, the Scheman Center in Ames, is not yet available due to flood damage.

There is no fee to attend this year due to a special grant, but registration is required. To register, go to http://www.iowa.gov/educate/calendar/calendar.html#/?i=1 and click on October 27: Secondary Transition Conference. Click here to download a complete program of the conference.

Creating Microsoft Settlement Reporting eWalk Templates

Some school administrators have asked if the state would be creating an eWalk template for evaluating the implementation of learning strategies and integration of technology purchased with Microsoft dollars. Because Microsoft Settlement applications vary widely by building, a standardized statewide template will not be created. As a result it will be necessary for each district/building to create eWalk templates for their Microsoft Settlement reporting.

According to John O'Connell, Iowa Microsoft Settlement Consultant, "The eWalk template at a minimum should contain all the teaching strategies that were listed in the application along with any other items the principal or designated observer would be looking for during their walk-throughs. This is a requirement for all that would be using eWalk for their observations in their application.”

Also, per John O’Connell, eWalk licenses were purchased through June 2011. Please note that you may use Microsoft General Purchase Voucher dollars to purchase additional years' licensing (about $40 per year) as well as hardware. Please remember to look at the product eligibility list before purchasing hardware and software, as applicable to your application. The iPad has recently been added to the Product Eligibility list. The IEC will try to work with the mxMobile company to see if a reduced license cost can be purchased. We will let you know the details if an agreement is reached.

Please contact Toy Waterman, Heartland Instructional Technology Consultant, at twaterman@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14541 if you need assistance creating a template for your MS Settlement reporting. She will be able to assist you if you wish to create other templates for your district as well.