Improving Literacy Instruction for Students on Alternate Assessment
(Previously titled: Improving Literacy Instruction for Level 3 Learners)This class is designed for teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities on alternate assessment. This class will provide an overview of the current research and philosophy of literacy instruction for this population. Content will include an introduction to the state frameworks for literacy instruction and the importance of communication; links to the alternate assessment; core vocabulary; and the five instructional routines: shared and guided reading, independent reading, foundational skills, independent writing and predictable chart writing. This class is similar in content to the Strat II coursework, but less in-depth.
Heartland AEA
Johnston Regional Education Center
6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
July 9-10, 2018
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Register at this link
Linking Alternate Assessment, Essential Elements and Quality IEPs for Literacy
This 2-day course will help teachers, related service providers and AEA staff supporting students with significant intellectual disabilities make connections between assessment, curriculum and instruction. Participants will learn how to apply the alternate assessment tools and resources that help match instruction to student need; how to unpack and apply essential elements to establish present levels of performance; and ways to write ambitious IEP goals, align services to needs, monitor progress and meet requirements of both alternate assessments. The five routines of literacy will be reviewed, but not explored in depth.
Heartland AEA
Johnston Regional Education Center
Corporate Drive, Johnston
Aug. 8-9, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Register at this link
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
Quality and affordable student planners are available for your school through Heartland AEA’s Creative Services Department. Planners can help some students feel more engaged and aware of school events, activities and projects. Visit our website to choose your planner style from the many options we offer. Place your order by May 1, 2018 to ensure delivery by the beginning of the next school year. For more information, contact the Heartland AEA Creative Services Department at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14368 or creativeservices@heartlandaea.org.
Drake University has graciously offered to the host the May 1 SAC and HAA meetings in Collier-Scripps Hall on campus. This is a new building located closer to Forest Avenue than University. Due to campus construction, you'll want to allow extra time for parking.
Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC)
May 1, 2018
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
Drake University (Campus Map)
2507 University Avenue, Des Moines
Collier-Scripps Hall, Room 235
Agenda
Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA)
May 1, 2018
9:00 -11:30 a.m.
Drake University (Campus Map)
2507 University Avenue, Des Moines
Collier-Scripps Hall, Room 235
Agenda
Zoom link: https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/963780423
Heartland AEA’s Special Education Network originally scheduled for May 11, 2018, is being cancelled at this time. We look forward to meeting with you again in the fall when we resume these sessions. Dates of fall network sessions will be provided as soon as they are available. If you have further questions regarding the Special Education Network, please contact your Regional Director.
This information was shared with District Managers and should also be shared with appropriate district and building administrators.
As you’re aware, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are subsidizing costs for districts to upgrade their DE provided FastBridge (FAST) subscriptions to include additional functionality in the areas of mathematics and behavior. Your district indicated its interest in participating in a pilot of this subscription program, beginning in Spring 2018.
Iowa’s AEA system has had many requests to produce FastBridge Math materials that include K-1 EarlyMath student materials and CBMMath Process student materials and teacher forms for grades 2-6. Grant Wood AEA has agreed to handle all the printing and shipping of these materials. Progress Monitoring student materials will be available in late summer.
If your school or district is interested in these materials, you may place an order using this order form. Please complete the top section, select the items and quantities needed and place the order using one of the methods listed at the bottom of the form. Orders will be shipped to you through FedEx.
For questions regarding ordering, printing and distribution, contact Tara Johannsen at Grant Wood AEA at tjohannsen@gwaea.org.
“Speaking for All Learners” will be held on June 12-13, 2018 at North Polk High School. PK-12 educators will have the opportunity to network with other educational professionals, discover new strategies for working with English language learners in Iowa and meet national and local experts to enrich practices for increasing EL achievement.
Conference topics include:
- Strategies for addressing barriers to academic and language learning for English Learners in the classroom
- Best practices for supporting early childhood language acquisition for preschool English Learners
- Instructional leadership strategies for English language learning programs
- Connecting and collaborating with other educators responsible for the success of English Learners
- And many more learning opportunities and topics from experts in educating English Learners!
Featured Speakers
Ayanna Cooper, Ed.D
ELL specialist with extensive and diverse experience teaching educators how to enhance instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
David Edward Garcia
Grew up on the Mexican border in Texas, two worlds-linguistically and culturally. Successful speaker of five languages, teacher, entrepreneur, comedian.
Anita Pandey, Ph.D.Professor of Linguistics and Coordinator of Professional Development and Communication at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
Ryan Wise, Ed.D.
Director of the Iowa Department of education
Plus, our amazing local experts and students!
Information and Registration
Learn more at the conference website and register at this link by June 5.
Incentive
Heartland AEA Title III will refund the cost of registration ($150), plus provide an honorarium of $200 to off-contract public and non-public educators for full attendance and participation. This funding is not available to public or non-public districts served by the Des Moines Public Schools.
Iowa administrators and/or evaluators who are wanting to renew an evaluator license may choose from the following course options, including one new course and the Collaborative Leadership Institute with Peter Dewitt, offered through Heartland AEA. To learn more about these courses or to register, you may search by the course title at this page on our website.
Fierce Conversations (2 credits)
June 6, 8, 27 & 29, 2018
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center
Assessing Academic Rigor (2 credits)
June 13, 14, 22 & 27, 2018
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center
Collaborative Leadership Institute with Dr. Peter DeWitt (2 credits)
June 28-29, Oct. 12 & Dec. 13, 2018
Adel AEA Office
NEW COURSE - Fierce Conversations 2: Generations and Feedback (1 credit)
Prerequisite: Fierce Conversations
July 19 & 26, 2018
Ankeny Northview Middle School
NEW COURSE - Fierce Conversations 2: Generations and Feedback (1 credit)
Prerequisite: Fierce Conversations
Sept. 25 & Oct. 9, 2018
Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center
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
As you may recall, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies announced that the AEAs will subsidize costs for districts to upgrade their Iowa Department of Education-provided FastBridge (FAST) subscriptions to include additional functionality in the areas of mathematics and behavior.
As a reminder, the deadline for 2018-19 participation (beginning fall 2018) is June 15, 2018. You can indicate your interest in participating in the fall assessments at this link. Heartland AEA schools that have signed up for the expanded assessment suite can be found at this link. Schools that want to purchase FastBridge for grades 7-12 should email the name of the their district, school, contact person, grade levels requesting to purchase, and student enrollment in those grades to sales@fastbridge.org.
Also, many districts have started preparing for the spring and fall implementation for these assessments by participating in these upcoming webinars. Please be sure to register to participate in these webinars. A recording of each training session will be shared after each session.
Iowa's AEAs presented their 2nd annual AEA Awards at their annual boards’ conference last week to five deserving recipients This is the second year for the awards, which are an opportunity to recognize and celebrate outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system. You can read about this year’s award recipients and their generous contributions on our website. It’s worth the read!
(Pictured above, left to right)
E. Robert Stephens Award
Evan Abbey, Project Director of AEA Learning Online
Friend of the AEAs
Dr. Janet Stutz, superintendent of Grinnell-Newburg Community Schools
Innovative Creator Award
Cindy Cavanagh and Teresa Wyant, staff at Mississippi Bend AEA
Friend of the AEAs
Miller Roskamp, supporter of River Hills School
