Emergent Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment) - Starts in September

This course will cover a framework for instruction of mathematical ideas for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This course is designed for students who are progressing on the Iowa essential elements aligned to the Iowa core standards. Links to the literacy framework will be made, along with a process for determining whether students are at an emergent or conventional level for instruction. Strategies and routines for emergent learners will be provided. Teachers will participate in mathematical activities in order to increase understanding.

Emergent Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
Sept. 21 & Oct. 1 and 7, 2021
Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3zgdCMz
Course #201608
Section #307491

Conventional Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment) - Starts in October

This course will cover a framework for instruction of mathematical ideas for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This course is designed for students who are progressing on the Iowa essential elements aligned to the Iowa core standards. Links to the literacy framework will be made, along with a process for determining whether students are at an emergent or conventional level for instruction. Strategies and routines for conventional learners will be provided. Teachers will participate in mathematical activities in order to increase understanding.

Conventional Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
Oct. 12, 22 & Nov. 4, 2021
Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/36LxjQc
Course #201609
Section #307492

New Resources Around Seclusion & Restraint Hot Off the Press from Department of Education

The Iowa Department of Education has recently published new resources for educators around seclusion and restraint (Chapter 103). A new Top 10 Points About Chapter 103 is available on the Department’s Seclusion and Restraint webpage.

Top 10 Points About Chapter 103

Iowa Department of Education Seclusion and Restraint webpage

Hiring a New School Nurse This Year?

Heartland AEA is offering a year-long mentoring class for new or nearly-new school nurses. The content is entirely online and job embedded. Class spans Oct. 4, 2021-May 27, 2022 and is self-paced. It includes instruction regarding:

• Delegation of health procedures to paraprofessionals
• Individual health plan (IHP) and emergency plans
• Health evaluation for special education student
• Understanding special health services and the IEP
• Medicaid billing and the role of the school nurse
• Section 504 and the nurse as a team member
• HIPAA/FERPA and Social Media and confidentiality in Iowa Schools
• Heartland AEA resources available to assist nurses

School nurses will be taught by Heartland AEA Special Education Nurse Consultant, MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, with opportunities for 1:1 instruction as needed. Please share the attached flier with new school nurses and those with 1-2 years of experience who have not previously completed the class. Cost is $85 and offers 15 contact hours of free license renewal credit.

Updated Data Can Be Found in PREP Dashboards on Iowa Postsecondary Readiness Site

Updated data can now be found in the PREP Dashboards (EdInsight version). In addition, the PREP Trendlines are now available publicly via the Iowa Postsecondary Readiness site. This is the full Postsecondary Readiness Reports site, with a dedicated PREP Trendline page. You will notice a series of sortable filters as well. For more information on these reports or how to use them, contact Sue Schirmer.

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

July Zoom Workshops for Principals on the New Iowa Standards for School Leaders

In this learning designed for principals, explore the WHY behind the new Iowa Standards for School Leaders, the historical context, the standards themselves and the optional tools and resources designed to support implementation. 

We will spend time unpacking the progressions aligned to the standards and designed for principals. You'll deepen your understanding of and gain confidence in using the progressions to support self-reflection, goal-setting, and professional learning. Sessions are being offered on July 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

HL - New Standards for School Leaders: Principal Implementation, (Course # 201566)

Administrator Connection is Going on Summer Vacation

As the school year comes to a close, so does our weekly Administrator Connection. Today is our last planned weekly update until August. We’ll communicate any important information via email during the summer.

Have a very enjoyable summer!

ClassLink OneClick Coming Soon

ClassLink may sound familiar as we shared information at the Curriculum Network and at technology coordinator meetings. Heartland AEA will be reaching out to help your district connect with ClassLink OneClick.

What is it?
ClassLink OneClick is a single sign-on approach for students and teachers to access the K-12 digital resources, AEA Scout, AEA Professional Learning Registration System, and AEA Learning Online Training System. The AEAs are providing it to schools at no cost.

Why?
Privacy, security and access. Usernames/passwords will no longer be posted on classroom walls. Students and teachers will log in with their Google or Microsoft credentials that they already use in the district. The digital content will be displayed and accessed on one dashboard. And, there will be QR codes for our youngest learners to log in (think BookFLIX and PebbleGo).

Why is this important?
This secure approach represents the latest development in technology that Iowa AEAs think will provide the best and most up-to-date access to digital content. It takes the burden of updating some locally created content (URLs and passwords) and moves it to the ClassLink OneClick dashboard. We also think it will be engaging as the dashboard apps have the familiar smartphone and iPad layout and function.

What do I need to do now?
Heartland AEA will be reaching out to the technology coordinator to add your school district domain and users. As users are added or removed to the district email, ClassLink OneClick is automatically updated. We will ask for a contact person at the district. We will also provide assistance in rolling out this new way to access digital content to students and teachers. As you work and plan with the teacher librarians and technology coordinators, keep ClassLink OneClick in mind.

Iowa School Library Study Released, Includes Learning from Pandemic

The annual School Library Survey included a new section this year to document and understand how Iowa teacher librarians adapted services and programs during the pandemic to support student learning and engagement. It was developed using the national School Librarian Role in Pandemic Learning Conditions. Enrollment size and grade span data are included for the following sections:

Section 1: Face-to-Face Learning
Section 2: Blended Learning
Section 3: Distance Learning

There are a lot of activities and programs to recognize that had a direct impact on student learning. Here are a few highlights from the report.

• Collaborated with educators to develop and co-teach
• Taught learners how to use digital platforms and resources
• Assembled targeted resource lists for educators and parents that are regularly updated and aimed at specific age groups or needs
• Collaborated with administrators, educators, parents/caregivers, and community members proactively responding to evolving needs
• Participated in educator professional learning communities to provide differentiated learner resources and support
• Listened for and assessed community needs to support the school curriculum, school culture, and social and emotional needs
• Explored and shared methods of engaging all learners in online discussions
• Curated and provided SEL resources for student learning and/or educator self-care
• Worked to ensure equity and learner access to the internet
• Provided technical support for learners and families
• Ensured provided resources are divers
• Managed the impact of social distancing requirements
• Developed procedures for safe handling of materials

Read the full study here.

Open to All Iowa Educators: Join Renowned Author Doug Fisher, Corwin Instructors and Heartland AEA Consultants for a Summer Learning Opportunity Like No Other!

Administrators, please forward this to your teachers!

Heartland AEA’s “Summer Learning Academy: Reflect, Reconstruct, Rebound” has been designed with area educators, for area educators. Over the past year, you’ve stretched your abilities and increased your confidence as you’ve tried new tools, new models and new ways of teaching.

The vision for our time together in the Summer Learning Academy includes:

• Augmentation of content
• Study around instruction
• Learning about assessment and feedback practices
• Perusal of technology integration

All these topics have been compiled for a steadfast rebound and rich catapult into the 2021-22 school year!

To learn more about the Academy, sessions with Corwin instructors, learning tracks and license renewal credit, view the Academy flyer and share it with your friends and colleagues!

Summer Learning Academy: Reflect, Reconstruct, Rebound
June 21-25, 202
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. each day
Virtual Format
$100

Registration Links
1 license renewal credit - Register Now
2 license renewal credits - Register Now
No credit/participant only - Register Now

Questions?

Contact Amy Wichman or Wendy Robinson, Directors of Instructional Services, Heartland AEA.