Thursday, September 30, 2021

Jerry Valentine to Lead Instructional Practice Inventory Workshops on Oct. 26-27

Jerry Valentine, Ph.D.
Jerry Valentine, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus from the University of Missouri, will be leading an Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) Basic Workshop in the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District on Oct. 26 and an IPI-Technology Advanced Workshop (IPI-T) on Oct. 27.

IPI Workshop Details

Title 

Date/Time 

Prerequisite 

Level I Basic Workshop 

Oct. 26, 2021

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

N/A 

IPI - Technology Advanced Workshop

Oct. 27, 2021

8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Level 1 Basic Workshop


Location: 2405 W 1st Street, Grimes, IA 50111--DCG Administrative Offices

Cost: The per participant cost for each workshop will be $175. Dr. Valentine will invoice the school/district for that fee of $175 per person.

Registration: Each workshop is limited to 20 participants. Contact Dr. Valentine directly at ValentineJ@Missouri.edu before Oct. 20. He will process your registration request in the order in which they are received and invoice you as appropriate.

Overview: The IPI is a process for profiling school-wide student cognitive engagement during class time. The IPI process is implemented by a team of certified teachers who serve as the data collectors, the organizers of the data for faculty study, and the leaders of the faculty study of the data. School administrators should not serve as data collectors, but they do need to understand the IPI Process so they can support the team of teachers who lead the Process. The IPI Process is a stimulus for goal-setting and professional development relating to increasing student engagement in higher-order/deeper forms of thinking while simultaneously decreasing disengagement during learning time.

Additional Details:
  • Each workshop will include a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break and a 30-minute lunch break between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. It is recommended that participants bring their own lunch because there will not be time to leave the workshops setting to have lunch.
  • All participants should plan to be in attendance from the start to completion of the workshop in order to obtain certification to use the IPI and/or IPI-T Process.
  • All participants should bring and plan to use, as needed, a face mask to mitigate the impact of COVID on others during the workshop activities. The mask will be needed at varied times during the day, particularly during the guided practice observations that will take place in real classrooms.

Required Course to Earn the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with Early Childhood Concentration Begins Nov. 15

young learners
This is the required course to receive the Paraeducator Certification Generalist II with the Area of Concentration: Early Childhood.

Participants will gain knowledge, skills and strategies to assist, support and maintain the positive social, emotional and behavioral development of early childhood students and special needs early childhood students. The focus of this course will be on early childhood birth to grade 3 with an emphasis on ages 3-5.

This class may also be part of a staff development plan for teaching assistants with an Associates degree or two years of college in fields other than early childhood addressing how early childhood expertise is being provided to guide the curriculum.

Paraeducator Area of Concentration: Early Childhood
Prerequisite: Participants must hold a Paraeducator Generalist Certificate
Zoom sessions will be held on Nov. 15 and Dec. 21, 2021; Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 8 and April 12, 2022, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Additional coursework will be completed online by April 19, 2022
Cost: $180
Registration Link
Course #180188

Restorative Practices Training Begins Next Week, Are You Registered?

two teachers learning together
"Restorative practices is an emerging social science that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities." (IIRP.edu)

In the Introduction to Restorative Practices & Using Circles Effectively 2-day course, participants will learn fundamental theory and practices for engaging in a restorative way. Topics include setting high expectations while being supportive, providing direct feedback and asking questions that foster accountability, and effective methods to resolve common conflicts. Participants will also learn how to facilitate circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles may be used to build community, engage during instruction, resolve social problems and respond when harm occurs. This course is offered for 1 License Renewal Credit.

Training Dates & Registration Links

Oct. 4-5, 2021 -- Heartland AEA, Adel -- #202346 HL - Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively


Oct. 23 & Nov. 6, 2021 -- Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, Johnston -- #202380 HL - Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively


Save the Date: Feb. 7-8, 2022 -- Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, Johnston -- Registration link to come.