November Iowa Core Curriculum Update

Registration information for Day Two and for Day Three Leadership Training is now posted on the Heartland AEA Web site. On the right side of the home page, click on Heartland’s Iowa Core link. Scroll to the bottom of that page and click on Year 2-Days 2 and 3 Registration Flyer. Registration is a must to ensure space and materials for each participant. Each session requires registration.

Other news: The PowerPoint presentation from October’s training is available on the Web site under Year Two Resources by Topic. The team has addressed over 100 questions in a question and answer document that is also found on the Heartland Web site.

For questions or further information, contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Iowa Core Curriculum, at lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us.

Poverty Simulation to be Held November 13

Heartland will be offering a poverty simulation session on November 13 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at New Hope Assembly of God Church. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self-sufficiency on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources. Although participants use “play” money and other props, fictional scenarios and time limits, the simulation is not a game. It is a tool that enables participants to view poverty from different angles in an experiential setting.

In order to ensure we can hold the simulation, we need to have 40 participants registered, otherwise it will be canceled. If you are interested, please register today! Go to Heartland's Professional Development Catalog to register. The Activity Number is HU016199991001.

Literacy, Language & Communication for Children with Significant Disabilities

Click here to find out more about participating in a professional development and research project to address "Literacy, Language and Communication for Children with Significant Disabilities." This project promotes the comprehensive literacy learning of Iowa students with significant developmental disabilities.

Interested teams must submit a letter of intent along with their application (form can be downloaded here) by December 16, 2009 to Dr. Amy Peterson at (319) 273-7852 (fax) or Schindler Education Center 186, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0601.