Thursday, December 17, 2020

Green Hills AEA Career and Technical Education (CTE) Regional Planning Partnerships (RPP) Award 2020-2021 Mini-Grants to 22 Districts

The career and technical education regional planning partnerships within the Green Hills AEA service area have awarded over $155,000 in mini-grants to 22 districts for the 2020-2021 school year. Through this year’s grants, 32 career and technical education programs received funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. This is the fourth year the regional planning partnerships have provided mini-grants to districts. Applications for the mini-grants were scored across multiple categories including how projects would help students become college and career ready, how projects would support the development of each career and technical education program, how proposed projects would support students in special populations, as well as the impact and priority of need for each project.

The mini-grant funds supported a variety of items across multiple fields of education. In the area of agriculture, mini-grant funds were used towards Bovine Artificial Insemination and Injection simulators, portable greenhouses, farrowing crates, and ultrasound equipment. In the area of health sciences, mini-grants were used for manikins, hospital beds, wheelchairs, and walkers. In the area of industrial technology, programs were able to acquire portable table saws, welders, VEX engineering equipment, computers, storage shed kits to build and sell, laser engravers, drill presses, and CNC lasers. In the area of business computers, heat press, vinyl cutters & printers, software, Cricut makers, tripods, and teleprompters were among the items requested. In the area of family and consumer sciences, the mini-grant funding was able to provide potting tables, refrigerators, ranges, microwave ovens, convection ranges, mixers, and cookware.

This year’s mini-grant recipients are:
  • Boyer Valley
  • CAM
  • Central Decatur
  • Clarinda
  • Council Bluffs
  • Creston
  • Essex
  • Fremont Mills
  • Griswold
  • Harlan
  • Lamoni
  • Lewis Central
  • Logan-Magnolia
  • Mormon Trail
  • Mount Ayr
  • Nodaway Valley
  • Sidney
  • Southwest Valley
  • Stanton
  • Treynor
  • Tri-Center
  • Woodbine

As school district budgets continue to be pressured, these mini-grants have provided needed equipment for the oftentimes costly career and technical education programs.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to receive regional planning partnership mini-grants in the past. The mini-grants have provided us with equipment that is invaluable, not only in the classroom but also as we present to students of all ages. Through mini-grant funds, we were able to purchase interactive and engaging products that enhance the study of agriculture,” said Rosa Sondag, an agriculture teacher at Central Decatur Junior-Senior High School.

“The Sidney auto tech program received a regional planning partnership mini-grant award last year and it enabled us to purchase more tools for diagnosing problems and making repairs. This has also helped students to get more hands-on experience and has allowed more students to work at stations and projects at the same time. The mini-grant was a great boost to our program,” said Terry Whitehead, an industrial tech teacher at Sidney Junior-Senior High School.

Professional Learning COVID-19 Update

Due to the high number of positive COVID-19 cases, EXTERNAL Face to Face Professional Learning has been suspended through the month of January. Virtual opportunities are still available for registration! Stay healthy. Stay safe.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Foundations of SEBH - Course #189831 (Virtual)

January 28, February 1, February 4, February 8, 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Register Here
Participants will learn how to create safe, caring, healthy environments that serve as the foundation for Social-Emotional Behavioral Health in Iowa. Participants will explore these environmental conditions and the science behind them in order to promote positive well-being for all stakeholders within the educational system. When these environmental conditions are strengthened, positive academic, behavioral, and well-being outcomes can be achieved in a more efficient manner.

Integrating SEL 101 - Course #189868 (Virtual)

February 11, February 15, February 18, February 25, 3:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m.
Register Here
Participants will become familiar with CASEL's 3 Signature Practices Playbook and use it to begin to develop lessons that integrate Social Emotional Learning into lessons with intention regardless of content. Iowa's Social Emotional Learning Competencies document, along with resources from CASEL will provide foundational knowledge for participants. The practices will be explicitly modeled and the instructional practices of discussion, reflection, guided practice, and independent practice will all be utilized. This course will require active engagement. Research demonstrates that instruction that includes Social Emotional Learning has been shown to increase academic performance, improve attitudes and behaviors toward school, decrease negative behaviors, and reduce emotional stress.

NEW  Access to Education: Meeting and Exceeding Requirements - Course #190759 (Virtual)

January 4, February 8, March 22, April 19, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Participants will learn how to create a variety of accessible materials so students will be able to access core content and different learning environments. Regardless of whether student learners have a disability of any kind, a majority of students use closed captions at least some of the time. Roughly 90 percent of all students who use closed captions find them at least moderately helpful for learning. Specific ways in which closed captions can aid comprehension, accuracy, engagement and retention of learning will be explored in this course. Participants will develop knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) which requires assistive technology (AT) be considered at the yearly individualized education program (IEP) meeting of every student in special education.

NEW  REWARDS Workshop - Course #180317 (Virtual)

January 4, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Register Here
This workshop is for teachers who have struggling readers who are reading at/near 3rd to 5th-grade reading level. REWARDS is a reading intervention specifically designed for adolescent struggling readers. It is a powerful short-term intervention that results in long-term literacy achievement. The program supports any core curriculum and offers flexible implementation options. The ultimate goal of REWARDS is to increase fluency rates and deepen comprehension of informational and content-area texts.

NEW  Restorative Practices Using Circles in Classrooms - Course #190593 (Virtual)

January 4, January 11, January 18, January 25, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Register Here
This course will allow you to use the basics of Restorative Practices in your classroom and school. The fundamental premise of restorative practices is that people are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make positive changes when those in authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them. The field of restorative practices has significant implications for all aspects of society - from families, classrooms, schools, and prisons to workplaces, associations, governments, even whole nations - because restorative practices can develop better relationships among these organizations’ constituents and help the overall organization function more effectively. In schools, the use of restorative practices has been shown to reliably reduce misbehavior, bullying, violence, and crime among students and improve the overall climate for learning. We devote much of our in-person (or virtual) time to teaching attendees to facilitate restorative circles. Circles are an essential process for building social capital, resolving social problems, and responding when harm occurs. Circles create a positive learning environment. You will learn by participating in circles with other attendees, taking turns to learn how to facilitate. By the end of the day, you will be prepared to return to your setting and run your first circle!

Materials Note: Participants are required to purchase the book themselves prior to the course starting date: Restorative Circles in Schools: A Practical Guide for Educators - Second Edition - available through www.amazon.com. 

NEW  Paraeducator Professional Learning Series - Course #200858 (Virtual)  

January 6, February 13, March 6, April 7 - 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Register Here
The course will consist of 4 virtual synchronous sessions (via Zoom) and 4 self-paced modules. Asynchronous Modules
1) Social-Emotional Learning
2) Understanding Trauma
3) Behavior Principles 101
4) Collaborating with Teachers (Roles and Responsibilities)

**This course does NOT replace the Paraeducator Generalist Certification course


NEW  Vocabulary in the Secondary Classroom - Course #200857 (Virtual)

January 11, February 15, March 15, April 12 - 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
January 21, February 25, March 25, April 22 - 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Register Here
Course participants will learn about the importance of vocabulary development and the connection to reading comprehension. Sessions will include an overview of the current research into vocabulary development, background knowledge, and the implications to the educational classroom. Participants will learn how to choose high leverage words and the components of explicit vocabulary instruction. Effective vocabulary strategies will be discussed, as well as, when and how to use these strategies in content instruction. The study of morphology and the understanding of word forms and word relationships will also be covered throughout the series.

Paraeducator Generalist Certification Courses:

Paraeducator Course #1 - Ethical & Professional Practices/Professional Relationships - Course #189672
Register Here - Training only, certification for certificate 

Paraeducator Course #2 - Environment/Content & Instruction/Ethical & Professional Practice - Course #189673 
Register Here - Training only, certification for certificate

Paraeducator Course #3 - Emotional & Behavioral Needs/Professional Responsibilities/Ethical & Professional Practice - Course #189674 
Register Here - Training only, certification for certificate

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Green Hills AEA Districts Receive Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund Grant

On December 15th, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced  $883,097 in annual awards that will prepare K-12 teachers in more than 167 school districts and nonpublic schools to teach computer science. Several districts within the Green Hills AEA service area will receive funds from this award to pay for teacher professional development, including training to teach specific computer science courses and earning in-depth university endorsements to teach computer science. Read the Department of Education's press release HERE.

GHAEA Districts: 
  • AHSTW
  • Bedford
  • Boyer Valley
  • Central Decatur
  • Creston
  • Creston St. Malachy
  • East Union
  • Essex
  • Fremont-Mills
  • Glenwood
  • Lamoni
  • Lenox
  • Lewis Central
  • Logan-Magnolia
  • Missouri Valley
  • Mormon Trail
  • Mt. Ayr
  • Murray
  • Orient-Macksburg
  • Red Oak
  • Shenandoah
  • Stanton
  • Treynor
  • Underwood
  • Woodbine

Creative Services Update

Seasonal Note Cards: We design it. You write it. We print it.


Administrators can keep in touch and reach out to staff, students, and families with seasonal note cards. You can order blank cards or type in your own message when you place your order. Go to THIS LINK. Log in with single sign-on (SSO) —the username/password used for Mandatory Reporter or Bloodborne Pathogens. Enter note cards in the search box.

Blank card: $0.06 each
Personalized card: $0.08 each
Blank A2 envelope: $0.04 each
Folded size: 5.5”x4.25”

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Foundations of SEBH - Course #189831 (Virtual)

January 28, February 1, February 4, February 8, 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Register Here
Participants will learn how to create safe, caring, healthy environments that serve as the foundation for Social-Emotional Behavioral Health in Iowa. Participants will explore these environmental conditions and the science behind them in order to promote positive well-being for all stakeholders within the educational system. When these environmental conditions are strengthened, positive academic, behavioral, and well-being outcomes can be achieved in a more efficient manner.

Integrating SEL 101 - Course #189868 (Virtual)

February 11, February 15, February 18, February 25, 3:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m.
Register Here
Participants will become familiar with CASEL's 3 Signature Practices Playbook and use it to begin to develop lessons that integrate Social Emotional Learning into lessons with intention regardless of content. Iowa's Social Emotional Learning Competencies document, along with resources from CASEL will provide foundational knowledge for participants. The practices will be explicitly modeled and the instructional practices of discussion, reflection, guided practice, and independent practice will all be utilized. This course will require active engagement. Research demonstrates that instruction that includes Social Emotional Learning has been shown to increase academic performance, improve attitudes and behaviors toward school, decrease negative behaviors, and reduce emotional stress.

Computer Science Education Week

Computer Science Education Week is December 7 - 11. Did you know that computer science is the fastest-growing profession within the STEM field, but only 8% of STEM graduates earn a computer science degree? Whether your students are virtual, hybrid, or at school, there are many ways to celebrate and help students learn perseverance, problem-solving, use their creativity, understand the digital world, and start on a pathway to a great career! Click here for resources!

Paraeducation Professional Learning Series

Green Hills AEA will be offering a hybrid course specifically designed for paraeducators starting in January. The course will consist of 4 virtual synchronous sessions (via Zoom) and 4 self-paced modules. The dates and topics for each session are listed below. Paraeducators that complete all 8 modules will earn 1 paraeducator recertification credit.

Synchronous Modules
  • Welcome Zoom and Overview/Expectations (January 6)
  • Creating Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (February 13)
  • Responding to Behavioral Errors (March 6)
  • Final Class, Next Steps (April 7 )

Asynchronous Modules
  • Social-Emotional Learning
  • Understanding Trauma
  • Behavior Principles 101
  • Collaborating with Teachers (Roles and Responsibilities)

Work-Based Learning Stipend Opportunity

Green Hills AEA and the Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning are proud to offer a new work-based learning stipend opportunity! This opportunity is open to PK-12 educators, any discipline. Space is limited so don't wait. The deadline for application is March 31, 2021.

Earn License Renewal Credit for a Social Media Account!

 


Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching (PAEMST) Nominations Open

Nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are now open! This year's awards will honor science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers working in grades 7-12. Nominations close on March 1, 2021. Learn more at www.paemst.org!

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Professional Learning COVID-19 Update

Due to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases, EXTERNAL Face to Face Professional Learning has been suspended through the month of December. Virtual opportunities are still available for registration! Stay healthy. Stay safe.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Access to Education: Meeting and Exceeding Requirements (Virtual)

January 4, February 8, March 22, April 19, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Register Here
Participants will learn how to create a variety of accessible materials so students will be able to access core content and different learning environments. Participants will develop knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) which requires assistive technology (AT) be considered at the yearly individualized education program (IEP) meeting of every student in special education.

Restorative Practices Using Circles in Classrooms (Virtual) 

January 4, January 11, January 18, January 25, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Register Here
This course will allow participants to use the basics of Restorative Practices in the classroom and school. Participants will learn by participating in circles with other attendees, taking turns to learn how to facilitate. By the end of the day, participants will be prepared to return to their settings and run circles!

Materials Note: Participants are required to purchase the book themselves prior to the course starting date: Restorative Circles in Schools: A Practical Guide for Educators - Second Edition - available through www.amazon.com.

Substitute Authorization Courses 

Substitute authorization courses continue to be offered virtually throughout the state. LINK to available courses.

Thank You for Attending the Rachel's Challenge Kickoff!

Green Hills AEA held the Rachel's Challenge kickoff event on Wednesday, November 4th in Red Oak. We were overwhelmed by the positive response we received both from superintendents and school teams who participated in the event. We look forward to seeing how Rachel's Challenge impacts the schools in our service area for years to come. If you have any questions about Rachel's Challenge or would like to get involved, please contact Dr. Jenny Barnett

America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship

America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, sponsored by Bayer Fund, is offering more than $500,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and college students pursuing an ag-related field of study. Students can apply for a $1,500 scholarship now through January 14, 2021.


2021 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest

This contest is a way to teach students about waterfowl and wetland conservation throughout the United States for all grade levels. This program strives to encourage children to investigate the importance of conservation of our natural world and what it means to them.

The following is a list of the requirements to enter the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest:
  • U.S. citizenship (In order to receive the national prizes the student will need a SS# or Visa #).
  • Currently in schooling from K-12
  • Create an original piece of artwork (This may use other pieces as a reference but cannot be a copy of the reference)
  • Depict a permitted species, the list is within the JR Duck Stamp Brochure
  • Be submitted or postmarked by March 15th, 2021
  • Be submitted with an entry form and a reference form (Reference form is required for students in grades 7 and up)
  • Entries can be drawn, painted, or sketched
  • Styles can include hyper-realism or abstract, etc.

Please send all entries to:
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
Attn: Junior Duck Stamp
1434 316th Lane
Missouri Valley, IA 51555

Entries will be judged in late March and all participants will receive the judging results as soon as possible. All winners will be invited to an award ceremony in late April.

LEARN MORE HERE

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Winter Blood Drive




Green Hills AEA would like to invite you to participate in our winter blood drive on December 8th at the Halverson Center for Education! To schedule an appointment or for more information, click the link below.

Red Oak Holiday Cheer Drive

 


U.S. History Primary Source Posters

You can order 50+ posters provided by the Library of Congress. Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place. In addition to the posters, you'll find teaching guides.

Go to https://csonline.ghaea.org and log in with single sign-on (username/password used in AEA Learning Online for mandatory reporter and bloodborne pathogens.) Enter primary source in the search box to see all resources. In addition to the printed poster versions, we just added the option of downloading a PDF so you can share the primary source virtually with your class.

Learn more about how to teach with primary sources.

Examples:
  • Abolitionist Movement and John Brown
  • African Americans and the Civil War
  • African-American Suffrage
  • Agriculture in a Global World
  • American Indian Removal and Relocation
  • American Indians and Westward Expansion
  • American-Indian Suffrage
  • Buxton: A Lost Utopia
  • Caucuses and Elections
  • Children's Lives: Comparing Long Ago to Today
  • Civil Rights: Before, During, and after the World Wars
  • Cold War
  • Dust Bowl
  • Environmental Impact
  • Great Depression and Herbert Hoover
  • Great Depression and the Dust Bowl
  • Holocaust and America's Response to Other Genocides
  • How States Get Their Shapes
  • Immigration to Iowa
  • Immigration: Regulation, Response, and Attitudes in America
  • Innovation in Agriculture
  • Innovation in Transportation
  • Iowa Weather and Its Impact
  • Iowa: Leader in Civil Rights and Equality
  • Iowa's Connection to the World
  • Korean War
  • New Deal
  • Railroads in Iowa
  • Reconstruction
  • Refugees in America
  • School Desegregation
  • Schools: Comparing Long Ago, Today and Other Cultures
  • Underground Railroad
  • World War I: America's Involvement
  • World War I: Evaluating America's Role
  • World War II: America's Motivation and Impact

Professional Learning COVID-19 Update

Due to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases, EXTERNAL Face to Face Professional Learning has been suspended through the month of November. Virtual opportunities are still available for registration! Stay healthy. Stay safe. 

Digital Resource Interactive Notebook Now Available!

The Green Hills AEA Digital Learning team has recently designed an interactive notebook that contains digital resources that can be of benefit to your districts as you support learners. The notebook is divided by tabs and within each topic you can learn about the digital tool. If you choose the "click here" on each note page you will find a one-page sheet that explains how to get started and uses of the tool. We have also provided connections to previously released Return to Learn documents to help in implementation planning. Our interactive notebook will continue to evolve with new resources and supports.

And don't forget about our CLICKABLE CLASSROOM

Our digital learning team has put together a clickable classroom for the universal webinar series that they created. The clickable classroom helps users navigate the webinar series and provides a library of resources. 

Occupational and Physical Therapy Universal Tools For Success Resource

The GHAEA Occupational and Physical Therapists have developed a Universal Tools for Success resource, including a 4-minute screencast explaining the process (click on the heading to access the screencast). This document covers universal intervention strategies in the areas of Active Engagement, Environment, Functional Motor Movements, and Self Help Skills. The universal interventions were developed to provide educators with strategies to implement within various school routines and educational settings. Specifically, it discusses:
  • Active Engagement: basic self regulation strategies and ways to address transitions
  • Environment: positioning, posture, and accessibility
  • Functional Motor Movement: fine motor skills (including strategies on the motor aspects of handwriting) and gross motor skills (including strategies for mobility and transitions in and outside of the classroom)
  • Self Help: routines such as mealtime, toileting, dressing and recess
If you have any questions regarding this resource, please contact Michele Harrison, Julie Stessman, or Andy Ruff

UNI College of Education to Host Virtual Conference on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The University of Northern Iowa invites you to join them for the fifth Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections professional development workshop hosted by the UNI College of Education. This year's virtual event, entitled "ACEs: Building Trauma-Sensitive Communities," will take place on November 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Offered as a free Zoom webinar this fall, the schedule will include guest speakers from local and statewide organizations - led by keynote Jen Ulie Wells, with Please Pass the Love - as well as UNI faculty. See the full agenda!


Green Hills AEA Awarded Over 1 Million Dollars in Federal Grants

Green Hills Area Education Agency received two Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence grants, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, that will allow them to greatly expand their supports and training in the areas of crisis planning and prevention and school violence.

The first grant of $669,000 will be used to collaborate with area school districts, fire departments, and sheriff’s offices to establish threat assessment teams and implement high-quality safety plans designed to prevent and mitigate emergencies and crises.

School personnel training and student education will also be provided on preventing student violence against others and themselves. Additionally, this project will include the promotion and use of anonymous tip lines as a way for students, parents, school staff, and the entire community to report behaviors confidentially and support teams in communicating and coordinating responses to these tips to quickly intervene.

The second grant of $500,000 will be used over three years to provide training and education to students and educators on preventing student violence, including anti-bullying and mental health crisis response training through the implementation of Rachel’s Challenge. This nationally recognized program exists to inspire students, educators, and parents to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion. In partnering with Rachel’s Challenge, Green Hills AEA’s 43 school districts will each have the opportunity to engage and participate in ongoing student programs, professional learning for educators, and community awareness events at no cost.

Andrew Strait, a representative from Rachel’s Challenge spoke about the positive impact this will have in our community stating, “For over 20 years, Rachel’s Challenge has helped thousands of schools and leaders lay the groundwork for safer, more connected school culture. The partnership between Rachel’s Challenge and Green Hills Area Education Agency is a unique and dynamic collaboration that will positively impact schools across southwest Iowa, without expense to the schools or districts. In these times of new and challenging complexities, this joint effort comes at a critical point in which meeting the social and emotional needs of our students is of the highest importance.”

These grants will continue to increase public safety, as well as positively affect the climate in our schools and communities. For questions, please contact Dr. Jenny Barnett, Green Hills AEA Executive Director of Targeted Services and Supports at jbarnett@ghaea.org.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Identification of Gifted and Talented Students (Virtual)
November 18, 9 a.m. - Noon
Register Here
Roseanne Malek is the workshop presenter. Participants will learn more about legal requirements for identification of G/T learners as well as recommended district processes, tools and resources commonly used for identification.

NEW Virtual Offerings - Instructional Strategies
Sessions are available from now until January 25th!

Social-Emotional Behavior Health and Special Education Return to Learn Webinars 
Webinars continue through November 30th! License Renewal Credit is available.

Statewide Science Networking Sessions

Join us beginning in November as our AEAs across the state host networking sessions to support science instruction during face-to-face, blended, and distance learning. The Zoom networking sessions will be facilitated by AEA Science Consultants and are being held to provide networking opportunities for science teachers across the state. Sessions will focus on best practices and the needs and interests of the participants in attendance.

National Dyslexia Awareness Month

October was National Dyslexia Awareness Month! Dyslexia is defined as ‘a specific and significant impairment in the development of reading, including but not limited to phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension that is not solely accounted for by intellectual disability, sensory disability or impairment, or lack of appropriate instruction’. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, dyslexia affects 5-20% of people and is the most common learning disability, accounting for 80% of all learning disabilities.

During the 2014 Iowa legislative session, a new law focused on dyslexia was created. The legislation defined dyslexia as an educational diagnosis and was added to Iowa Education Code. In 2018, a Dyslexia Task Force was created to address teacher training and support for students with dyslexia in Iowa. Green Hills AEA has several resources available to assist educators and parents of students with dyslexia. Our GHAEA Literacy Website contains a dyslexia tab with links to sites such as Iowa Dyslexia Resources, Decoding Dyslexia Iowa, and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies Dyslexia Information Sheets, which help parents and educators better understand how students with dyslexia are assessed and supported in Iowa schools.

GHAEA also continues to offer the Essentials of Dyslexia course at least once a year. The course uses the book Essentials of Dyslexia Assessment and Intervention by Nancy Mather and Barbara Wendling. The next offering of this course will be in June 2021. In addition, the GHAEA Media Center recently added a new book Conquering Dyslexia by Jan Hasbrouck. Feel free to check it out!

For further information about dyslexia, please contact Karen Hesse or Jenna Hucka (GHAEA Dyslexia Contacts) or any GHAEA literacy consultant.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Monthly Sessions for Teacher Librarians

 As they've done the past two years, AEA library/media staff are holding monthly sessions for teacher librarians on the first Thursday of every month from now until May 2021. Click here to learn more and register! 

NEW MSW Hotline

Green Hills AEA Master Social Workers (MSW) are providing after-hours, individual sessions, to help teachers, students, and parents with any mental health needs as we continue to work through the effects of the pandemic. This is a FREE service to all GHAEA staff, parents, and students. We understand how difficult these times are and are here to help. If you are interested in an hour-long session please see this flyer for times and sign up for a virtual zoom session with a licensed MSW.

New Substitute Teacher Options

Many administrators have difficulty finding substitute teachers. This shortage is compounded by the impacts of COVID-19. Governor Reynolds, the BoEE and the Department of Education have developed initiatives to help reduce these shortages. To view all of the new options available through Governor Reynolds’ proclamations, please see this list. 

Upcoming Professional Learning

  1. Self-Care for Educators - Course #190076 - click on link to register
    • Virtual - November 5, November 19, December 3, December 17  
    • Self-Care for Educators is a hybrid course with face-to-face (or zoom required) introduction and closing with self-paced modules and on-line community building every other week. The course participants will be able to define what Self-Care is, why it is important, and how it can impact their personal well-being, family life, student interactions, and work with colleagues. Through the completion of the course, participants will be expected to complete self-assessments, develop a Self-Care implementation plan (across multiple domains), implement a Self-Care plan, and reflect on their implementation personally and through group processing.
    • While there are requirements to pass this course, the hope of the instructors is that educators truly learn to practice self-care. Self-care is something that can be practiced for 30 minutes at one time or practiced several times throughout the day. The instructors want participants to create self-care plans that are manageable and work for them without creating anxiety for due dates and deadlines.
  2. Basic FBA to BIP - Course #181807 - click on link to register  
    • Virtual - November 5 thru December 17
    • Participants will complete the Basic FBA to BIP Specialist Training e-learning modules designed by Chris Borgmeier,PhD, and Sheldon Loman, PhD, from Portland State University, Oregon and Kathleen Strickland-Cohen, PhD of Texas Christian University in collaboration with Kansas Technical Assistance Systems Network Project Leads: Lee Stickle & Chris Perry; Lead Instructional Designers: Eddie Croissant & Tyler Collier.
    • Participants will learn and practice the following: 1. Develop a Hypothesis of the Function (Why). 2. Data-based decisions for supporting hypothesized function. 3. Intervention strategies based on function. 4. Monitoring intervention strategies and when to return to functional assessment
  3. Paraeducator Course #1 - Ethical & Professional Practices/Professional Relationships - training only, certification for certificate- Course #189672 - click on link to register
    • Zoom/Online Work - November 2 thru 28
    • ***Prerequisite: Participants must be at least 18 years old. Participants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Participants must have access to computer/internet outside of class time in order to take the courses.
  4. Paraeducator Course #2 - Environment/Content & Instruction/Ethical & Professional Practice - training only, certification for certificate - Course #189673 - click on link to register
    • Zoom/Online Work - November 30 thru December 19
    • ***Prerequisites: Successful completion of Course #1.  Participants must be at least 18 years old. Participants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Participants must have access to computer/internet outside of class time in order to take the courses.
  5. Paraeducator Course #3 - Emotional & Behavioral Needs/Professional Responsibilities/Ethical & Professional Practice - training only, certification for certificate -Course #189674 - click on link to register
    • Zoom/Online Work- January 4 thru 22
    • ***Prerequisites: Successful completion of Course #1 and Course #2.  Participants must be at least 18 years old. Participants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.  Participants must have access to computer/internet outside of class time in order to take the courses
  6. Substitute Authorization - Course #154170 - click on link to register
    • Virtual - October 26 thru October 30

Art Educator of the Year

 Since 1950, Art Educators of Iowa has been recognizing those of its members who stood out as exemplars in the field. AEI & NAEA give awards every year to honor the best art educators and supporters of the arts, in the state of Iowa and at the regional and national levels.

Julia Dyche was the recipient of the 2020 Art Educator of the Year Award.



Thursday, October 1, 2020

Rachel's Challenge is Coming to Green Hills!

Green Hills AEA believes in the quality and impact a school can take away from a "Rachel's Challenge" experience and we at Green Hills AEA have been working hard to be able to fund and deliver this experience to all the schools in our AEA who want it over the next few years.

Rachel’s Challenge is a school-based student assembly with pre-/post-planning and follow-up that's held at your school. The assembly itself will ignite strong emotions and develop students' self-efficacy, inspiring them to take action and make an impact on their school culture. Students will experience and recognize their ability to change themselves and the culture of their school for the better. From that, students are empowered to organize and build a school club or action group to address school culture to stop bullying and be alert to and report concerns about potential suicide. There is a parent component and special support for teachers who would be willing to sponsor or lead a Rachel's Challenge student group in your school. Our AEA would not only fund this experience, but we can also play a supporting role for whatever you need in delivering Rachel's Challenge to your school.

In the afternoon on November 4th, a team from your school/district will have a wonderful opportunity to hear from nationally-known Darrell Scott, founder of Rachel's Challenge. Darrell is the father of Rachel Scott, the first child murdered in the Columbine shooting. You will hear Darrell tell Rachel's remarkable story and how her legacy continues through Rachel's Challenge. This rare opportunity to hear Darrell Scott be moving, enlightening, and, I hope, inspiring enough that you will want to invite them into your school for your students.

We want your school staff to have an opportunity to hear Darrell Scott where he'll speak to your team of principals, counselors, social workers, mental health professionals, and other school leaders. Please take a look at the flyer below, save the date and encourage anyone you can spare from your administrative team, counseling team, teacher leader, or parent leader teams to register for this special event.

We'll be socially distanced at the Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak. We are only allowed a maximum of 150 participants so please register as soon as possible. 

Contact Jenny Barnett if you have questions.

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Imagine Learning Language and Literacy Training (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (9 am - 11 am)
Register Here
A representative from Imagine Learning will walk you through how to use the language and literacy tools.

Imagine Learning Math Training (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (11:30 am - 1:30 pm)
A representative from Imagine Learning will walk you through how to use the math tools.

Rosetta Stone (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (2:00-3:30 pm)
A representative from Rosetta Stone will walk you through RS and share how you add students and view progress

Instructional Coaches Webinar Series (Virtual/Blended)

October 8, 2020 - January 5, 2021
Register Here

Best Practices of Instruction (Virtual/Blended)

October 12, 2020 - January 31, 2021

MORE Best Practices of Instruction (Virtual/Blended)

October 19, 2020 - February 12, 2021 
Register Here

Phonological Awareness and Word Recognition (Virtual/Blended)

October 6 - December 1

Self-Care for Educators (Virtual/Blended)

October 13 - November 24

UNI Leadership Camp & Think Tank (Face to Face)

November 9, 10, 11
See flyer for details


Statewide Substitute Authorization Courses (Virtual)

Multiple Availabilities
For more information about substitute authorization requirements and cost, please CLICK HERE.

From the Professional Learning Team

COVID-19 UPDATE

Beginning October 1, 2020, face-to-face Professional Learning opportunities will be reinstated in GHAEA offices. Masks will be required and 6 feet of social distancing will be implemented. We will continue to follow the guideline limiting a 50% capacity in our meeting spaces.

Depending on the course, participants may have the option to Zoom in. In addition, several ongoing virtual/webinar opportunities will continue to be offered this fall and beyond.

In order to minimize community spread, instructors will have participants keep track of safety requirements and complete a health survey. Using the most recent COVID data, this decision will be reviewed, renewed, and communicated no later than the 20th of each month through December 2020.

   NEW CLICKABLE CLASSROOM

Our digital learning team has put together a clickable classroom for the universal webinar series that they created. The clickable classroom helps users navigate the webinar series and provides a library of resources. 

Assistive Technology Learning Opportunities

Iowa AEA's Systematic Process for Considering Assistive Technology Accommodations and AIM/AEM for Reading (Self-Paced)

The purpose of this guidance is to provide teams with a data-based decision-making process for considering Assistive Technology or AT supports to increase learner access and engagement with curricular materials for learners struggling to meet grade-level standards based on universal screening, Iowa Statewide Assessments, and/or other literacy assessments. This guidance aligns with the AEA Special Education Statewide Procedures and is not in addition to described procedures. It also integrates with the Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Framework.


AT & Accessibility News Segments

Join Tiffanie Zaugg AT Coordinator from Prairie Lakes AEA and Denise Young AT Consultant for Green Hills AEA in Bitmoji land as they discover ways to make learning accessible and engaging for our students. Their news will provide information on various topics regarding designing for accessibility and assistive technology.

There is a wealth of resources on each slide, we hope you have a chance to click and engage with each of the resources. Please take a moment to be a “critic” and provide feedback.

Iowa STEM Teacher Award Nominations Open!

                                           

Iowa teachers are working hard to give students a great education. This year is a great time to recognize the outstanding educators who make sure our students are prepared for the future.

For the last seven years, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Kemin industries have recognized awesome STEM teachers across the state with the Iowa STEM Teacher Award. During the award cycle, teachers are nominated by fellow educators, administrators, students, parents, and community members. Then, nominated teachers apply and one teacher in each of the six STEM regions is selected. Each recipient receives $1,500 for their classroom and $1,500 for themselves.

Right now, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Kemin Industries are accepting nominations for the seventh annual Iowa STEM Teacher Award.

Know an outstanding STEM educator? Nominate them today. If selected as a recipient, they could receive $1,500 for their classroom and $1,500 for themselves. This is a great way to recognize how educators work to make sure our Iowa kids are ready for the future.

Nominating is free and only takes a small amount of time. Submit your nomination HERE!

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Asbestos Hazard (AHERA) Refresher Course (Virtual)

Tuesday, October 6th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
2020-21 AHERA Refresher Course Registration Form Please register by October 2nd
Regulations require all maintenance employees who perform small-scale asbestos work to attend an annual refresher course. Please have your asbestos notebook available during the training. The first two hours of training will be the mandatory awareness session and those who plan to attend this session only will be excused at noon.

If you have staff in need of the 2-day LEA Designated Person/16-hour Operations & Maintenance Training, please contact Phil Johnson at pjohn@midwesttrainingsite.com or call 402-505-2940.

Cost: $25/person for the awareness session; $50/person for the refresher course 

New Gifted/Talented Teacher Orientation Training (Virtual)

September 22, September 29, October 5 (3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.)
Course #190224 - click on link to register 
Rosanne Malek is the workshop presenter. New Gifted/Talented teachers are invited to join us for an orientation session.

K-6 SDI Literacy Foundations Webinar Series Information (Virtual)

September 22, 2020-May 14, 2021
Course #190320 - click on link to register 
This course will be a series of webinars along with question and answer sessions designed to help you accelerate the learning of your K-6 students through the implementation of a comprehensive literacy instruction approach. Those attending this course will be implementing Specially Designed Literacy Instruction which includes high impact focus skills in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, fluency, and writing.
September 22, 2020-March 3, 2021
Course #190315 - click on link to register 
This course will be a series of webinars along with question and answer sessions designed to help you accelerate the learning of your secondary students through the implementation of a comprehensive literacy instruction approach. Those attending this course will learn about the implementation of the SDI Framework (Diagnose, Design, and Deliver). Content will include screening, progress monitoring, assessments, and diagnostic tools, instructional frameworks and strategies, data analysis, and intensifying interventions. Attendees are expected to have access to screening data. 

Imagine Learning Language and Literacy Training (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (9 am - 11 am)
Register Here
A representative from Imagine Learning will walk you through how to use the language and literacy tools.

Imagine Learning Math Training (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (11:30 am - 1:30 pm)
A representative from Imagine Learning will walk you through how to use the math tools.

Rosetta Stone (Virtual)

October 5, 2020 (2:00-3:30 pm)
A representative from Rosetta Stone will walk you through RS and share how you add students and view progress

Face-to-Face Professional Learning Resumes October 1

Beginning October 1, 2020, face-to-face professional learning opportunities will be reinstated in GHAEA offices. Face coverings will be required and 6 feet of social distancing will be implemented. We will continue to follow the guideline limiting a 50% capacity in our meeting spaces.

Depending on the course, participants may have the option to Zoom in.

In addition, several ongoing virtual/webinar opportunities will continue to be offered this fall and beyond.

In order to minimize community spread, instructors will have participants keep track of safety requirements and complete a health survey

Using the most recent COVID data, this decision will be reviewed, renewed, and communicated no later than the 20th of each month through December 2020.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Building Back Better 1.1 (Virtual)
Course #190189 - click on link to register 
September 14-October 12 

Building Back Better is designed with The Distance Learning Playbook as the foundation of the course. The Distance Learning Playbook is an incredible resource with support for teachers and administrators. It provides information for areas that many schools may be experiencing gaps in for students in multiple learning environments. Throughout this course, with the support of the playbook, we introduce practical easy to implement ideas. For example, participants will see how to start and end a class, the social-emotional support needed, and setting up norms to develop a safe culture for students to learn at high levels. This resource is ideal for schools that are looking for answers to a whole-child approach within a gradual release model.

Materials Note: Participants must purchase the book The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting (1st Edition). *This resource is currently available via Kindle version with anticipated print availability August 2020.

Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (Virtual)
Course #154185 - click on link to register
September 14-30

Born at Google and based on neuroscience, the SIY program teaches emotional intelligence skills that lead to sustained peak performance, strong collaboration and effective leadership. SIY increases self-awareness, empathy, communication and resilience. All of these help create positive emotional and mental states for a strong and inspiring leadership presence. The program includes sessions on mindfulness (the science of being present), self-awareness (understanding your thoughts, emotions and habits), self-management (skillfully managing your impulses and reactions), motivation (aligning your values and work), empathy (understanding others’ feelings and experiences) and leadership (influencing with compassion).

The mindfulness and emotional intelligence skills you'll learn will help you:
  • Experience greater well-being, resilience and stress management.
  • Improve performance, collaboration and empathy.
  • Increase effectiveness and decision-making capacity.
  • Cultivate innovative, creative thinking.

Digitize Your Classroom (Virtual)
Course #189685 - click on link to register
September 8-22 

Learn best practices for delivering learning in an online platform. Digitize Your Classroom is a course that guides participants through the design process and how to use selected digital tools while creating online learning opportunities for students.

Suicide Risk Assessment Training (Virtual)
Green Hills AEA is offering a Suicide Risk Assessment Training virtual workshop on September 9. Details about the workshop including a registration link can be found in this flyer.

Ongoing Webinar Series:
Social-Emotional Behavioral Health Fall Return to Learn Session Series Schedule
Special Education Fall Return to Learn Session Series Schedule

We Went Virtual…. and So Did You!

Green Hills is so proud of all the virtual training we were able to provide for educators, especially during a time of such uncertainty. Check out this graphic to see how many people we reached!


AEA Learning Online Practicing Educator Course

Take control of your professional learning when you choose relevant trainings for license renewal credit. Enroll in AEA Learning Online's Practicing Educator course today! 

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Focusing In On Equity

During this year's Opening Day celebration, Green Hills AEA staff heard from Dr. PJ Caposey on the importance of equity in education. This message is especially important during the challenging times the global pandemic has brought about. Green Hills remains fully committed to providing equity and removing barriers in education. Stay tuned for more messages and resources regarding equity in education in future editions of the At-A-Glance!

 

Professional Learning Updates & Offerings

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

In order to minimize community spread and to help instructors prepare more effectively, we will suspend all face-to-face professional learning opportunities planned in GHAEA offices and only offer virtual options through September 30th. Using the most recent COVID data, this decision will be reviewed, renewed, and communicated no later than the 20th of each month through December 2020. 

Note: This decision only affects outside visitors coming into offices and does not include internal team meetings, PLCs, and AEA staff-only training.


We Went Virtual…. and So Did You!

Green Hills was proud to host several virtual professional learning opportunities since March 2020 and the response has been overwhelming! We were excited to have so many of you join us on this journey and show your perseverance with doing everything possible to support students! Let’s keep it going! Check back in the next At-A-Glance for updates on enrollment for these courses!

Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

Virtual Paraeducator Courses: Training only, certification for certificate
Paraeducator Course #1 - Ethical & Professional Practices/Professional Relationships
Course #189672 - click on link to register

Paraeducator Course #2 - Environment/Content & Instruction/Ethical & Professional Practice
Course #189673 - click on link to register

Paraeducator Course #3 - Emotional & Behavioral Needs/Professional Responsibilities/Ethical & Professional Practice 
Course #189674 - click on link to register 

Virtual Substitute Authorization Courses:
Statewide Remote Substitute Authorization Course Schedule (includes GHAEA courses)

New Opportunities:

Digitizing Your Classroom & Building Back Better Courses

Green Hills' School Improvement Team, in collaboration with the Digital Learning Team, and our Social Emotional Behavior Health specialists, have designed courses intended to equip teachers with tools and practices enabling them to meet the challenges of our situation. These courses meet the requirements of Senate File 2310, which mandates teachers be trained in delivering online instruction. While online instruction is certainly addressed in these courses, we purposefully designed the content to be applicable in any learning environment, be it online or in person. The course development incorporated the principles for technology integration outlined in state guidance.

Digitize Your Classroom: Learn best practices for delivering learning in an online platform. Digitize Your Learning is a course that guides participants through the design process and how to use selected digital tools while creating online learning opportunities for students.
Course #189685 - click on link to register (1 credit course)
September 8-September 22

Building Back Better: Participants in this course explore evidence-based instructional practices and gain practical tools for delivering instruction in any setting. Building Back Better addresses considerations for Social Emotional Learning, teacher clarity, and instructional design. The course utilizes a recently released book, The Distance Learning Playbook, by Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie.
Course #190189 - click on link to register (2 credit course)
September 14-October 12

If you are interested in having your entire building and/or district engage in either course, please contact Tina Wahlert to make arrangements.

AEA Statewide Online Professional Learning Resources

Please take a few moments to watch this introductory video on AEA statewide professional learning resources

Find professional learning supports for online learning HERE!

Supporting Online Learning: an AEA Webinar Series 

Technical Support for Online Learning: AEA Webinar IT Series

Cover Page for Iowa AEA System Deliverables for Online Learning Professional Development

Continuous Learning: Tech Integration MENU

GHAEA Media and Van Routes Updates

The school year has begun! Media scheduling is back up and running and resources are ready for teachers to check out. Staff has been working hard to ensure that we are using best practices and safety protocols on cleaning materials housed and circulated through the GHAEA Media Center. Quarantine and cleaning time has been built into our scheduling program to allow for increased cleaning protocols. Some resources are temporarily unavailable for circulation because of the inability to be properly disinfected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but the health and safety of teachers and students we serve is our top priority. Please call if you need assistance. Media staff are happy to assist you in any way they can!

In addition, GHAEA van routes for the 2020/2021 school year have been updated. For a complete list of van routes, please visit the Van Delivery page of our website. For your safety, AEA van drivers will be wearing face coverings and following all building safety protocols.

Detailed Van Route Listing

For questions regarding media, please contact Julia Hood 

Print Services Update

In order to be more efficient and to offer schools a wider range of print, design, and specialty products, Green Hills is partnering with Heartland AEA. All school orders for copy, design, or other products will go to Heartland AEA Creative Services via an online ordering system. Our Green Hills vans will continue to deliver completed orders to schools. Schools will have access to a more comprehensive set of print and design products.

Orders for lamination only will still be done at Green Hills AEA

Check out our digital storefront with Heartland AEA to browse products and place your order. Select "login" in the upper right corner. You will use the same username and password as you do for AEA Learning Online. Select the product that you want and it will guide you through the process. Click here for a link to FAQ. You will have the ability to pay with a credit card or purchase order.



Green Hills AEA Fall Blood Drive

Green Hills AEA is hosting a blood drive! Join us on September 14th at the Halverson Center for Education from 12-6 PM. There is an urgent need for donors to continue to give blood during this pandemic because the need for blood never stops. Donation is safe, and the Red Cross is offering free COVID-19 antibody tests with each donation. Sign up today to save lives! Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter GHAEA to schedule an appointment.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Thank You For An Amazing Year!

As we bring an end to the 2019-2020 school year, we celebrate the teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families that Green Hills AEA serves. You have all done an amazing job of responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic and continuously demonstrated resiliency and commitment to learning. 

It has been a challenging end to the school year, but we hope you have found ways to embrace the change to our typical routines. No matter what, we have all learned to adapt and be nimble in our response.

We often have little control over what happens to us in life, but we have full control over how we choose to respond. Thank you, teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families for finding new ways to learn, teach, communicate, and grow.

As we close out another year and look ahead to the 2020-2021 school year, we know there are many questions and unknowns at this point and while we all share the same feeling of uncertainty, there is one thing we know: Green Hills AEA will be there to serve, support, and advocate for each and every student in our service area. 

By working collaboratively, we have embraced this opportunity to continue student learning and connect in different ways. We consider it a privilege to partner with families, school districts, and communities as we all work together through a unique time in our lives.

We look forward to seeing you face to face soon, but until then know that we are working hard to ensure world-class supports and services for our students and communities. 

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit,
no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect!
— Ronald Reagan, State of the Union Address, 1985