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.

LEARN MORE HERE

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.

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.

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.

SEE FLYER FOR INFORMATION

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)

Register Here

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)

Register Here

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

Register Here

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

Register Here

Self-Care for Educators (Virtual/Blended)

October 13 - November 24

Register Here

UNI Leadership Camp & Think Tank (Face to Face)

November 9, 10, 11
See flyer for details

Statewide Substitute Authorization Courses (Virtual)

Multiple Availabilities

Register Here

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

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

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. 

VISIT THE CLASSROOM HERE

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.

Register Here

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.

Check Out Assistive Technology & Accessibility News Here