Thursday, March 4, 2021
Seeds for Schools Opportunity
Here's a fun opportunity AEA Purchasing wanted to share as we get closer to spring. The 51st Anniversary of Earth Day will take place on April 21. The theme this year is "Restore Our Earth". To engage your staff and students, consider connecting with your local Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Office for ideas on how to celebrate. Many offices have been sharing a great opportunity where schools can apply to receive FREE SEEDS from Seed Savers Exchange (Decorah, IA) through the Herman's Garden Seed Donation Program!
2021 Iowa Authentic Learning Network Virtual Student Expo
Are you looking for an engaging event to rejuvenate your learners? Curious about authentic learning but haven’t had a chance to dive in? Join us, April 27th, 2021 for a one-of-a-kind FREE virtual event designed to promote student projects with area business partnerships. This event is brought to you by students for students as a collaborative AEA partnership.
- Looking for ways to engage students? Don’t wait...Register now!
- New to the idea of embedding partnership projects? This event is for you!
- Have established partnerships already? Learn more and showcase your students!
- Are you a business or organization looking to engage with area youth? Experience first hand the kinds of projects already in progress.
Save the Date - 3rd Annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium
Save the date for our 3rd annual Social Emotional Learning Supports Symposium! Join us on August 2nd & 3rd at Riverside High School, more information to come!
Self Care, Sharing, and Support for Families Sessions
Join us for an opportunity to learn more about self-care, engage with other families, and gain support in our Self-Care, Sharing & Support for Families sessions! Attend any or all sessions. See dates, learn more, and register HERE!
Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning Continues to Update & Expand
We have District Project Boards
We are excited to share a new function recently added to the Clearinghouse. Drum roll, please….say hello to District Project Boards!Some schools/teachers are growing their authentic project work and want to have their own local project board but don't have an interactive place to store them. We've updated the Clearinghouse so that projects can be added and tagged to a particular district. These will then show up only on that particular District Board. The District Board can be selected in the dropdown and has its own URL, making for quick bookmarking, adding to Google Classroom or LMS, or pasting into an email or newsletter. This allows for easy communication with students, businesses, families, and the community to share what projects are available.
For more information, here is a short video. And check out North Fayette Valley's District page as our first pilot of this feature. Remember this is at no cost to you or the districts. All educators have free access to the Clearinghouse for WBL by using their single sign-on AEA credentials (use the email/password you have used for other AEA training, such as bloodborne pathogen training).
Here's a Strategic Marketing Challenge
Here’s a chance for your students to hear directly from business professionals, then take that information and engage in either (or both) marketing projects. Students can submit their finished products to be shared on the clearinghouse, reviewed by a panel of judges, oh - and there are standards connections already laid out, along with a possible assessment tool!Check out the full information here to get registered for the free strategic marketing strategies event, “Game Plans that Matter: Strategic Marketing,” on March 22 (you can view the archived version if the day/time doesn't work for you). Afterward, check out these two projects, one on video creation and one on logo and branding, that will be part of a statewide challenge.
Note: This could be an exciting project opportunity that could also work for the teacher mini-grants that we’ve shared about previously and are ending at the end of March. Full details here.
For more information about the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning, CLICK HERE!
Mental Health Website Promotional Materials Available
Iowa's AEA Well-being Team has created calming coloring books for middle school-aged children. It's part of a campaign to promote a new well-being and mental health website for Iowans created by the AEAs at www.IowaAEAMentalHealth.org. If you would like to order some for your classroom, please fill this form out before March 12th. They will be van mailed to educators free-of-charge.
The website came from a request by the state legislature to help educators, parents, and students navigate resources related to mental health and well-being in Iowa. In addition to AEA mental health contacts for the schools, the site provides contacts for the home setting from Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS).
The website features vetted sources to educate visitors about addiction and substance abuse; anxiety and stress disorders; attention deficit disorder; depression; eating disorders; and self-harm.
The website came from a request by the state legislature to help educators, parents, and students navigate resources related to mental health and well-being in Iowa. In addition to AEA mental health contacts for the schools, the site provides contacts for the home setting from Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS).
The website features vetted sources to educate visitors about addiction and substance abuse; anxiety and stress disorders; attention deficit disorder; depression; eating disorders; and self-harm.
2nd Annual Earth Day Digital Poster Contest
To celebrate Earth Day, Green Hills AEA's Green Team is proud to sponsor our second annual digital poster contest for elementary, middle, and high school students within its service area.
Requirements:
- Posters should be no larger than 24x36 inches (portrait or landscape)
- Posters must be digital, no physical posters will be accepted. If you aren't sure what program to use, we suggest www.canva.com. Scans of artwork are permitted for elementary-level students ONLY.
- Posters must be school appropriate
- Limit one entry per student
- Work must be submitted by midnight on March 22, 2021
- Clear Earth Day Theme
- Original Idea
- Captures Attention
One winner will be chosen from each category:
- Elementary
- Middle school
- High school
The winners will each receive a printed adhesive poster for display at their school provided by Green Hills AEA. The winning artwork will be featured on the Green Hills AEA website homepage for the month of April. It will also be featured during the Green Team's presentation to all Green Hills AEA staff in August.
PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.
To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form!
Please feel free to share this opportunity with your students via this flyer.
PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.
To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form!
Please feel free to share this opportunity with your students via this flyer.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
2nd Annual Earth Day Digital Poster Contest
To celebrate Earth Day, Green Hills AEA's Green Team is proud to sponsor our second annual digital poster contest for elementary, middle, and high school students within its service area.
The winners will each receive a printed adhesive poster for display at their school provided by Green Hills AEA. The winning artwork will be featured on the Green Hills AEA website homepage for the month of April. It will also be featured during the Green Team's presentation to all Green Hills AEA staff in August.
PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.
To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form!
Requirements:
- Posters should be no larger than 24x36 inches (portrait or landscape)
- Posters must be digital, no physical posters will be accepted. If you aren't sure what program to use, we suggest www.canva.com. Scans of artwork are permitted for elementary-level students ONLY.
- Posters must be school appropriate
- Work must be submitted by midnight on March 22, 2021
- Clear Earth Day Theme
- Original Idea
- Captures Attention
One winner will be chosen from each category:
- Elementary
- Middle school
- High school
The winners will each receive a printed adhesive poster for display at their school provided by Green Hills AEA. The winning artwork will be featured on the Green Hills AEA website homepage for the month of April. It will also be featured during the Green Team's presentation to all Green Hills AEA staff in August.
PLEASE NOTE: Only PDF and image files will be accepted. Any submitted files that are unable to be opened will be disqualified.
To submit your poster, please fill out this Google Form!
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 March.
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Substitute Authorization - Course #154170 (Virtual)
March 15, March 16, March 17, March 18, March 19, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.Click Here to Register
A substitute authorization allows an individual to substitute in grades PK-12 for no more than 5 consecutive days and no more than 10 days in a 30-day period in one job assignment for a regularly assigned teacher who is absent, except in the driver’s education classroom.
Self Care for Educators - Course #190076 (Virtual)
February 25, March 11, March 24, April 1 - 3:45 pm. - 5:45 p.m.Click Here to Register
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.
NOTE: $50 Materials Fee
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.
Suicide Risk Assessment Training - Course #180546 (Virtual)
February 23, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Green Hills AEA’s course, Suicide Risk Assessment Training, provides an in-depth guide for administrators, counselors, and all other staff involved in suicide risk assessments at the district level. Using the book Suicide in Schools, participants will learn best practices and discover resources surrounding suicide pre and postvention efforts. Suicide loss impacts the entire school community, and crisis response is crucial. While there is no set legal precedent for a school’s responsibility in the event of a suicide, it is in a district’s best interest to be proactive in crisis planning including suicide pre and postvention training, policy development. An important factor in successful crisis planning includes administrative support and buy-in to such initiatives, so administrators are encouraged to attend this training.NOTE: $50 Materials Fee
CPI Training - De-Escalation - Course #190305 (Virtual)
March 1, 8 a.m. - NoonClick Here to Register
In an effort to minimize time outside of buildings, maintain the highest level of safety, while ensuring we can continue to meet your CPI training needs, Green Hills AEA will be moving to a hybrid learning model for de-escalation and physical restraint/holds. If staff have had the CPI refresher training two or more times, their blue card certification will be valid through the 2020-2021 school year.
In an effort to minimize time outside of buildings, maintain the highest level of safety, while ensuring we can continue to meet your CPI training needs, Green Hills AEA will be moving to a hybrid learning model for de-escalation and physical restraint/holds. If staff have had the CPI refresher training two or more times, their blue card certification will be valid through the 2020-2021 school year.
Rapid Literacy For English Language Learners with Carol Salva (Virtual)
Join us for this free virtual event as we learn practical methods to help non-English readers accelerate their literacy in the target language. Secondary teachers serving English Language Learners deserve training in foundations of literacy that makes sense for the secondary classroom. Learn strategies that are based on research and Carol Salva’s current classroom experience. Registration closes February 26th, so sign up soon!
SEE FLYERClickable Classrooms from GHAEA
Consultants from all content areas, School Improvement, and Digital Learning teams have teamed up to develop multiple virtual learning opportunities to meet the needs of educators across Southwest Iowa! This is so important during these times, and will continue to be an effective way to facilitate learning in the future!
The Digital Learning team has created an Interactive Notebook to help LEA staff navigate through the various options available for virtual learning! A “Universal” series is currently being offered which includes: Getting Started with Universal Instruction and Digital Learning, Accelerating Learning, Best Practices of Instruction (Levels 1 and 2), Instructional Coaching and ESSA/Return to Learn.
Help us spread the word about this great resource! Links to the Clickable Classroom can be found on the scroll bar of our homepage as well as under the Professional Learning tab.
The Digital Learning team has created an Interactive Notebook to help LEA staff navigate through the various options available for virtual learning! A “Universal” series is currently being offered which includes: Getting Started with Universal Instruction and Digital Learning, Accelerating Learning, Best Practices of Instruction (Levels 1 and 2), Instructional Coaching and ESSA/Return to Learn.
Help us spread the word about this great resource! Links to the Clickable Classroom can be found on the scroll bar of our homepage as well as under the Professional Learning tab.
Authentic Learning Bootcamp through AEA Learning Online
We have some exciting news! We have digitized our Authentic Learning Bootcamp! If you are looking for a fun and flexible way to earn renewal credit or graduate credit, this would be a great course for you. This is a mostly self-paced course (complete as quickly as you'd like through August 1st when the course closes). There are 2 hours of "in-person" via zoom so we can get to know you and provide an opportunity to network with other educators from around Iowa. Sign up here.
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