Educator Connection

The Educator Connection is the weekly newsletter that shares details on programs, services, classes, and other information for PLAEA educators. This year brings a new look and delivery method for this newsletter. Previous subscribers were brought to this new platform. Anyone is welcome to subscribe! Click the "Follow" button located on the right side of this newsletter.

Contact Connie Johnson, Director of Marketing and Communication, for assistance.

Do you have new science teachers in your district or veteran teachers new to teaching science? Are you an instructional coach or administrator that wants to increase your understanding of the Iowa Core Science/ Next Generation Science Standards to better support the science teachers with whom you work? Perhaps you want to make sure you are up-to-date on current resources to implement and assess NGSS in your classroom. If any of these descriptions match you, we have a line-up of workshops designed for you.

All workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3 pm. at Prairie Lakes AEA, 500 NE 6th Street, Pocahontas in the Twin Lakes Room with a one-hour lunch (on your own). Facilitator is Hope Brown.

Click here for details on all of our workshops.

This training course introduces adults to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in children and adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches educators how to help a child who is experiencing a mental health challenge or is in crisis.

Dates and details available at this link.

Prairie Lakes AEA has purchased News-O-Matic for a short-term pilot that, with your positive feedback, will join our digital offerings.

All PLAEA schools can access this engaging tool that offers students interactive, daily nonfiction articles with a focus on ELA, science, social studies, and SEL. Each school has three generic student accounts available, but your teachers and students can have a better experience if they are set up with personalized accounts (have your tech director contact Scott Fosseen).

If you’re a teacher and want to get this set up for just you and your class, fill out this form to get started.

News-O-Matic is designed with the elementary classroom in mind, but secondary special education, ESL, and second language teachers (all articles come in 4 languages) should check it out as well.

Questions or need help? Contact Christine Sturgeon at csturgeon@plaea.org

Cognitive Coaching skills can support teacher leaders and administrators in all aspects of their leadership role.

“Research indicates that teaching is a complex intellectual activity and that teachers who think at higher levels produce students who are higher achieving, more cooperative, and better problem solvers. It is the invisible skills of teaching, the thinking processes that underlie instructional decisions, which produce superior instruction. Cognitive Coaching is a research-based model that capitalizes upon and enhances teachers’ cognitive processes.”

PLAEA is offering a course in Cognitive Coaching starting in September. Participants can earn two license renewal credits and this course has been approved for Evaluator Approval.

This link provides additional information about the course.

Crisis Intervention (CPI) training sessions will once again be held in-person to allow for more thorough and effective coaching and practice of skills.

Since CPI no longer offers a stand-alone refresher training for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, we will continue to utilize CPI’s Blended Learning opportunities to differentiate learning, with initial trainees completing an introductory portion online before joining the full group in person. This will shorten the classroom portion and still allow for ample practice of all skills and de-briefing before the certification and evaluation. Those that have completed a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training within the past two years may attend the classroom portion without completing the online training as a “renewal."

Rather than meeting from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. as we have done in the past, regional Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training sessions will now be scheduled from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. with a 45-minute lunch.

More details available at this link.

Looking for resources for your classroom as you start the year?

The Prairie Lakes AEA Lending Library is here to help you find materials, and will deliver them right to your school. Sign in here with your username and password (or here if you don't remember) to find items for your classroom, everything from ten copies of this year's All-Iowa Reads Kids Selection (#012752), Lego BricQ Motion Essential (#012728), or bowling kits to serve up to 36 students (#012451).

Also look at our digital resources found on our website or, with your credentials already put in, at launchpad.classlink.com/plaea. For assistance, contact Lending Library staff at 800-594-9494.

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking applications from school districts and accredited nonpublic schools for grants for high-quality K-12 computer science curriculum and aligned professional development.

Grant applications for this funding are open until all funds are awarded. More details are available on this web page.

If you have questions please contact Wren Hoffman, the Department’s Computer Science Consultant, at wren.hoffman@iowa.gov.

Meet Torrey Proctor, PLAEA Technology Innovation Consultant. Torrey has extensive working knowledge and classroom teaching experience in MANY areas that focus on 21st century skills. If you'd like assistance to expand or enrich what you offer your students, connect with Torrey during his office hours from 3-4 p.m. Mondays on Zoom - https://plaea.zoom.us/j/7123308733

Email: tproctor@plaea.org Phone: 712-346-5020

Tech Innovation

• K12 Esports
  
• K12 LEGO Education
  
• K12 Minecraft Education
  
• Music Tech
  
• Raspberry Pi Computers
  
• Extended Realities: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, & Mixed Reality
  
• Computer Science
• STEM
• Robotics
• ...and more

Desktop Manufacturing

• 3D Printing
• Vacuum Forming

• Laser Cutter/Engraver/Scanner
• Cutting Machine

VREP (middle-high school)

• Blender Beginner
  
• 3D Modeling
  
• Lighting
  
• Materials
  
• Rendering
  
• 3D Printing
  
• Landscapes+ (clouds, plants, & more)
  
• Animation
  
• Physics Simulations
  
• Architectural Visualization
  
• Python for 3D Artists
  
• Character Design
  
• Rigging
  
• Digital Fashion
  
• Video Editing
  
• Digital Painting
  
• Video Game Development
  
• Digital Sculpting
  
• Virtual Reality Creation
  
• Grease Pencil
  
• Visual Effects (VFX)
  

Email: tproctor@plaea.org
Phone: 866-540-3858 65020
Twitter: @torreyproctor

It is the policy of Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency to not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical traits, gender identity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, socioeconomic status, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities or employment practices. The agency is committed to affirmative action. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the agency’s Equity Coordinator, Michelle Dowd, 1235 5th Ave S., Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or phone 515-705-7138. Email: mdowd@plaea.org