Educator Connection

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Mike Marotta, Karen Janowski, Christopher Bugaj, and Beth Poss, co-authors of the book, Inclusive Learning 365

The conference will feature sessions and strategies to help educators utilize individualized instruction that empowers every student to become an expert at learning. Technology and instructional interventions can be designed to support students with disabilities. These practices provide a pathway for designing inclusive, equitable and accessible educational experiences that meet the needs of every learner.

Watch for registration and other details coming soon!

Gov. Kim Reynolds has lifted the emergency proclamation regarding substitute teachers and current rules are now back in effect. Click here to review those rules and discover the classes offered by Iowa's AEAs.

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.

We're offering the three courses required for Paraeducator Generalist Certification. Click here for details.

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.

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

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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