Three things not to miss!

1. Our Fall Meeting will be on October 30, 2023, at GPAEA Ottumwa in Room 21C or via Zoom. Here is the agenda. I am pleased with our guest lineups, and there is an opportunity for you to ask questions of our morning presenters ahead of time. Click into the agenda and compile your questions between now and the 30th.
2. The books featured in these 30-minute video clips are geared toward the PK-3 audience. Learn about the newest SEL selections, how an illustrator is inspired, and "fresh faces" of debut authors and illustrators who have books releasing this fall.

• Social-Emotional Learning Books | Owlkids x SLJ Picture Book Palooza 2023
• Illustrators in Dialog | Owlkids x SLJ Picture Book Palooza 2023
• Fresh Faces | Owlkids x SLJ Picture Book Palooza 2023

3. This article on Passive Programming in High School Libraries from KnowledgeQuest, gives seven (7) examples of opportunities you can give your students that promote literacy and give them a "place" in their library. KnowledgeQuest is a publication from AASL that is published bimonthly from September through June.

Have some spooky fun with these titles and resources!

• Send shivers down readers' spines with titles and resources from this 2023 list of scary titles from the Horror Writers Association.

• Watch this spooky video book trailer for Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Ask your students to identify the elements of the video that make it feel “spooky.”

• Look at this “Boo to You!” list from Reading Rockets for picture books and resources with Halloween themes.

• Explore all the bone-chilling titles in the TeachingBooks Horror Collection and use the filters to narrow down to grade level, resource type, and more.

• R.L. Stine’s birthday is October 8th. Watch this interview to learn more about this well-known author of scary tales for children. Then, check out his author page for resources for over 90 of his creepy-fun tales!

• Laugh along to the complete video reading of Pig the Monster by R.L. Stine!

• Take a look at the video book trailer for Horton Hears a Boo! together, have students share what they think the mysterious “Boo!” Horton hears could be!

• Write fun or spooky Halloween poems inspired by this complete video reading of Halloween, Here I Come!

• Enjoy this complete video reading of Skeleton for Dinner. Watch the rest of the video to see the illustrator’s process for drawing skeletons, then have students draw or make cut-outs of their skeleton characters.

Magical Realism Reimagined
Thursday, October 26th | 1:00pm CDT
There is a classic tradition of magical realism in Latin American literature. Four Latine YA and middle grade authors discuss the inspiration behind and the role that magical realism plays in their work. And how at times the fantastical elements may seem more true than the realistic ones.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR

October

• Need some spooky sounds? Soundzabound has you covered!

November

• STEM BEST Design Day and Mini Sessions

  Iowa STEM, in partnership with the Iowa AEAs, is working together to provide 6 mini-sessions through October and early November or a one-day session on Nov. 9, 2023, to share information and STEM BEST design support to local school districts in applying for the next round of STEM BEST Awards. For additional information, explore the STEM BEST website or contact Tanya Hunt, Project Coordinator, at tanya.hunt@iowa.gov.

October, November, & December

• Pear Deck Monthly Sync Sessions
  

This monthly sync is intended to create a space to answer any and all Pear Deck related questions. In these syncs, Brittany from the Pear Deck Team will use the time to cover Pear Deck updates, dive into features, and highlight teachers in Iowa. This is for all Iowa educators to learn more about Pear Deck and get your questions answered. To add your question or topic to the agenda, complete this form before a sync session.

🗓️ Virtual Sync Dates and Times

• October 24, 2023, 3:30- 4:15 pm

• November 28, 2023, 3:30- 4:15 pm

• December 12, 2023, 3:30- 4:15 pm

🍐REGISTRATION LINK 🍐

Register for one or all of the monthly sync sessions. If you can't attend and have a question, still post it, and if you're registered, you will get the recording!

Serving you in my role with Great Prairie Area Education Agency is my highest priority.

Email: lindy.harmon@gpaea.org
Website: gpaea.org
Phone: 660-341-0223

Great Prairie AEA provides professional development opportunities for teachers in the areas of curriculum, instructional strategies and assessments - all to help students achieve and schools improve. Specialized services for children and students with diverse learning needs, including identification, diagnosis, planning and therapies for those with disabilities. Children from birth to age 21 are included.

Email: comments@gpaea.org
Website: gpaea.org
Location: 2814 North Court Road, Ottumwa, IA, USA
Phone: 641-682-8591
Facebook: facebook.com/gpaea
Twitter: @gpaea

It is the policy of the Great Prairie Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Nathan Wood, 2814 N. Court, Ottumwa, IA 52501, (641) 682-8591 x5512, nathan.wood@gpaea.org (employment practices) or Angela Livezey, 2814 N. Court, Ottumwa, IA 52501, (641) 682-8591 x5302, angela.livezey@gpaea.org (educational programs).