Northwest AEA Preschool Newsletter

October 2022

Fall has officially arrived!

Tricks & Treats are abundant in this newsletter!


EnJOY! ~Joyce, Brenda & Shelley

GOLD & IGDIs checkpoint dates

Screening windows and checkpoint dates

First Aid & Pediatric CPR

Due to lack of interest & districts having their own resourceful community helpers, we have decided to NOT pursue finding a person to assist preschool staff in testing out for CPR & First Aid certification. Thanks to those who filled out the survey.

Administrators: Take Note

Nov. 1, 2022

Please put on your calendars "Preschool Administrators' Zoom," November 1, 2022 from 9 to 10 a.m. We will be discussing (briefly) supports available to you for the Preschool Desk audit and MTSS in Preschool Settings. Click HERE to view the flyer, register, and add questions you'd like discussed.


In the meantime, you may wish to view the Iowa Department of Education's webinar recordings on each of the 10 preschool desk audit submissions. They can be found on the Iowa Dept. of Education's Differentiated Accountability page or HERE (copied & pasted).

Training that includes early childhood

SEBH Coach Day, October 6, 2022

SEBH Coach Day, October 6, 2022

October 6th, 2022

PBIS/SEBH Coach Meeting 1

9:00am - 3:00pm | Sioux City AEA


Our SEBH Coach meeting and MTSS Coach meeting will include effective coaching practices, tools, and strategies to support SEBH, as well as plenty of time for networking and collaboration with others! This SEBH flyer lists all the dates & registration options. The early childhood breakout session will focus on collecting data using the Behavior Incident Report system.

SEBH Coach Day, October 6, 2022
MTSS Coach Day- Dec. 15th

MTSS Coach Day- Dec. 15th

This course is open to anyone whose role is to support MTSS implementation in their building and/or district. The day will be filled with new learning and collaboration across content areas. Click HERE to register or here to view the flyer.


Note: In addition to all of the great learning & connecting opportunities, there will be an early childhood breakout session titled, "MTSS & The Path to Intervention in EC Classrooms."

MTSS Coach Day- Dec. 15th

Fun Links

Clothing Themed Books

Are you doing a study on clothing and need to find some books that pair with your study? Click on PK Pages Clothing Theme Books. You'll find a list of age appropriate list along with brief descriptions of each.

Transition Song (& video) to Outside from Sesame Street

Sing along with Jason Mraz, Elmo, and more of your favorite Sesame Street friends about all the fun things they love to do outdoors!

PediaStaff shares FUN resources & activities

Scroll down to the Featured Posts/Pins.

Common Sense Education Shares an ACP

A new government benefit, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), provides eligible households with a discount on internet services and devices.

AEA Digital Resources

Are you learning about squirrels? If so, check out MackinVia's Squirrels book. What about spiders or other animals? PebbleGo has what you need for providing preschoolers interesting facts about things they are learning about using a safe search engine. If you are unsure of your building's username and password, contact your school's librarian. Our Digital Resources team at Northwest AEA is also able to assist you.

Upcoming Northwest AEA Early Childhood Professional Development Opportunities

Intentional Teacher 2022!

Intentional Teacher 2022!

Many districts are doing a deeper dive into literacy. Because of that, we want to share what that looks like in preschool settings. This year, we will be learning about the Science of Reading and building literacy skills in young children. You will again have a choice between two face-to-face dates, then join us in three Zoom sessions as we go into further learning regarding aspects of literacy in preschool settings. Click HERE or on the flyer to learn more.
Intentional Teacher 2022!
The Power of GOLD, Tiers 2 & 3

The Power of GOLD, Tiers 2 & 3

Beginning with a Zoom session on January, 3, 2023 participants will work on their own through the assignments associated with this course, culminating with a final Zoom on May 25th. Click HERE or on the flyer to learn more about the course and to register.
The Power of GOLD, Tiers 2 & 3
Unpacking the Pyramid Model- Second Semester

Unpacking the Pyramid Model- Second Semester

Due to popular demand, Unpacking the Pyramid Model will be offered again for the second semester. Beginning January 9th through May 19th, participants will work at their own pace as they have a deeper understanding of all three tiers of the Pyramid Mode. Click HERE or on the flyer for details.
Unpacking the Pyramid Model- Second Semester
Observation & Assessment of Young Children

Observation & Assessment of Young Children

Teachers and para educators, reserve your seats early! This foundational course begins January 10th of 2023. Participants may attend the five 1 1/2 hour Zoom sessions from the comforts of their own homes. Click HERE to register or on the flyer for more information. Licensure renewal credit is available.
Observation & Assessment of Young Children
Centering on Centers 2023

Centering on Centers 2023

Registration opens Tuesday, October 4th for our 28th Annual Centering on Centers Conference! It will be held at the Sioux City Convention Center. This year features Cari Ebert, a nationally known speech & language pathologist. If you don't know Cari or haven't yet heard her speak, you will definitely want to attend this conference. Click on HERE or on the flyer for details.


Fun fact- she's a University of Iowa grad!!

Centering on Centers 2023
Northwest AEA Early Childhood PD Plan 2022-23

Here you have access to professional development designed specifically for early childhood staff for the 2022-23 school year.

Early Childhood State Coordinating Team

The Iowa Department of Education has regular meetings with early childhood representatives from across the state as a way of sharing information from the DE, listening to our voices and concerns, and collaborating with each other to create solutions.

PD opportunities in the state of iowa & internationally (see below)

Iowa BEST Summit

This event will be held Oct. 10-11, 2022 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. BEST stands for Behavioral, Equitable, Social-Emotional, Trauma-Informed Health in Schools. Click on the Iowa BEST link to register or to learn more.

Small Change: Building Financial Security Offerings for Educators and School Personnel

Need a LR credit or want to know more about personal financial security? If so, you might want to participate in this course offered by ISEA. Register online by October 25, 2022. Click HERE for more information.

Additional Info

Hot Topics

Sometimes questions are asked to us that we can't find answers to, so we ask. This is our current "hot topics" list. You'll find a Q&A on IGDIs, Panorama, family-style meals, and exiting a child from OSEP.

Iowa State Extension & Outreach

Check out the September through November newsletter shared by ISU Extension & Outreach. There is online training called "ACT Raising Safe Kids," Childcare Provider trainings, and more. The ACT Raising Safe Kids program teaches positive parenting skills to parents and caregivers of children birth to age 8.
Want more preschool newsletters?

Visit our Northwest AEA website where you'll find not only previous EC Newsletters, but a wealth of other resources as well!

Northwest AEA Early Childhood Consultants

Northwest AEA Early Childhood Consultants

Northwest AEA Early Childhood Consultants
We hope to be your first contact for timely and ongoing early childhood support. We want to assist you in improving the performance outcomes and well-being of your young learners.


Joyce, Brenda & Shelley

1520 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City, IA, USA bjenkins@nwaea.org 712.222.6122 nwaea.org/