GHAEA At-A-Glance
December 3, 2021
Professional Learning Updates
Our Micro-Credential Library is Growing!
Educators can access small chunks of learning around very specific topics that are of personal interest. Micro-credentials are self-paced and you have one full year to complete each one! We also have a list of approved partners you can utilize while we continue to grow our library. Click HERE for more details.
DATE/LOCATION Change - Mindful Games: How to Make Learning Mindfulness in the Classroom Fun and Engaging
December 14 & December 16, Tabor Public Library, Tabor
The Course Mindful Games: How to Make Learning Mindfulness in the Classroom Fun and Engaging educators will follow through PowerPoint explanations of mindfulness and how it can help children socially, cognitively, and behaviorally. The educators will also explore practices of mindfulness such as breathing, guided meditation, sensory work, and body movement. Through the text required for the class, "Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and meditation with kids families and teens" and "Mindfulness Activity Cards: 55 ways to share mindfulness and meditation with kids, families, and teens", participants will further explore activities and games of how to make mindfulness and meditation fun and engaging in their own classrooms. Teachers will document the process of adapting these techniques to their classrooms through the use of "Mindfulness Moments Daily Journal" by Molly Schreiber. $90 materials fee.
Foundations of SEBH - Virtual
January 10, January 12, January 17, January 19, 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Participants will learn how to create safe, caring, healthy environments that serve as the foundation for Social-Emotional Behavioral Health in Iowa. Participants will explore these environmental conditions and the science behind them in order to promote positive well-being for all stakeholders within the educational system. When these environmental conditions are strengthened, positive academic, behavioral, and wellbeing outcomes can be achieved in a more efficient manner.
Integrating SEL 101 - Virtual
January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, 3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Participants will become familiar with CASEL's 3 Signature Practices Playbook and use it to begin to develop lessons that integrate Social Emotional Learning into lessons with intention regardless of content. Iowa's Social Emotional Learning Competencies document, along with resources from CASEL will provide foundational knowledge for participants. The practices will be explicitly modeled and the instructional practices of discussion, reflection, guided practice, and independent practice will all be utilized. This course will require active engagement. Research demonstrates that instruction that includes Social Emotional Learning has been shown to increase academic performance, improve attitudes and behaviors toward school, decrease negative behaviors, and reduce emotional stress.
Self-Care for Educators - Virtual
January 31, February 14, February 28, March 14, 3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Self-Care for Educators is a hybrid course with face-to-face (or zoom required) introduction and closing with self-paced modules and online 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.
Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute
February 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & March 2, 2022 - Virtual, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
OR
June 9-10,2022 - Halverson Center, Council Bluffs, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Born at Google and based on neuroscience, the SIY program teaches emotional intelligence skills that lead to sustained peak performance, strong collaboration, and effective leadership. SIY increases self-awareness, empathy, communication, and resilience. All of these help create positive emotional and mental states for a strong and inspiring leadership presence. The program includes sessions on mindfulness (the science of being present), self-awareness (understanding your thoughts, emotions, and habits), self-management (skillfully managing your impulses and reactions), motivation (aligning your values and work), empathy (understanding others’ feelings and experiences) and leadership (influencing with compassion). The mindfulness and emotional intelligence skills you'll learn will help you:
- Experience greater well-being, resilience, and stress management.
- Improve performance, collaboration, and empathy.
- Increase effectiveness and decision-making capacity.
- Cultivate innovative, creative thinking.
CLICK HERE to see a very short video about the SIYLI experience. For more details about the SIY program visit www.siyli.org/results. For more information about SIYLI the organization visit www.siyli.org.
Upcoming Math Materials Webinar
The Green Hills AEA math team is hosting a 30-minute webinar for anyone interested and involved in the adoption and purchasing of new math materials. Curriculum directors, coaches, principals, superintendents.
The webinar will take place on January 13, 2022. The information will be presented four times to accommodate different schedules. Please plan to attend one session. Sessions will be held at:
- 8:00 AM
- 10:30 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 3:30 PM
Strengthening Career & Technical Education (CTE) Through Collaboration
Career and technical education (CTE) programs are supported by 15 regional planning partnerships (RPPs) that support and promote CTE programs for their region’s students. Goals and priorities are individualized for local education and workforce needs. To learn more about how RPPs strengthen CTE programs and CTE educators, check out the new Iowa Department of Education article!
Inclusive Classroom Conference Registration Open
Green Hills AEA, Great Prairie AEA, Mississippi Bend AEA, and Prairie Lakes AEA are excited to share the first virtual Inclusive Classroom Conference registration is open! This FREE conference will be held on February 9, 2022, from 8-4. If you're unavailable to join live, the sessions will be recorded to watch at a later time. We have amazing keynotes (Mike Marotta, Karen Janowski, Beth Poss, Christopher Bugaj) and speakers for this conference. Please share this opportunity!
Neurodiversity News: Sensory-Sensitive Santa Considerations
Here are some sensory-sensitive Santa considerations if you are coordinating an event. This guidance can also be used as a conversation starter for families who may opt to take their child to their local Santa event.
- Use registration and schedule appointments. Set at least 10 minutes for each appointment time for each child. Longer appointment times up to 15 minutes may be appreciated.
- Stop lineups entirely by creating a sensory-friendly space that may include snacks and/or crafts.
- Have the family complete information on the child's strengths/preferences as part of registration to ensure the child's needs are met and the event is as successful as possible for them.
- Encourage families to arrive early to let them become comfortable with the surroundings.
- Have Santa speak softly instead of shouting "Ho, Ho, Ho!", have Santa use an indoor voice.
- Keep holiday music and decor that makes noise to a low level.
- Make sure the lighting is good, but avoid lights that flicker or change color.
- Allow time for the child to take the lead in the event. It will be fine if they don’t want to sit on Santa's lap.
- Offer the Santa gift at the end of the event as giving the gift too early may signal the end of the event for the child.