Starting now and moving forward, the state’s AEA system will no longer cover the cost of extra FAST measures in math and behavior, except for K-6 reading assessments, which remain free. Remember, using FAST measures is optional, and districts can opt for other state-approved literacy tools, however, the cost using these non-FAST literacy measures will not be paid by the state – school districts will have to cover these fees. Additional details to note: To meet the requirements of ELI (Iowa Code 279.68), all students K-3, and continuing for those students persistently at-risk, will be screened ..read more

The Behavior SDI course aims to help educators, special education professionals, team reps, and anyone keen on inclusive education to gain the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to provide excellent instruction for students with behavioral disabilities. Attendees can also prepare to: Focus on understanding why behaviors occur to promote positive changes. Explore practical strategies to diagnose, design, and deliver effective instruction, aiming to address challenging behaviors in students. The course (#226264 CR – Behavior SDI for Special Education Teachers) will be held at the Cedar Falls ..read more

Supplemental & Intensive Tiers and MTSS: Supplemental and Intensive Tiers are focused on ensuring learners who need additional resources, services, and interventions/support are provided the evidence-based support they need to be successful across academic and social-emotional-behavioral and mental health domains.  Iowa’s Framework & Process to Support Schools Check out the full School Improvement blog document to go more in-depth about how Supplemental and Intensive Tiers can support MTSS. Next month, our final post in the series will focus on Coaching and Professional Learning ..read more

In the realm of education, the importance of asking the right questions cannot be overstated. Text-dependent questions (TDQs) serve as potent tools for educators to gauge students’ comprehension, critical thinking skills, and ability to extract meaningful insights from a given text. However, crafting effective TDQs requires finesse and careful consideration. Read on to dive into the art of creating high-quality TDQs that foster deep understanding and engagement among learners. Understanding Text-Dependent Questions Let’s clear up the purpose of TDQs before we delve deeper. Unlike open-ended qu ..read more

The Support Schools Summit workshop is designed to equip educators with the necessary tools and understanding to create safe, caring and supportive classrooms. Students will share their experiences and groups will demonstrate ways to foster supportive environments in schools.  Join us on May 10, from 9 am – 3 pm, for guided exploration of social-emotional learning tools and brain science. In the afternoon, choose sessions based on your interests and needs. These sessions will focus on:  How teacher mindset impacts engagement. Social and emotional learning (SEL) and culturally respon ..read more

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) in Iowa is offering summer programs for children and teens who stutter; those who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing; or individuals building social skills. Please share the three flyers (flyer one, two and three) with families you think may be interested. All programs are planned and coordinated by Iowa CSD graduate student clinicians, who are supervised by licensed and experienced speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Collaboration with school-based and / or private speech-language pathologists is available and encouraged. Communic ..read more

The Central Rivers AEA Early Childhood team will be providing learning opportunities for teachers and paraeducators in the Early Childhood program. It is important that all staff have access to professional development, covering curriculum and teamwork skills. Questions? Contact one of the Early Childhood Consultants listed on the flyer. The post Summer 2024 Early Childhood professional learning opportunities are coming appeared first on Central Rivers AEA ..read more

The Central Rivers AEA Special Education Legal Summit will take place at the Cedar Falls CRAEA office on Wednesday, June 5. Join us for updates and the latest developments in special education law, policy and best practices. Attendees can prepare to: Learn from a number of local and state experts in the field of law and special education. Get updates on hot topics in special education law that are impacting Iowa Schools. Hear from a variety of guest speakers including; Dustin Zeschke, Dr. Nicole Skaar, Dr. Susan Etscheidt, Katherine Beenken, Carrie Weber, Nina A. Lorimor-Easley, Sara Hento an ..read more

Including books on social-emotional learning (SEL) in instruction supports students’ emotional development, fosters empathy, and promotes mental health awareness. These books provide valuable resources for children to understand and manage their emotions, develop social skills, and navigate challenges effectively. By offering a variety of SEL titles, we can create a supportive environment where students feel empowered to explore and cultivate their emotional intelligence, resilience, and well-being. Check out these new titles in our boxed book sets from our physical Media Library to support SE ..read more

The Rubik’s Cube, traditionally thought of as a toy, is also a fascinating tool that can be used to explore various topics in teh classroom. In the same way that Caitlin Clark plays basketball, solving a Rubik’s Cube requires the right mindset, determination, and help from your team. As an educator, you have the opportunity to motivate your students and encourage them to embrace challenges and develop their problem-solving skills while working together. This activity can also promote creativity in graphing, problem solving, and recognizing patterns. Would you like to create mosaics with your s ..read more