Mississippi Bend AEA Media Montage

Looking for opportunities to learn, reflect, and remember with students on the 75th anniversary of World War II? There is a series called A BOOK by Me of student created picture books that capture stories from holocaust survivors and military. Free readers theatre scripts are available with more coming in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Black History Month. Our media center has many of the books available for check out.

Deb Bowen, founder of a BOOK by Me, is reaching out to potential donors to provide classrooms across America stories from the Greatest Generation. Visit understandingworks.org and check out the book sets available. Select which two sets of ten (twenty books total) you would like for your classroom or library.

Consider giving students the opportunity to write and illustrate a book preserving the story of a local hero. The process allows for demonstration of many curricular standards and connects to the community. Deb Bowen is putting the call out to collect stories from people in World War II, the Korean War, and the Civil Rights eras. Learn more about this great project below.

• Introductory Video
• A BOOK by ME Standards Correlation
• Tips for Teachers
• Interactive Glogs

Check out these helpful articles to improve remote work relationships.

• 5 Quick Team Building Activities To Do Via Conference
  Teams across the globe have embraced remote work, and with it a whole new way to collaborate. A modern work environment doesn’t just get created overnight, there are hurdles along the way to make it feel “normal”.
  
  
• How To Set Strong Work-Life Boundaries As A Remote Worker
  If you’re feeling stress in your professional and personal lives, you’re not alone. National statistics in the US suggest that growing numbers of employees around the globe are feeling increased work-life stress and need new, improved strategies for managing work-life relationships.
  
  
• 5 Ways Leaders Can Offer Encouragement And Emotional Support On A Remote Team
  Research by the Harvard Business Review shows that a leader’s emotional intelligence creates a certain culture or work environment. So a good or bad mood could quite literally make or break your team.

Coder MiP is the new, programmable version of the world’s favorite balancing robot. Control your robot's actions and reactions with simple drag-and-drop commands, using the new app on your BLE tablet or smartphone. Play fun games and drive Coder MiP over a ramp while balancing multiple items on a tray. Coder MiP communicates through motion, sounds, and LED lights in its eyes and chest. Sensors allow navigation around its surroundings and respond to hand gestures.

Click here for more information! Reserve in SNAP today.

by Aaron Maurer

I am ready to launch our 2020 LEGO Ornament Challenge. I was going to launch Thanksgiving weekend, but I just can’t wait so I have decided to start early so you have some fun over the holidays in case you want to build as a family. You can use in your classroom, at home with your children, for yourself, etc.

There is currently 32 ornament ideas for you to choose from, but expect a few more as we go.

All you need is LEGOs. Nothing more. Nothing less. And whatever you, your family, students, or anyone else builds be sure to use the #BuildToGive hashtag and #legoornament20 so kids in need receive a LEGO kit this holiday season.

Learn more about the challenge here – https://sites.google.com/view/lego-ornament-challenge2020/home

Sign up for the newsletter on the site so you don’t miss any details.

Check out what just arrived!

Today's teachers face a daunting challenge: how to ensure a positive school experience for their students, many of whom carry the burden of adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, poverty, divorce, abandonment, and numerous other serious social issues. Spurred by her personal experience and extensive exploration of brain-based learning, author Marilee Sprenger explains how brain science—what we know about how the brain works—can be applied to social-emotional learning. Specifically, she addresses how to

• Build strong, caring relationships with students to give them a sense of belonging.
• Teach and model empathy, so students feel understood and can better understand others.
• Awaken students' self-awareness, including the ability to name their own emotions, have accurate self-perceptions, and display self-confidence and self-efficacy.
• Help students manage their behavior through impulse control, stress management, and other positive skills.
• Improve students' social awareness and interaction with others.
• Teach students how to handle relationships, including with people whose backgrounds differ from their own.
• Guide students in making responsible decisions.
  
  

Offering clear, easy-to-understand explanations of brain activity and dozens of specific strategies for all grade levels, Social-Emotional Learning and the Brain is an essential guide to creating supportive classroom environments and improving outcomes for all our students.

• Current checkouts, online reads, assignments, requests and holds
• Resource statistics
• Login statistics
• Reading statistics
• Category activity and collection distribution
• Extended circulation distribution across four areas
• Notes and bookmark statistics
• Top Resources and total views
  
  

The Dashboard is the default page of the Administrator program and replaces the Circulation menu option previously located on the menu bar. To view circulation, users can simply click on current checkouts, online reads, assignments, requests, or holds. Please note: Activity data is still building for all MackinVIA accounts. We anticipate the process will be complete by the week after Thanksgiving. Reach out if you need support with your administrative login!

Esports & Education: Conference & Expo, Dec 4

Brings educators and leaders together to explore ways esports can be implemented in education. Features influential professionals in the market. Register here.

Future of Education Technology Conference

January 26-29, 2021 Register here!

Engage with thousands of your peers online during the Future of Education Technology® Conference 2021. Known as the leading professional development event for educators and school technology professionals for over 40 years, this virtual experience will be unlike any other. During the 4-day online conference, you’ll be able to connect directly — and easily — with leading ed tech experts and solution providers as well as the entire FETC community from the comfort and safety of your desk. FETC is excited to introduce two new, powerful keynotes for the 41st Future of Education Technology® Conference.

Friday, January 29 | 11 a.m.

What is YOUR District's Cybersecurity Story?

Lenny Schad Chief Information & Innovation Officer, District Administration Magazine

Friday, January 29 | 4:45 p.m.
An Aligned System to Increase Student Achievement at Scale

Dr. Peter Gorman Superintendent in Residence, District Administration®

TeachingBooks.net

Energize literacy instruction with digital resources from TeachingBooks that connect readers to titles. These 20-minute webinars showcase strategies and integration ideas. Select the title of the webinar for more information and to register. Watch for reminders prior to the webinar and a recording afterward.

• Collection Development with TeachingBooks - Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 2CT
• Ideas from The TeachingBooks Blog - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 2CT

• Discover TeachingBooks! - Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 2CT
• Fresh Ideas Ready-to-Use from TeachingBooks - Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 2CT
• Literacy Inspiration for STEAM lessons with TeachingBooks - Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 2CT
• Reflect on Cultural Representation with Literature - Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 2CT
  

Computer Science Week is the second Monday in December. Consider planning a coding activity for your classroom and/or district.

Hour of Code- Learn today, build a brighter tomorrow. Register here.

Recent legislative changes are now requiring computer science curriculum. Learn More about the timeline and requirements.

Learning Opportunities

Computer Science Self-Paced Course

As computer science education expands in Iowa many educators and administrators are not sure where to start or even what computer science is, much less knowing our standards. To address this we built four computer science content modules for you, in the AEA Learning Online platform. When we take away the confusion, misunderstandings and fear about the Iowa Computer Science Standards CS education becomes approachable. The modules include a variety of resources for you, the educator, and for our students. It is learning at your own pace so you can get what you need. The modules can be viewed individually or together as a self-paced course for one license renewal credit. The four content modules in this course are Understanding the What and Why of Computer Science, the K-12 Computer Science Framework, the CSTA (Iowa) Standards, and Applying and Connecting the Computer Science Standards.

• Access the Elementary / Middle School (K-8) course here.
• Access the Secondary (9-12) course here.

Additional Computer Science Trainings available here.

There are a variety of courses offered virtually throughout the entire state. Login to the AEA PD Registration site to meet your license renewal and professional development needs. For employment related training visit AEA PD Learning Online. Your login information is the same for both sites. If you don't remember your password, click Forgot Password at the bottom of the page. Having trouble with your username? It may be your personal email, not your school email.

A few upcoming courses are below!

• Virtual ATOM 2020- Assistive Technology Virtual Learning Opportunites
• Personalized Pathways to Enhance Teaching and Learning
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• K-5 Mathematics Classrooms: Building A Culture That Works
  
• Paraeducator Generalist Certification Courses
• Substitute Authorization

For more questions, please contact: staffdevelopment@aea9.k12.ia.us.

BOEE Quarterly Newsletter

Our first media academy is in the books, and we can't wait to see you soon! We still have 3 more dates. Unable to make it but still want to participate in learning or take it for credit? Sign up by Nov. 20th and reach out to Heather Whitman, hwhitman@mbaea.org. Our December meeting will be virtual.

Save the Dates! View the agenda! Register here!
December 7th, February 4th, April 6th

Login to my google classroom for access to materials even if you are unable to make the meetings. You must use your school email. My class code is dt773ut.

NOVEMBER

• Movember- November events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression

• National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

• Academic Writing Month

• COPD Awareness Month

• November 25-27- Mississippi Bend AEA Closed
  

• November 26- Thanksgiving Day
  
  

DECEMBER

• Advent – begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (November 27-December 3) and ends on Christmas Day (December 25).

• December 1- Rosa Parks Day

• December 2- Special Education Day

• December 7- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

• December 11- First day of Hanukkah

• December 13- National Guard Birthday

• December 15- Bill of Rights Day

• December 17- Wright Brothers Day

• December 24- Christmas Eve

• December 25- Christmas Day

• December 31- New Year’s Eve

SNAP Media Catalog

Deliveries for requests from the Media center have started! Please contact us if you have a list of new teachers that will need usernames and passwords.

Digital Resources

Our vetted, age-appropriate, and high quality online resources are excellent sources for research, reading, reference and fun!

Book of the Month Club
Once signed up, you will automatically receive a box of 25 randomly selected fiction & nonfiction books every 6 weeks. This will be a rotating collection and each box will need to be returned before receiving your next box of books so that another classroom can enjoy them.

Please email or call us at 563-344-6459 anytime for appointments, assistance with usernames/passwords or any other support you need!

Contact us at media-center-staff@aea9.k12.ia.us.

Email: hwhitman@mbaea.org
Website: https://www.mbaea.org/
Location: 729 21st Street, Bettendorf, IA, USA
Phone: 563-344-6526
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missbend9/
Twitter: @MBAEA

The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or disability in its educational programs, services or employment practices. Inquiries concerning this statement should be addressed to Kim Hofmann, Equity Coordinator, at 563-344-6415.