Northwest AEA Preschool Newsletter
October 2023
Preschool Newsletter
February 2024
Change Happens!
Wouldn't life be boring if every day was the same like in the movie "Groundhog Day?" There are many articles about the positive impacts that come with embracing the changes in our lives, including the following. Change allows opportunities to gain confidence, practice flexibility, enhance our lifestyle, increase our motivation, become more compassionate, and attract additional opportunities.
This month we encourage you to embrace the change, whatever that may look like for you. As you do so, make sure to play with shadows and practice loving. It IS February after all!!
EnJOY! ~Brenda, Shelley & Denise
Administrator Corner
Training offered for paras
Do you have preschool paras that have completed Paraeducator training and are ready to receive their Early Childhood Area of Concentration? If so, we are offering three courses to help them meet the criteria. These courses are typically offered once each year at Northwest AEA. One of the three is listed below and begins March 1st.
- NW - Early Childhood Curriculum (1 credit), 15 hours, beginning March 1st.
Small Bites, listed below under Learning Opportunities is another opportunity paras and administrators might be interested in for increasing knowledge and understanding of young children.
Chapter 103, Seclusion & Restraint
As noted on the document, there is guidance from the Iowa Department of Education regarding Amended Administrative Rules on Corporal Punishment, Physical Restraint, Seclusion, and Other Physical Contact with Students (Effective January 20, 2021). The document lists the top 10 points about Chapter 103.
BOEE moved to a new site!
As a reminder, the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) shared the following in early January:
"Starting Jan. 9, the information, resources, and content at boee.iowa.gov will move to the Iowa Department of Education’s new website at educate.iowa.gov as the BoEE fully integrates with the Department of Education.
While boee.iowa.gov is going away, current and future educators who need licensure assistance will still be able to access the same trusted resources and information on a single platform that covers the entire spectrum of education in Iowa, from pre-k to postsecondary education.
The Bureau of Educational Examiners is excited about this transition and alignment of resources to serve Iowans through educator licensure."
GOLD Checkpoints!!
In an effort for preschool programs in the Northwest Area Education Agency region to achieve 100% compliance with the Spring GOLD checkpoint, we would like to send this memo as a reminder:
Spring GOLD Checkpoint for preschool programs is REQUIRED for all Statewide Voluntary Preschool Programs verified by the Iowa Department of Education
Link to Iowa Code section 279.60 specifically around assessment
Completion of ALL three Checkpoints (Fall, Winter & Spring) is required for Shared Visions Programs
Partner sites MUST also complete the Spring checkpoint
If any one classroom or partner site fails to complete the Spring checkpoint, the whole program will flagged as not completing the Spring checkpoint
The Iowa Department of Education has stated that there will be corrective action for programs that are not in compliance but what that corrective action will be has not been shared
Upcoming Checkpoint Due Dates:
Winter Checkpoint - February 23, 2024
Spring Checkpoint - May 31, 2024
It is important to remember that compliance with GOLD comes from the Iowa Department of Education and the support for implementation comes from the AEAs
The infographic reflects percentages of programs completing the three GOLD checkpoints within Northwest AEA compared to the state of Iowa as well as the percentage of checkpoints completed in Northwest AEA compared to the state of Iowa.
What might you need from your early childhood best practice coaches to help support you or your program with GOLD and completing the checkpoints? Please reach out with any questions. Brenda, Shelley, and Denise would be happy to assist.
Scale-Up Program Opportunities
Governor's STEM Scale Up Program
Through legislative appropriation, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is able to offer exemplary STEM programs throughout the state. The STEM Scale-Up Program has demonstrated success in increasing student interest and achievement in STEM across all demographics. Application deadline is February 28th. Here is the STEM Scale-Up Menu for this year.
Learning Opportunities
Early Childhood Curriculum
Recently revamped, this online self-paced course is designed for early childhood educators wanting to know more about key factors of developmentally appropriate preschool curriculums. Teachers and para educators alike will gain foundational knowledge needed for implementation of a strong preschool program.
This course is designed to meet the requirements of one of the three courses needed for para educators wanting to complete their Early Childhood Area of Concentration. Click HERE to learn more.
Instructor: Denise McCarty
Small Bites
Small Bites is a virtual learning experience and will be presented monthly via Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month. Each 30-45 minute session starts at 1:15 and will feature a topic relevant to people living or working with young children. The topic for February is: "Cooperative Games." Each session has its own registration link. Those registered will receive a link to the recorded session.
Facilitators: Brenda Jenkins, Shelley Conover & Denise McCarty
SEBH Coach Meetings
If you are interested in learning more about your role as an SEBH coach, then you will want to join us as we explore, share, learn and elevate our voices together .
For Families AND Teachers
ECSE Supports
GOLD & OSEP; Did you know?
❣️A question was raised on the Teaching Strategies Hub concerning objectives only available for students on IEPs. See the Q & A below.
Q: "Does anyone know why some objectives are only applicable to some students and not all students? For example, 1c1 eating and drinking is only applicable to students with an IEP.
Thank you!"A: "The self-care dimensions include objectives related to eating and drinking, toileting and personal hygiene, dressing, and personal safety. Only licenses with the OSEP feature enabled for children with an IEP or IFSP can access these self-care dimensions. The self-care dimensions are
- 1c1, "Eating and drinking,"
- 1c2, "Toileting and personal hygiene,"
- 1c3, "Dressing," and,
- 1c4, "Personal safety."
Teachers will have access to these self-care dimensions if their account uses GOLD and has OSEP enabled, and if they have at least one child record in their class on an IEP or IFSP.
Self-care dimensions inform the scores for Outcome 3 on the OSEP report. The self-care dimensions belong to Objective 1, "Regulates own emotions and behaviors," but they do not impact the scores for the social emotional area or for Objective 1c, "Takes care of own needs appropriately." For more information, please review this article: Tips for Using OSEP Features and Reports
I hope this helps! Please reach out if you have further questions. Thank you!"
Now you know!!
Fun & Informational Links
Planning & Reflecting for Block Play
3 Quick Steps for Responding to Dysregulated Children
Shared by Barb O'Neill, this segment of the Transform Challenging Behavior 2020 interview with Elizabeth Montero-Cefalo shows us 3 quick steps for responding to dysregulated children. Check it out! (Hint- DNA will help you remember)
Science of Reading Resources
Teaching Strategies has a new Science of Reading filter for Creative Curriculum Cloud users, hot off the press in December of 2023. They also offer a 1 hour Science of Reading webinar called Embracing the Science of Reading in Early Childhood Classrooms.
Additional Info
PD certificate
Do you need a PD certificate from our Professional Development site? If so, watch the video below and Denise will show you how to get one.
Hot Topics
Brenda Jenkins
Brenda serves the districts in the West Region. You may contact Brenda by email: bjenkins@nwaea.org.
Shelley Conover
Denise McCarty
Northwest AEA Early Childhood Consultants
Brenda, Shelley & Denise
Website: https://www.nwaea.org/
Location: 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712.222.6122
It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status 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 Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa 51111, 712-222-6114. May 2023
Northwest Area Education Agency is committed to ensuring content accessibility for all individuals. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers related to Northwest AEA materials by calling 712-222-6122 or email us at bjenkins@nwaea.org.