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Debriefing and the Common Core
Research has demonstrated that learning is experienced more deeply and connections are made more broadly when someone debriefs an activity or lesson with youth. A debrief gives you an opportunity to check on your objective and see if the youth can demonstrate an understanding of the objective. A debrief gives young people an opportunity to…
Read MoreGoal Setting
What’s the difference between a “goal” and an “objective”? A goal is an aspirational statement of a “place” you would like to be in the future. A goal is something that we want badly enough that we are willing to work toward reading it. A goal defines the purpose of the work I am going…
Read MoreManaging Transitions—A Public Face
Have you ever witnessed a child throwing a temper tantrum because he/she isn’t ready to stop what he/she is doing and move on to the next activity or location? Or have you witnessed an older youth become sullen and uncooperative because he/she has been told it’s time to stop? Have you ever wondered what you…
Read MoreImportance of Transitioning Staff from Direct and Tell to Question to Connection
Have you ever had the experience of telling someone exactly what to do only to find out when you check back in that the task has not been completed in the way you outlined? Have you ever asked a child to clean his/her bedroom only to find that they have simply moved the mess around…
Read MoreNifty 9—The Trilogy
One of the building blocks of afterschool programs is having a solid handle on creating a safe learning environment for youth. Whether you call this classroom management, maintaining control in a classroom, or discipline, it is important that a space for learning is created that encourages youth to actively, collaboratively, and meaningfully engage in hands-on,…
Read MoreFoundation for High-Quality Expanded Learning Programs
The Quality Standards for Expanded Learning Programs were published recently. You can find the full document on the California Afterschool Network website. The standards identified are: Safe and supportive environment Active and engaged learning Skill building Youth voice and leadership Healthy choices and behaviors Quality staff Diversity, Access and Equity Clear vision, mission and purpose…
Read MoreConcepts of Print
What is “concepts of print”? For younger children Concepts of Print include awareness that: print carries a message there is a one to one correspondence between words read and printed text there are conventions of print such as directionality (left to right, top to bottom), differences between letters and words, distinctions between upper and lower…
Read MoreImplementation of Common Core—Reading Informational Text
One of the key requirements of the Common Core State Standards is that at least 50% of the reading youth do in school is informational text. Historically, reading in school has been stories, novels, poetry, and plays and other forms of narrative text, yet in the “real world” much of the reading we do is…
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