Breakfast Club Blog

The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is a curated space where bloggers from around the world contribute content on a continual basis about a variety of topics relevant to in and out-of-school time. The BOOST Breakfast Club blog is at the heart of an ongoing dialogue where expanded learning and education professionals share their personal thoughts and stories from the in and out-of-school time field. They also tell us what they ate for breakfast!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Enjoy the brain food.

The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is Brain Food for In and Out-of-School Time Leaders!

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Join The Largest Global Convening For After School, Expanded Learning, And Out-of-School-Time Professionals

The BOOST Conference is the largest, most recognized, and comprehensive global convening for after school, expanded learning, and out-of-school time professionals. Set in a retreat-like atmosphere in Palm Springs, CA, this extraordinary annual event will rejuvenate your passion, boost your creativity for quality programming, and provide tools and resources that will inspire you to create change. We invite you to join us, and 2,500 global educators April 30-May 3, 2019 to inspire youth, inspire l...Read More

Three Lessons from Practitioners in the Field of Expanded Learning

This past month I had the opportunity to attend the Site Coordinator Symposium by the California AfterSchool Network hosted at the historic Queen Mary ship in Long Beach. This two-and-a-half-day event hosted 500 practitioners from the field of Expanded Learning programs in California, with the majority of them being Site Coordinators from across the state. I wanted to share the three takeaways that stood out the most for me that had heart & meaning and reinforced my two-decade experience in ...Read More

Knowing My Why Is The Root Of My Success

In 2008, I got the courage to start my own professional development company. I have been designing my purpose for this company for the last 11 years. “Dignity of Children believes that all children are born with inherent dignity. They have a right to be loved, nurtured, and valued. Children and youth deserve to be kept safe. They are entitled to a proper education. Children thrive when adults understand their developmental needs, recognize their strengths, and foster their resilience. To evoke t...Read More

Transformation: It’s Time For Personal Change

As we look ahead to imagine what this new year will bring it reminds us that we have an opportunity to change course or dream bigger. The year ahead provides space for transformation. Many people begin the first 30 days with resolutions to tackle. What if, instead of a list of resolutions, we made a commitment to do one thing that would be such a game changer that it would ultimately change the course of our future? In 2016, I tackled something new and challenging each month. A few months ago, s...Read More

Award-Winning Events and Services by BOOST

It was a celebratory summer for TEAMBOOST! We are proud to announce that BOOST received two awards recognizing our leadership in Professional Development and Training for educators. The BOOST Conference received the 2018 CEO World Awards Best Live Event – Training or Technical Event and BOOST Collaborative was recognized with the Global Business Insight Award for Excellence in Professional Development Services. The coveted annual CEO World Awards program encompasses the world’s best in leadershi...Read More

Ode to the Expanded Learning Technical Assistance Provider

 Editor’s Note: Inspired by the original Ode to the Site Coordinator tribute by @diegoarancibia, today’s blog from Breakfast Club blogger @brunomarchesi is dedicated to the Technical Assistance (TA) Provider. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ With much respect & appreciation for the Ode to the Site Coordinator from my brother, Diego Arancibia, that served as an inspiration for these words… — The one who’s work...Read More

More Than 5 Smart Ideas for Professional Development on a Shoestring Budget

Last week I received an email about an upcoming staff development opportunity for my team.  It sounded so good.  It met our goals, it spoke directly to our growth areas, it was what staff were asking for… and then I saw the price.  $7,500!  YIKES!  That is pretty much all of the staff development budget for the year, and then some.  I have always found it a fine line to walk, to be able to provide the quality and quantity of staff development opportunities for my team and still maintaining the b...Read More

Not Your Mother’s Meeting (PT 2)

Welcome back to Part 2 of Not Your Mother’s Meeting!  If you missed Part 1, click here to catch up!  Breakfast Club Blogger @jillgordon provides excellent inclusionary meeting ideas in order to create more participation and engagement for your staff. Enjoy! Make the Meeting Participatory Gain greater participation by posing three questions or next steps to the meeting participants.  For small group discussions, try using small dry erase boards to generate ideas and questions.  They are ext...Read More

BOOST 2018 Workshop RFPs due 10/31

BOOST requests workshop proposals that support and highlight trends, innovative research, and promising practices to support quality out-of-school time programs. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal for BOOST 2018 is Tuesday, October 31, at 5 pm PST. Any proposals submitted after this date will go on a waiting list. To submit a proposal, visit the BOOST Conference website and click on the blue button to start the application process. Every year the BOOST Conference offers a variety of work...Read More

Now Live! Submit an RFP for the 2018 BOOST Conference

From May 1-4, 2018,  thousands of professionals will be joining together to learn, think, inspire, create, and grow at the BOOST Conference and we want YOU to help facilitate this growth and learning through our dynamic workshops. Submit a proposal today! Think about your expertise, what you have to offer to the out-of-school (OST) time field, and what conversations conference participants are seeking. The variety of workshop themes are designed to promote those conversations, interactions, and ...Read More

7 Back-to-School Resources for the Expanded Learning Field

Hello Expanded Learning, Out-of-School Time, and rockstar educators across the globe! In support of back-to-school time, our home team has chosen a hodgepodge of resources that will jumpstart your school year. 1. If you are planning for your programs for the back to school season, BOOST Cafe is a great place to start. Guess what – you’re already here! Click around our website and find the best free resources & curriculum for your programs and classrooms, funding and grants, free ...Read More

5 Reasons Why You Should Attend the BOOST Conference in 2018

Join the largest, most recognized and comprehensive global convening for after school, expanded learning, and out-of-school time professionals May 1-4, 2018! Here are 5 reasons why you should attend the Best of Out-of-School Time Conference next year: Reason #1 – It’s FUN and ENGAGING What if your conference experience felt like an after school program? You’ve got it! Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this annual, extraordinary event will rejuvenate your passion, boost your direction for quality...Read More