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 BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is Brain Food for In and Out-of-School Time Leaders!
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Being Right
My husband and his team put on amazing festivals, and one of them is called The Festival Of Machines. Sprawling over several acres of property, festival-goers can look at (and climb on) cement mixers, tractors, old time steam engines, old time fire engines, classic cars, race cars, army helicopters, and more. They can ride on a mars “rover” bike made by a competitive high school team, race each other on kid-sized motorized vehicles, take flight on a “hover chair,” go on a thrilling ride in an ac...Read More
Shifting From the Sage on the Stage
Learning doesn’t always have to be teacher led. There are other models that create authentic experiences for students and are closer to what they will experience once they are finished with school. Last spring, a group of high school juniors came to me, wanting to explore the intersection of art and technology using both paper and sewn circuitry. I had never worked with either before but was excited to learn these tools myself, so I eagerly agreed to the project. Tinkering alongside your student...Read More
Creating Community Post Election
These last few days have not been normal. I have spent my morning breaking up political fights. Not in Washington, not in my community or at a protest, but in my K-5 before and after school program. And that breaks my heart. The day after the election, my kids were either devastated or elated as they walked through my door, with only a few falling somewhere in between. On one side, this in itself makes me proud. Proud that we are encouraging our kids, no matter the age, to be a part of the polit...Read More
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
1 in 5 children have dyslexia, a specific learning disability that impacts language processing (speech, reading, and writing). While this is something that impacts the lives of the children in our programs, it is something that doesn’t often get covered in teacher or youth worker training programs. As the mother of a child with dyslexia, I have picked up a few tips and hints that I typically pass on to teachers and staff at the beginning of the year. I figured October being Dyslexia Awaren...Read More
Wanna Join the Mistakes Club?
Mistakes have gotten a bad rap. Reactions to mistakes can range from mild embarrassment to communications of regret to utter outrage. If we always respond to mistakes negatively it has potential to give our kids the impression that mistakes are to be avoided at all costs. I am a card-carrying member of the mistakes club. Some days I think about running for president of the mistake club. While I’ve certainly made mistakes I would rather have not, I appreciate the power of mistakes. I knew I...Read More
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Have you ever looked into a child’s eyes and been able to see their pain? As people who work with youth, we want to do everything we can to help that child and make that pain go away. But what is that pain? How can we help? Emotional pain is typical for children and youth as they develop and mature. These various types of emotional pain can range from anxiety about a big test at school to sadness because of the passing of a beloved pet. These emotional struggles are in line with typical ad...Read More
BOOST Conference Debrief Guide: 10 Action Strategies
You may have a book of notes, business cards, ideas, and inspiration you brought back from the BOOST Conference. Let’s be honest – we jump right back into our routines and there are many times we put what we brought home aside and tell ourselves that we will get to it later. What if you carved out time to connect with people you met, had a team gathering to debrief what you learned, and reviewed your week personally? Here are 10 debrief ideas you can use. These can be used personally, with...Read More
How to Overcome the #BOOSTBlues
The 2016 BOOST Conference has finished and it’s been one week since we left Palm Springs and have all returned to our homes, schools, programs, and communities. While you have probably left feeling inspired, recharged, and ready to put what you learned in action, you might be feeling the #BOOSTBlues! Hear what some of our Leadership Team and Bloggers have to say about how they handle their #BOOSTBlues and what they suggest for staying connected until our BOOST Conference 2017! Visit our bl...Read More
BOOST Conference Insider’s Guide
The 2016 BOOST Conference is next week! Some of our seasoned BOOSTers have shared tips of what to do and where to go while you are in Palm Springs. If you have visited Palm Springs before, what is your tip? Share it with us on Facebook or Twitter and use #BOOSTConference Buy the salsa at El Mirasol’s, to relive your week in Palm Springs until next year. Read the ENTIRE Conference brochure. The Village Pub….bottom floor rock out…upstairs dancin’…’nuff sa...Read More
Learning With Documentary Films: Strategies to Engage Students
Asia Society and BOOST Collaborative are partnering to create a series of blogs on global learning in out-of-school time. This blog entry was orginally published on EdWeek’s Global Learning Blog. Documentaries and film can bring the world to students in very real ways. Cleary Vaughan-Lee, Education Director for Global Oneness Project, tells us how and shares resources and strategies. Why do we need stories? Stories are universal and create connections across time, place, and cultures. Now ...Read More
BOOST Breakfast Club 2015 Recap
Thank you for sharing 2015 with us! We look forward to this coming year and creating opportunities for change in educational and social services agencies serving youth in the out-of-school time hours. Our blog has a wealth of resources you and your organization from professionals in out-school-time, youth development, and education from across the globe. Our topics include: 21st Century Learning, Advocacy & Policy, Building Relationships, Closing the Achievement Gap, Common Core, Community C...Read More
Adventure Learning: Cultural, Nature, and Museum Virtual Expeditions
As our global technology world expands, there are several creative virtual field trips and learning opportunities for students. “Adventure Learning is an educational approach that provides learners with opportunities to explore real-world issues through authentic learning experiences within a collaborative online learning environment” (Doering, 2005, as cited in GoNorth! Chukotka 2007 Curriculum). If picking one out the many listed below is daunting, try starting with the global trip...Read More