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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OST & Gaming: Angry Birds, Portals, Minecraft, Oh My!
“Five more minutes, please!” Sound familiar? This was my request to my parents every time we were leaving the pizza place and I had not yet conquered the next level of Pac-Man. I never thought I would hear this from students attending an out-of-school-time program during the summer in Austin, Texas. Yet, this past summer, this request was asked so much that parents spoke to program leadership about extending the summer program beyond the standard four-weeks. Why were kids so excited ...Read More
A Canadian’s Top 10 Checklist for Beating the Winter Blues
It’s the middle of February and we’re in The Zone. Winter has caught up with us, we’re weary of the cold weather, we aren’t getting enough natural sunlight, road conditions are often hardly mediocre, and… the kids are ornery. That’s right: ornery. Downright unpredictable. Bored. Whining. Frustrated. We have plenty of activities for them to do, but they remain energetic one moment but restless and cagey the next. It’s difficult to know how to respond to s...Read More
Us vs. Them Mentality & Classroom Management
I recently attended a training session on classroom management. Among the attendees were leaders in the field of after school education. The trainer, a former classroom teacher of 10 years, now a program director, was highly engaging, organized, and unquestionably experienced when it came to working with challenging students. She eloquently shared information on her program, classroom management protocols used in her district, as well as some best practices that included guidelines commonly used...Read More
What Drives your After-School Program?
This new year of 2014 marks eight years of working in out-of-school (OST) time programs for me. While my passion for youth work has not changed over the course of that time, my approach to youth work has been profoundly shaped. I started my work in OST programs in a vulnerable neighborhood outside Philadelphia. I was a young college student looking for academic credit by putting in my time with at-risk youth. I loved this program and I loved the people I worked with. All of us had a passion and ...Read More
Checking-In with Your Students: Using the Arts to Open the Door to Communication
Imagine with me, that 13-year-old Steven walks through the door of your out of school time program. His thick eyebrows are furrowed over low eyes. His lips twisted into a sullen scowl. You excitedly greet him at the door with an extended hand. “Good Afternoon, Steven!!” He mumbles an unenthusiastic “Hi”, limply shakes your extended hand, and walks away with hunched over shoulders. Clearly, something is up. Now, of course, you can check in with Steven by asking him if he i...Read More
I am Smart!
I was 28 before I realized I was smart. I always received good enough grades in school, which I attribute to the support of parents and the other protective factors present in my life, but I was felt like my passing grades on tests were a fluke because I never really understood the material. My critical awareness moment happened while taking a course called “Arts, Creativity, and Human Development” as a part of the Urban Studies: Community Arts graduate program at Eastern University....Read More
The Adult Amendment
“Amend”: to correct, to make right, to reconcile just with unjust, to come before one or more person(s) and ask for tangible, recognizable peace henceforth — “to make amends” “Amendment”: the action of putting into practice amends made between parties _________________________________________________________ Amanda Todd’s suicide is a tragedy that will haunt our collective, cultural psyche for years to come. Discussing youth bullying is paramount, ...Read More
Highlights of a Summer Road Show
Every year, the Summer Matters campaign tours summer programs across the state from Glenn County down to San Bernardino and over to Fresno. The programs, supported by local technical assistance providers, have been working intentionally to improve their quality for the past 4 years. What we’re seeing is a real testament to the ingenuity and determination of our field, and to the power of the cycle of quality improvement. Here are a few of the highlights: At the Whittier City School Distric...Read More
Just Pin it: Using Pinterest to Support Planning
Here’s a little story I’d like to tell About 3 camp ladies I know real well. It started back in Two Thousand and 12, When they were planning camp, like busy little elves. They were looking for ideas based on campers’ interests One of them said “Hey, let’s check Pinterest!” …And that is how our Project: Pinterest started. A little Bit o’ Info About Project: Pinterest For the past two summers, our camp programs have been using Pinterest to support ou...Read More
Grow Our Growth Mindset: Rethinking How We Praise Kids
The favorite part of my job is getting out of the office to visit after-school programs. I see that kids really do like science and engineering when given the chance to jump into hands-on projects and explore questions that interest them. What has surprised me is seeing the difference in how kids approach challenges in after-school programs. Engineering design challenges can be a great way for kids to experience the practices that scientists and engineers engage in. They start with a real world ...Read More
“If You Don’t Love Kids….Get Another Job!”
If you have spent any time with me, you have probably heard me say “If You Don’t Love Kids….Get Another Job!” The thing is kids bond to people, not programs. The number one responsibility of an after school staff member is to build relationships. The number one job of an after school staff member is to love and be loveable. Children have enough adults in their lives who don’t even like being around them, don’t believe in them, and quite frankly don’t wan...Read More
Fear of Failure and the Move to Greatness. Why After School Programs Must Lead Education Reform
I LOVE WORKING AFTER-SCHOOL!! To me, there is nothing like working with students on projects or events that they will remember for their entire lives. What do we do in after-school? We make memories!! I remember when I was eighteen and had just started working in an after-school program at Gompers Secondary School in one of San Diego’s tougher neighborhoods. I had some of the best times of my life providing those students and that community, awesome experiences through the after-school pro...Read More