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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Should Everyone Get a Trophy?

When I was a kid, the winning team took home the trophy, and the MVP got the medal. That was that. When my kids were growing up, everyone got a trophy. There was no MVP because they all succeeded and did their best. I see the value of both, especially when you’re talking about young children.  There should never be losers when you work in the nonprofit sector, especially with kids, because all kids win when everyone gets the trophy.  Here’s why. This past summer, our organization formed a strate...Read More

Teaching the Holidays: The December Dilemma

It’s December, which means the holidays are upon us—but how do educators best address them in the classroom? December is a joyful time for many Americans—and not just those who celebrate Christmas as a sacred holiday or cultural event. Jews celebrate Hanukkah, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, many African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, and cultures across the world celebrate the Winter Solstice. For educators, however, the convergence of so many holidays can create the December dilemma: how to...Read More

BOOST Online Film Festival Partnership Announced

BOOST, in partnership with IndieFlix for Education, offers film-based programming that inspires positive action, personal revelation, and social change for all ages. We provide social-emotional learning experiences that have a long and lasting measurable impact. Our social-impact, film-based programs, and accompanying live panel discussions, activities, resources, tips, and tools provide you with content, inspiration, and instruction to achieve a positive outcome in your classroom and programs. ...Read More

10 Tips to Include Expanded Learning in Program Planning

This is a shout out to School and District Leaders, and everyone doing the work planning for a safe return to school in the Fall. The following list of 10 promising practices reflects what I have learned and experienced over the past 15+ years working in an ASES Expanded Learning Program, as we are classically known to be an afterthought. Just as you School and District Leaders are, we, your local Expanded Learning Program, are proactively planning for a successful student-centered school year. ...Read More

STEM and Wellness: Colliding Galaxies

My fellow BOOST Breakfast Club blogger, Erika Petrelli of The Leadership Program recently wrote an article that explored the “beauty of galaxies colliding.” My inner Galileo loves the thought of swirling stars and as partnership director for a national children’s health nonprofit, social justice movements working together to accelerate and grow is even more thrilling. For galaxies to collide and movements to join forces, there has to be space. A recent Harvard Business Review article, The Benefi...Read More

Tips from 7 Experts on School-Community Collaboration

This month the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is celebrating America’s Healthiest Schools. Schools recognized by the Alliance have met stringent guidelines for serving healthier meals and snacks, getting all children active and empowering school leaders to become healthy role models. Schools are essential partners for out-of-school time organizations. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 73% of parents report that their child’s afterschool program is located in a public school...Read More

The Dynamic of Partnership in Out of School Time Work

The interesting part of the morning was less the food than the discussion. If you have ever tried to talk with two little kids at the same time you understand how conversations can spin rapidly to amazingly unique subjects. As my Jonah and Sydney left for camp, I reflected that the OST field often feels just like the conversation I just finished with them. Dialogue in the OST field is fast, ever-changing and based in collaborations. In fact, our field is driven by collaborations. School district...Read More