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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My Moments at BOOST that Left Me Wanting More
We recently asked our BOOST Leadership and Blogging Teams to share their favorite memory and why they volunteer to be a team member of the BOOST Conference. Perhaps you will be a volunteer, Ambassador or Breakfast Club Blogger for BOOST in 2018. Enjoy! Definitely the very first time I attended the BOOST Conference. The energy was through the roof and everyone was so eager to work together. I’ve been back every year since. – Daniel W. Hatcher, MPH | Director, Community Partnerships, Allianc...Read More
Tending You
What does personal development have to do with professional development? I’ve had many people ask me some version of this question. In other words, why bother working on myself? I should spend my time working on my job skills, my staff, my responsibilities, my “stuff.” And, okay, I get that. Tending to others, as I’ve pointed out, gives me a purr for sure. But here’s the thing that I’ve come to realize (slowly and begrudgingly and after being repeatedly put in...Read More
Why it’s Important to Ask “What Could Go Wrong?” During Program Planning
Planning a new program or improvements to an existing program usually involves setting objectives, planning activities, and other critical tasks. In the excitement of planning something new, it can seem like a buzzkill to ask, “What could go wrong?” Several months ago, I started asking this question consistently with staff teams in my division of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. We discussed it when we were planning a kick-off meeting for a district-wide initiative, when we were conside...Read More
Three Shining Lights Against a Dark Cloud
Under normal circumstances, I’m not one to be political in a public and professional forum, but really, I’m in need of some writing therapy. Every day, I read the latest news story about another negative appointment to the President- elect’s cabinet. Who knew there were so many people who both seem to despise the role of government AND also want to lead it? While alarming, those aren’t even the most upsetting parts of my daily doldrums. What really brings me down are the ...Read More
Findings From an Afterschool STEM Learning Initiative: Links to Professional Development and Quality STEM Learning Experiences
The third issue of the Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities (JELO) has arrived! This spring issue launched at the 2016 BOOST Conference and features a conversation about quality programming in afterschool, an article on the role that social-emotional learning can play to close the achievement and learning gaps, and an article focusing on the links between professional development and quality STEM learning experiences. You can visit the first week’s installment about social emotional ...Read More
Staff Training is Worth the Investment
It was Monday, April 27th, and I was catching up on Diego Arancibia’s latest Breakfast Club Blog Post. If you haven’t taken the time to read it, you should. Diego gives us 7 Ways to Maximize Our BOOST Experience. It was perfect advice for an amazing conference. Of course, I am biased as I am total BOOST Fanboy! But seriously, today I want to discuss the post-BOOST experience. After returning to the office, I typically get the smiles and the “had a good time in Palm Springs, huh...Read More
Join Our Global Learning Chat on Twitter with #BOOSTChat
How Do I Participate? 1. Follow @TEAMBOOST and the hashtag #BOOSTChat on Twitter on Wednesday, January 21st at 6PM PST/9PM EST. 2. Questions will be ordered Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5. To answer Q1, begin your tweet with A1. For Q2, A2 and so on. 3. Include #BOOSTChat to all of your tweets during the Twitter Chat, so others can see what you’re tweeting. 4. Bring questions and/or provide insight! About the Panelist: Asia Society is a non-profit, non-partisan organization headquartered in New...Read More
7 Ways to Maximize Your BOOST Experience
Below is a list of 7 ways to make the most out of your next BOOST Conference! 1) Be PRESENT. Don’t compare last year to this year. You will be chasing a ghost or even worse, you will try to “recreate” last year’s experience. Every year is distinct and every year there are new ‘openings.’ Which is one of the secrets of BOOST and something that can be appreciated, only if you are PRESENT (mind, body and soul). 2) The ENTIRE CONFERENCE is a workshop. If you expe...Read More