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!
Interested in becoming a blogger? Email breakfastclub@boostcollaborative.org
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Take on Tough Challenges with Data-Informed Confidence
How do we take a strengths-based approach to evaluation and problem-solving? Join us as we engage in an Appreciative Inquiry interview process, reflecting on successful experiences. We’ll use a modified coding process, identifying key elements that made success possible, and apply these elements to a current challenge. We will also present a few evaluation practices we have found to be effective at Monarch School Project, a 501c3 exclusively serving unhoused children and families. Read More
Lead, Listen to, and Love Your People: 3 Guiding Principles for Great Leadership
Leaders in education are playing their most vital role to-date as they guide and support their teams through these ever-changing times. Join this session to discover what it truly means to lead your people well with practical applications you can implement every day. Learn how to Lead, Listen to and Love Your People to build high-performing teams and create happier workforces. Learn how to be the leader your team needs so that they can focus on their most important job – helping children thrive. Read More
ZERO GRAVITY
ZERO GRAVITY follows a diverse group of middle school students from San Jose, CA, who compete in a nationwide tournament to code satellites aboard the International Space Station. Their mission: compete with teams across the country to write the most strategic code for surveying satellites, known as SPHERES. These satellites will help map out a GPS system to successfully orbit Mars in the future, opening the door to infinite opportunities and exploration on the Red Planet. Each coder-in-the-maki... Read More
The Connecting Adolescent Brain: Developmental Science Insights to Help Middle and High School Youth Thrive
During adolescence–ages 10 to 25–we are primed to make new connections in our schools and communities, which in turn build connections within our developing brains. In this scientist-led session, we will share practical insights from adolescent development research, including the neuroscience underlying the rapid connections that occur during this age. Together, we’ll consider how out-of-school time experiences can equitably support the developmental needs of our youth in middle and high s... Read More
Strength and Restore
The strand blends Restorative Practices with the Clifton StrengthsFinder for a unique approach to building healthy relationships, resolving conflict, and repairing harm. The Clifton StrengthsFinder helps individuals understand their natural talents, while Restorative Practices focus on community and relationship-building. Together, these tools offer a powerful way to align personal strengths with the goals of restorative practices, enhancing engagement and meeting the needs of your organization. Read More
Evolution of Out-of-School Programs: How to Tailor Your Programming to Fit the Needs of Your Students and Community
Join us as we explore how to use research to evaluate your out-of-school experience and evolve your curriculum to ensure fidelity in your programs. From literacy frameworks to cultural activities , discover how district leaders evolved their programs to elevate their standards of quality. Through group dialogue and shared best practices, this session will encourage creative solutions and evolved practices to meet your students’ educational and cultural needs. Read More
Empathy in Education: Lessons from Life and Loss
In Empathy in Education, I reflect on my journey through loss and resilience and how it transformed my approach to teaching and mentoring. Grief taught me that education goes beyond knowledge; it’s about nurturing the whole person—heart, mind, and soul. Together, we’ll explore how empathy, active listening, and compassionate support can create positive ripple effects, inspiring educators to build communities where everyone feels valued and empowered. Read More
Inventing Tomorrow
INVENTING TOMORROW follows young scientists from Indonesia, Hawaii, India, and Mexico as they tackle some of the most complex environmental issues facing humanity today – right in their own backyards. Each student is preparing original scientific research that he or she will defend at ISEF, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Framed against the backdrop of the severe environmental threats we now face, we immerse the audience in a global view of the planetary crisis, through the... Read More
Amplifying Employee Engagement: People-Centered Approaches to Boost Retention and Performance
Retention in out-of-school time is a prevalent challenge for many. In this landscape how we amplify employee engagement is critical to retention, job satisfaction, and performance. Learn how to take a people-centered approach to improve your employee’s experience and create a culture where employees thrive. In this session, we will look at how to assess employee engagement, craft strategies for improvement, and help you create an action plan to boost your employee’s experience for retention. Read More
BOOSTing Belonging: Empowering Inclusive School Environments for LGBTQ+ Youth
We will examine data on LGBTQ student wellness and belonging, focusing on five key tenets of inclusive schools: psychological safety and authenticity, trusted relationships, staff training, data tracking, and inclusive curriculum. This session uses appreciative inquiry and storytelling to build empathy, belonging, and student-centered spaces. Participants will explore success stories from diverse schools and learn strategies to support student identity, connection, and well-being. Read More
Sourcing and Partnership for Retention
Engaged, reliable employees are vital to OST program success. Identifying and hiring such candidates is challenging in a competitive market, and ensuring their job satisfaction early on is crucial for retention. This session reviews the candidate lifecycle, offering strategies for sourcing and screening that enhance retention. We’ll also discuss post offer actions to ensure new hires are aware of resources, partners, and feedback platforms. Read More
Practical Everyday Habits: Creating Intentional Spaces
Curating learning environments with supportive curriculum enhances play, exploration, emotional safety, self-respect and gives students a sense of value and belonging. Explore how simple environmental changes and scaffolded tools can lead to a high-quality program with differentiated approaches. Intentionally led programs, utilizing universal supports, enhance engagement and learning outcomes for teachers and students. Learn plug-and-play tactics to elevate your program, improve collaboration be... Read More