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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Understanding the Foster Care System and the Shift from Mandated Reporter to Community Supporter
This interactive workshop will provide an overview of the foster care system with an emphasis on how entering and living in foster care affects students. Information will be provided on the recent shift from mandated reporting of suspected abuse and/or neglect to a holistic approach and community support. The majority of reports of neglect are related to poverty. Participants to explore their biases as well as gain an understanding of how we can all better support families and children. Read More
The Why Behind the Importance of Integrating Social and Emotional Learning into Your Out-of-School Time Programs
Join us for an interactive workshop on Social and Emotional Learning in out-of-school time programs. You will learn what SEL is and our “Why” behind the importance of integrating it into programs. Lay the foundation to support your children in learning and practicing skills that set them up for academic success, fulfilling careers, healthy relationships, and responsible civic engagement. As well as leave with practical hands-on activities that you can implement immediately in your programs. Read More
Uncover Your Purpose: Discovering and Defining Your Why!
Embark on a transformative journey to uncover the core of your motivation! This engaging workshop presentation invites participants to dive deep into their values, passions, and aspirations. Through interactive discussions, thought-provoking exercises, and collaborative activities, you will learn how to articulate your personal “WHY”—the driving force that shapes your decisions and fuels your ambitions. It guides participants through a structured exploration of their personal motivat... Read More
Skillastics Physical Activity Made Simple! Let’s Move & Have Fun
Looking for quick, effective ways to get your students moving? Active, healthy kids excel academically, develop confidence, and are less likely to have behavioral challenges. Join us for an energizing session where you’ll discover Skillastics—fun, easy-to-implement activities designed to engage every student. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies that make movement simple and exciting. Don’t miss out—boost student engagement and physical activity in your program today! Read More
Reimagining Career Exploration and Durable Skills Development for Youth
Ensuring young people are prepared for what comes next is increasingly the purview of community partners and out-of-school time educators who work in tandem with schools to ensure young people have skills for education and career. This session will explore several innovative programs, tools and resources available to professionals outside the school environment who seek to help students explore their passions and interests, learn about real world careers, and develop workplace skills. Read More
The After-School Feud: Survey Says… You’ll Learn & Have Fun!
Get ready for a fast-paced, interactive showdown that’ll test your OST knowledge! The After-School Feud adds a fun twist to real challenges in OST, with answers crowdsourced from attendees. Team up and guess the most popular responses to questions like “What’s the toughest part of managing staff?” or “What’s the best part about working in OST?” Each round is packed with lively discussions, fresh ideas, and loads of fun as we dive into the real-world experiences of after-school pros! Read More
Reimagining SEL in School Sports
Join us for an engaging workshop exploring the mental health crisis and its effect on student’s brains and behavior. This session enables educators to examine concepts of trauma-informed care and develop a deep, applicable understanding of how sport is uniquely suited to help young people heal while building SEL competencies. Attendees will hear from experts on neurobiology research and its symbiotic connection to SEL while nurturing and embracing students for every bit of who they are. Read More
School-Based Medical and Mental Health Care Partnerships… Who, What, Where, When, and How?
We will discuss the development of a medical and mental health clinic in a school building from A-Z. The concept begins with a needs assessment in your district and then partnership development to fill your greatest needs. We will share information on a variety of topics including who to reach out to, what questions to ask, funding opportunities, best options for locations, pros and cons of operating within a school hallway and how we coordinate with medical and mental health providers. Read More
Layers of Protection: A Multi-Tiered Approach to Prevent Peer-to-Peer Abuse
Dive into the concept of using a Safety Management system by incorporating layers of protection, ranging from individual actions to institutional policies and how they work together to create a safer environment and prevent peer-to-peer abuse. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a robust understanding of a multi-tiered approach to preventing peer-to-peer abuse and be equipped with actionable strategies to implement in their own contexts. Read More
Unlocking Intrinsic Motivation: A Coaching Approach for OST Leaders
Are you ready to transform your team into self-motivated, proactive problem-solvers? Coaching is a powerful approach that fosters growth, autonomy, and engagement. Join us for an exploration of coaching fundamentals tailored to Out-of-School-Time (OST) settings. Discover the purpose of effective coaching, learn practical techniques for various levels, and build a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Read More
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
Music and SEL: The Psychological Effects of Music
“The Psychological Effects of Music” teaches how music affects human behavior and emotions. Participants will learn how to use music as a tool to manage their emotions. A study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine noted that the average adolescent is exposed to approximately 30,732 references per year. “We have the ANSWER on how to get through to the average at-risk student. This workshop is extremely interactive & transformative. Read More