AfterSchool of Thought

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There are five key strands for this year's convention. Please select the one strand that fits your proposal best.

1. Developing Afterschool and Youth Professionals. NAA is committed to professionalizing the field of afterschool. If you have a presentation that focuses on professional development or leadership, this is the place for you!
   
   Example session topics include: career pathways, higher education, supporting staff, giving and receiving feedback, leadership development, internal communication, organizational culture, using data, observation and assessment,         management, work/life balance, stress management, research, organizational practices, coaching and supervision, staff recruitment and retention, workforce development, etc.
   
   
2. Building Partnerships and Sustaining Programs. Partnerships and funding are two key elements for a successful afterschool program. If you have developed partnerships in your community, found new ways to secure funding, or are just great at writing grants, we need you to teach others. Overall, these sessions focus on how to engage specific communities and/or how to fundraise and sustain programs.
   
   Example session topics include: collaboration, strategies for working with school districts, community-based organizations, families, parents, communities, PTA's, local government, community schools, community partnerships, corporate partnerships, partnerships with colleges and universities, fundraising, grant writing, non-profit management, board development, etc.
   
   
3. Quality and Innovative Programming. Programming is at the heart of the NAA Convention (not to mention the heart of afterschool programs). If you're creating excellent programming, using new techniques or tools, integrating technology, or achieving high academic results thanks to a new approach to learning, we need you to teach others how to replicate it.
   
   Example session topics include: aligning to the Common Core, using technology in the classroom, visual, culinary and performance arts, project-based learning, learning environments, curriculum implementation, academic and school day alignment, imagination and creativity, hands-on and experiential learning activities, STEM, cultural enrichment, financial literacy, service learning, summer programming, research, etc.
   
   
4. Supporting the Whole Child. For sessions tailored to specific children, address certain needs., or focused on health and wellness. If your program is saving money by eating organic, supporting social-emotional development, or have fun new exercises and recreation ideas, we need to learn from you!
   
   Example session topics include: social-emotional learning, health and wellness, nutrition, youth engagement, mentoring, , college readiness, risk behavior prevention, youth-led learning, early learning, middle-year engagement, engaging older youth, safety, nutrition, physical activity, recreation, mental health, meals/snacks, healthy eating, bully prevention, recognizing and responding to child abuse and neglect, character education, behavior guidance, classroom management, healthy start, inclusion, special needs, etc.
   
   
5. Telling Your Story. Storytelling is a powerful tool, and can be used in the boardroom, classroom, and Capitol Hill. How are you telling your story? Are you a social media guru? A policy specialist? A poet? We're calling on storytellers from all walks of life to help us improve our communication techniques.
   
   Example session topics include: public speaking, public relations, communications, marketing, media, social media, blogs, writing, policy, visual, culinary and performance arts, poetry, drama, data visualization, infographics, social interaction, intercultural communication, small group communication, facilitation, nonverbal communication, etc.

Based on participant feedback, we are emphasizing the importance of hands-on tools, practical trainings, and professional development in breakout sessions. We also hear the call for more of a focus on the Common Core, grant writing, management skills, social-emotional learning.

There are three different session formats for your presentation; it's up to you to pick what will work best for your content and presentation style:

1. Workshop. These 75 ­minute sessions are the heart of the conference, and the bulk of learning opportunities. Please include at least 15-minutes of audience Q&A. These sessions can be hands-on trainings that need tables, lectures, discussions, or panels with up to three panelists and a moderator.
2. Innovation Station Poster Presentation. Are you more a visual person? You may want to create a poster display of your project, program, or best practice. Posters are on display in the Exhibit Hall throughout the convention, with a required one-hour presentation on Tuesday, March 10 during the lunch break.
3. Learning Express Presentation. These quick takeaway sessions last only 30-mintes and give participants something they can use right away in their program. It could be a website, project, or special event you hosted.

There are two different session formats offered at Convention:

• Workshop – 75 ­minute sessions that can be a hands-on training, discussion, lecture, or panel presentation (maximum of three panelists and a moderator for panels). At least 15-minutes of audience Q&A is required.
• Learning Express – Quick, 30-minute sessions that share ideas participants can use right away. No Q&A time required.

Workshop Strands
There are five key strands for all workshops offered at Convention:

1. Developing High Quality and Innovative Programs (Core Knowledge Competencies 1, 2, 3). Subtopics include:

a. Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
b. STEM (Science, Education, Technology, and Math)
c. Curricula and Activity Ideas
d. Developing Learning Environments
e. Supporting the Whole Child
f. Project Based Learning

2. Youth Engagement (Core Knowledge Competencies 4, 5, 6). Subtopics include:

a. Youth Voice and Choice
b. Youth Leadership
c. Youth Planning
d. Creating Community and Group Experiences
e. Interactions
f. Cooperative Learning
g. Positive Guidance strategies
h. Bullying Prevention
i. Cultural Competence
j. Inclusion

3. Healthy Eating, Physical Activity (HEPA), Community and Family Engagement (Core Knowledge Competencies 7, 8). Subtopics include:

a. NAA HEPA Standards
b. Healthy Eating Curricula, Activity Ideas, and Resources
c. Physical Activity Curricula, Activity Ideas, and Resources
d. Snack and Meals Resources
e. Creating Healthy Communities
f. Family Engagement

4. Program and Professional Development (Core Knowledge Competencies 9, 10). Subtopics include:

a. Continuous Program Improvement
b. Funding and Sustainability
c. Program Evaluation
d. Core Competencies
e. Human Resources 101
f. Staff Supervision
g. Coaching
h. Aligning with the School Day
i. Youth Recruitment Strategies
j. Program Marketing

5. Theme-Related Strand: Super People, Super Powers. Subtopics include:

a. Time Management
b. Work/Life Balance
c. Success Stories
d. Bringing Your Best Self to Work
e. Emotional Intelligence
f. Telling Your Story
g. Afterschool Heroes

Questions?
Download our Presenter FAQs for more detailed information. You can also contact Erin Leonard at leonard@collaborativecommunications.com.