AfterSchool of Thought

Working with a board of directors can be frustrating at times when there are differences of opinion on the management and direction of the organization. Keep the following tips in mind when those frustrating moments arise:

Keeping kids engaged in this day and age is almost next to impossible when their minds are focused on the technology in front of them. For any teacher, it's always a battle to fight for kids' attention and keeping them involved and participating with the activity the rest of the class is doing. Here, we provide you with ten ways that you can keep kids in your program engaged and focused on whatever task is at-hand. 

I often look forward to the holidays as a time to sneak in a little extra reading. Whether you are reading for business or pleasure, I hope you’ll enjoy these books I’ve read this year. Feel free to send me your suggestions, too! I’m always looking for a good book!

As we welcome a new year, I want to take a moment to share ten trends I see on the horizon for the afterschool field:

I have been working with out-of-school time across the country for over 15 years now, and these tips are based on practices that I have seen work. Most of them are built on things that I have seen and learned from the field. Take a look! You might already be doing some of them or this may be a new way of looking at how you work with kids. I hope you enjoy.

Transmedia, also known as “transmedia storytelling,” is the technique of telling a single story across multiple media platforms. Each platform—for example, television, videogame, or website—offers a distinct element that contributes to the user’s understanding of the overall story.

Quality is certainly on the forefront of afterschool/youth development programs across the country. Whether you are using a formal assessment tool for measuring Youth Program Quality or not, I believe all youth workers should have a concept of what quality looks like and ways to build quality into our programs. You can be an important coach to support your staff in growing their capacity towards recognizing and incorporating youth program quality.

Positive behavior begins and ends with relationships—not with the rules. While systems and guidelines can provide structure for young people, cultivating an environment of meaningful connections between staff and youth creates a culture where positive behavior is part of the ongoing learning and development of youth.