Professional Development

In my role at the National AfterSchool Association, one of my key responsibilities is to plan professional development. So I think about professional development A LOT, which is why a recent EdSurge article, "Why Good Professional Development Is Crucially Linked to an Educator's Attitude," by Glenda I. Lozada Negron, caught my attention.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities develop fundamental tools to provide and maintain critical thinking skills. Research suggests that the application of creative, abstract and imaginary expression through an aesthetic vehicle is needed to foster academic motivation, development and stability that will contribute to a child's fulfillment and security for a lifetime.

Family engagement has a life-long impact on the lives of children and comes in many forms. As professionals in the field of afterschool and expanded learning, it is important to remember that even though we may not see a child's family at school or a program, this does not mean they are not engaged in the lives of their children. With that in mind, we need to actively build strong engagement with families when they can come to the school or program.

Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) provides 3-D and indoor archery opportunities for youth in afterschool settings, in addition to archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in their communities. S3DA places special emphasis on archery education and wildlife conservation.