NEW (FREE!) LEARNING RESOURCES FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC & MOTT FOUNDATION Real-world problems call for critical thinking and real-world solutions and afterschool programs are a great place for kids to learn, collaborate, and figure out how to make their communities better. The Mott Foundation and National Geographic want to help afterschool programs open the world to […]
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Simple mini SEL lessons to make afterschool snack time fun During snack time, or whenever you need a short activity, have student watch the short animated film, “Soar,” set to Sia’s song “Never Give Up” With each new experience, growing young minds are always discovering and learning how to find their place in this big […]
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A couple of weeks ago, I watched former Vice President Joe Biden, deliver an emotional and inspiring eulogy for Senator John McCain, who died of brain cancer at 81. Biden eloquently said, “John understood what mattered in life; trust and character.” This part of the speech resonated with my personal passion for character development. I […]
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My 4 year old grandson thinks I am his personal play thing. At times it would be nice if he were to use his imagination and play on his own. I talk to him about this, about using his “imagination”; pretty hard word to pronounce for a 4 year old. I explained how you can […]
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Let’s take a look at the Mutt-I-Grees SEL curriculum I recall sitting in a meeting with one of our education coordinators, and he pitched the idea of dogs coming to 20 West, our middle and high school learning center. At first, I thought what? Dogs!?! I hesitated because I know most kids love dogs, but […]
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I will be writing a series of blog posts highlighting the Best Social Emotional Learning (SEL) resources. I would like to begin with one of my favorite free Social Emotional Learning online resources, Centervention. I have used several of their materials for workshops and training. In particular, I’ve used their activity on compromising, and it […]
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After-school educators are becoming increasingly aware of the impact and the long-lasting benefits of Social-Emotional Learning programs. However, choosing the right SEL program can be a challenge due to the overwhelming selection of materials and online resources. We can easily be allured by large promises and marketing jargon which can make the hunt for the […]
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If you are an 80’s baby, you probably played with a toy kitchen set. I did. When I was four years old, Santa brought me a kitchen set for Christmas. With a big grin on my face, I served my family plastic chicken drumsticks and fake pieces of yellow corn on the cob. My mom […]
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The Office for Early Childhood which oversees child care centers including after school programs has two different, but both vitally important, opportunities for you to provide feedback: Draft Licensing Regulations: Some big changes on these including to head teacher certification https://surveyentrance.com/run/oc/p2203g/start Child Care Development Fund Plan 2019-2021: Concerns Care4Kids and also state investment in quality […]
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The Connecticut After School Network’s Annual Art Contest “After School Builds Bright Tomorrows….” This year we are doing a MURAL! Get your after school kids together and create a program mural; it can be by age group or whole program group.
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