STEM Beyond the School Day Series – Engineering Mindset 3

Engineering Mindset #3: Children investigate the properties and uses of materials Exploring the Properties and Uses of Materials Our lives are filled with all sorts of lovely inventions that meet our needs with ease.  We have lights, computers, tools to make projects easier.  But how often do you pause to consider where they came from?  […]

Read More

Million Girls Moonshot Blog 2

Technovation Online Design Challenges Over three hour-long sessions this fall with Technovation, you’ll become an expert in leading engineering design challenges online that help students develop engineering mindsets: 1) use the engineering design process; 2) envision multiple solutions; 3) evaluate and iterate; 4) persist and learn from failure; and 5) work in teams. Get ready […]

Read More

STEM Beyond the School Day Series – Engineering Mindset 2

How Do You Solve a Problem? Engineering Mindset #2: Children use a specific problem-solving process: Our lives are filled with all sorts of lovely inventions that meet our needs with ease.  We have lights, computers, tools to make projects easier.  But how often do you pause to consider where they came from?  And if a […]

Read More

NSLA Spring Webinar Series

Looking for some professional development on-line recorded webinars while you’re working from home? The National Summer Learning Association has started its Spring Webinar Series, and has a number of options on their website that are available fore free on-demand from their Winter Series. Click here to view recordings from the past webinars in their Winter […]

Read More

NAA’s Emerging Leaders of Color

The National Afterschool Association just released The Landscape of Afterschool Leadership: Considerations for Supporting and Strengthening Diversity (click here to read full report).  As part of that work, NAA is now accepting applications from people of color in out-of-school time who hold mid-level management positions (i.e. site coordinators, program managers, etc.) and would like to […]

Read More

Workshop Spotlight – Working the Tool

In late 2018, the Connecticut After School Network released its 3rd edition of the Connecticut Quality Self-Assessment Tool (CT-QSAT) to help strengthen after school programs.  A quality program is one that is reflective and willing to improve, change, and grow. It believes in successful outcomes for its participants. It understands that improving program quality is […]

Read More

SEL Series: Get Started with SEL

Get Started with SEL: #SELFORCT, #CTAfterschoolNetwork #We love SEL You need resources, well here you go? I created this list to help educators GET STARTED WITH SEL. These resources are easy to integrate into your busy after school schedules.  In addition to getting started, we want to see SEL in ACTION! Post pictures, including short […]

Read More

SEL Series: SEL Assessment Tools – The DESSA

When finding the right assessment tool to measure students’ social and emotional learning skills after school, professionals will run into a few challenges.  Adhering to SEL standards will ensure accountability and assist with helping educators plan, assess and support student learning. However, with so many assessment tools to pick from educators are left scratching our […]

Read More

SEL Series: Girls and Boys Brains Learn Differently

In Arizona this past weekend,  I presented at workshops in a conference called “Excellence, 2018 School’s Out, Make It Count”. Along with presenting, I attended an excellent workshop called ” Boys and Girls Learn Differently.” The seminar centered on brain-based educational research and techniques that can be used in classrooms that help children learn better.  […]

Read More

SEL Series: SEL Snack Attack- Kid President’s 25 Reasons to Be Thankful!

Simple mini SEL lessons to make afterschool snack time fun Teaching children gratitude can be trick thing. Even adults have a rough time remembering to be grateful. We get caught up in our daily lives and forget to be thankful for what we have. Watch- Kid President’s 25 Reasons to Be Thankful! It is a […]

Read More