School Age Ideas And Activities For After School Programs

This resource gives teachers and supervisors in extended day programs a store of high-quality yet easy-to-do activities that are both challenging and relaxing for children. The 200 activities included are so clearly presented that many students can complete them independently. Includes crafts, songs, rainy day activities, and more.

This classic, which has been a standard programming book since its original publication in 1990, has been updated and revised for the 21st century! Still has all the great activities that have survived the test of time with school-age children, but with additional materials addressing the needs of middle-school students, staff recruitment and retention, quality standards and more.

After school activities are the rage of the day. With about $500 million invested in these programs and more than 10 million children attending them in America alone, the popularity of these activities cannot be overlooked. Everyone understands the need to develop new skills, gain more knowledge and keep the children safe when parents are working. The most important factor in the success of any program is the relationship between the children participating in the program and the adult members who work with these children. Often, children may confide in an adult member who is not a teacher. This kind of emotional interaction is a must when children are struggling to make sense of the whirlpool of emotions that assail them.Direct contact with professionals can be an inspiring experience. Children are very much impressed by the knowledge and experience of these adults. Young people gain a lot of knowledge and experience when they deal with experienced adults and older youth who serve as teachers or mentors in these programs. These mentors are different from the teachers in the school and children are more likely to draw inspiration from them.After school activities that are managed professionally by people who are successful in their own fields of expertise will produce children who are more enthusiastic and successful. Meaningful interaction with adults is a learning experience in itself.

This exciting first-of-its-kind book helps after-school staff members support literacy development while staying faithful to the unique mission of being something other than "more school." The authors explain the role of after-school programs in literacy development and define aspects of literacy development. The book contains 72 fun and engaging activities for all levels of school-age readers.

Does your afterschool program have the WOW factor? Create a high quality school-age program that is exciting, inviting, and reflects the interests, abilities, and needs of the children. Whether your program operates before or after school, on non-school days, during the summer, or overnight, you can create a dynamic environment where everyone will enjoy spending time. This book is filled with hundreds of ideas—from setting up a quiet reading nook to tackling clutter—reflecting the authors’ years of experience and hundreds of visits to a variety of school-age programs. It takes you through all of the considerations that affect your program and then lays out a process to help you improve the three dimensions of a school-age environment. Temporal: Establish schedules, routines, rules, and learning opportunities to meet children’s needs Interpersonal: Facilitate the relationships and social interactions of children, staff, families, and the greater community Physical: Create sensory-rich indoor and outdoor spaces Linda J. Armstrong and Christine A. Schmidt are experienced educational consultants who serve children and youth programs throughout the United States.

Easy ways to plan daily activities for times when children are not in school. All activities are time-frame oriented to help you become more involved with children during these time periods.

Through a comprehensive review of various afterschool programs across the United States, this resource provides a practical overview of the research and best practices that can be easily adapted and applied in the development of highly effective afterschool programs. chapters focus on: (1) "Why Afterschool Programs?" (benefits, challenges, and functions, research methodology, types of programs, and program evaluation); (2) "Language Arts Afterschool Programs" (e.g., extended-day tutoring and the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program); (3) "Enrichment Afterschool Programs" (e.g., Hands On Science Outreach and the Imaginitis Learning System); (4) "Tutoring Programs to Improve Reading and Study Skills Programs" (e.g., Book Buddies and Early Identification Programs); (5) "Community-Based Afterschool Programs" (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Police Athletic League); (6) "How to Create an Afterschool Program: From Conception to Implementation" (e.g., assessing the situation, creating the components, and training the service providers); (7) "Evaluation" (e.g., why evaluation is important, effective evaluations, and creating a solid evaluation infrastructure); and (8) "Conclusions and Implications: What Works" (patterns of success among the programs and barriers to participation). A list of resources is included. (Contains 143 references.) (SM)

After-school programs are becoming an important developmental support for low and moderate-income children. This book describes the historical development, current status, and critical issues facing these programs. Divided into historical eras for easy reference, the text examines: - The evolution of after-school programs and their role in the lives of children, providing a framework for reflecting on broader, contemporary issues such as the effects of poverty on children in the United States.- The rationales for and objectives of these programs and how both were shaped by prevailing societal ideas about children.- Patterns of sponsorship and staffing, describing daily routines and exploring the nature of children's experiences in different kinds of programs.- The relationship between after-school programs and schools, analyzing how these programs have responded to the dilemma of balancing children's needs for guidance and supervision with their equally important need for spontaneity and self-expression.- Current directions and expectations for the future of after-school programs.