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Incorporate best practices in after school and youth development.
Assessment Strategies
Prepare notes for a discussion of programming terms and implications
Prepare notes for a discussion about balanced programming
Write a summary paper of program expectations
Criteria
Define and discuss of key terms and their implications for programming: Extended School Day, Expanded Learning Experiences, Common Core Standards, 21st Century Learning Skills and Linking the school day
Discuss how you identify and accommodate programming that presents a balance between what children, parents and stakeholders want from a program
Summarize the expectations of the program for which you are working and discuss how the expectations are being met, expectations you would add, and expectations that you think are unrealistic
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Analyze curriculum of a developmentally appropriate learning environment for an after school and youth program.
Assessment Strategies
Write an analysis of curriculum and learning in after school programs including the advantages and disadvantages of commercial curriculum
Present to the class the curriculum components of your program
Write a report comparing 3 commercially available curriculum
Criteria
Discuss curriculum and learning in after school programs including the advantages and disadvantages of commercial curriculum
Define key concepts in curriculum development and planning
Identifying the components that make up the curriculum of your program
Evaluate curriculum guides and manuals used by your program
Compare 3 commercially available curriculum
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Apply accepted methods for child observation and formal/informal assessment.
Assessment Strategies
Write 3 separate child observations over a 3 week period
Write an assessment of objective, subjective and interpretive observations
Write a review of the efficacy of at least 3 observation techniques
Write reflection of how your observations changed over time
Criteria
Conduct 3 separate child observations over a 3 week period
Investigate differences between fact and interpretation
Discuss the importance of documenting observations as fact vs. interpretation
Differentiate between objective or subjective child observation
Determine the efficacy of different observation techniques
Relate how observations may change over time
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Research youth and child activities and projects to fit various learning styles, cultures, temperaments, and personalities.
Assessment Strategies
Write a paper comparing cognitive development theories and their role in after school programs
Write a reflection on the role of “choice” in afterschool
Write a summary of ideas for supporting learning styles in after school
Present reading strategies to an assigned partner
Criteria
Compare and discuss your list of learning styles with a partner
Compare the key concepts in cognitive developmental theories
Relate cognitive developmental theories to learning in the after school environment
Define “choice” and reflect on the role it plays in after school programs
Explain “experiential learning” and its use in afterschool programs
Create a list of learning styles that may be present in an after school program
Explore techniques for how each learning style can be supported through the planning of activities
Practice the four reading strategies: summarizing, questioning, clarifying and predicting
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Apply teaching and learning strategies and tools to develop activities that meet individual learning needs.
Assessment Strategies
Write examples of activities that support curricular content areas of WAN and YoungStar
Write an activity plan for under-represented content areas in your program
Criteria
Discuss the importance of cognitive, social/emotional and physical development in afterschool programs
Identify strategies for integrating cognitive, social/emotional and physical development in afterschool programs
Provide examples of activities that support relevant curricular content areas
Design activities for under-represented content areas in your program
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Create learning plans that meet the individual needs of youth in an afterschool program through the integration of multiple learning domains.
Assessment Strategies
Draw a concept web of the potential activities that integrate multiple learning domains around a topic
Write a recommendation for possible next steps that support moving children’s knowledge to the next level
Write an activity plan related to your selected science trade book
Criteria
Create a concept web of the potential activities that integrate multiple learning domains around the common interest area or topic
Identify an interest area or topic you observed earlier in the course that several children had in common
Determine possible next steps that support moving the children’s knowledge to the next level
Select a book from the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children list
Created an activity plan using your selected book that can be incorporated over the course of a week or more
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Integrate homework and academic supports into your program.
Assessment Strategies
Complete and submit the clarifying expectations activity
Write about the advantages and disadvantages of how your program facilitates the completion of homework
Prepare notes for a discussion of the roles and responsibilities related to homework in afterschool
Write a description of the homework area you created in your program including materials, equipment, space and efficacy
Write a summary of the learning standards or goals for 2 worksheets used in your program
Write a related hands-on, experiential activity idea related to each worksheet
Criteria
Discuss the clarifying expectations activity
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of how your program facilitates the completion of homework
Describe the roles and responsibilities of children and parents in determining homework policy and practice
Describe your role as a tutor or mentor and the skills required
Create a homework area in your program
Identify the learning standard or goal being addressed in a sample of a worksheet used in your program
Identify activities that would support the same learning standard or goal of a worksheet using a hands-on, experiential model
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Integrate aspects of a developmentally appropriate learning plan that supports diverse needs and abilities.
Assessment Strategies
Write comparison of adult-directed, adult-initiated and child-initiated activities
Write review statements, a list of learning domains and number of times used from accompanying program lesson plans
Write a weekly lesson plan
Share your lesson plan with a peer
Write a reflection on the implementation of the weekly lesson plan including assessing efficacy including an assessment of its efficacy
Criteria
Describe the role children should have in program planning
Identify strategies to engage the children in the planning process
Compare and contrast adult-directed, adult-initiated and child-initiated activity
Review lesson plans for your program site from the previous month
List the learning domains and the number of times activities in each domain were offered in your program lesson plans
Create a weekly lesson plan
Implement a weekly lesson plan
Assess the efficacy of a weekly lesson plan
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Incorporate new elements into After School and Youth Program Credential Portfolio.
Assessment Strategies
Complete required portfolio elements according to portfolio guide
Add required portfolio elements under the appropriate tab
Manage portfolio regularly with required components for eventual submission to the Credential Commission
Criteria
Identify components required for Intentionality in Programming section