Resources

The following resources can be useful for continuous improvement of your after school programs:

 
4 Easy Ways to Obtain NASA Educational Materials
  The NASA Office of Education promotes education as an integral component of every major NASA research and development mission. These efforts result in innovative and informative educational materials that engage student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These materials are available in four convenient ways:
 
  1. Access education resources online from NASA's website.
    http://www.nasa.gov/education/materials
  2. Visit a NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC).
    http://www.nasa.gov/education/ercn
  3. Order select materials through OfficeMax.
    http://www.nasa.gov/education/officemax
  4. Purchase materials from the Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE).
    http://www.nasa.gov/education/core
 
A Guide to Developing Exemplary Practices in Afterschool Programs
  The purpose of this guide is to familiarize you with 14 field-tested practices tha make the most difference, provide you with many of the tools you'll need to implement them, and help you measure and manage your progress along the way. Designed for program directors, leadership teams and site directors, it will provide you with a framework for approaching your work and a foundation upon which the outcomes you want can be achieved.
http://www.ccscenter.org
 
Addressing Equity and Diversity: Tools for Change in After School and Youth Programs
 

Developed in partnership with after school providers, this engaging Toolkit provides after school and youth programs with a wide range of resources for addressing equity and diversity in their work. You may download each file individually or may place an order to receive the packaged toolkit for $12.95.
http://www.californiatomorrow.org

 
Afterschool Alliance
  The Afterschool Alliance is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after school programs and advotcating for quality, affordable programs for all children. On its Web site you will find fact sheets about sustainability sources, a searchable database of funding resources, tips for writing proposals, and an action kit to help start an after school program.
http://afterschoolalliance.org
 
Afterschool Library
  The Afterschool Library is an online after school resource created by Collaborative Communications Group. This Web site contains resources that address promising practices, professional development, research and evaluation, public awareness and communications, and financing strategies.
http://publicengagement.com/AfterschoolResources
 
After School Partnerships Office’s Regional Network (CDE)
  Located at the California Department of Education, it is the intent of the Regional Network to develop and provide resources that support safe and educationally enriching environments for children and youths who attend before and after school programs throughout California.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ba
 
Bay Area Partnership for Children and Youth
  This site provides a step-by-step guide for completing your application and designing an after school program on its website. It offers sample program structures, ideas for matching funds, sample job descriptions, sample parent and youth ssurveys to gauge interest in after school, and other resources.
http://www.bayareapartnership.org
 
Beyond the Bell: A Toolkit for Creating Effective Afterschool Practices
  This Toolkit is a practical, easy-to-use resource for after school managers and site coordinators. It features 82 tools for iimplementing successful programs. The 2005 edition of the Toolkit comes with a complimentary CD-Rom, 5 Staff Workbooks, and exclusive access to the Learning Web site.
http://www.learningpt.org
 
C.S. Mott Foundation
  C.S. Mott Foundations’s “Moving Towards Success: Framework for After-School Program” helps guide the thinking and implementation of after school program goals and elements, outlines a broad range of desired participant outcomes to consider, and discusses conditions most suitable for achieving positive results that meet the needs of the after school participants.
http://www.publicengagement.com/Framework
 
California After School Resource Center (CASRC)
 

CASRC is a free one-stop information source for high-quality professional development and instructional resources, technical support links, program administration tools and information about laws and policy to meet the needs of after school programs throughout the state.
http://www.californiaafterschool.org

In addition, after school providers can now participate in the CASRC’s series of Health and Safety Training modules which are available regionally throughout California at no charge. Each of these interactive trainings offers engaging health education activities and resources, as well as techniques for delivering effective health education in the after school setting. The trainings last from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on topic requested and venue. Trainings include:

  • Stop Bullying! Cultivating Student Allies in After School (K-8)
  • Do I Want Soad and Chips? Nutrition & Media Literacy Education (K-8)
  • Mission HEALTH - Achieving Nutrition and Fitness Goals (K-8)
  • Raisins or Roll-Ups... How Do I Decide? (K-8)
  • The Missing Link: Building Personal & Social Skills to Prevent Substance Abuse & Violence (6-12)

For more information on these FREE Health and Safety Training modules, download the CASRC Flyer.

   
California School-Age Consortium
  California School-Age Consortium works to support and advance after school programs and providers throughout California by offering training, resources, advocacy, and information.
http://calsac.org
   
Community Network for Youth Development
  The Community Network for Youth Development works to improve the quality of out-of-school programs for youth. By building on the organization’s assets and experience, CNYD helps programs design and implement solutions to increase the program’s positive impact on youth. See CNYD’s Web site for more information on training workshops, consulting services and other resources.
http://cnyd.org
   
The Finance Project
  The Finance Project is a specialized non-profit research, consulting, technical assistance, and training firm that provides information on funding resources and financing strategies for after school and other youth-servicing programs.
http://www.financeproject.org
   
The Harvard Family Research Project
  Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) strives to promote more effective educational practices, programs, and policies for disadvantaged children and youth by generating, publishing, and disseminating theirs and others' research. The site features HFRP's evaluation periodical, the Evaluation Exchange, which addresses current issues facing program evaluators of all levels, with articles written by the most prominent evaluators in the field.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~hfrp
   
Health and Safety Training for After School Providers
  The California After School Resource Center (CASRC) offers a series of FREE Health Education Training Modules which are available regionally throughout California at no charge. Each of these interactive trainings offers engaging health education activities and resources, as well as techniques for delivering effective health education in the after school setting. The trainings last from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on topic requested and venue.

Trainings include:

  • Stop Bullying! Cultivating Student Allies in After School (K-8)
  • Do I Want Soad and Chips? Nutrition & Media Literacy Education (K-8)
  • Mission HEALTH - Achieving Nutrition and Fitness Goals (K-8)
  • Raisins or Roll-Ups... How Do I Decide? (K-8)
  • The Missing Link: Building Personal & Social Skills to Prevent Substance Abuse & Violence (6-12)

For more information on these FREE Health and Safety Training modules:
http://afterschool.lacoe.edu/documents/CASRC_trainings_092407.pdf

   
Links to Learning: A Curriculum Planning Guide for After School Programs (2005)
Neel, D., School-Age Notes:” Nashville, TN.
  This new curriculum planning guide was developed to assist after school program providers in responding to the call for academics in non-school time, while addressing the full range of children’s developmental needs. The guide provides an overview of learning and child development as they relate to out-of-school time care; offers tools for selecting, planning, developing, and evaluating after school activities; and demonstrates how to link these activities to both learning and uality standards. To order click on this link, National Institute on Out-of School Time.
http://www.niost.org/publications/books.html
   
JPL Virtual Field Trip
  Learn how JPL explores space and studies Earth. Just click on a character and join them for a virtual field trip around our lab.
http://virtualfieldtrip.jpl.nasa.gov/smmk/top
   
The Morning Meeting Book (2002)
Kriete, R., Northeast Foundation for Chlidren, Inc: Turners Falls, MA.
  Ths is a comprehensive user-friendly guidebook with strategies to help educators build community and create a climate of trust, increase student's confidence and investment in learning, improve children's reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The Morning Meeting strategies provide a meaningful context for teaching academic skills, encourage cooperation and inclusion We recommend Amazon.com or visit your local bookstore.
   
NASA / JPL Educator Resource Center
  Educators of all grades can get single copies of a variety of NASA/JPL teaching materials from this site. Materials can be obtained via written request or by visiting in person.
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/resources
 
The National After School Association
  The National After School Association, formerly the National School-Age Care Alliance, is a professional association dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours.
http://www.naaweb.org
 
National Institute on Out of School Time
  For nearly 30 years, the National Institute on Out-of-School (NIOST) Time at Wellesley College has moved the after school field forward through its research, education and training, consultation, and field-building. The NIOST Web site offers information on current research reports and other valuable publications in the out-of-school time field including a workforce development clearinghouse.
http://www.niost.org
 
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
  The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory is dedicated to helping schools and the students they serve reach their full potential. Its Web site includes many resources, including information about the Beyond the Bell® toolkit, which contains practical and easy-to-use information to help plan and implement before-summer, and extended-day programs and activities.
http://www.ncrel.org
   
Our Roots, Our Future: Affirming Culture and Language in After School and Youth Programs (2002)
Bhattacharya, J., Jaramillo, J., Lopez, I., Olsen, L., Scharf, A. and Shah, M., California Tomorrow: Oakland, CA.
  A true resource on culture and language for after school practitioners. Our Roots, Our Future contains inspiring stories of promising practices along with an exclusive set of practical tools and activities to support program reflection and development. Included are the moving voices of youth and an informative framework speaking to the importance of culture and language in the lives of young people. Find out about diversity trends in the field by reading the results of California Tomorrow’s national survey of after school programs. Learn effective strategies for working with English Language Learners, and expand your capacity to support youth of color and young people of all cultures. Available from California Tomorrow for $14.95 at:
http://www.californiatomorrow.org
   
Promising Practices in Afterschool System
  The Promising Practices in Afterschool System is an effort to find and share things that are working in after school programs. The PPAS Web site has information on promising practices, program activities, curriculum and funding.
http://afterschool.org
   
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
  Southwest Educational Development Laboratory is dedicated to solving significant education problems and improving teaching and learning through research, research-based resources, and professional development. On its Web site you can find many resources including Resource Guide for Planning and Operating After-School Programs, which describes readily available and inexpensive resources that support after school programs. Topics include management, communication, programming, community building and collaboration, and developing connections between K-12 educational and after school programs.
http://sedl.org
   
The Space Place
  You can print certain Flash interactive game windows as "print and do" activities.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov
   
Together We’re Better: A Practical Guide to Including Children of ALL Abilities in Out-of-School Time Programs (2005)
Kids Included Together: San Diego, CA.
  This new edition of Together We’re Better, Kids Included Together’s training manual is a workbook designed for use by people who work with children and families in out-of-school time programs. Utilization of this workbook may be the first step your organization takes toward creating an inclusive environment where all children are welcome. The workbook features ten chapters that will equip your staff members to examples which detail actual programs, activities, and ideas implemented in a variety of out-of-school time settings. Order online for $25.00 at:
http://www.kitonline.org/manual.html
   
Tribes: A New Way of Learning and Being Together (2001).
Gibbs, J., CenterSource Systems, LLC.: Sausalito, CA
  Tribes TLC® A New Way of Learning and Being Together blends the fields of group process and cooperative learning; prevention and resiliency; learning theory and school change into a comprehensive meaningful whole. This readable, useable book is not just a set of activities to build community. The authors incorporate the latest research on teaching and learning and illustrate specifically how the Tribes process applies to a variety of school and organizational needs. Most importantly, they help the reader to feel hopeful and proud to be working and learning together with children and with each other. ISBN 0-932762-40-9 To order a copy of Tribes contact: CenterSource Systems LLC (707)838-1061
http://www.tribes.com
   
Youth Development Guide; Engaging Young People in After-School Programming (2001).
Piha, S., et. al. Community Network for Youth Development: San Francisco.
  The Youth Development Guide provides specific and practical advise on strengthening individual staff practices and organizational policies in after school programs to support learning and young people’s healthy development. Each chapter of the Guide offers descriptions of core youth development practices, provide hands on applications on how to encourage and deepen practice, and offers exercises and tools to use with staff members on site. To order go to:
http://www.cnyd.org
   
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