Extending Instruction into Afterschool
The best afterschool programs do two things: engage students in fun activities that create a desire to learn and build on what students are learning during the school day. But with large groups and varied ages, accomplishing both of these things is often easier said than done. Through expert training and technical assistance, McREL helps schools develop afterschool programs that provide fun, meaningful, learning opportunities for all students.
PEAK Events
Literacy & Arts
Math & Science
Visit our PEAK website to
learn more about
upcoming events.
PEAK (Practices that Engage and
Attract Kids) afterschool
conferences
As a member of the National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning, each year, McREL hosts a series of two-day conferences that offer in-depth professional development to afterschool practitioners in math & science, arts & literacy, and homework & technology.
Consulting and technical assistance
McREL provides training and technical assistance to teams of after-school administrators and practitioners for all elements of effective, sustainable programs: shared vision, data use and evaluation, sustainability, parent and community partnerships, leadership, professional development, and programming. In addition to providing individual professional development sessions, we can provide a long-term, customized program of assistance to states or districts.
Workshops for Afterschool Program Leaders & Instructors
McREL offers a variety of workshops to help you design and lead effective afterschool programs.
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Workshops for Afterschool Program Leaders
& Instructors
McREL offers a variety of workshops to help you design and lead
effective afterschool programs.
Building Academic
Background Knowledge in Afterschool
McREL research demonstrates that students’ academic background
knowledge—the knowledge, concepts, and vocabulary they bring to
school—is
one of the most important factors related to their success. During
this workshop, afterschool program leaders and teachers learn how
to use games and engaging strategies to help all students (including
English-language learners) build their academic background
knowledge and vocabulary.
Audience: Administrators,
policy makers, & teachers
Making Afterschool Count: Mathematics Learning in Afterschool
This workshop, which can be
provided as a multi-day session or series of shorter workshops, shows
afterschool program leaders and instructors how to boost student
mathematics achievement through a variety of activities, including
the following:
- Playing engaging, educational math “games.”
- Teaching math through activities students enjoy, such as cooking, sports, or crafts.
- Working with hands-on math tools and manipulatives.
- Developing and supporting student math “talk.”
- Encouraging mathematical
problem solving.
Audience: Administrators, policy makers, & teachers
Designing Afterschool
Programs that Work
Research from McREL and
its partners in the National
Partnership for Quality
Afterschool Learning shows
that afterschool programs
can boost student academic
performance while supporting the development of the whole child.
You’ll learn how to design
afterschool programs that
- Offer academic enrichment to raise student achievement.
- Apply best practices of youth development.
- Attract, engage, and retain students of all ages.
Audience: Administrators &
afterschool program staff
Data-Driven Decision
Making & Evaluation for
Afterschool Programs
This workshop helps afterschool program leaders meet their own needs and those
of their funders for useful evaluative information. Participants learn how to
plan focused, practical program evaluations, use logic models to guide program
planning and data collection, and use formative and summative evaluation data
to guide improvements.
Audience: Afterschool
program leaders
Science Inquiry in Afterschool
During this workshop, you’ll
delve into the science portion of the Afterschool Training Toolkit
developed by the National Partnership for Quality Afterschool
Learning that describes the power of using inquiry-based science
activities to engage students and improve their understanding
of challenging science content. Learn more about
- Processes, methods, and tools of learning science through inquiry.
- Ways to begin using inquiry right away in your afterschool program.
- How to encourage students to use what they know to design and conduct afterschool science investigations.
Audience: Administrators &
afterschool program staff
Leading Successful
Afterschool Programs
At the heart of every successful afterschool program
is an effective leader. This is what you’ll learn during
this workshop:
- How to identify different leadership styles and the
impact of each. - Ways to develop leadership skills that improve overall effectiveness.
- How to select and use team-building strategies and activities.
Audience: Administrators &
afterschool program staff
Proposal Development for Afterschool Programs
This nuts-and-bolts session helps afterschool program leaders
write successful grant proposals, including how to
- Develop a comprehensive, strategic plan.
- Put together a winning
proposal writing team. - Identify winning strategies.
- Address all of the (often neglected) basics of good proposals.
- Define appropriate goals, objectives, and measures.
- Accurately budget your project.
Audience: Afterschool
program leaders