Afterschool Quality Standards Project

Quarterly Newsletter

Truman Pierce Institute

January - March 2023

Spotlight on the Standards

The Rock Star You're Ignoring: How Afterschool Staff Can Take Your Class to the Next Level

by Eva Jo Meyers

In this article, Meyers offers insight on how her perspective changed when she transitioned from a career as a classroom teacher to a career as an afterschool professional.

"I began to see that there were endless opportunities for teachers to work with afterschool staff; these partnerships and collaborations had the power to vastly improve the support available to students—and our school community as a whole. As part of the growing village around our children, I could see teachers’ potential to create a mutually beneficial relationship that dissolves the line between who is an “educator” and who is not.

When we break down the barriers between “school day” and “afterschool,” we are taking a giant step towards being in full service to our students and families."

STEM ACTIVITIES

Tinker Kit Educators' Guide

Boston Children's Museum

"Tinkering is the playful relative of the more serious activity of engineering. Engineering starts with a problem to be solved: 'We need a bridge' or 'We need a house to live in.' Tinkering starts with much simpler questions: 'What can I do with this?' or 'How does this work?'”

"Encouraging children to tinker gives them the skills to be creative problem solvers out in the world. Tinkerers make great discoveries, small and large. Tinkerers are inspired by a problem they identify and want to solve. These problems range from everyday and personal dilemmas ('I’m hungry but only have a few ingredients. What can I make?') to complex and global challenges ('Oil spills are difficult to clean up. I want to design a new way to fix them.'). Children who are encouraged from an early age to tinker and solve their own problems develop a different way of thinking about the world. They understand experimentation, testing and failing."

"A child who tinkers

• Does not give up easily when a challenge gets difficult
• Thinks creatively
• Is self-sufficient
• Can fix things that have broken
• Is a creative problem solver across a range of issues"

Staff Support

The Practice of Being On Purpose

by Kristin Stayer, VP of Engagement and Educator Experiences at Mizzen by Mott

"January is National Be On Purpose Month. Sticking to our New Year resolutions is often challenging, but, having a month dedicated to staying on purpose can help remind us of the commitments we’ve made."

"National Be On Purpose Month can serve as a time for educators to reflect on our role in mentoring young people. It's a time to think about what it means to be purposeful in our work and how to infuse that sense of purpose into every aspect of the learning experience." 

Publix Supermarkets Charities

Supporting nonprofit organizations throughout the Southeast

Focus areas include:

• supporting education
• encouraging youth

Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Allow about eight weeks for review and processing.