|
About
the Afterschool Advisor | |
The Afterschool Advisor is a publication of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance for practitioners seeking resources to improve, sustain, and develop their afterschool program. |
|
Get Exclusive Updates from the
IAA on Facebook!
| |
|
|
|
|
Healthy Kids Out of School
|
An initiative of ChildObesity180, Healthy Kids Hub was created to connect out-of-school-time program staff and volunteers with resources to help them overcome financial and logistical barriers and implement these three guiding principles.
|
|
Summer Learning Participation Increases
|
This month, The Afterschool Alliance (national) released a preview of their 2014 America After 3pm Report, set to be released this October.Highlights include the following statistics:
- Participation in summer learning programs increased from 25% in 2009 to 33% in 2014
- 51% of families surveyed want their kids to participate in summer learning programs
- 86% of parents support public funding for summer learning programs
We're excited about these positive trends and look forward to continued growth of expanded learning opportunities!
|
|
Inclusive STEM Toolkit
|
The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that only 14% of engineers are women and that 5% of STEM workers overall are from underrepresented groups. Role Models Matter wants to change that! They've created a toolkit to help professionals develop skills to engage girls and underrepresented youth in STEM.
More great STEM resources are available from the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council Hub Managers and the STEM Active Learning Community Partners!
|
|
Learn the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
| |
Awareness of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, have on learning and behavior can help out-of-school time providers understand how best to work with children from all backgrounds.
|
|
Federal STEM in Afterschool Legislation
| On July 26, 2014, the "Supporting Afterschool STEM Act" was referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Iowa's Senator Tom Harkin currently chairs this committee.
The bill recognizes afterschool's important role in exciting and inspiring students in STEM, as well as the wide variety of partnerships between schools, community-based organizations, museums, institutions of higher education, and others that make STEM learning in afterschool so relevant and engaging.
For full text of the legislation, click here.
The legislation is expected to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives soon. To share your opinion of this legislation, contact your congressional offices right away! For Iowa contact information click here. |
|
Save the Date for Impact 2015!
| |
Save the Date for Next Year's
Impact After School Conference:
April 23-24, 2015
Ramada Tropics Resort & Conference Center
5000 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50322
Guest rooms will be available at the Ramada for $55 per night (April 22 and 23, 2015). To secure this special rate, call the hotel at
515-278-0271 and mention the Impact After School Conference to make your reservation by April 1, 2015.
Stay tuned for more information on the 2015 agenda and registration in the coming months. We hope to see you next spring!
|
|
Professional Development Opportunities
|
The Iowa Afterschool Alliance keeps a calendar of opportunities regularly updated on our website. Visit it at http://www.iowaafterschoolalliance.org/resources/.
On-Demand Webinars
Blank Park Zoo Educator Workshops
August 6-7, 2014; Mason City, IA
The Blank Park Zoo invites educators and out-of-school time program providers to professional development workshops this summer. Learn lessons and activities for your program that are connected to the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, learn research-based instructional practices, and gain knowledge and ideas that will be useful in your programs. Lessons are flexible, allowing teachers/providers to adjust for students' abilities, and relate to all age groups in several subject areas (science, literacy, mathematics, social studies, and the arts). All workshops are two days, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. One sessions remains this summer:
- August 6-7 - Lime Creek Nature Center, Mason City - Conservation - People and Animals
See workshop descriptions and register here. Cost is $20 per workshop and includes breakfast and lunch each day, materials to use in your program/classroom, and a free Zoo animal program visit for your program/classroom. Teacher license renewal credit is available. With questions, contact Kathy McKee at 515-974-2557515-974-2557 or kamckee@blankparkzoo.net.
EyesOpenIowa Webinar: Classroom Management and Session Planning
August 7, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
With school just around the corner, gather tools for managing your class & planning successful sessions.
For more information and to register, click here.Summer Changes Everything National Conference on Summer Learning
November 17-19, 2014
San Antonio, Texas
At the 2014 Summer Changes Everything™ national conference, the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and their colleagues will focus on the theme of "Accelerating Achievement." Presenters and participants will examine how summer is an accelerator for education priorities such as 3rd grade reading proficiency, college and career readiness, school transitions, STEM education, and more.
Learn more and register here! Beyond School Hours: Every Minute Matters February 18-21, 2015; Orlando, FloridaWhat's the next big thing in education? What'll work right now for your programs? The answers are here, presented with flair via: - Hands-on workshops and pre-conferences led by national experts
- Motivating keynote presentations and panel discussions
- Fascinating educational excursions
- Exhibits unveiling the latest and greatest products and solutions
Learn more about this national professional development opportunity online.
2015 Impact After School Conference
April 23-24, 2015; Des Moines, Iowa
Join other Iowa afterschool professionals for two days of networking, learning, collaborating, and just plain having fun! This year we're moving to a larger venue to accommodate this successful event. Be sure to attend in 2015. You won't want to miss it!
Check the Iowa Afterschool Alliance website for more information in the coming months.
Online Courses for 21CCLC Professionals
Ongoing
Short online courses are available for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program staff through You for Youth, the U.S. Department of Education's website for 21CCLCs. Courses cover topics like Project-Based Learning, Aligning with the School Day, STEM, and Strengthening Partnerships. Each course takes less than an hour and is available 24/7.
|
|
|
Grant Opportunities
|
The MacArthur Foundation Trust Challenge
The Digital Media and Learning Competition is a challenge
to create collaborations or alliances that address existing real-world challenges to trust in connected learning environments. Successful applicants will develop digital tools - apps, badge systems, data management platforms, online learning content, etc. - that engender trust, safety, and privacy in connected learning environments, and that empower learners to connect and learn anywhere, anytime in ways that are equitable, social, participatory, and interest-driven. $1.2 million in grants will be awarded in increments of up to $150,000.
Visit their website to learn more!
Sports-for-All Clinic
Promote fitness and service learning in your community by hosting a Sports-For-All Clinic. VolunTEENnation.org can provide you with funding, support and guidance to host your own sports clinic for youth on the autism spectrum. VolunTEENnation.org is a non-profit corporation formed to inspire, engage and activate youth to get involved and volunteer in the community and provide grants to implement sports programs for youth with special needs led by youth volunteers.
Learn more on their website and click here to apply!
Costco Grants Costco Wholesale specifically focuses on programs supporting children, education and health and human services and is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where they do business. For information on their donation and grant opportunities, visit their charitable giving website. WaysToHelp Youth Grants WaysToHelp awards grants to youth for projects that make a difference in the areas of the environment, democracy and equality, health, or community issues. Applicants must be no older than 19 and the project must be youth-initiated and youth-led. Learn more at WaysToHelp.org and click here for grant application information. BNSF Railway Foundation If your organization or program is in or serves a community near one of BNSF's rail lines, you are likely eligible to apply for one of their grants! Visit their website to learn more and apply. Finance Project Resource Center
Click here for the Finance Project's resource center on finding funding for out-of-school time programs.
Child & Adult Care Food Program
The federal "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act" program provides meals and snacks for school-age youth in afterschool programs. Find out more by visiting the Iowa Department of Education website.
Iowa Grants Guide Online
The Iowa Grants Guide is a web-based directory of Iowa grant-making organizations. Program information only is provided; grant applications are not. Click here for the Iowa Grants Guide
FindYouthInfo.gov Federal Funds Search Engine
Click here to search federal grant opportunities with a tool that lets you filter results by topic, such as Afterschool, Positive Youth Development, or Service Learning.
Spark Grant Finder Tool
This online tool locates national and state-specific grants for physical education, afterschool, early childhood and coordinated school health programs. Search for grants here.
|
|
The Iowa Afterschool Alliance seeks to improve access to high-quality afterschool programs for all Iowa children, youth, and families through policy and partnerships, practice support and outreach and engagement.
To contact the IAA:
Michelle Rich, Iowa Network Coordinator
mrich@sppg.com
515-237-0328
2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 302 West Des Moines, IA 50266
|
|
|
