Archive - 2021 Illinois 21st CCLC Virtual Spring Conference
May 6–7, 2021
Online
Description
The conference is designed to engage Illinois 21st CCLC grantees, their program partners, program evaluators, and other afterschool professionals in conversations about best practices and strategies that support student learning and the implementation of high-quality afterschool programs. The conference is organized in three major strands comprising topics integral to our work of developing high-quality afterschool programs:
- Academics Afterschool
- Continuous Improvement
- Afterschool Enrichment
Conference Objectives
- To draw on the knowledge and experience of Illinois 21st CCLCs
- To share evidence-based practices and emerging promising practices that support 21st CCLCs in achieving their program goals and meeting state program requirements
- To create opportunities for networking and to increase communication across 21st CCLC programs
Handouts
Presentations
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Opening Session and Keynote Presentation Student Performance Welcome and Greetings YOU MATTER You matter to so many people—to yourself, your students, your colleagues, your families and relationships, and to your community and the world. However, sometimes it all seems so overwhelming, and we disconnect or simply forget how incredible we are. This keynote session will inspire you to own your awesomeness and will boldly remind you just how much and why you matter. Get ready for a highly interactive and life-changing experience. You matter. |
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| What Staff Should Know About the 21st CCLC Program Kenya Davis, Principal Consultant, Wellness Department, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Springfield, IL The success of the 21st CCLC program is the responsibility of the entire afterschool staff. During this session, we will focus on what staff should know about the 21st CCLC program regarding the importance of good recordkeeping and building strong partnerships with program stakeholders. |
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| Supporting the Whole Child Ashley Howard, Resource Coordinator, Gads Hill Center, Chicago, IL Gads Hill Center strives to provide cohesive, holistic educational enrichment by attending to students’ cognitive and social-emotional learning as well as their development in the arts, STEM, and physical education. In this session we will consider the importance of using data, parent and civic engagement, and the entire school community to provide a holistic education experience that improves the overall wellness of the child, the family structure, and the surrounding community. We will explore how to lead students to become advocates of their emotional needs, narrators of their own experiences, and catalysts of change for their communities. |
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A Year of Unintended Outcomes The word of the year for many of us has been “pivot.” Planned activities have changed, and expected outcomes, indicators, and measures have been set aside. The usual measures of the statewide objectives, such as students’ improved academic achievement and changes in classroom behavior, are either not available, not applicable, or not reflective of what has happened this year. In this session, we will share alternative outcomes that 21st CCLC programs may want to capture and celebrate, such as parent engagement and student retention. We will also discuss the importance of documenting implementation strategies and reflecting on what you have learned that can be incorporated into programming in the “new normal.” |
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| Including Students With Disabilities Jenn Conner, Lead Education Specialist, You for Youth (Y4Y), Mt. Laurel, NJ Everyone benefits when your 21st CCLC program embraces all students, which you’re closer to achieving when you include students with disabilities. In this session, the You for Youth (Y4Y) Technical Assistance (TA) Team will break down how critical legislation relates to the students in your program. We’ll also offer guidance about what your program can do globally to embrace and prepare for inclusion, discuss how to evaluate and modify the accessibility of program spaces for diverse student needs, and provide you with strategies and resources for supporting specific students. |
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| Beyond the Page Afterschool Program: Read Aloud as a Springboard to Inquiry Maria Walther, Consultant/Retired First Grade Teacher, Indian Prairie School District 204, Aurora, IL How do we get kids jazzed up about reading? We select texts and ideas that spark their interest and show them all of the amazing places books can take them. Join two literacy educators to learn about an afterschool literacy program designed to connect students in grades 1–5 with a wide range of stories. Hear how they enriched each book with hands-on, minds-on activities intended to get learners talking, thinking critically, and wondering about their world. |
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Developing and Implementing a Safety Training Plan Are your program staff clear on roles and expectations during various emergencies? Are program students and families aware of and ready to implement set safety procedures? This session will help program directors, site coordinators, and other program leadership implement and revise existing organizational safety plans based on the needs of your program. Learn about building your program’s capacity to respond effectively to emergencies. We will provide strategies for implementing your safety plan and safety training plan in ways that are sensitive to the emotional and mental health needs of children, staff, and families. |
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Leading Behavior Management Training With Your Staff In this session, you will receive a tool that will guide you through facilitating a staff training on appropriate behavior management. The tool, created by the presenter, is used by youth development programs across the country and is adaptable to best practices set by each site. Hear tips and tricks on how to prepare for the training and implement best practices, see examples of the tool’s application, and get advice on how to debrief and start planning for your next training. |
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Funding Urgency: Planning For Today And Tomorrow The 2021 program year is not one that we will soon forget. As our attention turns to 2022, are you looking for ideas to spend down funds? Want to know what others are doing? Join the 21st CCLC Community of Practice facilitators to discuss good investments of the 21st CCLC funds, including spend-down options that support this year’s summer programming and planning for your FY2022 program. Learn about budget tools and how stakeholder feedback can be used to re-engage students in afterschool. |
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Hands-on Afterschool STEM Clubs: To Zoom or Not to Zoom In this presentation we will share how we developed afterschool clubs and a summer camp that incorporate STEM activities. In addition, we will show how we facilitated hands-on activities and worked with community and business partnerships to take the program into a virtual format. The session will end with a group share of how participants have designed family engagement activities focused on STEM. Let’s learn from each other! |
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Meeting Students Where They Are: Building a Culturally Responsive Program Developing authentic, culturally responsive afterschool programs can boost engagement, spark students’ desire to learn, and improve learning outcomes. But what approaches will establish inclusion, develop positive attitudes toward learning, increase meaning, and build student confidence to inspire them to succeed? First, we must know our students. An experienced site coordinator and project director will share the approaches that have succeeded in their 21st CCLC program. And one of the program’s students will share the youth perspective. |
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Assessing Program Effectiveness With Y4Y Calling all 21st CCLC program leaders! Join the U.S. Department of Education’s You for Youth (Y4Y) Technical Assistance (TA) Team as we demonstrate how to use the continuous improvement cycle as a means of determining program effectiveness. After completing this session, you’ll leave with an answer to the question, “Is my program effective?” During the session we’ll explore a variety of tools available from Y4Y that can support programs in gathering data, understanding student and community needs, and evaluating the success of programs. You’ll leave this session empowered to evaluate and improve your 21st Century program using evidence-based practices. |
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Our Youth Matter – EMM K–12 Resources Our youth are intelligent, talented, caring, innovative, creative, resilient and so much more. Let’s help our youth embrace and value who they are, understand and practice how they can support and celebrate others, and work together to contribute to creating a world that matters. Join us and practice using engaging tools and meaningful activities that foster SEL and help our youth connect to the vital roles they play in our programs, communities, and world. |