Resource Database

This archived webinar from the Afterschool Alliance provides information about the recently reauthorized federal CTE law (Perkins V) and the increased ways afterschool programs can help students find meaningful career pathways. The webinar outlines opportunities for afterschool programs in Perkins V and shares experiences from afterschool leaders who are connecting expanded learning to CTE.

Education and partner organizations like afterschool programs have changed their approach and goals for preparing students for success after high school. This blog post from the American Youth Policy Forum reflects on the goals of what is now known as career and technical education (CTE) and how it has evolved. The post highlights successes and also outlines challenges that remain in the field of CTE.

Learn about how one afterschool program used drones to harness technology for student learning. This article from ASCD shares lessons learned in areas such as content integration and community partnerships, and provides tips for implementing a drone program at your afterschool site.

Science Buddies is a K–12 nonprofit that has developed a unique library of quality STEM resources that are free for students, parents, and teachers. These resources include standards-aligned lesson plans, career profiles, hands-on activities, and more than 1,000 project ideas.

Looking for ways to help students master the math in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities? This archived webinar from Click2Science shares strategies for integrating math into afterschool activities. The webinar also provides links to resources and tips for building staff confidence in math.

A new research summary from the Wallace Foundation shares findings from an evaluation of READS, a school-run program that provides students with books and supports to encourage summer reading at home. Evaluating reading skills of 6,000 second- and third-grade students in 59 moderate- to high-poverty schools, the study found that participants gained nearly one month of reading skills. Students in the highest poverty schools made average gains of 1.5 months.

Looking for ways to engage all learners, even those who are reluctant to speak up in groups? This 60-second strategy video from Edutopia shows how to make participation cards that students can use to share their opinion. The cards provide ways for shyer students to join discussions and can also serve as a formative assessment.

Educators are often looking for ways to help students discover internal motivation and their individual path to learning. This research story from Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge project explores ways that educators can help students find their motivating “why.” The article includes an interview with Education Lecturer Todd Rose and provides strategies for helping students develop curiosity and motivation.

How can schools help students feel greater safety, inclusion, and engagement in their education? Creating School Communities of Courage: Lessons from the Field, a new report from the National School Climate Center, is based on a summit that explored this question. Grounded in research on climate, the report is also based on interviews, focus groups, and observations from six school districts who participated in the summit and show promise in this area. The report identifies seven lessons from the field on creating a more positive school climate and lists areas for growth.

Building Equitable, Safe and Supportive Schools: Trauma and Culturally Sensitive Practices for Guidance, a white paper developed by experts from Move This World and American Institutes for Research, explains how trauma-informed and sensitive practices are the core of equitable, safe, and supportive schools. The paper also provides resources and tips educators can use to adopt these practices at schools and in education programs.