Resource Database

Teenagers often socialize online, which can support connections but also cause online social dilemmas where youth have different points of view on a social media post. A new research story by experts with the Harvard Graduate School of Education addresses ways educators can help students navigate online dilemmas. Strategies include identifying the dilemma, discussing feelings, brainstorming possible actions and responses, and planning a response.

Helping stakeholders understand the value and impact of expanded learning programs can be vital to garnering their support. To help advocates communicate key messages about the impact of expanded learning programs, Learning Heroes has developed A Playbook for Educators, Out-of-School Time (OST) Providers, and Advocates. Materials include a video summary of key research insights, a research deck summarizing key findings from research studies, a one-page overview, messaging guidance, and strategies for using.

Y4Y has a new professional development course to help afterschool practitioners support students in exploring career pathways. The course is divided into four parts, an introduction to supporting college and career readiness, implementation strategies, guidance for coaching staff, tools, and links to external resources.

Is your 21st CCLC looking to make the most of your program’s homework help and tutoring time? A new professional development resource from Y4Y helps afterschool practitioners establish and manage effective, student-centered homework sessions that actively engage and support them in learning. Materials include an overview of the topic, podcasts, tools, frequently asked questions, and links to external resources.

Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research projects where volunteers and scientists work together to answer real-world questions. National Geographic has compiled a collection of citizen science resources, including articles, videos, and activities. Educators can browse the resources by grade band and subject.

A growing evidence base suggests that afterschool and summer learning programs can have a positive influence on young people under the right conditions. A new brief from American Institutes for Research offers a potential pathway to understanding how learning and development happen in quality programs. This pathway emphasizes three key competencies—relationships skills, a sense of agency, and identity development—that research suggests can facilitate learning and development in other areas, including academic subjects.

Bullying and cyberbullying threaten students’ physical and emotional safety. A recent webinar from the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse offers information on bullying awareness and prevention, including the different types of bullying; their impact on school violence; and the relationship between bullying, suicide, and the wellbeing of school-age youth. The webinar also includes resources, tactics, and strategies to create safer learning environments.

Checking in with students can provide a way to engage with them and understand how they are feeling. “Building a Better Check-In,” an article from Edutopia, lists strategies for check-ins that foster a greater sense of community and wellness among students.

The U.S. Department of Education has released a new publication that provides information and resources to enhance children and students’ mental health and social and emotional well-being. The resource highlights seven key challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support in early childhood, K–12, and higher education settings, and it presents corresponding recommendations. There are also real-world examples of how advocates can implement the recommendations.

In response to the challenges that youth have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has developed a suite of tools to help them manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness. The tools include a series of graphic-novel style PDFs and videos targeting specific thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that cause stress in the lives of children and youth. The tools are available in English and Spanish.