After School Curriculum

AfterSchool KidzLit is a reading enrichment program for grades K–8 that is designed for out-of-school settings. Children hear fiction and nonfiction books read aloud or read books independently and make connections between the stories and their own lives.

Working with partners or in groups, children have opportunities to express their feelings and explore big ideas through discussion, drama, art, movement and writing. The program promotes literacy growth and thinking skills and supports social and emotional development.

In AfterSchool KidzLit, leaders use powerful literature and engaging activities to increase children’s enjoyment of reading, build their vocabularies, deepen their thinking and foster their ability to work with others.

In each activity, leaders use a five-part process to build and develop children’s literacy skills. Leaders introduce the story, read and talk about it and help young people see how it relates to their own lives. Throughout this five-part process, children learn to use new words, identify and discuss big ideas, make predictions about text, keep journals, draw pictures, and talk before writing and recording their ideas.

Leaders use a variety of strategies to stimulate ideas and collaboration among the children, including brainstorming, visualizing, partner reading, drawing and incorporating music.

The books and activities in the program develop and deepen core values, including helpfulness, fairness, personal responsibility, perseverance, self-respect and respect for others

AfterSchool KidzMath offers expertly developed games and story guides that help kids practice mathematical concepts in engaging ways and build confidence in their abilities. The cooperative nature of the program fosters children’s ability to make decisions with others, be responsible for their own learning and behavior and have equal time to practice math skills.

The program for grades K–2 and 3–6 provides academic enrichment activities designed specifically for out-of-school settings. It gives children extra practice with the important skills they need to become confident math learners. Children develop mathematically and socially while having fun with cooperative math games and literature-based activities.

AfterSchool KidzMath provides games, books and activities that increase children’s understanding and enjoyment of mathematics. Guidelines help leaders select appropriate games and books that give children experience with important math and social skills. Most importantly, the kids have fun while learning!

KidzMath Games are designed for large and small groups and can be used with a range of ages. They include active games as well as board games and are easy to play and store. Each set provides materials for indoor and outdoor games.

KidzMath Story Guides include popular children’s books and accompanying story guides link mathematics to everyday life. The stories have mathematical themes, represent various cultures and appeal to children’s natural interests. Corresponding activities—including explorations, art, drama, movement and games—extend the mathematical focus in the story and promote a spirit of cooperation and fun.

AfterSchool KidzMath offers considerable support, both for after-school staff with varying levels of experience and for classroom teachers and volunteers who want to build children’s math skills.

The FAB 5® After School Program teaches fundamental nutrition, fitness and health concepts to students through movement-based activities. Detailed lessons provide comprehensive activities using fitness and health content, intentional fitness and motor skill development. The After School Program uses the FAB 5® Characters to build an awareness of the lifestyle choices students make regarding nutrition and physical activity.

The FAB 5^® After School Program teaches fundamental nutrition, fitness and health concepts to students. This comprehensive program includes:

• 48 60-minute lessons comprised of:
• Warm-up/Introduction
• Lesson Focus
• Wrap-up/Cool-down
• Detailed theme guidelines and lesson plans
• Student content introductions written in age-appropriate language
• Articulated goals and objectives for each theme
• Essential vocabulary terms and definitions
• Detailed equipment lists for each lesson and activity
• Formative assessments aligned with content to check for understanding of each lesson
• Alignment with national and state standards
• Subject integration (Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Creative Arts)
• Diagrams that accompany activities and games
• Easy-to-use format for all lessons
• Modified games that provide motor skill development and sport skills practice
• Fun activities that provide students of all abilities with opportunities to participate

The Quirkles^® are 26 imaginary scientists that help children develop a love and appreciation of science and literacy. Designed for shared reading and activities for children as young as preschool, the Quirkles® will also engage children through upper elementary. Children read the stories and then do the experiments. The science concepts align with national and state science standards, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

Conscious Discipline^® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. It is based on current brain research, child development information and developmentally appropriate practices. Conscious Discipline® has been specifically designed to make changes in the lives of adults first. This research-based behavior management curriculum model empowers staff to use everyday conflicts to teach children life skills and encourage prosocial behaviors while increasing their own social and emotional awareness

The Seven Skills of Discipline are the only skills we need to transform these everyday discipline issues into teaching moments. These moments are our opportunity to teach children the social-emotional and communication skills necessary to manage themselves, resolve conflict, prevent bullying and develop prosocial behaviors.

The seven skills are Composure, Encouragement, Assertiveness, Choices, Empathy, Positive Intent and Consequences.

The seven skills emerge from the foundation of the Seven Powers for Conscious Adults. As we become more conscious of our reactions to conflict, we can choose a different response. The seven skills teach you to respond to conflict in a way that helps children move from the resistant, lower centers of their brain to the more cooperative, higher centers.

Conscious Discipline’s original application is in the classroom, but these methods apply seamlessly to all human interactions.