Catalog

Catalogs

Title	Duration (hours)	Description
Building Relationships with School Personnel	2.00	School-age programs and schools share a mutual goal of supporting the growth, development, and learning of school-age children. Over 50% of all school-age programs nation-wide are housed in school facilities. When school-age programs are housed in school facilities, it is essential for staff in school-age programs to establish and maintain a positive relationship with school personnel. This makes it possible for schools and programs to work together to support the needs of the whole child. Staff can develop successful partnerships with school personnel by cultivating an understanding of the needs, interests, and goals of school personnel and using effective strategies, tools, and systems to build a spirit of positive collaboration and communication.
Commitment to Quality in School-Age Programs	2.00	National, state, and local organizations are working to educate the public about quality school-age childcare services and to assist school-age childcare professionals achieve quality programming in their communities. It is essential for today’s school-age professionals to be aware of the national and state organizations, research, and practices that focus on the development of quality school-age childcare programs. This makes it possible for school-age professionals to learn about the dimensions of quality programs and to participate in the important process of continuous improvement of their own programs.
Creating and Maintaining Healthy School-Age Environments	2.00	Keeping school-age children healthy is a major priority for school-age programs. This requires giving careful attention to setting up the environment in a way that promotes healthy habits, and using effective strategies for monitoring and maintaining a hygienic environment. Because school-age children are growing towards independence, it is also important to help them develop habits and behaviors for living a healthy life-style.
Creating and Maintaining Safe School-Age Environments	2.00	Keeping school-age children safe during out-of-school hours is a top priority for school-age programs. This requires giving careful attention to setting up the program environment in a way that promotes safety, and using effective strategies for monitoring and maintaining a safe environment. Because school-age children are growing towards independence, it is also important for staff to help them develop habits and behaviors that will keep them safe from harm as they participate in program experiences. Promoting and protecting children's safety is one of the major responsibilities of staff in school-age programs.
Creating and Managing Budgets in School-Age Programs	2.00	When program budgets are developed through a careful, step-by-step process, they become valuable planning tools. By using effective budget planning tools and strategies, school-age care professionals can make realistic projections about the programs financial stability, and design strategies for generating and allocating resources to support the programs vision and mission. It is important for school-age care professionals to understand that the budget process is ongoing. It involves linking financial goals to program goals, identifying program priorities, allocating resources effectively, using reliable methods for calculating potential expenses and revenues, monitoring performance against projections made, and making needed changes and adjustments for the future.
Creating Community Collaborations	2.00	Across the country, more and more communities are forming community collaborations to address the out-of-school needs of children and youth of all ages. When different segments of the community join together, share ideas, and pool their resources and efforts to create out-of-school time initiatives, children and youth benefit. What one organization or program may not be able to accomplish alone is often achievable when partnerships and collaborations among diverse groups and individuals are formed. When school-age care professionals are knowledgeable about what it takes to create and sustain successful collaborations, they can play an important leadership role in creating out-of-school time initiatives and programs that will meet the needs of children and youth in their communities now and in the future.
Creating Successful Clubs, Special Events, and Field Trips in School-Age Programs	2.00	Children who regularly attend school-age programs need many opportunities to participate in activities that help them connect with their communities and work together to build on their interests, talents, and abilities. Clubs, special events, and field trips are ideal vehicles for providing these opportunities. When staff know how to work with children to plan and implement these activities, children develop a sense of program ownership that helps them become productively engaged in a variety of meaningful activities that support their development.
Current Trends and Issues in Out-of-School Time Programs: Funding & Support	0.67	It is important for school-age care professionals to understand how the field has developed since its inception, and to be knowledgeable about the current status of the field of school-age care. With this knowledge and understanding, it is possible for school-age care professionals to participate in shaping the field as it grows in the future. In this course, we will explore funding and support issues in out-of-school time programs.
Current Trends and Issues in Out-of-School Time Programs: Growth & Change	0.67	It is important for school-age care professionals to understand how the field has developed since its inception, and to be knowledgeable about the current status of the field of school-age care. With this knowledge and understanding, it is possible for school-age care professionals to participate in shaping the field as it grows in the future. In this course, we will explore growth and change in out-of-school time programs.
Current Trends and Issues in Out-of-School Time Programs: Needs & Benefits	0.67	It is important for school-age care professionals to understand how the field has developed since its inception, and to be knowledgeable about the current status of the field of school-age care. With this knowledge and understanding, it is possible for school-age care professionals to participate in shaping the field as it grows in the future. In this course, we will explore needs and benefits in out-of-school time programs.
Designing Effective Indoor Play and Learning Environments for School-Age Programs	2.00	Planning effective environments is the first step to planning an effective program. When environments are attractive, interesting, and comfortable, they provide a backdrop for a varied program that can address the developmental needs of school-age children. The look and feel of well-planned environments send messages that let children know they are welcome and valued. They are inviting and encourage children to get involved and stay engaged with program activities and experiences.
Developing Activities That Encourage Creativity and Cognitive Development	2.00	Children who regularly attend school-age programs need many opportunities to engage in activities that will help them develop their creative potential and apply their emerging thinking abilities and skills. To support children’s needs, it is essential for school-age staff to understand the creative process, and the relationship of cognitive development to creativity. With this knowledge and understanding, staff can design and implement a program that encourages a sense of wonder as children explore their environment, fosters creative imagination, and enhances children’s ability to apply reasoning skills appropriately as they develop ideas and encounter challenges, problems, and opportunities.
Developing Activities That Support Character Development and Promote Social Interaction	2.00	School-age programs can provide children with many opportunities to work on character development. Staff who are knowledgeable about character development can create program experiences that help individual children bring out their best inner qualities as they interact with peers and adults outside the family. Staff can also use this knowledge to help children make positive contributions to the program, their school, their community, and to the world beyond their community.
Developing and Implementing Effective Indoor Interest Areas	2.00	In order to operate an effective school-age program environment, it is essential for staff to know how to design, set up, and operate a variety of different interest areas that meet the developmental needs of school-age children. Effective interest areas are multi-dimensional; they provide a wide variety of activity options within the area. Effective interest areas provide children with opportunities to work and play independently on their own or with others. They also provide a setting for focused, staff-led activities designed to introduce children to new concepts and skills. Staff in quality school-age programs know how to work with colleagues and children to define, develop, and manage a wide variety of interest areas.
Developing Effective Outdoor Environments and Interest Areas: Assessing Space and Planning Activities	1.00	School-age children need daily opportunities to exercise, relax, and participate in a wide range of outdoor activities. The hours children spend in after school programs are often the best hours of the day for getting fresh air and enjoying the outdoors while it's still daylight. School-age programs can provide safe, secure settings where children can enjoy the outdoors. In this course, we will explore how to assess space and plan activities in outdoor environment and interest areas.
Developing Effective Outdoor Environments and Interest Areas: Moving Indoor Interest Areas Outside	1.00	School-age children need daily opportunities to exercise, relax, and participate in a wide range of outdoor activities. The hours children spend in after school programs are often the best hours of the day for getting fresh air and enjoying the outdoors while it's still daylight. School-age programs can provide safe, secure settings where children can enjoy the outdoors. In this course, we will explore strategies for moving indoor interest areas into outdoor environments.
Exploring Developmental Needs and Characteristics: Age Group 11 to 12	0.67	Certain developmental needs and traits are associated with younger school-age children, while others are typical of older school-age children and youth. While the differences between school-age children of different ages are not clear-cut, there are some general traits and tasks that are often associated with younger (ages 5-7), middle (ages 8-10), and older (ages 11-12) school-age children and youth. In this course, we will explore the needs and characters of children ages 11 to 12, to help staff plan appropriate activities and guidance strategies.
Exploring Developmental Needs and Characteristics: Age Group 5 to 7	0.67	Certain developmental needs and traits are associated with younger school-age children, while others are typical of older school-age children and youth. While the differences between school-age children of different ages are not clear-cut, there are some general traits and tasks that are often associated with younger (ages 5-7), middle (ages 8-10), and older (ages 11-12) school-age children and youth. In this course, we will explore the needs and characters of children ages 5 to 7, to help staff plan appropriate activities and guidance strategies.
Exploring Developmental Needs and Characteristics: Age Group 8 to 10	0.67	Certain developmental needs and traits are associated with younger school-age children, while others are typical of older school-age children and youth. While the differences between school-age children of different ages are not clear-cut, there are some general traits and tasks that are often associated with younger (ages 5-7), middle (ages 8-10), and older (ages 11-12) school-age children and youth. In this course, we will explore the needs and characters of children ages 8 to 10, to help staff plan appropriate activities and guidance strategies.
Exploring Effective Schedules, Diverse Activity Formats, Planning Tools, and Staff Roles	2.00	Flexible schedules make it possible to provide a varied program of activities that support the developmental needs and interests of school-age children. By establishing a flexible schedule, school-age staff can plan and implement a variety of different activity formats. To develop a balanced program, it is important for school-age staff to take a systematic approach to both short-term and long-range planning. Staff can use a variety of planning tools to plan different types of activities. To implement a diverse program of activities, it is essential for school-age staff to recognize and use a wide variety of roles as they interact with children throughout the program day.
Exploring Ethics in School-Age Care: Focus on a Professional Code of Ethics	2.00	According to Frank Loewenberg and Ralph Dolgoff, developing a code of ethics is a significant stage for any profession. "For most American occupational groups the development of a code of ethics coincided, more or less, with the decision to formalize the transformation of the occupation into a profession." The transformation to a profession allows those working in the profession continuity and heightened sense of purpose. It allows those outside of the profession to realize the integrity and importance of the profession. When SAC/OST professionals develop, adopt, and adhere to a Code of Ethics, they are guided by underlying principles that represent the values of the field. These underlying principles help them determine appropriate courses of action when they face ethical issues as they work with children, parents, colleagues, and community members.
Exploring Four Areas of School-Age Development: Cognitive Development	0.50	One of the most helpful ways to gain an understanding of the needs and interests of youth between 5 and 12 is to examine their development from four different perspectives: 1) Physical Development, 2) Cognitive Development, 3) Social Development, and 4) Emotional Development. In this course, we will explore the cognitive development perspective.
Exploring Four Areas of School-Age Development: Emotional Development	0.50	One of the most helpful ways to gain an understanding of the needs and interests of youth between 5 and 12 is to examine their development from four different perspectives: 1) Physical Development, 2) Cognitive Development, 3) Social Development, and 4) Emotional Development. In this course, we will explore the emotional development perspective.
Exploring Four Areas of School-Age Development: Physical Development	0.50	One of the most helpful ways to gain an understanding of the needs and interests of youth between 5 and 12 is to examine their development from four different perspectives: 1) Physical Development, 2) Cognitive Development, 3) Social Development, and 4) Emotional Development. In this course, we will explore the physical development perspective.
Exploring Four Areas of School-Age Development: Social Development	0.50	One of the most helpful ways to gain an understanding of the needs and interests of youth between 5 and 12 is to examine their development from four different perspectives: 1) Physical Development, 2) Cognitive Development, 3) Social Development, and 4) Emotional Development. In this course, we will explore the social development perspective.