Catalog

Catalogs

Title	Duration (hours)	Description
Exploring Individual Differences in School-Age Children: Implications for Programming	2.00	One of the most significant challenges for staff in school-age programs is learning how to identify, manage, and respond appropriately to individual differences in a group setting. Some differences among children are the result of inborn characteristics and traits (e.g., physical characteristics, temperament, talents, race). Other differences are the result of external factors (e.g., the environment) or are cultivated as the child grows and develops (e.g., interests, skills, knowledge). The diverse needs, characteristics, interests, abilities, and skills of school-age children require a flexible atmosphere that supports diversity and choice for children with varying capacities for independent action. Staff who understand and appreciate individual differences in children are better equipped to plan and implement program experiences that help individual children grow and flourish in a group setting.
Exploring the Continuum of Developmental Tasks of School-Age Children from 5 to 12	2.00	Understanding the continuum of ongoing development between the ages of 5 and 12 provides the foundation for planning and implementing successful school-age programs. When staff know and understand the developmental tasks of school-age children, they can work with children and colleagues to design effective environments, plan engaging activities, set appropriate expectations and limits, and guide children’s behavior effectively.
Growing as a Professional in School-Age Programs: Opportunities for Professional Development	1.00	An important part of professionalism in the school-age field is continued personal growth and development in relation to the field. This requires using appropriate resources and strategies to further individual professional development. In this course, we will explore professional development opportunities for school-age staff.
Growing as a Professional in School-Age Programs: Professionalism in School-Age Programs	1.00	In the search for a definition of professionalism in school-age programs, it is helpful to examine the common characteristics of professionalism in other fields. The next step is identifying qualities and characteristics associated with professional behavior in the school-age field itself. As a school-age professional, it is also important to understand the importance of acting as a public policy advocate on behalf of school-age children and their families.
Growing as a Professional: Health and Stress Management: Nurturing and Maintaining Good Health	1.00	Every day, school-age care professionals dedicate themselves to caring for and nurturing children, youth, and families. Often, school-age care professionals are so dedicated to serving others, they neglect their own needs. When this happens, school-age staff can experience stress that causes them to become overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, dissatisfied with job responsibilities, and unappreciated. When school-age care professionals maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle, they are in a much better position to face the challenges of supporting and nurturing children and families with positive energy, enthusiasm, patience, and empathy. In this course, we will explore ways to nurture and maintain good health.
Growing as a Professional: Health and Stress Management: Strategies for Coping with Stress	1.00	Every day, school-age care professionals dedicate themselves to caring for and nurturing children, youth, and families. Often, school-age care professionals are so dedicated to serving others, they neglect their own needs. When this happens, school-age staff can experience stress that causes them to become overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, dissatisfied with job responsibilities, and unappreciated. When school-age care professionals maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle, they are in a much better position to face the challenges of supporting and nurturing children and families with positive energy, enthusiasm, patience, and empathy. In this course, we will examine strategies to help staff cope with stress.
Guiding School-Age Children in Groups: MAPs and DDADA	1.00	When large numbers of children are involved in the program, it is challenging to create and deliver school-age program activities that can meet the needs of all children. The key to success is taking a systematic approach to program planning. It is important for staff to understand how to select appropriate activity options, and use effective management strategies that make it possible to offer a balanced variety of simultaneous activity options. This understanding will help staff plan and implement a program that effectively supports, nurtures, and guides individual differences, and fosters positive interaction among children in groups.
Guiding School-Age Children in Groups: Supervision and Boundaries	1.00	When large numbers of children are involved in the program, it is challenging to create and deliver school-age program activities that can meet the needs of all children. The key to success is taking a systematic approach to program planning. It is important for staff to understand how to select appropriate activity options and use effective management strategies that make it possible to offer a balanced variety of simultaneous activity options. This understanding will help staff plan and implement a program that effectively supports, nurtures, and guides individual differences and fosters positive interaction among children in groups.
Guiding the Behavior of Individual Children	2.00	This knowledge and understanding will help students develop strategies for creating programs that encourage individual children to develop self-discipline and self-direction, establish positive relationships with others, and exhibit respect for program materials and equipment and the rights of others.
Helping Children with ADD Succeed In School-Age Programs: Characteristics and Needs of Children	1.00	Children with ADD regularly experience struggles and challenges at home, in school, and in the community. Without the help of knowledgeable, understanding, and supportive people, they often experience multiple failures and frustrations on a daily basis. In this course, we will explore characteristics and needs of children with ADD.
Helping Children with ADD Succeed In School-Age Programs: Strategies and Techniques for Staff	1.00	Children with ADD regularly experience struggles and challenges at home, in school, and in the community. Without the help of knowledgeable, understanding, and supportive people, they often experience multiple failures and frustrations on a daily basis. In this course, we will examine strategies and techniques that staff can use when working with children with ADD.
Human Relations Skill Development: Cultivating Communication Skills	0.67	Being able to communicate effectively is an essential human relations skill for school-age care professionals. To be a good communicator, school-age professionals need to understand the components of communication, and how the communication process works. They need to identify barriers to clear communication, and develop strategies for minimizing or eliminating barriers to communication. School-age care professionals also need to work cooperatively with other team members to solve problems and conflicts. In this course, we will explore strategies for cultivating good communication skills.
Human Relations Skill Development: Focus on Leadership Styles and Conflict Management: Managing Conflict	1.00	Research indicates that those in positions of leadership use a variety of different leadership and management styles. A person’s effectiveness as a leader is often directly linked to his or her leadership style. It is important for school-age care professionals to be aware of the assumptions and characteristics of different leadership styles. Knowledge of different leadership styles can help school-age care professionals reflect on their own leadership style, and assess its effectiveness. Leaders also use a variety of different styles when it comes to managing and resolving conflicts. By understanding how to diagnose the causes and dynamics of conflict, and understanding the characteristics of different conflict management styles, school-age care professionals can choose the best conflict management strategy for each situation.
Human Relations Skill Development: Good Communication Skills	0.67	Being able to communicate effectively is an essential human relations skill for school-age care professionals. To be a good communicator, school-age professionals need to understand the components of communication and how the communication process works. They need to identify barriers to clear communication and develop strategies for minimizing or eliminating barriers to communication. School-age care professionals also need to work cooperatively with other team members to solve problems and conflicts. In this course, we will explore good communication skills.
Human Relations Skill Development: Leadership Styles and Conflict Management: Leadership Styles	1.00	Research indicates that those in positions of leadership use a variety of different leadership and management styles. A person’s effectiveness as a leader is often directly linked to his or her leadership style. It is important for school-age care professionals to be aware of the assumptions and characteristics of different leadership styles. Knowledge of different leadership styles can help school-age care professionals reflect on their own leadership style, and assess its effectiveness.
Human Relations Skill Development: Team Building Skills and Strategies	0.67	Being able to communicate effectively is an essential human relations skill for school-age care professionals. To be a good communicator, school-age professionals need to understand the components of communication, and how the communication process works. They need to identify barriers to clear communication, and develop strategies for minimizing or eliminating barriers to communication. School-age care professionals also need to work cooperatively with other team members to solve problems and conflicts. In this course, we will explore skills and strategies for team building.
Involving School-Age Children in Activity Planning and Implementation	2.00	As they grow and change and move toward independence, school-age children and youth become very interested in planning and directing their own activities. This means it’s very important for staff to think of ways to involve them in program planning and implementation. By planning activities WITH children instead of FOR them, and engaging them in creating the program environment, staff can help children develop a feeling of ownership of the program—a positive feeling that the program belongs to them."
Making Plans and Developing Policies	2.00	Planning and policy-making are closely linked to the development of quality school-age care programs. When school-age staff are skilled as planners and policy-makers, they can use these skills to design and implement high quality programs that benefit children, youth, and families. It is essential for school-age care professionals to recognize that it is important for policies to grow out of a vision of quality, and a mission that supports that vision. Therefore, creating a vision for quality, developing a program philosophy, and writing a clear mission statement are the first steps in program planning. It is also important for school-age care professionals to use a systematic process to develop goals and objectives, set priorities for accomplishing goals and objectives, and develop goal-based action plans that will help the school-age program achieve its mission. High quality school-age programs are led by professionals who understand how to use effective strategies for creating a continuous cycle of planning and evaluation that supports ongoing program improvement.
Observation Skills: What's Going on Here?	2.00	Observation forms the basis of much of what people plan and do every day. As staff work with children in school-age programs, observation takes a more formal role. High quality school-age care is based on the principle of developmentally appropriate practices. Developmentally appropriate practices combine general knowledge of child development with specific knowledge of each individual child. Conducting objective observations help staff learn about each child's development, and provides staff with valuable information to use in planning and implementing appropriate program experiences and in developing effective guidance strategies.
Observing Children in School-Age Programs	2.00	Conducting and documenting objective, accurate observations of children in school-age programs is an important professional responsibility of school-age care professionals. Two useful tools for structuring observations are developmental checklists and anecdotal records. Both tools provide rich information that help staff learn about children’s development. When school-age care staff conduct regular observations of children’s development, and prepare objective documentation of these observations, they are able to discover the uniqueness of each child, and provide developmentally appropriate guidance and support for all children in the program.
Providing Homework Support: Developing a Homework Support Program	1.00	Research indicates there are many different ways to provide effective homework support in school-age programs. When planning a homework support program, it is important for school-age programs to develop a homework philosophy that is consistent with the program’s overall philosophy, and reflects current research on best practices for providing homework help. The homework philosophy should also reflect the needs of parents and children in the program, and strike a balance between homework needs and other experiences that help children grow and learn out-of-school. In this course, we will examine how to develop a homework support program.
Providing Homework Support: Types of Homework Support	1.00	Research indicates there are many different ways to provide effective homework support in school-age programs. When planning a homework support program, it is important for school-age programs to develop a homework philosophy that is consistent with the program’s overall philosophy, and reflects current research on best practices for providing homework help. The homework philosophy should also reflect the needs of parents and children in the program, and strike a balance between homework needs and other experiences that help children grow and learn out-of-school. In this course, we will explore the various types of homework support.
School-Age Care as a Family Service: Emphasis on Planning Opportunities for Family Involvement	2.00	The foundation for getting parents involved in school-age programs is to keep parents well informed about what is happening in the program. Quality programs also provide parents with opportunities to make suggestions and give feedback on program services through suggestion boxes, feedback forms, and surveys. When parents are encouraged to have input in the program, they develop trust and confidence in the program, and feel a sense of pride and ownership. They are more likely to participate as resourceful partners with program staff when they know their ideas are welcome and valued. Finally, because parents are all different from each other, it's important to provide many different opportunities for them to connect with the program. Staff in quality school-age programs recognize that all parents don't have to be involved in the same way.
School-Age Care as a Family Service: Emphasis on Relationship Building	2.00	Strong, positive, cooperative relationships with parents and families are at the heart of quality school-age programs. Unfortunately, positive relationships with parents and families are not always easy to achieve because parents, like children, have widely varying personalities; some are easier to reach than others. Parents in school-age programs have different ideas, values, concerns, knowledge, pressures, lifestyles, plans, dreams, resources, and constraints. Staff who are successful in building positive relationships begin by recognizing the importance of accepting parents as the most important people in children’s lives, regardless of differences among them. They understand that staff attitudes toward parents can have a strong effect on whether or not staff can establish positive relationships with parents. Staff in quality programs make a commitment to learning as much as possible about parents’ needs, interests, wants, and concerns and develop effective strategies for making positive connections with parents.
Sharing Information with Parents and Other Professionals: Communication Tools	1.00	School-age children work on many important developmental tasks during their out-of-school hours. One of the important responsibilities of school-age care staff is to help parents stay in touch with how their children are growing and developing during program hours. In this course, we will explore tools used to communicate with families about their children.