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Does your afterschool program have the WOW factor?
Create a high quality school-age program that is exciting, inviting, and reflects the interests, abilities, and needs of the children. Whether your program operates before or after school, on non-school days, during the summer, or overnight, you can create a dynamic environment where everyone will enjoy spending time.
This book is filled with hundreds of ideas—from setting up a quiet reading nook to tackling clutter—reflecting the authors’ years of experience and hundreds of visits to a variety of school-age programs. It takes you through all of the considerations that affect your program and then lays out a process to help you improve the three dimensions of a school-age environment.
Temporal: Establish schedules, routines, rules, and learning opportunities to meet children’s needs
Interpersonal: Facilitate the relationships and social interactions of children, staff, families, and the greater community
Physical: Create sensory-rich indoor and outdoor spaces
Linda J. Armstrong and Christine A. Schmidt are experienced educational consultants who serve children and youth programs throughout the United States.
“I absolutely love this book. It is truly comprehensive and covers all the important environmental areas in an afterschool setting, including those that impact the wellbeing of children, welcome families, and affect staff. The book, while easy to read, tackles complex issues and factors to help you transform your afterschool program into a place that children want to be as you foster their positive growth, development, and learning.”
—Carole Weisberg, Coordinator, Early Childhood and Youth Education Programs, Charter Oak State College
“‘WOW’ is right! This book lives up to its title and more. It provides all the insight and tools to create a quality environment in an afterschool program. I would highly recommend this book for new and existing programs that are interested in taking their afterschool program to the next level.”
—Teresa Gagnon, Executive Director of Child Care Quality Assurance for the Great Miami Valley YMCA
“I absolutely love this book. It is truly comprehensive and covers all the important environmental areas in an afterschool setting, including those that impact the wellbeing of children, welcome families, and affect staff. The book, while easy to read, tackles complex issues and factors to help you transform your afterschool program into a place that children want to be as you foster their positive growth, development, and learning.”
—Carole Weisberg, Coordinator, Early Childhood and Youth Education Programs, Charter Oak State College
“‘WOW’ is right! This book lives up to its title and more. It provides all the insight and tools to create a quality environment in an afterschool program. I would highly recommend this book for new and existing programs that are interested in taking their afterschool program to the next level.”
—Teresa Gagnon, Executive Director of Child Care Quality Assurance for the Great Miami Valley YMCA
Christine A. Schmidt is the owner of 2 CR Solutions, Ltd., a consulting, training, and technical assistance company for organizations that serve children. She is an approved trainer for the Ohio Quality Rating and Improvement System and has served as an afterschool director, out-of-school-time specialist for the state of Ohio, and accreditation manager for The National AfterSchool Association. Christine presents trainings locally, statewide, and nationally.