The Y4Y Insider, December 2020: Expect the Unexpected

The Y4Y Insider - December 2020

New Content on Y4Y

Is your 21^st CCLC program intentional in welcoming all students, including those with disabilities? In Y4Y’s new course, Including Students With Disabilities, you’ll visit sites around the “All-In Playground” to brush up on legislation and discover program design options to implement accommodations and modifications to support everyone in your program. You'll leave with concrete ideas to help you adopt the culture and philosophy of inclusion: We all have unique abilities and strengths that should be central to individualizing programming.

Expect the Unexpected

The entire U.S. Department of Education’s Y4Y Technical Assistance (TA) Team wants to take a moment to congratulate you on getting through what we are all likely to remember as the strangest and most challenging year of our collective lives. This community of professionals has been a great support to one another as we’ve all adapted to expecting the unexpected. Cabin fever is something you’re bound to expect this winter, maybe worse than ever, but Y4Y resources can help you and your students navigate this seasonal affliction. When it comes to English learners in your program, you don’t know what you don’t know, but Y4Y’s new course for supporting these students offers multiple pathways to identifying and addressing their greatest needs. In fact, you can expect a lot more family engagement across the board as your program helps to answer many new needs of your families. Y4Y wants to help you understand what to expect when you’re including students with disabilities in your 21^st CCLC program – and you will, once you’ve taken the new Y4Y course dedicated to these special students!

On the subject of the unexpected, Y4Y is now including a Podcast of our Voices From the Field interviews, beginning this month with The Franklin Institute’s Tara Cox, who shares a bit about “undoing right-answer thinking.

Do you have virtual programming that makes you especially proud? Y4Y wants to hear from you!

One day the pandemic will be behind us, but something we’ve discovered is that virtual learning is here to stay! Y4Y is developing a brand-new course on the subject, and we’re excited to hear about 21^st CCLC programs that have found special ways to excel in an online environment. How did you keep your favorite 21^st CCLC program elements? What are your keys to engaging students? What were your greatest challenges and the words of wisdom you’ve gained along the way? Please join us for a listening session on January 14! Email Y4Y to be a part of this engaging process, or if you are unavailable, feel free to send us some of the details of your program and we’ll be in touch to hear all about it individually.

Let Us Serve You Better!

We hope you’ll consider taking three minutes out of your day to complete this Y4Y Insider feedback form. You might be thinking, “you can’t make me” and you’d be right! But this is your chance to shape future issues and get more of what you’re looking for.

Upcoming Webinars - Save the Dates!

Structuring Virtual/Hybrid Programs

Jan. 26, 27 and 28 (daily) from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET

Including Students With Disabilities

Feb. 9 and 11 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET

Supporting English Learners

Mar. 30 and Apr. 1 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET

Important information about certificates for all webinars:

You will receive a certificate of participation for each event in the series that you attend.
Certificates will be sent via email within one week after the individual webinar.
To ensure you receive a certificate you need to connect to each event using the link that you will receive in your confirmation email.
If you are registering for an organization, please note this: If everyone who attends wants to be eligible for a certificate of participation, each person must register separately and use their personal link to access the event.

Do you have questions about Y4Y webinar registration, sign-in, participation or certificates? Send your queries to this email address for the quickest response: Y4YWebinars@seiservices.com.

Special Opportunities

NASA STEM Stars

"NASA STEM Stars" is a webchat series that gives students ages 13+ the opportunity to connect with subject matter experts at NASA. Each chat introduces a STEM career, addresses a STEM topic and highlights a NASA mission. The broadcast also highlights a STEM activity that students can do at home. After the interview, students can ask the NASA experts questions and share their completed activities on social media using #NextGenSTEM. Visit the Y4Y NASA page and short STEM Stars video to learn more about upcoming events and archived webchats. (Please note: This is a resource to 21^st CCLC programs and not a Y4Y professional development opportunity. Certificates are not available for these events.)

In other STEM news, the North American Association for Environmental Education has updated its 21 ^st CCLC landing page! Check it out today! Note their new blog, the Watershed Chronicles.

Mission to Mars Student Challenge

Lead students in designing and building their own mission to Mars with a guided education plan and resources from NASA, join in live stream Q&As with experts, and share student work worldwide. Get hands-on tips to implement in your afterschool program with a training on Jan. 21. Pre-register now to receive event alerts beginning Jan. 8 when the challenge goes live.

Archived Webinars

Please note: A certificate of attendance is available only to those who participate in the real-time events. Certificates will not be issued to those who view the recordings.

Bringing Mindfulness to Out-of-School Time

In the current climate, mindfulness is more important than ever – for both staff and students. Join the U.S. Department of Education's Y4Y Technical Assistance Team, subject matter experts and out-of-school time professionals as they share strategies for promoting thoughtful positivity and awareness among staff and students. You’ll hear practical advice for integrating mindfulness throughout your program. Helpful Y4Y tools and external resources will be highlighted throughout the session. You can view the recording here.

Telling Your Data Story

Real meaning exists behind every data point, and when those points are connected, they form a program's story. Join the Department’s Y4Y TA Team as we show how your out-of-school time program can connect the dots and translate data into a powerful narrative. In this two-part series, we’ll cover planning your program year with the end result in mind, interpreting data to make decisions and crafting a story about your data. That story will help you recruit partners, identify program champions and market your program to the community.

Webinar #1 – My Data Path

Webinar # 2 – Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Tech Tip

Trainings To Go: Y4Y's Best-Kept Secret

Do 21^st CCLC site trainings sometimes feel like a “catch as catch can” endeavor? As you think back to those days when all training took place in person, it was likely hard to find a time that worked for all your staff, yet conducting individual trainings is a most inefficient prospect.

Good news: For each Y4Y course, the Department’s Y4Y TA team has pulled out the most essential takeaways to build concise PowerPoint lessons that site coordinators or program directors can present to staff. These PowerPoints are called “Trainings to Go,” and each one offers instructions and a script to follow the informative and succinct slides. Interactive opportunities to drive the learning home are also built into every training. Most trainings also have learning handouts and training guides to accompany the presentation.

Now that the country has discovered the hard way just how effective we can be in a virtual environment, Y4Y Trainings to Go are all the more valuable a tool. Suddenly the prospect of an 8 p.m. training on a Tuesday is not so daunting for staff who can pull on their PJs, pour themselves a cup of tea, battle their golden retriever for the comfy corner on the couch, and engage in meaningful learning with their colleagues on all topics offered by Y4Y.

Here are just a few examples of some of Y4Y’s newest trainings. Check them out today!

Creating a Safe Learning Environment for English Learners from the Y4Y Supporting English Learners course

Incorporating the Democratic Process from the Y4Y Civic Learning and Engagement course

State Coordinators Corner

Y4Y knows that SEAs around the country are looking to their next cycle of trainings with a bit of trepidation. Will they be in person? If not, how can successful in-person trainings be replicated virtually?

Y4Y is here to help! Throughout the past eight months, our TA team has adapted to the “new normal." Training topics, lengths and formats are all flexible. The team works to meet the specific needs of your state – whatever the platform. For inspiration, you might review the 21 ^st CCLC training and events calendar for cross-agency opportunities. Whether you’ve scheduled a virtual conference, a 21^st CCLC training session or are seeking additional trainings for grantees, reach out today to see how Y4Y can be of service. Reminder: Trainings are provided at no cost to the state.

Please also note: Y4Y is seeking out programs that have demonstrated excellence in adapting to a virtual environment to consult on development of a new course on the subject. Please contact Y4Y today if you have any grantees in mind for this important topic!

Voices From the Field

Y4Y recently caught up with Tara Cox, Senior Manager of Professional Development with The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. In Y4Y’s September Showcase, Bringing Students and STEM Professionals Together! 21^st CCLC STEM Collaboration With NASA and IMLS, Ms. Cox talked about undoing “right-answer thinking,” and Y4Y wanted to hear more about it!

Y4Y: Could you share with readers a little about your train-the-trainer efforts at The Franklin Institute?

TC: One of the many projects I’m involved in is a collaboration between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the U.S. Department of Education through 21^st CCLC grants. It’s spearheaded by the New York Hall of Science, which has developed an incredible hands-on, six-week maker curriculum. Partnering with museums across the country, they have developed this “train-the-trainer” model to connect with afterschool programs in neighborhoods near museums. Our organization partners with five programs in Philadelphia. Some other participants include the Frost Museum of Science in Miami, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Milwaukee and the Scott Family Amazeum in Arkansas. So, museums and afterschool programs team up to bring maker programs to their 21^st CCLC sites. Read the continuation of our conversation with Ms. Cox here.

Creative Program Ideas

Jan. 6 marks 60 years since President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a State of the Union address where he defined “four essential freedoms” worth defending: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Can your students name examples of these freedoms, and whether they believe Americans today enjoy these freedoms?

Jan. 10 is Common Sense Day. Study the major points of Thomas Paine’s document that spurred revolution in 1776, and ask students what kind of “common sense” they might apply to government today (as grade appropriate).

Jan. 17 is National Kid Inventors Day. Students might be surprised what a quick internet search on this topic yields!

Jan. 20 is Inauguration Day. But has it always been? Investigate this bit of history with students as the country ushers in a new president.

Jan. 21 is National Banana Bread Day. This comfort food enjoyed a resurgence during the 2020 quarantine. What else might students use those brown bananas for?

Suggestion Box

Did you know Y4Y has a suggestion box? We welcome your ideas, big or small, on website or newsletter content. Send us those brilliant insights today!

Caption This Image!

Thanks for playing! Here are our winners for the 21^st CCLC-inspired caption for last month’s image from the Y4Y Supporting English Learners course:

"Holi is my favorite celebration with my family and friends." Simone from NY
"2020 is OVER!" Ann from California

Your turn! Submit your program-inspired caption ideas for this image from the new Y4Y Including Students With Disabilities course. Responses will be published in next month’s issue.

Featured Download

From Y4Y’s newest course, download the Including Students With Disabilities Planning Checklist for all the steps you’ll need to serve these special students.

Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to particular items is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, donation solicitations or products or services offered, on these outside sites, nor any organizations sponsoring the sites, whether financially or by website hosting.