Afterschool programs can be one of the most engaging parts of the day. Students are participating and occupying their time with fun activities. In addition, after school programs are a great chance to extend the learning that cannot take place in the classroom due to time/curriculum or budget constraints.

After school programs can be so helpful filling the gap for working parents. They extend the learning that happens in the classroom also.
Our small public charter has taken over our afterschool program to help our students academicly. Our staff runs the program and know what the curriculum is and has homework help daily for our students. There is also an element of fun build it and snack time. It is a long day for students that attend afterschool programs and we must take that into account.
Winning the books would be very helpful to our school especially since out budget has been cut, purchasing extras to build up our program is very difficult.

I agree. After school programs are extremely beneficial for all students, especially when wanting to expose children to activities they wouldn’t be able to participate in otherwise. I myself teach 3 after school programs, sketching, drama, and watercolor. It is such a rewarding experience. It’s an opportunity to share my passion while allowing the children to explore the fine arts in more depth.

After school programs are so important because they represent the icing on the cake that completes a child’s education and contributes to them becoming a well-rounded adult. But I do worry that we are overscheduling our kids…

I am a teacher and I have taught many different after-school programs — sign-language, write your own book, and knitting clubs to name a few. They are great for the kids because it gives them a chance to relax and unwind in a less stressful situation than school can sometimes be. For younger kids, it shows them that there are great opportunities for them when school is out and sets them on the path of making good choices for their “down time.” For older kids it keeps them out of some of the trouble they may get into otherwise and, most importantly, gives them an opportunity to bond with the adult/adults in charge of the program. Older kids need that — someone outside of their family that they can talk to. And finally, after-school programs are FUN! Everything is better with FUN!

As a public children’s librarian, I feel that public libraries could & should play a vital role in afterschool learning! We offer book clubs, homework help, certified therapy dogs, great books, occasional crafts & parties, and general companionship. Often, kids are even able to ride the bus to the library. Hooray for libraries!

As a working mom I am grateful that there are after school programs that my my daughter will be able to attend next year when she enters kindergarten. It kills me not to be able to spend more time with her especially when she expresses so much interest in books, crafts, science experiments, etc. I think activities like this help encourage a love of learning that will last them through their lives.

I especially agree with Holly’s comments about the public library. I have been a life long reading fanatic and I really think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I went to the public library after school almost every day in elementary school. I knew all the librarians by name and would sit and chat with them, browse through the books, learned how to search the catalog, etc. My favorite librarian always had a stack of books ready for me to browse through and it was one of my favorite parts of the day.

I think afterschool programs are a great way for kids to learn things that are not necessarily geared toward meeting the “standards,” but that are interesting, enriching, and just plain fun. They can discover and nurture non-academic talents that teachers no longer have the time to focus on. Kids can also enjoy the social aspect of being with their peers outside the classroom environment.

Afterschool programs help the child to have a learning experience in an organised environment in an area of their interest like arts, music, science exploration, math skills and others. These programs give the extra time for the kids to learn something that they have not been able to do in a set time period in their classrooms.

This is my first year in running the after school program for my school. I am a NYS certified teacher. There is no funding for my after-school program where we do homework help, reading for 20 minutes everyday, sight words & math facts help, arts & crafts, sign language program, indoor & outdoor play. after school programs are very important for students because there are a lot of activities to do with students that are educational & fun for them. It allows them to socialize with the peers outside the classroom. I wish there was more resources for after-school programs but there is not. The kids in my program love to learn & they don’t find it as having more work & they do not want to go home.

Afterschool programs adds a lot of assistance and benefit for students in my community. Our school is located in a high poverty area in Phoenix. Creating any opportunity to build student growth towards knowledge of information or skills for success is key to aiding them and their futures. Through our after-school programs we attempt to use that benefit for smaller groups and assist with any gaps in their learning. I truly see how it helps to keep kids out of trouble. Sometimes it’s hard to find the best approach for academic growth when materials are sometimes limited. We do what we can for these kids because they deserve it!

I live in an area where our schools have lost all funding for summer and afterschool programs. I think that afterschool programs are vital to children’s health and well being. I see many kids who go home to empty homes because parents are working and cannot afford daycare for their kids. Afterschool enrichment gives kids a safe place to work, learn, and be with other kids having a great time and a snack. For many kids the meals at school play an important part in their daily diet.
Having a fun and safe play for the times when their parents are unavailable and they have no where else to be, as well as for the kids who love afterschool times it is important to keep these programs going.
With access to study aids and help, save environment, and peers afterschool programs play an important part in a child’s development and well being.

Our school is going to start an afterschool program in January. We decided that our tutoring funds would be better used to help 2 of our under-resourced neighborhoods. We plan to help these students with their homework, reinforcement of skills not mastered, reading and just plain fun! We plan on having a schema building activity for the first 10 or so minutes of the session. Then students will move to classrooms for the additional help described above.
These resources would go along way to help support our program and provide necessary information to our students.
Students in this population generally need/crave attention from adults. After school programs are another great way to provide this attention.

These resources would help our afterschool program. It is very limited in funding, and the director is looking for new activities to try each month.

Hi! I’m just curious to know who won?