Conference Workshop Descriptions: 

1. Promoting Healthy Relationships and Communication in OST Programs 

Presented by Patricia McGrath,  Massassachusets Afterschool Partnership

Description: Children who have strong social skills benefit in many ways. This includes improved academic performance, school attendance and strong relationships with peers and adults. OST programs can support children in building social emotional skills that result in positive relationships with others. During this training, participants will review the MA Core Competency for guiding youth in OST programs and identify techniques to support the development of positive relationships with peers and adults. We will also discuss strategies for addressing and preventing bullying.

Suggested Audience: Assistant Group Leaders, Group Leaders, Site Coordinators, and Directors

 Meets QRIS requirements for:  Curriculum and Learning: 1B Teacher-Child Relationships & Interactions

2. Creating Interactive Math Experiences in OST Programs 

Presented by Taneekah Johnson, Massassachusets Afterschool Partnership

 Description: This course is designed to increase OST providers’ ability to assist their program participants in homework completion and in the advancement of their participants’ mathematical confidence and ability. By tackling their own math anxieties and learning how to create interactive math experiences, providers will learn how to model positive attitudes around math and how to make connections between Common Core Math Standards, youth interest, and everyday situations.

Suggested Audience: Assistant Group Leaders, Group Leaders, Site Coordinators, and Directors

 Meets QRIS requirements for: Curriculum & Learning – 1A Curriculum, Assessment & Diversity

3.Ensuring Quality in Afterschool & OST Programs 

Presented by Alexandra Schuppert, Massassachusets Afterschool Partnership

 Description: The ASOST field is calling for ever-increasing quality in programs that serve school-aged children through the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS), yet many programs still struggle with meeting all the expectations around quality as specified in the licensing regulations.  This training designed for site coordinators, directors and adminstrators will address the major areas that licensors say programs are often challenged by in their pursuit to attain a higher level of quality including: curriculum; staff-child interactions; managing transitions; staff training, development and supervision; interactions with parents; and effective staff communication.  The goal of this training is to give participants a greater understanding of what “quality” looks like in each of these areas and to present information and resources that they can take back to their program to implement quality enhancements.

Suggested Audience: Site Coordinators and Directors

Meets QRIS requirements for:  Curriculum & Learning; 5. Leadership, Management & Administration

4. Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Presented by Allison Wootan, BOSTnet

Description:   Develop specific expertise in working with children who are experiencing the unique challenges associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Learn about supporting ASD for all ages of child. Explore behaviors associated with children on the Autism Spectrum as well as commonly co-occurring issues. Learn about the diagnosis and common symptoms, concrete, specific strategies, tools, and activities to support children with Autism. Prevent or manage meltdowns and overcome disengagement and peer discomfort; build tools for connection, communication, and social-skills development. Build an understanding of the unique challenges faced by families with a child who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and connect to, dialog with, and support families. Opportunities to practice skills and tools are a key element of this course. 

Suggested Audience: Group Leaders, Site Coordinators, and Directors

Meets QRIS requirements for special education and meeting the needs of children with disabilities in standards 3b.2.2 & 3a.4.2 (OST).               

5.Supporting STEM: Hands on Strategies to Spark Curiosity

Presented by Tania Buck-Ruffen, BOSTnet

Description:  Spark children's curiosity and sense of play with STEM activities. Learn about STEM for different learning types. Become familiar with Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks (Common Core).  Explore not just science and math, but also engineering and technology, and learn about including all four of these key areas into your program in ways that are fun and exciting to staff and children.  Learn about Thematic Curriculum and Project-Based learning and create lesson plans infused with STEM.  Connect to your sense of fun in STEM!  Surprising, slightly messy, and great fun! 

 Suggested Audience: Assistant Group Leaders, Group Leaders and Site Coordinators

Meets QRIS requirements for curriculum frameworks overview and supporting mathematics development in standard 3b.2.2 (OST).

6. Promoting Positive Behavior

Presented by BOSTnet

Description: Learn foundations of child development and understand the causes behind difficult behavior. Explore tools for positive and beneficial communications, interactions, and relationships. Learn to build a positive peer culture and create and implement a positive behavior management system. Motivate positive behavior in children exhibiting challenging behaviors. Learn concrete tools to promote positive behavior and positive communications. Learn about conflict resolution and mediation techniques. This training course is experiential with many opportunities to observe and practice new skills.

Suggested Audience: Assistant Group Leaders and Group Leaders 

Meets QRIS requirements for for strategies to support open-ended conversations, sharing of ideas, problem-solving techniques, & positive peer interactions in standard 1b.2.2 (OST) & conflict resolution and mediation techniques in standard 1b.3.3 (OST) 

 

Click Here for More Detailed Course Descriptions and Objectives

  Sponsored by the Southeast Education Professionals Partnership (SEEPP), REGION 5 EPS   

 Funded in part by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) 

Child Development and Education, Inc. - Lead Agency