Trainings & Events
To achieve its goal of expanding access to high-quality afterschool programs, the Iowa Afterschool Alliance provides professional development and training to help improve and maintain the quality of programming available to children and families.
2019 Agenda
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
21CCLC Directors’ Meeting • Salon A/B
Lunch will be served. Invitation only.
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Registration • East Lobby
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Preconference: Poverty Simulation
Facilitated by Northwest AEA, this poverty simulation will put you in the shoes of a family in poverty as they make ends meet. You will hop from station-to-station representing the many entities in the lives of families living in poverty, including DHS, grocery stores, and medical appointments. You will leave this session with a newfound appreciation for what families in poverty must do to make ends meet day-to-day with limited money while experiencing various hardships.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Comments, Vic Jaras, Iowa Department of Education
Opening Keynote, Joanna Faber
The approach presented in this keynote address will help teachers and other afterschool leaders who find themselves locked in a power struggle with their children (and don’t we all at some time!) find better ways to communicate and connect. The address will provide truly practical methods to use humor, creativity, and respect instead of bribes, threats, and punishments to encourage responsibility and get cooperation from youth.
10:00 to 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Workshops
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Learn • West Ballroom
Joanna Faber
How can you communicate more effectively with the children you work with? What is the attitude and language that builds self-esteem and promotes a caring, respectful relationship? This workshop will focus on communication principles and practical skills that can be put to immediate use to make relationships with children more satisfying and rewarding. Through a lively combination of lecture, discussion, written exercises, and role playing, participants will learn to: cope with children’s negative feelings, engage children’s cooperation without bribes or threats, set limits while maintaining goodwill, encourage children to assume responsibility, resolve conflicts creatively, and use praise effectively. The methods are friendly, supportive, and, best of all, effective. Everyone will go home with handouts full of useful techniques that you can immediately put into practice at home and in your program.
Training for Trainers: Empowering Yourself to Empower Others • Southeast Ballroom
Chad Driscoll, Volunteer Iowa, and Mary Sheka, Iowa Mentoring Partnership
Tired of training volunteers and staff and seeing only glazed over looks with no retention of materials? Learn tips and techniques to improve your facilitation skills and achieve your training outcomes through engaging activities. You will have the opportunity to rework a training you currently use, too.
College and Career Readiness: Implementation in an Out-of-School Time (OST) Program • Northeast Ballroom
Theresa Slaughter, Central Iowa OST Enrichment Coach
In this session, participants will be taking an extended look at one approach to implementing a college and career readiness program in an OST setting serving grades 6-12. Participants will be introduced to Program ABC, walking through the planning and implementation process as well as engaging in hands-on activities that will promote learning opportunities.
Summer Learning with You for Youth (Y4Y) • Salon A/B
David McConnell and Monique McDowell, Foundations, Inc
Planning for summer programming shouldn’t start in May. Leaders should begin work with their team at the start of the school year to ensure maximum impact. An intentionally designed summer learning program will help meet targeted student needs and decrease summer learning loss. Intentionality means providing targeted interventions and enrichment activities that help students retain and build new knowledge and skills through engaging, real-life and relevant activities. This intensive workshop will teach learners how to accomplish work within an eight-step process, explore components of high-quality programs, and get tools and resources to help carry out a game plan.
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Working Lunch • Main Ballroom, Buffet Located in the North Lobby
Afterschool Champions and 21CCLC Stars Awards Presentation
Youth Performances
12:30 to 12:45 p.m.
Break
12:45 to 2:00 p.m.
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Learn (Repeat of previous session) • West Ballroom
Joanna Faber
How can you communicate more effectively with the children you work with? What is the attitude and language that builds self-esteem and promotes a caring, respectful relationship? This workshop will focus on communication principles and practical skills that can be put to immediate use to make relationships with children more satisfying and rewarding. Through a lively combination of lecture, discussion, written exercises, and role playing, participants will learn to: cope with children’s negative feelings, engage children’s cooperation without bribes or threats, set limits while maintaining goodwill, encourage children to assume responsibility, resolve conflicts creatively, and use praise effectively. The methods are friendly, supportive, and, best of all, effective. Everyone will go home with handouts full of useful techniques that you can immediately put into practice at home and in your program.
Visiting Authors and Children’s Book Author Kurt Wagner • Southeast Ballroom
Vic Jaras, Iowa Department of Education, and Kurt Wagner, Author
Participants will learn more about Iowa’s visiting authors program and hear from one of those authors about how he promotes the love of reading in children. Only 46% of children between ages 9 and 11 read for pleasure. We are working to change this by letting children meet authors and learn about the adventures in every book. Join author Kurt Wagner as he shares his experience with creating and writing a children’s book series, Anthony’s Adventures, and what he’s learned from the dozens of author visits he’s done across the state of Iowa. Kurt’s focus is to promote youth reading and creative thinking which he emphasizes in his engaging school presentations. He’ll be giving away a few book gift baskets at the conclusion of his workshop.
OUCH! That Stereotype Hurts • Northeast Ballroom
Malisa Rader, Iowa State University Extension
Staying silent in the face of demeaning comments, stereotypes, or bias allows inappropriate attitudes and behaviors to thrive. This workshop will provide six easy, but effective, strategies for speaking up respectfully to counter hurtful comments and actions. Participants will gain skills for being an ally as well as learn what to do when they cause an "oops" moment by unintentionally saying something offensive.
Summer Learning with Y4Y (Repeat of previous session) • Salon A/B
David McConnell and Monique McDowell, Foundations, Inc
Planning for summer programming shouldn’t start in May. Leaders should begin work with their team at the start of the school year to ensure maximum impact. An intentionally designed summer learning program will help meet targeted student needs and decrease summer learning loss. Intentionality means providing targeted interventions and enrichment activities that help students retain and build new knowledge and skills through engaging, real-life and relevant activities. This intensive workshop will teach learners how to accomplish work within an eight-step process, explore components of high-quality programs, and get tools and resources to help you carry out a game plan.
2:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Creating an Agency Wide Culture of Social Emotional Learning: Best Practice Techniques • West Ballroom
Dawn Cogan, Mel Dill, Beth McGorry, Ron Parr, and Melanie Seier, St. Mark Youth Enrichment
This is an interactive learning opportunity to explore how to create a culture of connection and respect throughout various aspects of your agency and programming. Starting with Administrative Staff, we will discuss hiring and staff retention, how to recruit, retain, and develop frontline staff, how to engage parents and students effectively to diminish behavioral issues, and how to incorporate community-wide support through enrichment, donors, volunteers, school day staff, and other stakeholders. In this session, you will hear from representatives who specialize in various aspects of our organization in order to give you practical ideas of how to transform the culture around you as a leader in your organization.
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Making Books Come Alive for Your Students Over the Summer • Southeast Ballroom
Sandy Day, Council Bluffs Community School District, and Kevin Sorice, Kids Read Now
Learn how the Kids Read Now program can help summer learners retain and gain reading skills over the summer. See how Council Bluffs is working to eliminate the Summer Reading Slide through Book Choices, Challenges, Parental Engagement, and Rewards all while focusing on results. This session explores how students can associate books to their world by using text to text, text to self, text to world, and text to creativity questions to improve comprehension and recall. This session also looks at how data is used for student activity and program efficacy to increase reading test scores.
Innovative Engagement Strategies Using Agriculture • Northeast Ballroom
Will Fett and Cindy Hall, Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
Hands-on lessons and activities are ideal for engaging students of all levels. Participants will see a number of different activities that are quick and easy to replicate but pack a powerful learning punch! We will highlight free resources for literacy, too, with our “My Family's Farm” book series and our Iowa Ag Today student readers. Perfect for all audiences.
Cultivating Citizen Science with Y4Y • Salon A/B
David McConnell and Monique McDowell, Foundations, Inc.
Citizen Science projects empower youth to have an impact on the world. Learn how to plan and get involved in authentic, purposeful scientific research that enhances students’ knowledge and 21st century skills. Explore real life examples and Y4Y resources to implement Citizen Science in your program.
3:30 to 3:45 p.m.
Treat Break
3:45 to 5:00 p.m.
Together, We Touch Lives Forever • West Ballroom
Sandy Day and Carly Gates, Council Bluffs Community School District, Anna Hartmann, Council Bluffs Public Library, and Ashley Rutan, Country House Residence
This session will focus on methods to recruit new partners and develop partnerships over time in before school, after school, and summer programming. Two community partners will share information and points of view. A make-and-take project will wrap up the session that can then be presented to a partner back home as a thank you.
One Year Curriculum and How to Use the USB for PD • Southeast Ballroom
Vic Jaras, Iowa Department of Education
Learn how to use your conference flash drive effectively. There are tons of shortcuts, lessons, games, worksheets, web quests, and other resource material on this drive. There is an entire year of research-based afterschool curriculum on the drive, as well. Learn tips and tricks on how to prepare a lesson fast. Bring your computer to follow along or your notebook to take notes. What you learn at this session can be shared with others and help make lesson preparation easier.
Implementation of Conscious Discipline in Afterschool K-8 • Northeast Ballroom
Cassie Gerst, Burlington Community School District
Student behavior is a daily challenge in an after school setting. Students are tired after a long day of school and we tend to see a number of "bad behaviors" in our programs. Burlington Community School District's PIECES after school program decided to shift its classroom management style from a reward/punishment approach to a trauma informed, evidence-based, SEL best practice called Conscious Discipline. This session will discuss BCSD's first year of Conscious Discipline implementation within its five elementary sites and one middle school site. Learn how a public school district designed and implemented staff training, student behavior policies, coordination of school day and after school discipline practices, and reduced after school suspensions and office referrals by 90%.
Investing in Family Engagement with Y4Y • Salon A/B
David McConnell and Monique McDowell, Foundations, Inc.
Engaging families in your program can be challenging but is easily worth the investment of time, energy, and resources when you see the value in terms of student success. This session will explore best practices for improving and developing relationships with families. Y4Y trainers will collaborate with participants to customize free resources and tools to help create a family-friendly environment, serve family needs, plan activities for engagement and solicit family input and leadership.
Friday, April 26, 2019
7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Registration Opens • Easy Lobby
Breakfast Served • North Lobby
8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Workshops
DANGER, don't go alone! • West Ballroom
Jeff Jackson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dallas County
Everyone wants to be an innovator. Everyone wants to succeed. The phrase "we are better together" holds special meaning in my work. Developing successful community partnerships is the key to a successful program. Resources are limited. Staff and volunteers have limits. Don't go it alone. This workshop will help us identify meaningful partnerships in our communities. By thinking outside the box, developing a partnership with a like-minded organization, and working together, you can be more innovative than you would imagine.
21CCLC Committee Updates • Southeast Ballroom
All 21CCLC committee members should attend this session to hear updates from each committee.
STEM-Lit to Go! Supporting Youth Investigations through Integrated STEM and Literacy Experiences • Northeast Ballroom
Nicole Hanson and Sara Nelson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development
STEM-Lit to Go! is an innovative program designed by Iowa 4-H to support the development of STEM and literacy skills for children in kindergarten through third grade. This program utilizes a unique instructional framework that integrates inquiry-based STEM activities and carefully selected children's literature. Each lesson includes engaging fiction and non-fiction picture books to build excitement and illustrate STEM concepts. Through hands-on activities, children explore key STEM concepts such as the engineering design process and how to plan and conduct investigations. This exciting program provides opportunities for STEM play while encouraging children to read, write, speak, and listen about those experiences. STEM-Lit to Go! has been successfully implemented in both out-of-school time settings and in K-3 classrooms. STEM-Lit to Go! is designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core English Language Arts Standards. Participants will walk away with the knowledge needed to develop their own high-quality STEM and literacy experiences using the STEM-Lit to Go! framework.
National Service Programs at Your Site • Salon A/B
Barb Schmitz, Oelwein Community School District
Along with the insights of several AmeriCorps members who are serving with the Oelwein Community School District, Barb Schmitz will provide an overview of how national service programs can help build program and organizational capacity, serve youth, and recruit and coordinate volunteer efforts. The presenters will also explain what you must know to administer a successful program at your organization.
9:45 to 10:00 a.m.
Break
10:00 to 11:15 a.m. Workshops
Unattended kids will be given espresso & a kitten: Equipping Students with the SEL for Success • West Ballroom
Bobbie Jo Sheridan, Des Moines Public Schools
“Why won't these kids just listen and behave"? This presentation will show how Des Moines Public Schools took an active approach in not only evaluating where our program participants were in their SEL skills, but also aligning program goals and curriculum to meet those student needs. We will dive into our SEL Assessment Data and how we utilized that data to create "Connection Time." Participants will walk away with tools to perform an SEL assessment in their program and implement a curriculum.
Literacy: Above and Beyond • Southeast Ballroom
Theresa Slaughter, Central Iowa OST Enrichment Coach
Literacy is all around us. In this session, participants will be given another perspective in going above and beyond the traditional approaches and practices to literacy. Participants will be led through group discussions providing a standard definition for what literacy is along with a toolkit of various activities to go above and beyond.
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Supporting the Whole Child using the 5-2-1-0 Approach • Northeast Ballroom
Lyn Jenkins, Every Step
Child wellness can impact attendance, concentration, behavior, and overall development. Whole child wellness efforts include physical and social-emotional needs. This session will use the framework of the 5-2-1-0 messaging and approach to deepen participants' understanding of creating an environment to meet student wellness needs. Participants will leave with evidence-based strategies to improve the policy, environment, and practices of their programs and ways to connect with partners and resources for successful implementation.
Being an Approachable Adult • Salon A/B
Emily Miller, EyesOpenIowa
All young people should have adults in their lives that they trust and can reach out to when they have questions. Whether their questions are about puberty, healthy development, possible warning signs of abuse, or relationships, are you prepared to be that approachable adult? In this session, we'll discuss some of the key traits of an approachable adult and we'll pack your toolbox with tips for how to continue to support our young people.
11:15 to 11:30 a.m.
Break
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Closing Plenary: David Welter
The Power of Stories and a Loving Presence
Welter’s remarks will focus on the importance of relationships and a loving presence in young people’s lives. Both stories and a loving presence can powerfully impact our lives as we all have a story to tell. Welter, a cancer survivor and author of “Reflections from the Home Team… Go the Distance” (www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com) will share several stories he carries in his heart about the young people he has encountered along the way on his life’s journey. He will focus on the importance of being ready to encourage others at all times as we may be the difference in someone’s life at any moment of the day. So often the difference between success and failure is belief, and so often someone who encouraged us instills that belief in us. Welter will encourage searching out and developing relationships with young people who you can help by offering inspiration and motivation as they deal with challenges in their lives.