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January 28, 2006
SPARK in the Afternoon
I had a great deal of fun today doing a workshop for our After School staff. The program known as SPARK (Supporting Participation in Academics and Recreation for Kids) http://www.glenncoe.org/__programs/__after_school_programs/index.html is at every elementary school but one in Glenn County. It was announced today that they are currently serving more than 640 students in the county, and according to one site director growing by as many as five children a week.
The program is fun for kids and very helpful for parents. It runs right after school in a child's home school and provides a time to get homework done, do at least one enrichment activity, and have a recreation time. It ends around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, just about the time parents are finishing work. Both parents and kids are enjoying the benefits. Every school site is truly a beehive of activities every school day afternoon.
Today, Saturday, we met to talk about how to make sure the activities we are providing help reinforce the standards being taught during the school day. I told the group that they often had more fun than the teachers. Teachers are spending so much time on the academic standards using textbooks and written material, they don't have much time left to do the hands-on, fun learning activities the SPARK staff gets to do. They can go plant the garden and make snowflakes while teachers are working very hard to read about plants and weather.
We had a good time talking and trying out vrious activities for their grade levels. I promised them to come visit, but they have to show me what activity they're doing with the kids and what standard they are teaching when I come. They said they would so I'm going to have to do some visiting soon.
Take a look at this great group:
There's more:
Posted by Dr Joni at January 28, 2006 04:58 PM