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Afterschool Matters Number 21 • Spring 2015 Girls’ Challenge Seeking: How Outdoor Exposure Can Should Rey Mysterio Drink Gatorade? Cultural Support Girls in Taking Positive Risks | Kallen Tsikalas and Competence in Afterschool STEM Programming | Kathryn Karyn L. Martin Ciechanowski, SueAnn Bottoms, Ana Lucia Fonseca, and Tyler St. Clair Toward More Equitable Outcomes: A Research Synthesis Research-Based Practices in Afterschool Programs for on Out-of-School Time Work with Boys and Young Men High School Youth | Jenell Holstead, Mindy Hightower King, of Color | Jon Gilgoff and Shawn Ginwright and Ashley Miller Global Kids Organizing in the Global City: Generation of Planning Considerations for Afterschool Professional Social Capital in a Youth Organizing Program | Anthony De Development | L. Daniele Bradshaw Jesús, Sofia Oviedo, and Scarlett Feliz National Institute on Out-of-School Time AT THE WELLESLEY CENTERS FOR WOMEN The Robert Bowne Foundation Afterschool Matters Board of Trustees Editorial Review Board Jennifer Stanley, President Jhumpa Bhattacharya Suzanne C. Carothers, Vice President Development Without Limits Susan Cummiskey, Treasurer Lynn D. Dierking Oregon State University Jane Quinn, Secretary Anita Krishnamurthi Andrew Fisher Afterschool Alliance Mitchell Lee Anne Lawrence Robert Stonehill The Robert Bowne Foundation Cecelia Traugh Rebecca London University of California Center for Collaborative Research for an Equitable California Eileen Lyons Lyons Consulting Dishon Mills Grace Communion International Nancy Peter Out-of-School Time Resource Center University of Pennsylvania Carol Tang S. D. Bechtel, Jr., Foundation Photo Credits Cover, pages 1, 11, 46: WINGS, founded in 1996, serves more than 1,200 children at 10 elementary schools in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. WINGS weaves a comprehensive social and emotional learning curriculum into a fresh and fun afterschool program. Children living in poverty learn to behave well, make good decisions, and build healthy relationships while at the same time having a fun and safe place to call home. Pages 20, 22: Greening Western Queens, a program of Global Kids. table of contents Afterschool Matters Number 21, Spring 2015 Should Rey Mysterio Drink Gatorade? Cultural Competence in Afterschool STEM Programming Welcome Kathryn Ciechanowski, SueAnn Bottoms, Ana Lucia ii Fonseca, and Tyler St. Clair A three-part Girls’ Challenge Seeking: How framework Outdoor Exposure Can Support Girls helps educators 1in Taking Positive Risks connect STEM Kallen Tsikalas and Karyn L. Martin learning standards Tackling authentic challenges outdoors to children’s can strengthen girls’ self-esteem and cultural funds of resilience. A study of Girl Scouts knowledge. suggests how OST programs can get girls outdoors. 29 Research-Based Toward More Equitable Outcomes: Practices in A Research Synthesis on Out-of-School Time Work with Afterschool Boys and Young Men of Color Programs for High Jon Gilgoff and Shawn Ginwright School Youth A review of prevailing Jenell Holstead, practices shows Mindy Hightower five ways in which King, and Ashley OST programs are Miller 38 empowering boys Few afterschool and young men of programs serve high school youth—so those that do color to develop their should implement research-based practices in program assets and overcome activities, recruitment and retention, and student voice. challenges. 11 Planning Considerations for Afterschool Global Kids Organizing in the Professional Development Global City: Generation of Social L. Daniele Bradshaw Capital in a Youth Organizing The TEARS Program framework—time, 20 Anthony De Jesús, Sofia Oviedo and expertise, access, Scarlett Feliz resources, and Youth organizing approaches can help support—can immigrant youth of color develop not 46 help afterschool only the skills but also the social capital programs plan they need to survive and thrive. to meet their professional development needs. See the inside back cover for the call for papers for future issues of Afterschool Matters. Afterschool Matters WELCOME Georgia Hall Managing Editor Armed with my roof rake, I set out yesterday to meet the challenge of 44 inches of Sara Hill snow. While the scenery is breathtaking, the task of clearing snow from roofs, paths, Senior Research Consultant and concealed vehicles has been daunting to even the hardiest of New Englanders. Jan Gallagher So I am focusing on summer! Editor Recent research on the “achievement gap” has shown that, although subsets Daniella van Gennep of students show markedly different achievement outcomes, all students tend to Designer progress at a comparable rate, regardless of factors such as socioeconomic status, race, or gender (McCombs et al., 2011; Miller, 2007). However, three months of Afterschool Matters is a national, unstructured summer vacation corresponds to one month’s loss of math skills, as peer-reviewed journal dedicated well as a slight drop in reading. By the time students reach ninth grade, two-thirds of to promoting professionalism, scholarship, and consciousness in the achievement gap can be explained by summer learning loss (Terzian, Anderson the field of afterschool Moore, & Hamilton, 2009). education. Published by the This research suggests that summertime presents a particularly potent Robert Bowne Foundation opportunity to help youth learn and develop (McCombs et al., 2011; Miller, 2007). and the National Institute on Summer programs—even if they simply stimulate and maintain activity rather than Out-of-School Time, the journal educate—tend to slow or halt summer learning loss. serves those involved in developing and running Researchers agree on the core structural components of an effective summer programs for youth during learning experience (McCombs et al., 2011; McLaughlin & Pitcock, 2009; Terzian et the out-of-school hours, al., 2009). The first is time: five or six weeks of full-day programming with three or in addition to those engaged in four hours of academics each day, structured to ensure maximum time on task. Low research and shaping policy. student-to-adult ratios and consistent youth attendance are also key. For information on Afterschool Matters and the Afterschool As summer learning programs continue to mature, more rigorous data will help Matters Initiative, contact us understand how a blended academic and enrichment summer learning program Georgia Hall can contribute to student achievement. Senior Research Scientist This issue of Afterschool Matters points to the diverse population of children and National Institute on youth served in summer and school year out-of-school programs. It highlights our Out-of-School Time collective task of creating challenge, upholding equity, remembering culture, and Wellesley Centers for Women honoring youth voice and choice in everything we do. Happy reading, happy spring. Wellesley College 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02481 [email protected] GEORGIA HALL, PH.D. Senior Research Scientist, NIOST Managing Editor, Afterschool Matters McCombs, J., Augustine, C., Schwartz, H., Bodilly, S., McInnis, B., Lichter, D., & Brown Cross, A. (2011). Making summer count: How summer programs can boost children’s learning. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. McLaughlin, B., & Pitcock, S. (2009). Building quality in summer learning programs: Approaches and recommendations. Baltimore, MD: National Summer Learning Association. Miller, B. (2007). The learning season: The untapped power of summer to advance student achievement. Quincy, MA: Nellie Mae Foundation. Terzian, M., Anderson Moore, K., & Hamilton, K. (2009, July). Effective and promising summer learning programs and approaches for economically-disadvantaged children and youth. Retrieved from http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/summer-and-extended-learning- time/summer-learning/documents/effective-and-promising-summer-learning-programs.pdf Girls’ Challenge Seeking How Outdoor Exposure Can Support Girls in Taking Positive Risks Kallen Tsikalas and Karyn L. Martin Challenge seeking is an important component of personal and interpersonal comfort zones, girls learn their strengths and values as well as ways to interact with children’s personal and academic development. Defined others. Enabling girls to seek challenges in the world involves helping them to “develop positive attitudes in this paper as a set of beliefs and behaviors that toward learning, seek opportunities for expanding their knowledge and skills, set challenging goals, and take propels individuals to initiate and persist at difficult appropriate risks” (Girl Scouts of the USA, 2008, p. 28). Despite the importance of challenge seeking, Girl ventures, challenge seeking is a key indicator of mastery Scouts have not typically reported high levels of this outcome. A recent national evaluation, for example, goal orientation. This orientation has been linked with a number of positive and adaptive behaviors. For instance, research shows that individuals who pursue mastery KALLEN TSIKALAS, Ph.D., is a senior researcher with the Girl Scout goals are more likely than others to value cooperation, Research Institute, Girl Scouts of the USA. She evaluates how and seek help when confused, and use deeper learning how well Girl Scouting is achieving its mission and provides strategic strategies such as monitoring their comprehension insights for the organization. With a doctorate in educational psy- and actively trying to integrate new information with chology, she also teaches at Hunter College and studies social