Monday, June 9, 2014

First Day of Brain Gain

Today was the first day back after being closed for staff development.  In the Education Center, as part of our summer programming, we went through the rules and expectations of the program.  Once these were explained, members were told about the importance of continual learning in the summer months.  Because we, at Jerry Gamble, believe that much learning instruction can be lost during these months, we have created our summer programmming with that in mind.

In the Education Center, members were put into their literacy teams and I distributed a notebook to each member where they will record their work each week.  Each day, members will make their way through six stations centered around literacy.  These stations all have reading, writing and comprehension skills in mind, and are at the core of their learning.

 The reading station is where members read articles, books, and poetry and analyze these for main ideas and purpose.  In the writing center, members journal their ideas about a certain daily writing prompt.

 Next, in the art station, members created an All About Me poster that highlighted their special and unique characteristics.

When members made it to the computer station, they were able to play educational games from pre-selected sites.

In the vocabulary station, members have specific vocabulary words they will learn each week through creative word play.

In the educational board game station, members have a choice in what games they want to play such as Chess, Checkers, Brain Quest, UNO, and Scrabble to name a few.  Members spent approximately twenty minutes in each station and then switch to the next one with their team members.

At the end of the week, to reward those who work hard, those members who have completed each station thoughtfully and purposefully will receive an incentive prize from my prize box.

Overall, it was a great first day and I was proud of our members' hard work and dedication!




Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Happy Birthday Tjayia!


In honor of members' birthdays, I try to give them a little special recognition at the club.  On their specific birthday, they are able to choose one prize out of my prize box and help me decorate and design their very own birthday crown.

Here is a photo of Tjayia who just turned nine wearing her unique birthday crown!  Happy Birthday Tjayia!

Career Launch Graduates



One of the many programs that we have established at the Boys and Girls Club is our Career Launch Program.  This is a program that all members aged 13-18 may participate in.

These courses are geared towards goal setting, career and college exploration.  In addition to these, members have the opportunity to create resumes, cover letters and sample job applications.

Members also learn how to make a good first impression at the interview as well as practice their interviewing skills.  We have had twenty plus career launch graduates so far, and I am very proud of each and every members' success.

What Do I Want to Be?

In the Education Center, as part of our literacy stations this past week, I led a discussion on the importance of goal setting which then led into the overarching question:

What do you want to be when you grow up?  

Members wrote a five sentence paragraph and drew a picture of themselves doing the career that they chose.  Many members have aspirations to be boxers, doctors, cosmetologists, architects, lawyers, teachers, basketball players and scientists.  Here are a few of drawings as well as their reasons as to why they want these careers.  Great job members!










Fun Friday Activity


On Fridays, members have the chance to have less structured time in the Education Center which means they have even more choice in the activities they choose.

One of the members shown here was having fun putting together a train trac and playing with the trains.

Interactive play is both fun and educational.  Nice job on your track, Legend!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Crazy about Mad Libs

In the Education Center yesterday, as part of our literacy stations, members had the chance to create their own mad libs.  This is an engaging way to get members to think about words in a creative way.  Members had to come up with nouns, adjectives, and silly words first and then take these words and fill them into the correct blanks to create their own mad lib.  One member stated to me, "I wish school could be this fun every day!"




Running Club

Now that Spring is finally here, members at the Jerry Gamble location have had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Run Club.  Caitlin and Brian Gregg, who are MN Olympians themselves, understand the importance of eating healthy and exercising.  As part of this program, members have the chance to learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles, goal setting, and running.  Here are some pictures of the members working on goal setting and enjoying some delicious and healthy apples.  Thank you to Caitlin and Brian Gregg for this wonderful program.






Monday, May 19, 2014

April Members of the Month


I would like to take a minute to congratulate Lamia Cooke and Daunte Wright for being chosen as my April Members of the Month.  In order to have this prestigious award presented to you, you must be working towards academic excellence and service to the club.

Lamia has been working with me for the past seven months. Every day she consistently brings her homework to me and I have seen great strides in her reading ability and comprehension.  Even when the going gets tough, Lamia does not give up and continues to amaze me with her strength and determination.  Keep up the great work, Lamia!

Daunte has been working with me for the past seven months as well.  He consistently brings his homework to me and even completes the literacy station work I have created each day as well.  Daunte is very respectful and is always smiling.  Whenever I need him to help around the club, he never hesitates.  I appreciate his leadership in both his service to the club and his academics.  Keep up the great work, Daunte!

Weaving Project

In the Education Center this past Friday, members had the opportunity to learn the art of weaving.  We used square shaped cardboard pieces and created slits on these to create our makeshift looms.  Members then would take the yarn and weave it through.  They had a great time doing this.  Even Mr. Malm, the K-2 instructor, tried this activity out.  Here are some pictures from the day.






Friday, May 2, 2014

Volunteers from the Timberwolves and Lynx Organization


We, as a team, at the Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club would like to give a special thank you to both the Timberwolves and Lynx Organization for volunteering their time at the club last week.  Members had fun playing basketball, foosball, and board games with you and we appreciate you coming to see us.  Please come again soon!

Kids in the City


This week, selected members had the opportunity to be part of the Kids in the City Event.  Twelve members were chosen and had to meet the following requirements in education, leadership, behavior, attendance and service to the club.  Members were able to go to the Twins Stadium to enjoy some food from Buffalo Wild Wings and then watch the game.  Congratulations to Verssy, Dion, Brandon, Daunte, Gwen, Haji, Isaiah, Amori, Khallyah Kendale and Neveah.

Poetry Unit

This week, members have been busy in the Education Center working on their homework and literacy stations.  This week's theme was poetry. Members anaylzed haiku and limerick poems and once they completed this, they created some poems of their own.  Here are some Boys and Girls Club poetry produced in the Education Center.

Haiku Poems by Members

A traditional Japanese haiku is a three line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count.  These poems usually speak about nature.  In the Education Center, members chose the theme spring.  Below are their published creations:

Kendale

Spring is fun
Kendale likes to play baseball
Spring has trees to climb

Haji

Beautiful flowers
Springtime is the best ever
Better than ever

Lanajia

Lanajia loves spring
Lanajia is good at sports
Lanajia loves rain

Takari

Spring is really nice
I like to play in the rain
Spring has raindrops too.


Limerick Poems by Members

A limerick is a short, silly poem.  Limericks are five lines long and follow a specific pattern.  Lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme and have 8, 9 and 10 syllables.  Lines 3 and 4 rhyme and have 5, 6 or 7 syllables.  Beow you will find members' published limericks:

Dennis

There once was a boy named Dennis
He liked to play a lot of tennis
He likes to learn
He likes to twist and turn
He knows he is not a menace

Coretta

There once was a very fat cat
He also had an awesome hat
He was friends with a dog
They hung out by the log
Then they dined with the rats

Takari
There once was a boy named Takari
He had a friend named Ja'mari
He went to the fair
And played truth or dare
In the end they had to say sorry

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Making Easter Baskets

Last Friday, in celebration of the Easter holiday, members had the opportunity to create Easter baskets in the Education Center.  Twenty members would come in at a time and design their own unique Easter basket.  First, members had a cup by which they fastened a pipe cleaner for the handle.  Next, they created the bunny face and attached bunny ears to the inside of the cup.  Once finished, they were able to put Easter grass and candy in their baskets.

After they finished their Easter baskets, members were able to estimate how many jelly beans were in the water bottle and the top two members that were the closest, were able to take these home.  Our winners were Verssy Flowers and Aleciayanna Smith.  Great day had by all members who participated!

















Friday, April 18, 2014

Bullying Awareness Unit

In the Education Center for this week and next, our literacy stations will be focused on the theme of bullying.  I have created a thematic unit around this topic and our first lesson was about the power of our words.  Members wrote down hurtful words, how these made them feel, and drew a picture of what others might feel when they hear these words directed at them.  Next, members made a list of kind words, how these words make them feel, and drew a picture of how others might feel when they hear these words.  I followed this up with a two part question and answer having them journal the following:

Do our words have power?  Why or why not?
 
"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never break me."  Members then stated their position and defended it by journaling about the meaning behind this quotation.

Members were highly engaged in this topic and worked hard on their journal writing.  Great work!