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!