After-school Program for Middle Schoolers

After-school program builds character, teaches leadership

Posted: Sunday, October 12, 2014 12:00 am

By Andy Rieger

It’s still an hour before sunrise on the first day of Norman schools’ Fall Break and a gaggle of teenagers are hanging out around an old tire and automobile repair shop in downtown Norman.

They are friendly, well-groomed and well-dressed. Not one is checking texts as we speak. They are cheerfully wrangling members of the Norman Downtowners into the headquarters of Loveworks, a leadership program designed to help middle-school students discover their potential and live into their dreams.

About 150 kids in sixth through eighth grade participate in the program which was developed by Journey Church three years ago. There's a waiting list of kids wanting in.

Dozens of adult volunteers work with the students from 4 to 6 p.m. four afternoons a week. It's the precise time period some of the kids might be tempted into engaging in risky behavior.

Students team up on projects that teach character, leadership, experiential learning and giving back to their community.

Food is a big part of the experience. They have snacks upon arrival in Norman school buses. Dinner is served at the end of the evening before parents pick them up.

Rusty Loeffler, of Interurban Restaurants, is a regular cook on Thursday nights.

“I think if you want to strengthen our society, you start locally and take kids that may not have any leadership at home and give them some leadership,” Loeffler said. “Show them how to get better, gain confidence, self esteem, encourage them.”

Coordinator Michael Hirsch says students come two afternoons a week. Clark Mitchell, pastor at Journey Church, and others had the vision to reach middle school students who are most at-risk behaviorally and academically of all children. They started at Irving Middle School, then moved to a former bowling alley on East Lindsey.

Their home at 127 W. Main is cut up into classrooms, a kitchen, performing stage, offices and a winter wonderland next door. (The iceberg theme teaches about a person’s character. Hint: Much of it is below the surface).

Teenage years can be tough. (My late father once told me teenagers are why some species eat their young).

There’s peer pressure to try new things, challenge parents and find some independence. Loveworks taps into students’ creativity and lets them pursue their ideas and dreams in a safe, nurturing and non-judgmental environment. One class explained their plan for a video studio.

“We want at the end of the day to feel like the day was too short and they can’t wait to come back,” says Daniel Smith, one of the group’s leaders and a former volunteer there.

The transformation is often impressive.

Says Loeffler, “It’s amazing to see some of the results of some of those kids that come in as sixth graders, head down, no eye contact and when they leave they’re beaming with confidence.”

http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/after-school-program-builds-character-teaches-leadership/article_3385ef7c-4fc8-11e4-ba29-d7385ef51cee.html

Ret. 10-30-14

An After-School Program in Enid

Enid News staff writer Phyllis Zorn wrote a three-part package of articles about mentoring for Enid's Sunday paper. In addition to promoting the Coaches' Mentoring Challenge and Stan Brownlee's Fifth Grade Mentoring Program, Phyllis highlighted another lesser known but highly successful Enid program. We praise Zorn for her passion for building the community of Enid and offering all of us this model.

Mentoring: More than homework, turkey tacos

Shakara Revels, a third-grade student in Enid Public Schools, receives help from Kimberly Raymond during Zoe Bible Church Kids Cafe on Wednesday.

by Phyllis Zorn

Kids Cafe

Zoe Bible Church’s Kids Cafe serves up activities, tutoring and life skills five days per week — along with dinner twice a week — to 80 elementary school children in Enid.

The lessons learned are more than homework and how to eat turkey tacos. Children in the faith-based mentoring program also are learning they are loved by God and by people around them.

Carlton Burton, senior pastor at Zoe Bible Church since 2011, is director of the Kids Cafe program. In addition, he drives the church bus to pick up the children at school.

When Burton stopped the bus in the driveway of Garfield Elementary School on Wednesday, children joyfully came to the bus, settled on board and buckled their seat belts for the ride to Zoe.

“This is a Christian-based facility,” Burton said. “Each gets age-appropriate instruction. They also get life skills teaching, counseling, and help with lessons.”

The program has four teachers as well as six volunteers. When children arrive, they are grouped into four classes according to their ages.

Most of the children ate turkey tacos for dinner at the same time 18 got lessons in conflict resolution Wednesday.

Students in an upstairs classroom talked with Donna Moreno-Hernandes about how to deal with difficult situations at school without coming to blows. She and the students imagined a school situation where a classmate had become confrontational.

“What can you do other than fighting?” Moreno-Hernandes asked. “How can you resolve the issue?”

“Go talk to the principal,” one child suggested.

“Ignore them and go away,” another suggested.

“What if they jump on you and go bop?” a boy asked.

“Scream to get help,” another boy suggested.

Soon, Burton brought another group of 18 students to the classroom and escorted the first group down to dinner.

The children also get outdoor play time when weather permits and indoor play when weather is inclement. During the holiday season, children develop skits to perform for parents and make craft gifts for family members. A summer program operated by the church is different, with longer hours and more outings.

Cornelius Pitts, counselor and director of The Agency at Zoe, also works with the children of Kids Cafe.

The program began in 2003 and was taken over from a different church that used to meet in the same location, Burton said.

Enid, Okla. — The two-hour mentoring program mainly is funded by members of the small church. It gets additional support from the Regional Food Bank and meals served at Kids Cafe conform to Regional Food Bank standards.

“One of the biggest challenges we’ve had is mentoring kids in the areas of personal hygiene and respect for others,” Burton said. “We really need all churches to pick up parenting and teaching these young parents to parent.”

Some of the computers at Kids Cafe need repaired or replaced. Additionally, Kids Cafe is in need of additional volunteers and cash donations for outings, arts and craft supplies and prizes for the children. Checks can be mailed to Zoe Bible Church, 729 E. Maine, Enid, OK 73701.

http://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/article_09c57d94-30c2-11e4-87ce-001a4bcf887a.html 

Posted 8-30-14

Teaching Math & Science with Results

Branding and Values

This creative two-week summer camp with innovative teaching of math and science was a phenomenal success. Math scores rose 35%. Youths had fun, too. Plans are underway to use the model for after-school. 

This high energy, productive model can easily be adapted without Biblical references for the values. Renee Spears, one of the authors and co-founders, sent us a copy of a student math binder. The concept she and Ginger created works. They plan to expand the concept to other academic areas. A must read!

Ponca City hosted its first two week Math, Science, and Bible Character Camp at Harmony Baptist Church this July 19 to August 1, 2014. The Northern Oklahoma Academic Tutoring Foundation, a nonprofit foundation started by the late Ron Hartman to promote and assist tutoring for Ponca City's students, sponsored the camp. The camp ran from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday, with 40 students from the public school enrolled. 

Enrollment forms were taken to the schools at the first of August. Those returning the sheet with confirmation of attendance or declining received a turkey feather from a turkey that had been harvested that hunting season.  A video of fainting goats was shown along with a description of other animals that would be attending the camp.

Reader's Theater

Geometry anyone?

Of the 40 enrolled, 32 students attended, and 27 were there every day. A pre-test and a post-test were given to the students to assess their math skills.  This included a multiplication sheet of the facts with no "twins" to prevent overwhelming the students.  The test was designed as well as the math books that the students used through the weeks by Ginger Henley and Renee Spears, both teachers at Ponca City schools.  

The math books consisted of one of every problem that a student encounters in third grade math curriculum. The students repetitiously worked through 25 pages of problems through the two weeks, beginning over at the first page each day.  Problem sheets were cleverly inserted into plastic sleeves in a binder so students could work the problems with a non-permanent marker and then wipe off the answers. A lesson was briefly taught each day on a new math skill to review or enlighten the students.

Science

The students began the day with Great Expectation practices of recitation with a quote, "We are conqueror of our destiny, not victims of our circumstances, and a motto, "I will not take personally what others say or do, it is a reflection of them, not me." Then they would learn a new character trait with a Bible verse each day, totaling 11 character trait cumulatively by the end of the two weeks.  

They would also learn that the power to live these character traits came only from God. The traits that come easily were their personality, not character. Character is when everything that you are does not want to do something, but you do it anyway because it is right. 

High school students assisted

The students were given the knowledge of how to have this relationship with God and who they are once that is established. They were also taught about the Armor of God and how to use it to protect who they are. Short testimonials were given by high school student workers of these practices being effective in their lives.

After opening, they began a rotation of seven centers lasting 25 minutes a piece. These centers consisted of a science center, art center, math workbook center, multiplication facts center, reader's theater center, recreation and animal center, and snack center. The curriculum for these centers was developed by Ginger and Renee. 

Animals were an integral part of the fun.The students had visits from fainting goats, gave a horse a bath, groomed a miniature horse, watched a tarantula crawl on the head of a worker, watched the sheering of a sheep, and a fish being cleaned, and collected and touched feathers of different Oklahoma water fowl. Also, examples of instruments played by the high school was integrated through the week.

One of the summer camp stars--a bass fish!

Ginger's son, Noah, caught for the program, a bass, 
Oklahoma's state fish. 
The teachers dissected the fish and 
then kept the meat to cook. 
The kids were besides themselves.  
Some wanted to keep the liver, heart, etc. 
It was a riot!   

An important part of our educational philosophy is that you have to have a child's heart before you can have his or her mind. This concept was the identifying theme of the camp.

Hands-on experiments

At the end of each day of the camp, a different student group would perform a skit that had previously been performed by the leaders at the opening and then practiced during Reader's Theater center. Character traits, the motto, and the quote would be reviewed along with a skit about bullying and bullying skills. For example, say, "Oh, really, hmm," and then walk away, feel the pain and go on.

"Eat this, not that!"

Crackers make learning more fun and tasty!

Finally, there were 27 students that attended every day. The students were given a peacock feather, donated by a peacock farm, if they did not miss a day. The test scores were only used from those 27. The results of the test showed a 35% increase in math skills over the two weeks.  The students mastered their character traits, motto, quote and bullying skills.  

The camp was dismissed with 32 student raising their right arm high and cheering," We are conquerors of our destiny, not victims of our circumstances!" in front of a parent group of 60 that attended the closing ceremony where certificates were handed out. Funds for the camp were provided by Northern Oklahoma Academic Tutoring Foundation.

For more information on the program, contact Renee Spears at deborah.r.spears@gmail.com.

Personal communication, 9-15-14

Renee's oldest son, Nicholas, 

and the family's miniature horse, Boo.  

The kids love him.  

They can learn grooming with him and 

aren't so afraid because of his size.

Resource for Positive Attitude and Development

• Resource for a mentor and mentee or for groups or classes

• Time - beginning of the school year

• Loan from a library rather than purchase 

• Adult "original" for older youths or adults 

The Energy Bus for Kids: A Story about Staying Positive and Overcoming Challenges by Jon Gordon

Photo from Amazon.com

Amy Wright, the after-school program director for Putnam City Schools, shares that the Energy Bus for Kids is a resource she learned about from a program director who oversees 67 schools in Northside Independent School District in San Antonio.  

"At the beginning of the school year, the after-school program goes over this book with the students, and she said it really helps set a positive tone for the year," Amy said.

http://energybuskids.com/ For a free downloadable adult guide 

From Amazon.com

An illustrated adaptation of the bestselling business fable, The Energy Bus, teaches children the benefits of staying positive

In this illustrated adaptation of the bestselling fable, The Energy Bus, author Jon Gordon shows children how to overcome negativity, bullies and everyday challenges to be their best. The Energy Bus For Kids is a story that will teach kids how to find their inner motivation and pass on that positive energy to others.

• The Energy Bus For Kids presents five rules for the "Ride of Your Life"
• Teaches kids how to fuel your ride with positive energy
• Shares with kids how to love the people you share your journey with and how to enjoy the ride

Positive kids become positive adults. So get kids on the Energy Bus and infuse their lives with a newfound vision, attitude, and positivity.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Energy-Bus-Kids-Overcoming/dp/1118287355/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y  Ret. 5-14

Amazon.com

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon 

Management, teamwork, goals, vision, etc. 

http://www.leadership-tools.com/the-energy-bus.html

Amy shared this resource at an Oklahoma Out-of-School Time Alliance (OOSTA) meeting, April 30, 2014.

After-School Programs, Edmonton-style

Kids On Track     http://kidsontrack.org/

History

Kids On Track started in September of 1992. On October 31, 1995 Kids On Track was officially registered as a non-profit society in the province of Alberta. In August of 1996 we recieved our charitable status with the Government of Canada. This longevity has created credibility with families and other service providers such as schools, police and social workers. Our long-term commitment to at-risk families builds trust and provides stability for children and youth.

Our Programs!

Kids On Track offers a unique blend of social, recreational, and spiritual programs. By offering this blend of programs each individual program becomes more effective than if it stood alone. This has been particularly valuable in building relationships with the families that we serve. The parents and children develop relationships with the volunteers and staff who are able to become mentors of at-risk children and youth.

The almost dizzying array of programs from September through June include:

School Clubs (kids grades 1-6)
Family Fun Night (once a month)
Parent's Cafe (parent support during Family Fun Night)
Family Celebrations (holidays with Kids on Track)
L.I.T.E.S. (Leaders In Training Experience, grades 7 and up)
Rainbows & Prisms (grief recovery for family break-up)
Shift Youth (Friday night youth programming)
Character Connex (school assembly program)

Programs July-August

Kids Summer Day Campus (kids entering grades 1-5)
Kids Summer Camp (kids entering grades 3-5)
L.I.T.E. Summer Program (intensive leadership training, kids grauduating grade 6 and up)

http://kidsontrack.org/programs

 

Linda Roussel is the founder and director of Kids On Track, an organization with a seventeen year track record of outstanding ministry to urban kids in Edmonton. She was a community health nurse for over 25 years and has a one year specialization in multicultural health services. Linda has extensive experience in connecting with parents of at risk children and a passion for helping children and youth become all they can be.



We recently became acquainted with Linda at the National Mentoring Symposium in Canada.  Even among "mentoring people," who are already exceptional, Linda is far above most. Words cannot quite describe her heart, organization, vision, humility, intellect and goodness.  No wonder this program has grown and developed.  Resiliency is a Roussel family hallmark!

http://kidsontrack.org/programs