On January 17, 2023, Prime Time hosted an in-person site-based training at Discovery Key Elementary Afterschool Program. The Youth Planning Basics training was facilitated by Prime Time’s Professional Development Specialist Shabrae Jackson.
Practitioners were elated to be among one another for one of the first in-person trainings since the pandemic. The training started with practitioners greeting one another and having dinner. They then moved on to an icebreaker. During the icebreaker they shared ideas on what it means for youth to make plans and then broke into groups to introduce themselves and share ideas with one another.
Each attendee had the opportunity to take part in a mock lesson planning activity, where they formed into groups to break down the lesson planning process. Prime Time’s Senior Quality Advisor Anita aided the practitioners as they brainstormed lesson plans. In a discussion led by our Professional Development Specialist Shabrae Jackson they went over the “what” and “why” of planning and reflection. At the end of their planning collaboration, they gathered as a whole group and shared their ideas amongst one another.
“This training taught me that I should let the children take more of a lead and figure things out on their own while providing my support”. -Shelsey Jean-Charles, Afterschool Counselor, Discovery Key Elementary Afterschool Program
Planning and reflection support youth in afterschool by articulating ideas, making decisions, and setting goals. To close out the training practitioners reflected on their past planning methods, and what changes they can make to improve moving forward.
“Prime Time has offered me support in completing my 120 hours which led me be an activity leader and then move on to assistant director and now I am the program director”- Katie Anderson, Afterschool Program Director, Discovery Key Elementary Afterschool Program