Guatemalan Mayan Center at South Grade Elementary Afterschool Program, affectionately known as “La Escuelita Maya,” received support from Prime Time on delivering a daily Afternoon Meeting for youth.
The Afternoon Meeting entails an intentional circle gathering where the afterschool practitioners model and facilitate four activity segments, namely, the Greeting, the Sharing, the Activity and the Message.
Each segment is designed to:
· Incrementally build positive adult-youth and youth-youth communication and interaction.
· Engage youth in positive and empathetic behavior.
· Promote equity by giving youth voice and choice during meeting activities.
Prime Time's Knellee Bisram facilitated a simulation and modeling of Afternoon Meeting in Spanish with all staff that included direction and expectations. During this demonstration Knellee worked alongside the practitioner to do an icebreaker in Spanish with the youth at the Guatemalan Mayan Center. They took turns introducing themselves and asking one another how they are doing. The children were excited to be able to have the opportunity to express themselves amongst their peers and afterschool counselor. Following the modeling session, staff were observed on their facilitation of afterschool meeting with youth and provided coaching for improvement in both English and Spanish.
Afterschool practitioners spent time reflecting on practices to better prepare their youth for school and life, namely how to integrate practices in the their staff meetings and in their personal development and well-being goals to ultimately impact the youth they serve.
“I like it because it helps me to breathe and relax…” - Youth, grade 4, on his experience during an Afternoon Meeting
Translated in Spanish
La especialista en aprendizaje socioemocional de Prime Time, Knellee Bisram, facilitó una simulación y modelado de protocolos de interacción en círculos, normas grupales compartidas y reuniones vespertinas en español con todo el personal. Después de la sesión de modelado, se observó al personal sobre su facilitación de reuniones vespertinas con los jóvenes y se les brindó entrenamiento y coaching para mejorar tanto en inglés como en español.
Los profesionales de afterschool pasaron tiempo reflexionando sobre las prácticas para preparar mejor a sus jóvenes para la escuela y la vida, es decir, cómo integrar las prácticas en las reuniones de su personal y en sus objetivos de desarrollo personal y bienestar, y de esa manera impactar a los jóvenes a los que sirven.
Después, cuando les preguntamos a los jóvenes sobre su experiencia en la reunión vespertina, un estudiante de cuarto grado dijo sonriendo "bueno, me gusta porque me ayuda a respirar y relajarme ..."
