Making After-School Cool Podcast

Ep 33 Children’s Museum Summer Services during Covid19

In this episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast, we continue our series of interviews exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the out-of-school time field. Today our guests share information on the available summer services at the Children’s Museum of Houston.

  

During this episode you will learn about:

 1.  Safety procedures for the facility and staff

2.  Steps the Children’s Museum of Houston is taking to minimize the probability of youth being exposed to COVID-19

3.  Procedures for OST providers and parents who want to visit the museum 

4.   Steps the Children's Museum of Houston is taking in the event someone get sick while visiting

5.    Adjustments the museum made to practice social distancing while allowing youth to participate in fun activities

Guest

 Dr. Armando X. Orduña has served in formal and informal K—12 education for over 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of Outreach Programs for Children’s Museum Houston where he has filled various roles in its Education Dept. for the last 12 years. In 2012, nominated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Orduña was honored as a White House Champion of Change for his classroom service for urban Hispanic youth.   

Tiffany Espinosa  

 

Tiffany Espinosa, Manager of Community Partnerships at Children’s Museum Houston, has a Bachelor of Art in Spanish and History from Stephen F. Austin State University. Tiffany has 15 years of experience in bilingual education and community outreach. Her work at Children’s Museum Houston includes 9 years of experience managing the Museum’s Para los Niños program and serving as Educator for the Parent Stars program, both of which provide bilingual, hands-on workshops and events for families throughout Houston. Currently, she manages the Open Doors program, maintaining partnerships with over 1,091 organizations and providing free admission to families who would otherwise not be able to visit the Museum.

Ep: 32 YMCA Summer Services during Covid19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the OST field. Featured is an interview with Curtis Lemieux, Executive Director of Youth Development for the YMCA of Greater Houston.

During this interview you will learn:

1. Preparedness of the YMCA management to address providing services for essential workers at the beginning of the pandemic
2.  Safety procedures established by the YMCA for staff and the facility as well
3. Steps the YMCA took to minimize the probability of student exposure to COVID-19
4. Procedures the YMCA put in place for drop-off and pick-up as well as daily interactions on the facility
5. Procedures established by the YMCA in the event a student gets sick while attending programming
6. Adjustments the YMCA made to practice social distancing while allowing students to participate in activities
7. Advice for other OST programs regarding providing services during this new normal 

Guest

Curtis Lemieux has worked with the YMCA for 20 years serving in multiple capacities. For the last 10 years he has worked with the YMCA of Greater Houston. He is currently the Executive Director of Youth Development working with a team of individuals who plan and implement the afterschool and summer day camps throughout the city of Houston.

Resources

YMCA of Greater Houston

https://www.ymcahouston.org/SeeYouSoon

 Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ep 31: The COVID19 Academic Slide Impact on Students’ Achievement

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on what educators describe as the COVID-19 Slide. This year, most students have been out of their classroom setting since early March. Now that summer break is here, many students will not be getting any form of academic instruction. How will the COVID-19 Slide impact students’ academic achievement? Is there anything OST staff and parents can do to lessen academic losses? To discuss this issue we are joined by guest Dr. Cedric Stewart. During this podcast, you will hear some answers to these questions and the following:
• Definition of COVID-19 Slide
• Subjects with the largest incidence of learning loss during summer
• Tips and strategies for parents and OST providers to help enhance students' learning during summer
• Methods for parents and OST providers to encourage engaged learning
• Strategies to minimize students' math anxiety
• Resources for parents and OST providers with math anxiety

Guest

Dr. Cedric Stewart has served families in Harris County as an educator, consultant, and administrator since 1992. During that time, he has held many roles simultaneously, accruing over 20 years of educational experience with a fierce commitment to equity for all students. Dr. Stewart was recently appointed to serve as the new Instructional Leader of Jewel Houston Academy. He is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and holds 6 degrees in Criminal Justice, Educational Leadership, and Counseling.
.

Resources
Dr. Steward
Cbsteward@aldineisd.org

Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/

Code.org
https://code.org/

Sesame Street
https://www.sesamestreet.org/

PBS for Kids
https://pbskids.org/

Cool Math
https://www.coolmathgames.com/

We Are Teachers
https://www.weareteachers.com/free-online-learning-resources/

Fun Brain
https://www.funbrain.com/

 

 

 

 

Ep 30: Houston public library services during COVID-19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast is a continuation of the series of interviews exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the out-of-school time field. Today, Mary Wagner of the Houston Public Library will be discussing summer youth services offered through the library.

During this episode you will learn more about:
• Adjustments implemented since the COVID-19 pandemic began
• Action steps if you have books or other items checked out
• Return for checked out items and fee assessment for overdue items
• Summer services provided through the library
• Resources available for all age groups

Guest
As Youth Services Advocate for Houston Public Library (HPL), Mary Wagoner, M.L.I.S., has a combined 28 years of Library Management, Project Management and Youth Services experience at Houston Public Library. Mary served as Project Director for two Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grants, the Fountain of Youth grant in 2009 and Pop Up Library grant in 2012. In her former role as Special Project Manager, she served as the Project Lead and Steering Committee Chair of several Lean 6 Sigma studies, including the Library Materials Selection Division which resulted in reorganization of the division, a new Holds print solution and new Holds labels. Mary was the Project Lead for TLA Award Winning Children’s Zone in response to Hurricane Ike.
Mary served as President of Texas Library Association’s TALL Texans from 2010 to 2011. She belongs to, and has made professional presentations at ALA, ALSC, PLA and TLA on various topics, including: Disaster Response (Katrina, Ike & Harvey), the Pop-Up Library, YPQI (Weikert’s Youth Program Quality Improvement) and Library Collections. In her current role, Mary and her team strive to meet the challenges of providing cohesive and innovative free youth programming and services for children of all ages and parent education as part of a dynamic organization that serves 2.2 million Houston residents and 4.3 million residents in the greater Houston metropolitan area.

Resources
Houston Public Library
https://houstonlibrary.org

Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Ep 29 OST supports Working families during Covid19

This episode of the Making Afterschool podcast explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the connection between OST providers and families that need support. The guest for this episode, Kimberly Woods, is a working parent and designated essential worker. She shares her family’s experiences adapting to the new normal, as well as, how childcare provided by the YMCA of Greater Houston has helped her family.

During this episode you will learn more about:
· Her response to uncertainty and questions since learning about COVID-19
· The YMCA childcare program and its impact on her child
· The special precautions the Y had in place to keep children, staff and parents safe
· The procedures the Y has in place to connect parents with students during the day
· Questions parents should ask when choosing an OST provider

Guest
Kimberly Woods is an occupational therapist on the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at the VA hospital and has been for the last 14yrs. Prior to COVID-19 she was full-time in-hospital, however currently M-F teleworking at home; and in-hospital treating patients two days a week. For years, her sons have been cared for by YMCA facilities when not at home, with one son attending the Medical Center YMCA since 12wks old and the other attends summer camps there as well. Her husband works for the city of Houston and has also been an essential employee during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources
YMCA of Greater Houston
www.ymcahouston.org

Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

Ep 28: Motivating students to learn during COVID-19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast features Dr. Dan Vollrath. We will be discussing strategies for motivating students to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote learning has brought many new challenges, but the need to effectively engage students remains constant. Today’s topic focuses on keeping students motivated during COVID-19, especially those with learning disabilities. During this episode you will learn about:

1. Strategies parents and teachers can use to keep students motivated, especially those with learning disabilities.
2. Best practices for dealing with student procrastination
3. Movement breaks and exercise and their benefits for students completing schoolwork
4. Benefits of reflective time for students during learning
5. Mindful-hyper focus and the importance of practicing it

Guest
Dr. Daniel Vollrath is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey. In addition, Daniel serves as a U.S. professional development trainer with the Institute for Habits of Mind. With a strong passion for developing curriculum, building student relationships, and fostering executive function techniques infused with the Habits of Mind, Vollrath has created a more responsive and mindful classroom culture. Dispositional thinking, reflective techniques, and instructional procedures connected to Habits of Mind serve an integral role in his daily pedagogy. Feel free to email Daniel at danvollrath44@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @HabitsofMindInc, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Resources
De-escalation with Habits of Mind Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UETaYQnXO28&t=4s

De-escalation Exercise article
https://www.edutopia.org/article/de-escalation-exercise-upset-students

Building Resilience in Students
https://www.edutopia.org/article/encouraging-students-develop-resilience

A collection of blogs and articles through the Institute for Habits of Mind
https://www.habitsofmindinstitute.org/category/authors/daniel-vollrath/

Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

Ep 27: Out 2 Learn Resources during COVID-19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast features the Out 2 Learn resource network. Initiated in 2017, Out 2 Learn is a collaborative initiative dedicated to increasing access to and improving the quality of out-of-school time (OST) opportunities in Greater Houston. This is a collaborative effort led by Houston Endowment, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education, Harris County Department of Education’s CASE for Kids, and United Way of Greater Houston. Out 2 Learn is a valuable resource for parents in Houston to find out-of-school and afterschool programs that will benefit and engage their children.

During this this podcast you will learn about:

· The purpose of Out 2 Learn
· Other similar quality initiatives in Texas and United States
· Out 2 Learn as a resource for youth service providers
· Out 2 Learn as a resource for parents
· Future funding opportunities related to COVID-19

Guest
Tiffany Echevarria has served the community for over seven years through various capacities. She is tremendously grateful for the opportunity to have served as an AmeriCorps member implementing an afterschool program. She credits that experience for inspiring her dedication to the OST field. Tiffany currently manages grant processes aimed at strengthening programs that support youth ages five to early adulthood. She also supports several projects that convene partners to work collaboratively, including Out 2 Learn.

Resources
Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund
https://www.greaterhoustonrecovery.org

Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund -- Inquiry Fund
https://www.greaterhoustonrecovery.org/covid-19-nonprofit-inquiry-form

Out 2 Learn's Website
www.Out2LearnHOU.org

Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

Ep 26: High school students share COVID-19 experiences

This episode of the Making Afterschool Podcast focuses on the viewpoints of two high school students adjusting to new ways of doing things because of COVID-19. They share their thoughts and experiences while practicing social distancing.

During this this podcast you will learn:
• Virtually getting and completing class assignments
• Elective courses which requires the use of special equipment
• Socializing with friends without being in contact
• Advice for teachers and other students if something like this ever happens again

Guests
Brandon Cephus is originally from New Orleans, LA. He is a senior at Wheatley High School in Houston, TX who likes to write stories and play video games. He is a car enthusiast and plans to attend Houston Community College to study Game Design.

JonMitchell Goode is a senior at Wheatley High School from Houston, TX. He is a prolific music producer, recording artist and visual artist. He enjoys writing poetry, playing video games, and watching video games during his free time. He plans to follow his passion and study Music Production at Houston Community College

Together, they are the hosts of the Pen and Paper Podcast. In each episode, they explore the many aspects of student life, from getting to school to field trips to interviews with some of their most engaging teachers. If you enjoy funny, educational stories, this podcast is for you.

Resources

Andrew Karnavas
andrew@yawprecords.com

Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Ep 25: Be Confident Parents for Confident Kids During COVID-19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast focuses on strategies parents and caregivers can use to inspire confidence in kids during the pandemic.  Building youth’s self esteem and resilience has never been more important as they confront issues related to the coronavirus. Consequently, the lessons we learn during this new normal can assist parents and out-of-school time (OST) professionals with new innovative methods to teach youth. Our guest, Jennifer Miller is a published author, writer of the Confident Parents Confident Kids blog and sought after expert contributor on national news outlets regarding promoting social and emotional learning at home.

During this this podcast you will learn how:

• Youth serving institutions and school programs are changing and adapting to this new normal
• Parents can promote youth resiliency and social emotional skills at home     
• Parents can be be a role models to keep kids calm or decrease their fear
• Adults can help youth express their thoughts and feelings regarding the pandemic

Guest

For twenty-five years, Jennifer Miller has worked with educators and families to help them become more effective with children through social and emotional learning (SEL). She is author and illustrator of the new book “Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids” and her blog has more than 23,000 followers in 152 countries world-wide. She serves as a regular expert contributor to NBC TODAY Parenting and to PBS Kids. She writes and offers expertise for numerous publications including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and Parent Magazine. She serves on the Tauck Family Foundation’s Advisory Committee along with members from Child Trends, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and Harvard’s School of Education. She consults with schools, conducts research and creates tools on parenting and SEL with partners at the University of Pittsburgh, Montana State University, and the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. She frequently speaks at conferences, offers coaching to parents one-on-one, and conducts workshops in Ohio and nationally. She has her master’s degree in Instructional Leadership with a focus on social and emotional development and lives with her husband and twelve-year-old son in Columbus, Ohio.

Resources

Confident Parents Confident Kids webpage

https://confidentparentsconfidentkids.org/

CASEL CARES: SEL Resource During COVID-19

https://casel.org/covid-resources

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

Ep 24: Staying mentally healthy during COVID-19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast focuses on strategies family members can use to help with stress and anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, many are feeling overwhelmed while adjusting to the limitations of life under social distancing practices. For adult caregivers trying to keep school-age kids busy, and/or assisting older parents, this can be an increasingly difficult time. Our guest, Lauren Pursley of Mental Health America of Greater Houston will share coping strategies for this time.

 

During this podcast we will discuss the following:

 

• Strategies for best coping mentally with news reports detailing effects of the COVID-19 outbreak
• Practical tips to deal with anxiety​
• Practices to implement to overcome the feeling of loneliness caused by social distancing
• Activities that can be used in a program to decrease anxiety for students
• Suggestions to help others feeling grief over the loss of routines, and the uncertainty of the future

 

Guest

Lauren Pursley is an experienced Training Specialist with years of experience in the mental health care industry. She trains educators and community members in the signs and symptoms of mental illness, trauma and trauma-informed practices and suicide prevention. In addition, Lauren develops trainings in areas of mental health, such as Self-care and Burnout Prevention, Postpartum Disorders and Mental Health Law.

 

Resources

Mental health of America upgraded Houston 

https://mhahouston.org/

 

Family Services of Greater Houston

https://www.familyhouston.org/

 

Texas Department of State Health Services

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/faq.aspx