After-school programs … because everyone needs to belong
By Rebecca Tucker
Have you ever heard about Lights on Afterschool? People from coast to coast leave their lights on one evening each fall to draw attention to the many ways after-school programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things.
As a middle school teacher from a central Ohio community, I have seen the benefits of our after-school program. Great after-school programs work — and it is deeply concerning that so many could lose funding under the latest budget plan from the White House
Being involved and trying new things can shape children into the adults they will become. In the classroom, students interact with a variety of peers and gain valuable experiences. How students spend their after-school hours can have just as much of an impact.
We are very fortunate that our students in Marysville can participate in a wide range of athletics as well as music programs and art. For many, the traditional extra-curricular activities may not meet their needs or interests. One of the many benefits of our after-school program called BASE, Bunsold After-School Enrichment, is the student-driven activities. All are welcome at BASE. The program gives students a place to meet new friends, try different things, and learn in nontraditional ways.
In addition to math and English tutoring sessions, students can participate in activities throughout the week. There is a Minecraft club, which worked on recreating our building so that students coming from the intermediate building could take a virtual tour. Students had the opportunity to write and produce their own weekly podcast. Prior to holiday break, students have worked in groups to follow a recipe and cook a feast to enjoy together. Each year, our students have been involved in building soap box derby cars and competing with other groups. Activities continuously change depending on student interest.
Our after-school program also gives students the opportunity to take on a leadership role. One student, Dean, started a bicycle club to fix up bikes and donate them to a local community organization. Even after he moved on to high school, this program is going strong. Another student came up with the idea of running a dodgeball tournament to raise money for two classmates who are battling cancer. Students are encouraged to bring their ideas into reality at BASE.
Rather than going home to an empty house and vegging in front of the TV, students can stay in a safe, supervised environment; enjoy a snack; get help with homework; build new relationships; work on academic skills; try new things; and find a place where they belong!
Students also learn more than just academic lessons in an after-school program. Social skills and learning how to get along with a diverse group of people are stressed. Our BASE students have also been involved in community service projects, such as making blankets and donating them to the Hope Center. Students make connections with community members, including volunteers who come in to work with clubs. During the summer, BASE partners with our school to hold discovery camps, such as outdoor camp, catapult camp or technology camp. As part of the experience, students create presentations to share with the community to show what problems they have investigated and what they learned.
Many parents work until later in the evening. Having a safe place for middle school students is essential. BASE allows students to have a snack, hang out with friends, work on homework, review academic skills, be active and try new experiences.
Another benefit of after-school programs is the added opportunity to build relationships with students in small groups. I have had several students in my summer camp who were then in my class the following year. Having those common experiences in a nontraditional setting can be very rewarding. Working with students over both years of middle school is also helpful. BASE staff and teachers who work during the after-school program get to know the students on a whole new level. I have had students who were struggling academically and I recommended that they join the BASE program. This allowed extra time to work with my student either one-on-one or in a small group.
As a teacher, I must acknowledge the academic benefits of our after-school program. Students have homework time set aside daily. In addition, they have an hour-long math lesson or activity and an English activity twice a week. I serve as a math tutor for BASE, planning lessons that review concepts as well as apply content to new situations. We work on open-ended problem-solving skills. Another academic benefit of our after-school program is the ability to help students make up work. I had a student this year who missed two full weeks of school. Not only was I able to use BASE time to help him catch up in math, but all of his core classes as well.
There are so many benefits to after-school programs, even at the middle school level. Rather than going home to an empty house and vegging in front of the TV, students can stay in a safe, supervised environment; enjoy a snack; get help with homework; build new relationships; work on academic skills; try new things; and find a place where they belong!
Those opportunities are vital for students. We can keep them — but only if we reject “lights out” budgeting for after-school programs.
Rebecca Tucker is a middle school teacher and intervention specialist in math and science at Bunsold Middle School in Marysville, Ohio. She has worked for several years as a BASE math tutor and summer camp instructor.
