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Training: Half Day Session
Curriculum and Homework Linkages

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Before Viewing
Ask: When you think of a dynamic after-school program, what comes to mind? Chart the responses. Tip to Facilitator: Participants will have a range of ideas. Try to focus on elements common to all after-school programs, homework help and enrichment activities in particular.

Viewing the Video
Watch the Thousand Oaks and Esperanza segments of the video. Take notes on what makes homework help and enrichment activities effective and engaging.

Discussion Questions

• How do Thousand Oaks and Esperanza link the after-school curriculum to the regular day learning?
• What homework strategies seem to make the after-school time most effective?

Planning Activities

• Check out the planning tools in the Beyond the Bell web site. (To access the planning tools, follow the About Linkages: Plan link.) Print the Homework Sharing tool and the Field Trip memo. Discuss and critique how regular school teachers and after-school staff can share information about curriculum and homework needs.
• Draft tools that would work in your particular school and program.

Wrap-up Discussion

• What strategies can you bring back to your own program?
• What resources in your community can be used for enrichment activities?

On the Video:

School:	Gordon
Setting:	Urban/Suburban
Grade Level:	Middle School
What to Note:	Homework help system Teacher communication
School:	Esperanza
Setting:	Urban
Grade Level:	Elementary
What to Note:	Enrichment activities linked to literacy Communication with families
School:	Thousand Oaks
Setting:	Suburban
Grade Level:	Elementary
What to Note:	Innovative use of very limited space Enrichment activities
School:	Big Rapids
Setting:	Rural
Grade Level:	Middle School
What to Note:	Internal communication between day and after-school teachers

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