WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Should after-school programs be an extension of the school day?

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Special Education Teacher in Alexandria, VA

I find most parents aren't

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I find most parents aren't home after school and children don't get their homework done. They need practice time for the things they learn in school. These children often don't make binds with their families and have other problems for numerous other reasons. Time will not solve that. These children are often quite unprepared for school and have a lot of basics to learn. Social skills among them. Playing games helps that.

katherine

no it not fair

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it is not fair to have longer schools days because some kid need to spend more time with their family. and alo they dont have ride home if they stay after school because of the longer school days some parents have to work or to school. student need to make a stronger bond with their family instead of beging in school all day long and comucation with their pears with other so they a good friendship with other they dislike that my opion thank you have a nice day

Jessica

School?

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School is good for peoples knowledge and it makes children have better lives earning better money and haveing a good life not struggling to live and eat forcing us on the streets. I think that the school hours are fine as they are... my school hours are: 8:45am until 2:45pm that is six hours. If the school our are extended children ( like myself) wont have time for extra curricular and we wont have much time for homework once we have dinner and get ready for the next day of school and also get ready for bed. We dont need to be under the care of our teachers for the whole day... WE HAVE LIVES!!! so I think it is not a good idea to extend the school hours!

bobby

ello

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school is for pigs

Corrine

At my school, we do offer

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At my school, we do offer afterschool tutoring. Our first priority is to offer these services to students who need the extra help. Then open it up to students who would like the extra help. We have two programs. One is using the Destination Math and Reading program (this is a web based computer program that students can work on at school or at home) for students who need extra practice in their skills. The other is a type of study hall where they have a faculty member to help them with their homework.
I believe we have been doing this for a couple of years now, but I am uncertain of how long it will last. It does dip into our financial planning, and so far each year the amount of money we receive is decreasing.

Anonymous

It is important to remember

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It is important to remember the finacial ramifications for a program like this too. Are they going to be willing to pay staff more for their time spent?

Anonymous

Afterschool time can be

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Afterschool time can be structured so that students are engaged in learning but it needs to be very different from the regular pencil pushing, computer remediation programs, and teacher lectures of the regular school day. there are many other things that can be done with students which brings learning in the back door (teaching without their knowledge) A cooking class can very well use math skills, reading skills, measuring, social rules and various other general knowledge ideals that children need. this also gives an adult mentor a chance to talk candidly and casually with students discussing issues of the day or group problems in an unstressful casual atmosphere which gets more results than a formal setting.

Literacy Specialist, After School Programs

Valuable Time, Valuable Opportunities

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After-school programming provides opportunities beyond the school day. Instead of playing video games all afternoon, students "may" find out that reading is fun, reading opens doors and windows into life.

Just maybe, with the currently strict adherence to standards-based teaching within the classrooms, after-school opportunities could possibly put some of the fun back into the experience of reading.

When we inspire and develop increased literacy in children, we give them the gift of a fee-time activity that is "free", only requiring their time and attention. Each time we "hook" a reader, we succeed in giving a timeless gift of "habit" to a child.

So let's do that, in whatever way we can. After all, it doesn't matter when or where or how, we all hopefully share the same page on what we want for children.

Ryan Collay

We use a model for

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We use a model for afterschool enrichment that does both. The point is not to provide more instructional time but to provide that opportunity that makes the other school time more effective. The enrichment model could, for example, provide time to apply math skills in a more contexual setting. It's the best of both worlds. This also allows students who can succeed in different settings.
James Hogue

Longer school days or school

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Longer school days or school years are not a solution to lack of learning. If our schools are not being effecive now what makes us think that simply adding more time doing the same things is going to be an improvement. After school should be an opportunity for students and teacers to explore different and exciting material -- not same old - same old.