In 2014, Trident Technical College created the Workforce Academies, a pilot youth apprenticeship program for high school juniors and seniors. TT partnered with the Charleston Chamber of Commerce and manufacturing firms to provide the opportunity for job skill development as well as the opportunity for high school students to take credit classes at the college.…
STEM education is beginning to transform instead into STEAM focused learning. That’s because many educators believe incorporating the arts would not only keep students more engaged as they get older, but also because there’s a close link between individual STEM components and art as creativity, play, and innovation are essential to all. Mae Jamison, the…
The importance of computer science within school curriculum is beginning to seep more and more into the collective mind. According to Code.org, 34 states allow computer science to count towards math or science high school graduation requirements, up from only 12 states in 2013. Only 11 states have created K-12 computer standards, one being South…
Empowered Minds, formerly known as Yoga Kidz, is bringing yoga and mindfulness to the classroom. They believe in ‘teaching kids specific tools, creative techniques and daily practices to lay the foundation for attentiveness, stability and curiosity upon which all learning rests. In a world where stress, technology and distraction grow ever more pervasive, teaching our…
With the holiday season about to begin why not focus on activities that provide children with a little bit of introspection, focusing specifically on ways in which they are thankful. Here are 2 great activities to try with the younger kids. First, create a gratitude tree. Students get to color the tree to their hearts…
Employers today note a lack of skills relating to communication, teamwork/collaboration, and critical thinking when it comes to filling workplace positions, all of which are highly desired qualities for job candidates. Within the afterschool community it’s these skills the students are likely to develop, leading to qualified future workers. Most often in afterschool and summer…
James Island Elementary School’s Patrick Harrison recognized a new approach to getting kids outdoors in an afterschool setting. The retention pond near JI Elementary offered a perfect opportunity for the creation of the Fishing Club, now in its 6th year. The Fishing Club isn’t limited to the actual act of fishing only however. The…
The need for our students to be technologically literate isn’t much up for debate these days. Given the current nature of the world and the propulsion for ever advancing technologies, students need to know how to navigate through this environment. I’m not arguing for education technology to be accessible for all age groups, merely that…
Just as they sang in Mary Poppins, ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’! On a windy afternoon why not introduce an activity that allows for creativity as well as spending some time outdoors. For both activities encourage your students to take a plastic bag from home, providing an alternative use for it other than being thrown away.…
The San Francisco 49ers has been offering a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) afterschool program to kids in the Bay Area since 2014. While at the football stadium students get a tour learning about structural engineering and irrigation practices. Students learn the physics behind the motion of a football with ample opportunity…