MENTOR's cornerstone publication, the "Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring[TM]", details research-informed and practitioner-approved Standards for creating and sustaining quality youth mentoring programs and consequently, impactful mentoring relationships. This Fourth Edition, released in 2015, reflects the most up-to-date…

Everyone who runs a youth program believes in their hearts that their program helps kids, but in their heads, they know they need convincing data to prove it. This guide--updated from 2011--is here to help them get the data they need. The guide addresses a common problem throughout the youth field: Out-of-school time (OST) programs can help youth…

Conflict among peers is common, and not necessarily a bad thing. Disagreement, teasing, and conflict are part of growing up, and children and adolescents need to develop skills to resolve these clashes. However, bullying, an extreme form of peer conflict or teasing, can be physically and psychologically harmful. Therefore, it is important for…

In response to requests from out-of-school time (OST) providers, the authors have created this practitioner's guidebook for integrating adolescent literacy development initiatives into a wide variety of OST programs. As readers will discover in subsequent chapters, the authors' definition of adolescent literacy development represents a…

Outlines service costs, meal planning, and physical arrangements for those in charge of meal functions, whether they be large board dinners or small administrator luncheons, and held at restaurants, hotels, or school cafeterias. (KS)

The Activities Person (AP) may have many different titles, but the responsibility for management of the school's activity program is the primary duty. The responsibilities of this role are identified. (Author/MLF)

Oregon high school band directors worked out a set of state guidelines for high school bands. The guidelines, which comprise this article, contain rationales, expectations, and recommendations concerning athletic contests, marching contests, jazz ensembles, musical shows, parades, summer activities, and performances in general. (RM)

Teachers acting as sponsors or coaches for student activity programs can benefit from in-service training. Topics that should be explored with them are listed. (Author/MLF)

Provided to teachers are guidelines for structuring a school-age child care program and a list of appropriate activities for after-school care. Discussion covers attendance taking, transition times, group games, art activities, and staggered dismissal. Supplemental activities are suggested, and outlines of a typical school day with child care, and…

A description is given of a program that provides preventive measures to check obesity in children and young people. The 24-week program is divided into two parts--a nutrition component and an exercise component. At the start and end of the program, tests are given to assess the participants' height, weight, body composition, fitness level, and…

Afterschool and weekend activities to promote understanding and supplement a multicultural curriculum are suggested. Home activities include making musical instruments and puppets, while other suggestions involve visits to museums, city neighborhood festivals, and international restaurants. (MT)

With the help of community organizations, schools can enable student activities to play a major role in developing community awareness and concern, preparing youth for more responsible involvement later as adult citizens. (Author)

Most typical high school programs are not meeting the needs of gifted and talented students. Programs for the gifted are often neither interdisciplinary nor differentiated as encouraged by Texas state guidelines. Gifted students can gain much from well-designed extracurricular activities. Grade weighting schemes in which gifted courses are…

This skill packet presents training information on extended opportunities for student learning (before- and after-school programs, extended time, or extended school programs). The packet offers implementation suggestions, such as explaining what skills trainers need, how to prepare for delivering the packet, tips for working with adults, how to…

In response to growing public understanding of the importance of quality care and activities during out-of-school hours for children's healthy development, a variety of out-of-school initiatives are being implemented across the country. This guide is designed to provide policy makers, program leaders, system-building advocates, and others with…