WLA YSS Sessions in Short: Using the Five Practices in School-Age and Teen Programming

Presenter: Kymberly Pelky

I attended a session at WLA that focused on taking the Five Practices from early literacy and applying them to programming for other age groups.  Kymberly talked about how this really isn’t a time for learning “new” ideas, but rather a way to rethink things we are already doing and consider how those early lit practices have value when used with older kids – and even adults.  While she was presenting, I started thinking about my own ideas of how I could use the Five Practices in programming with older kids. Most of these ideas are just things that build on things I am already doing or have considered. Generally, I am thinking about Tween and Teen programming here, although some of this would work with younger school aged kids as well.

Read: Book Clubs, Lunch Bunch – meeting to read a book together, Book talks – talking up books that might energize kids about reading

Sing: Music Programs – this could be a sort of “name that tune” game or maybe use some popular artists as a theme, Displays using poplar songs, create themed playlists

Talk: Popcorn and Pages – this is a program I do where we meet and kids get to do the book talks, general talking over crafts or games, building relationships

Play: Minute to Win it, Board or Card games, acting out scenes from books, or even scavenger hunts

Write: Poetry groups, Create displays, write blurbs for favorite books, Post-it note reviews

Think about other ways that including the Five Practices in programming might give you new ideas for programs at all sorts of age levels. I’d be excited to hear about your ideas.

Author: Monica LaVold

To see all the recaps of "WLA Sessions in Short" click below:
Reach One Teach One
Group Problem Solving
Fear Not Coding for the Rest of Us
Plan Less, Program More

Diversify Me