WLE at the Albany YMCA

What does the YMCA do?

Serves as a before & after school program for Cornell students, kinder- 5th grade,which is called Kids Club.

Teaches kids to work with others in a correct manner.

Teaches Spanish to kindergarteners.

How I got HiredMy sister is an RA (Resident Assistant) in the dorms at Clark Atlanta University.

A girl that lives in the dorms, referred my sister to Alicia Butler, my sister then told me about her.

Mentors

Alicia Butler- SupervisorAna Margarita- My mentor in the morningsTiffany- My mentor in the afternoon

My Role at Kids Club

Come in at 10am

I helped set up snack & lunch

Set up arts & crafts

Watched over kids

Helped clean

Skills UsedThey all used Solving Problems Resourcefully when kids argued.

I used Solving Problems Resourcefully as well, because there were many arguments amongst the kids.

Essential Question

How does interaction with other kids, prepare small children for the future?

I came up with this question because they don’t focus on academics, since it is a before and after school program on Fridays.

HypothesisInteracting with kids prepares them for the future by learning to solve problems

By productively collaborating

& By thinking critically

My ProjectIt was hard coming up with a project, but after watching a game that the staff put together, I got a few ideas.

With the help from my mentors, and also Zsanae, I came up with 2 games.

The games required the kids to think more than usual.

Find Your ShoeIn this game, the kids took their shoes off and put it into a big pile.

One by one they were blind folded, and had to find their shoe within 1 minute.

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Outcome of the Game

This allowed the kids to collaborate productively, by getting help from the other kids.

This also allowed the kids to think critically by choosing who to listen to.

I could’ve improved on directing the kids to use better strategies.

Egg DropObject of Game: To cover an egg with as much material as possible, so it wont break when it gets dropped from the roof.

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Outcome of the Game

This allowed the kids to collaborate productively when they decided what materials to use. This allowed the kids to think critically when they decided when to stop putting material on the egg.

ReflectionI could’ve explained “Find Your Shoe” more in depth so the kids could understand better. I could’ve given them more time to do the game because we had to cut the “Find Your Shoe” game short.

Thank You!!