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Professional Development

21st CCLCThese professional development resources are intended to provide 21st CCLC project directors, site coordinators, and staff with information focused on these three overarching program goals:

  1. Improving overall student academic success;
  2. Increasing positive behavior and social interactions;
  3. Increasing active and meaningful family and community engagement.

Explore this site to learn more about the annual GetConnected Afterschool Conference, the StayConnected webinar series, and current and archived professional development opportunities provided by 21st CCLC Partner Spotlight Organizations.


If you have questions regarding professional development resources designed for afterschool professionals, please contact Erika Wibbels.

NTAC Toolkits

Full Toolkit

Full STEAM Toolkit and User Guide (PDF)

Documents Included

  • Activity Center Planner
  • Creating a Scientist’s Notebook
  • Design Thinking Framework: Project Planning Template
  • Design Thinking Task Tracker for Students
  • Everday STEAM Strategies
  • Four Characteristics of STEAM: Planning Worksheet
  • Guiding Questions for Project-Based Learning
  • Informal Assessments of Student Learning
  • Integrating Project-Based Learning Into Program Activities
  • Investigating Issues in Your Community
  • Makerspace Checklist for Home and Virtual Learning
  • Next Generation Science Standards at a Glance
  • Project Assessment and Reflection: Planning Worksheet
  • Science and Mathematics Vocabulary Builder
  • Science Interest Survey: All Grades
  • Science Skills Rubric
  • Scientific Inquiry Skills Checklist
  • Selecting Student Roles for Group Work
  • STEAM Activity Example
  • STEAM Approach: Staff Self-Check
  • STEAM at a Glance
  • Student Portfolio Planning and Review Checklist
  • Student Self-Monitoring Checklist for Project Work
  • The Five Whys Questioning Technique

Full Toolkit

Full Math Toolkit and User Guide (PDF)

Documents Included

  • Activity Center Planner
  • Building Math Confidence and Competence Research and Practice Brief
  • Financial Literacy Knowledge and Activities Across Age Groups
  • How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Learning
  • Math Anxiety and Four MUSTs for Addressing It
  • Math Anxiety Self-Assessment and Autobiography
  • Math Booklist for Staff and Students
  • Math Glossary
  • Math Messages That Build Confidence
  • Math Moments at Home
  • Math Skills for Students to Learn and Practice
  • Math Standards
  • Math Thrills: Putting Fun Into the Equation
  • Math Understanding: Helping Students Think Conceptually
  • Nurture a Growth Mindset
  • Science and Mathematics Vocabulary Builder
  • Simple Ways to Add Math to Program Activities
  • Strategies to Help Every Student Learn and Enjoy Math
  • Ways to Help Students in Math if You’re Not a Math Teacher

Full Toolkit

Full Literacy Toolkit and User Guide (PDF)

Documents Included

  • Active Listening: Skill-Building Strategies and Self-Assessment
  • Before-During-After (BDA) Reading Activity Planner
  • Editing Tips for Students and Writing Activity Leaders
  • Effective Questioning for Readers
  • Effective Vocabulary Instruction Using Marzano’s Six Steps
  • Graphic Organizers to Support Literacy
  • Instructional Strategies for English Learners
  • K-12 Literacy Ideas for Programs and Families
  • Literacy Activity Center Planner
  • Literacy Anchor Standards With Planner
  • Literacy Everywhere
  • Peer Editing Checklist
  • Phonemic Awareness and Playing With Sounds
  • Prewriting Activities
  • Reader Questionnaires
  • Reading Comprehension Checklist
  • Reading Fluency Strategies
  • Six Stages of Reading Development: A Skills Checklist
  • Step-by-Step Literacy Adventures
  • Strengths-Based Literacy Progression Ladders
  • Text Genre Checklist
  • Vocabulary Development Ideas and Activities
  • Writers Workshop

Full Toolkit and User Guide

Financial Literacy Toolkit and User Guide (PDF)

Documents Included

Financial Literacy Toolkit User Guide

Evaluating Financial Literacy Resources

Financial Literacy Knowledge and Activities Across Age Groups

Financial Literacy Lingo Bingo

Financial Literacy Partnership Planner

Financial Literacy Resources for Out-of-School Time Programs

Key Financial Literacy Messages

Sample Financial Literacy Social Media Campaign

Using Academic Standards to Incorporate Financial Literacy

Full Toolkit and User Guide

Becoming a Leader Toolkit and User Guide (PDF)

Documents Included

Becoming a Leader User Guide

Circle Practices to Foster Community, Engagement, and Discussion

Effective Workplace Communication for Leaders

Professional Learning Planner and Self-Reflection Survey

Real Talk Coaching Techniques to Use with Staff and Students

Saying Yes or No to a New Initiative: A Decision Tool for Leaders

Staff Recruitment, Training, and Retention at a Glance

SWOT Analysis and Action Plan Worksheet

The 10 Pillars of Servant Leadership

Updated May 27, 2025 8:54am