After-school programs have become an essential part of the educational experience for many students, offering more than just a place to stay until their parents/guardians finish getting through their day. These programs provide structured environments where children can continue to learn, grow, and thrive outside of the traditional classroom setting. At Kids in the Game, our after-school programs are designed not only to keep kids engaged but also to reinforce academic concepts, provide homework assistance, and instill a lifelong love for learning. Here’s how after-school programs can support academic success, with a closer look at what KING offers.

Reinforcing Classroom Learning

One of the key ways after-school programs support academic success is by reinforcing what students learn during the school day. After-school activities allow children to apply and expand on what they’ve learned in a more relaxed and interactive environment. For instance, KING’s comprehensive after-school programs incorporate activities like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) projects, where students can dive deeper into subjects like science and technology through hands-on experiments and creative exploration. By providing a space where children can engage with educational content in different formats, after-school programs help solidify their understanding and retention of classroom material.

Homework Assistance

Homework can be a source of stress for both students and their families, but after-school programs can ease this burden by offering dedicated time and support for completing assignments. The availability of homework assistance allows students to tackle challenging subjects with confidence, knowing they have the support they need to succeed. Moreover, by completing homework in a structured environment, students can enjoy more quality time with their families at home after the school day has ended.

Fostering a Love for Learning

After-school programs are uniquely positioned to foster a love for learning by making education fun and engaging. Through a variety of enrichment activities, children can explore new interests and develop skills that may not be covered during the regular school day. Kids in the Game’s enrichment classes range from Warrior Fitness and Coding to Hip Hop and Ultimate Sports, allowing students to discover and pursue their passions in a supportive environment. These activities not only broaden students’ horizons but also encourage them to see learning as an enjoyable and lifelong process. When children associate learning with fun, they are more likely to stay motivated and curious, which can lead to greater academic success in the long run.

Building Essential Life Skills

Beyond academic support, after-school programs play a crucial role in developing essential life skills that contribute to overall academic success. The programs emphasize mentorship and the teaching of valuable life lessons, such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. Through participation in group activities and sports, students learn how to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and manage their time efficiently—skills that are directly transferable to their academic pursuits. By cultivating these abilities in a structured and nurturing environment, after-school programs prepare students to face academic challenges with confidence and resilience.

Creating a Supportive Learning Environment

A positive and supportive learning environment is key to academic success, and this is a hallmark of our after-school programs. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and adaptable, catering to the diverse needs and interests of all students. Whether through all-encompassing full programs or specialized enrichment classes, we ensure that each child has the opportunity to thrive. By creating an atmosphere where students feel valued and supported, after-school programs help build self-confidence and encourage a growth mindset, both of which are critical for academic achievement.

At Kids in the Game, we are committed to helping students reach their full potential! Are you a school interested in outsourcing your after-school programming? Visit Kids in the Game After-School Programs and get in touch with us to learn more about how we can support your students’ academic success!

JR Smith is going to college — and it matters.

Professional sports in the United States are designed to keep us entertained year around. When baseball season ends, basketball begins, when basketball ends, pre-season football is on the horizon, when hockey season comes to a close, MLS is heating up. This doesn’t even mention all of the other professional sports leagues that are constantly filling up the news cycle. As a sports-based youth development organization, there is a never-ending list of topics and stories we could be sharing that involve sports and athletes. 

However, as an organization designed to use sports as a tool for fostering positive peer and mentor relationships, life-skill development, and a positive sense of self rather than building professional athletes, it is important for us to tell the stories that go beyond wins, losses, and trophies. It is our hope that these stories give our kids and families a different perspective on what it means to be an athlete, and that the limitations and stereotypes that society places on athletes do not have to apply.

Each season with our KING Hoops basketball teams, we host academic and life-skill sessions before or after each practice with the hope that we are not only providing resources to be successful academically but also creating an environment that encourages a positive relationship with academics. The harsh reality is that many high-level athletes are told from a young age that if you are good enough at basketball, you don’t need to prioritize school. We’ve even seen this trickle into college athletes with nationwide reports of academic fraud at NCAA institutions. 

Now, you are probably wondering how JR Smith factors into all of this? And if you don’t frequent Twitter, you may be even more confused. Let’s start with who JR Smith is. Smith is a former NBA player and 2X champion who grew up just across the Hudson River from us in Newark, New Jersey. He was a first round NBA draft pick right out of high school, never attending college… until now. 

This fall, JR enrolled in North Carolina A&T State University to pursue a college degree, and he was granted a waiver to play golf for the Aggies. JR has been documenting his journey on Twitter, proving to not only himself that there is no age limit on education but also inspiring people of all ages to reevaluate their own relationship with past challenges. 

Utilizing his own contents, here are just a few lessons we are learning from JR Smith. 

1.Continued growth and development: Just because you didn’t enjoy something as a kid, doesn’t mean your journey and relationship with the subject has to end. 

2. Share your goals and celebrate your successes: Research shows that you are more likely to follow through with your goals if you tell people what they are. In JR’s case, he is sharing his journey with the world on Twitter, and we are here for it! 

3. No shame in asking for a little help: we could all use a little help from our friends (and tutors!). Having the humility to know when to ask for help can make all the difference and help build relationships along the way.

4. Keep going, even when things get tough: For a multiple-time NBA champion who has reached the peak of his sport professionally, it would be easy to throw in the towel and rest on his laurels when things get tough. JR is proving that perseverance is a part of success and being a good teammate along the way is just as important.

Needless to say, 2020 brought a myriad of unexpected challenges across the globe and in the United States and now that we have entered a new year, we are collectively as a nation, and as individuals, hoping for a better 2021. It is undeniable that many parts of our society have been affected one way or another by this past year. The future of quality education throughout the United States is no exception. Now that 2021 is upon us, and there is a new administration taking office, we will be looking into what this may mean for the future of education, during and post pandemic. 

President Joe Biden has formally announced his cabinet which has the most people of color and most female representation in history, as well as the first openly gay Cabinet member. As an organization rooted in promoting diversity, this is definitely something to celebrate! The Cabinet member that has us excited and will have an immediate impact on our organization and our kids is Biden’s pick for Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

Who is Miguel Cardona? 

Cardona was born to Puerto Rican parents who migrated to the United States. He grew up in Connecticut and in public housing. As a child, he attended the local public school and was an English Language learner.  This has influenced his focus and desire to close the gaps that ELL students have compared to their classmates. He was the first person in his family to attend college, became a public school fourth grade teacher, and later served as a principal for 10 years. In summary,  he has first-hand experience in the public school system in the United States and knows its weaknesses. He not only attended a public school himself but also was an educator and administrator. 

Cardona is entering this position in one of the most important but also taxing times possibly in the history of the U.S.; during a pandemic that has affected the education system, children, and young adults within it, for nearly a full year now. It is no secret that there is a large equity gap in the U.S. education system that has continued to widen during this pandemic. Students around the country are struggling and those that reside in low-income communities are suffering the most. According to a U.S. census survey, conducted in April of 2020 “4.4 million households with students still lack consistent access to a computer and 3.7 million lack internet access.” Cardona as well as Biden acknowledge this disparity.  

Biden has spoken about increasing funding and recognizes that some parents have to drive their students to coffee shops just so they can attend school or turn in homework assignments. At Kids in the Game, we too have adjusted our program models to adapt to the unique online school climate. This year we opened Remote Learning Centers at multiple locations so parents had the flexibility to drop their kids off at a site and trust that their school work would get done in a positive environment. They were then able to work a full day, many being essential workers. 

Importantly, Cardona recognizes the essential challenges he is facing did not just become an issue with COVID-19, but have been systematic issues throughout the history of education in the U.S. 

Biden and Cardona’s COVID-related plans: 

1. Reopening schools: President Biden and Cardona both stressed their desire to re-open schools, but made sure to emphasize that they want to safely re-open schools. Biden explained that he would like to have the majority of the schools in the U.S. open again by then end of the administration’s first 100 days. Biden further discussed that to do this they would need funding approved from congress to be able to provide more ventilation and cleaning services. 

Other Plans for the Education System: 

Both Cardona and Biden as well as Vice-President Kamala Harris are focused on addressing multiple equity gaps in the U.S.’ education system, including but not limited to:

1. Increase funding for Title I schools: In his address, on December 23rd, Biden asks “How must it be in America that parents have to drive to a parking lot of a coffee shop or library for wifi that they cannot afford at home so that their kids can attend school?” To help address this problem as well as others faced by low-income families in the U.S they expressed their desire to provide triple-funding for Title I schools. 
2. Mental Health Services: Biden proposed his plan to double the amount of school psychologists, therapists, and nurses in schools. This will give teachers the opportunity to focus more on teaching. 
3. Increased funding for HBCUs:  Biden’s presidential campaign often emphasized their desire to narrow the inequity gaps within our education system. Now that Biden is the president-elect it is no different as he has proposed to invest $70 billion into HBCUs and other minority focused serving institutions. 

What does this mean for Kids in the Game?

We at Kids in the Game provide direct programming to public, private, and charter schools no matter what neighborhood. One of our main goals is to narrow the inequality gap within one of the most segregated cities in the country. It is exciting to see a Secretary of Education who wants the same. 

To read more about Biden as well as Cardona’s plan for education, you can click here.

Written by Sol Ashgarcia