Playworks is now expanding TagTeam by partnering with other youth serving organizations. We train the staff at these organizations to facilitate components of Playworks flagship evidence-based program, Playworks Coach, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The program builds capacity for the afterschool partner providing an opportunity to elevate part time afterschool staff to full-time serving during and after-school. The school gains a high quality recess, peer leadership, and play program for <\/span>all <\/span><\/i>children facilitated by a caring consistent adult. The children gain invaluable skills, have the opportunity to practice those skills, and are able to thrive in a more positive and supportive school climate.<\/span><\/p>\n Playworks implements, teaches, and then ultimately hands over our strategies, practices, and curriculum so that the program can be maintained with minimal support from Playworks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Playworks TagTeam is a great service option for rural communities or those far from a metropolitan area, because a school, youth based organization and Playworks partner over multiple years to ensure that safe and healthy play is sustained.<\/span><\/p>\n Playworks Indiana piloted the TagTeam service during the 2020-2021 school year, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis and Liberty Park Elementary School in Metropolitan District of Warren Township in Marion County. The program was so successful in its initial year that two additional Warren Townships sc<\/span>hools were added for the 2021-2022 school year.\u00a0<\/span>But don\u2019t just take our word for it, hear stories from our TagTeam partners and coaches!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>The partnership between Boys and Girls Club, Pleasant Run, and Playworks is valuable for our students and school because it allows for \u2018more hands on deck.\u2019\u00a0 It is nice to see more adults that are invested and know our students (know their names) throughout the day!\u201d- <\/span>Carisa Kimmon, 1st grade teacher, Pleasant Run<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think the biggest impact I have seen for the club that came from recess is my relationship with the students. I\u2019m able to spend more time around them getting to know them and they get to know me. I\u2019m also able to talk to their teachers and see how they are with their classmates.\u201d -Heather Blakenbaker, Senior Youth Development Professional, BGCI at Sunny Heights<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is my sixth year here at Sunny Heights and when I first came here, on paper we were the most challenging of the nine elementaries in Warren Township. Our focus for the first few years was developing a positive and supportive learning culture before we could attack the achievement gap for our students. <\/span>Since partnering with Playworks, we have seen a reduction in discipline issues and an increase in attendance. We’re seeing students utilize problem solving skills, especially with conflict resolution.<\/b> We use Ro Sham Bo (rock paper scissors) throughout the building throughout the day, not just at recess, and you see teachers using it in classrooms. Even I use it in the cafeteria during first grade lunch duty when they’re upset about who’s in line or things like that. Our challenges will never go away but having different tools and having ways that we can make it shape and fit our school has been great and Playworks has been a perfect fit with very flexible and malleable programming to fit our needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the Playworks TagTeam service in partnership with our Boys and Girls Club (BGC), we’ve seen an increase in the number of students and families we can support with after-school care, which is I think oftentimes an overlooked support for families that people don’t understand how big an impact that can make. It allows many of our parents to continue working into the evening, which they need to to help support their families, and gives them (students) a safe place to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.playworks.org\/indiana\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/06\/IMG_7322-scaled.jpg\")
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\nWhy choose TagTeam?<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n
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Through TagTeam, Playworks is able to build alignment between a school and their out of school time provider by creating systems for student engagement utilizing the same language, frameworks, and approach for in and out of school time. This benefits students in that they do not have to \u201ccode-switch\u201d between expectations during school activities and after school activities.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhat is the impact of TagTeam?<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n
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\u201cPlayworks has made me more prepared to do my job. Junior Coaches also help a lot. There\u2019s so many m<\/span>ore people supporting recess and being more mindful of what we\u2019re doing during that time. Playworks has also helped me keep everything fun. Instead of yelling at student to listen, I now have tools like attention getters and other communication tools to ensure everyone has a good time.\u201d- Kelsey <\/span>Neylon<\/span> , Senior Youth Development Professional, BGCI at Sunny Heights<\/span><\/p>\n