More from KQED
PBS KIDS Raising Readers
KQED is one of twenty PBS stations involved in this innovative literacy initiative that uses PBS KIDS programming and related multimedia content to help improve the literacy skills of children ages two to eight - especially those from low-income families. Through this initiative, KQED Early Learning is supporting early literacy in the Bay View/Hunters' Point, Fruitvale, and Lower San Antonio neighborhoods.
In the Community
PBS KIDS Raising Readers is powered by a Literacy 360° approach to surround children and families, teachers, and communities with educational messages and engaging literacy opportunities where they live, learn, and interact.
Community Engagement
- Special Events where children, parents, and teachers can learn, receive free books and other educational materials, and enjoy a day with KQED Early Learning!
- A successful KQED Raising Readers kick-off event at the Bay View Anna E. Warden Library
- Celebrating Día de los Niños at César Chavez Park in Fruitvale
- Ongoing activities will be held in KQED's target neighborhoods throughout the life of the initiative
- SUPER WHY! Reading Camps encourage literacy and reading readiness for four to five year-old children through fun and educational activities that harness the power of reading to motivate children to read and play with letters, sounds, and words. Two one-week camps will be held in July, 2008.
- Online Professional Development focuses on strengthening the knowledge and skills of educators to prepare preschoolers for success.
- Part 1: Participants learn to plan meaningful early literacy experiences that expand preschoolers' vocabulary and strengthen oral language development.
- Part 2: Participants learn to use media as a teaching tool to help children develop literacy skills.
- Part 3: Participants learn to use media to support their work with six to eight year-olds. www.pbs.org/teacherline
- Promotional DVDs distributed by KQED are designed to engage kids and parents, raise awareness of the new series, encourage co-viewing on KQED, and send visitors to the PBS KIDS Web site to interact and play with their favorite characters!
On Air
Producers of some of the most imaginative educational programming ever are working with literacy experts and researchers to develop content and tools to engage kids and help them learn to read. Programs include:
- SUPER WHY! An animated preschool series featuring a team of superhero characters with literacy-based powers who jump into books to look for answers to everyday problems.
- WordWorld A computer-animated preschool series where characters and objects, called "Wordfriends™," spring to life from the letters that spell their names.
- Martha Speaks Based on the popular children's book series, this animated show follows the humorous adventures of Martha, a loveable dog who learns to speak after eating a bowl of alphabet soup! (Fall 2008)
- The Electric Company™ Sesame Workshop is reinventing the popular '70s show for today's six- to eight-year-olds as a madcap musical multi-screen and community experience. (January 2009)
- Between the Lions® and Sesame Street® continue with new episodes and online content.
- Educational messages in between programs encourage parents to participate in fun and easy learning activities with their children.
Research
Research is at the core of the programming and all aspects of PBS KIDS Raising Readers. Fifty-three commissioned studies throughout the five-year initiative will provide new insights into how children learn from media; the best ways to build reading skills with content, activities, and community engagement; and the effectiveness of content specifically created for the initiative.
Online
Visit www.readytolearnreading.org for more information on the PBS KIDS Raising Readers literacy initiative and to explore the new and exciting PBS KIDS Island!
The contents of this document were developed under a grant, #PR295B05003, from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.