Training
The mission of our early childhood literacy programs is to train adults through community-based workshops to regularly use and enhance the value of PBS television and on-line content with children ages 0-8; particularly those who may be at risk of educational failure because of poverty, geographic location, limited English proficiency, disability and/or community conditions.
The New Mexico PBS Ready To Learn Service provides:
- Ongoing free Ready To Learn Workshops for caregivers that promote and encourage the use of PBSKids programs and curriculum.
- Professional development opportunity for childcare providers, teachers and educators providing training certification covering early childhood educational state competencies towards licensure.
- Events and community engagement activities that involve and expose children and families with PBS programs and resources on-air, on-line, and on the ground.
Ready to Learn Workshop Schedule
Local Support Provides Community Engagement:
New Mexico PBS Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation /Afterschool and Summer Recreation Program provides workshops for the Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation Department Afterschool program in 16 APS Afterschool Program Sites serving children directly. With theme-based group activities, Kindergarten through Fifth grade students view a PBS Kids program, read and discuss topic, then make and create a craft or group project. Activities are based on concepts that have a literacy, math, or science focus.
With support through a congressionally directed Federal Earmark Appropriation from September 2010-July 2011 provided Ready To Learn workshops scheduled bi-monthly and open to the public on Saturdays to provide professional development opportunity to childcare providers offering early childhood competencies for childcare workers licensure.
Additional workshops are also conducted in First Choice and Public Health WIC Clinics. Starting in January 2011 we are introducing a newly created workshop by Sesame Workshop: Sesame Street Food for Thought curriculum offered to parents and children who are clients of WIC to support making food choices on a limited budget.
School Workshops for parents
Presentations and trainings are scheduled on an as needed basis in schools for APS Title 1 Parent Involvement, Pre-K and Even Start programs. We have conducted workshops in Kit Carson, Carlos Rey, Edward Gonzales, Atrisco, Los Padillas Elementary.
Early Literacy Resources
Books for Kids: First Book – The First Book National Book Bank distributes free books to programs that serve at least 80% children from low-income families
Reading Rockets – A page by sister PBS station WETA in Washington DC teachers kids to read and helping those who struggle. Special features for parents, teachers, principals, librarians and other professionals like pre-school and childcare workers.
Colorin Colorado – A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners.
Reading is Fundamental – The Nation’s Largest Children’s Literacy Organization.
StoryLine Online – An online streaming video program featuring members of the Screen Actors Guild reading children’s books aloud. Each book includes accompanying activities and lesson ideas.
The Ready To Learn initiative is a cooperative agreement of the U.S. Department of Education, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS, and the Ready To Learn Partnership (RTLP). PBS member public television stations nationwide are important partners in the Ready To Learn initiative.
For more information contact:
Hollie Lovely
New Mexico PBS Ready To Learn Coordinator,
Early Childhood Outreach Coordinator,
hlovely@newmexicopbs.org
(505) 277-4087