Raising Readers

In March, PBS rolled out their PBS Kids Raising Readers campaign, a literacy initiative designed to harness the power of public media content and tools to teach literacy skills to children ages 2 to 8, especially those from low income families:

• two interactive, literacy-oriented series for preschoolers, Super Why! and WordWorld along with new Web content from Sesame Street and Between the Lions
• a literacy Web site for parents, caregivers, teachers, and kids featuring content from each of the series
• a 32-week multi-media preschool, research-based curriculum and
• a PBS TeacherLine online professional development course for childcare providers.

Prairie Public received 700 Raising Readers DVDs to distribute to educators, caregivers, and families and will air spots that feature ways for parents to help build their kids' reading skills through everyday activities. These new researched and standards-based programs fostering early literacy skills, Super WHY! and WordWorld, air daily at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM respectively, central time. Aimed at preschoolers and kindergarteners these programs teach the basics of reading through songs, interactive storytelling, and colorful visuals.

For addition information on Raising Readers and PBS shows, check out the following Web sites:

• Raising Readers Research
• Between the Lions
• Sesame Street
• Super Why
• WordWorld

For background information on hosting an on-site workshop on using these programs effectively, or on obtaining a free Raising Readers DVD, contact Education Services at:

education@prairiepublic.org
(701) 239-7574