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Enhance Learning with the Learning Triangle We all have different learning styles: Visual (what we see) Auditory (what we hear) Tactile/kinesthetic (what we feel or do) The VIEW-READ-DO Learning Triangle combines all three by using related video, books, and activities about any theme or subject.

The first step is to videotape children’s programs so that you can: preview; show at your convenience; watch over and over; and use as an effective teaching and learning tool by being able to cue, pause or stop, fast forward and rewind the tape. You can show specific short segments, discuss with children what they see, have them predict what might come next, explain new vocabulary words, and relate to a child’s own experiences. Visit www.nhptv.org/programs.schedule.asp for program schedule and a brief description of episode content and focus. Then, find age-appropriate books to read aloud and plan activites for children to do--draw pictures, act out or retell the story, projects, field trips. Add the Learning Triangle to your teaching toolbox.

NHPTV Ready To Learn Pat VanWagoner, RTL Coordinator, (603) 868-4352, [email protected] Nancy Pearson, Education Assistant, (603) 868-4353, [email protected] FAX: (603) 868-7552 Web Site: www.nhptv.org/rtl

Ready To Learn Education Partners: Norwin S. & Elizabeth Bean Foundation, The Byrne Foundation, Benjamin Couch Trust, Jefferson Pilot Financial, The Linden Foundation, Samuel P. Pardoe Foundation, and Verizon.

“The contents of this newsletter are supported under the Ready-To-Learn Television Program, P/R Award Number R295A00002, as administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume

endorsement by the Federal Government.”

Durham, NH 03824 NH Durham,

268 Mast Road Mast 268 New Hampshire Public Television Public Hampshire New Children’s Corner

Explore Your Neighborhood Take a walk around your neighborhood with your family or caregiver or friends, Summertime = Adventure and see what you can see. Take along and Exploration Time a small notebook to record what you’ve observed. 1. How many different colors are houses Explore New Foods and Books painted? Summertime is a great time to try out new 2. What animals did you see? How many of foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. each? For example: dogs, cats, squirrels, Here are some books about food choices. cows. “Bread and Jam for Francis,” Russell Hoban 3. How many different birds did you see? Can “D.W., the Picky Eater,” you name any of them? Get a bird book from the “Eat Your Peas, Louise,” Pegeen Snow library to look up birds that live in your area. “Gregory, the Terrible Eater,” Mitchell Sharmat 4. How many different color cars did you see? “I Will Never Not Even Eat a Tomato,” Lauren 5. Did you see anything really special? Maybe Child a bird’s nest in a tree? “Oliver’s Vegetables,” Vivian French “Rabbit Food,” Susanna Gretz Take along an empty egg carton or a plastic “The Seven Silly Eaters,” Mary Ann Hoberman ice cube tray, so you’ll have a place to put “Yoko,” Rosemary Wells things you’ve collected while exploring--like pretty pebbles or a feather.

A LEARNING TRIANGLE FOR SUMMER VIEW: “Summer” Airs on NHPTV July 4 at 2 p.m. “Summertime” Airs on NHPTV July 26 at 9:30 a.m.

READ: “We’re Going on a Picnic,” by Pat Hutchins (ages 3-7) “A Busy Year,” by Leo Lionni (ages 4-7) “Thunder Cake,” by Patricia Polacco (ages 4-8)

DO: 1. Make a collage. What are your favorite things to do in the summertime? Cut pictures out of magazines or catalogues, showing some of these activities, and paste them onto a piece of construction paper or light cardboard. Talk about why you like these things. Is there anything you hope to do for the first time this summer?

2. Have a backyard picnic. See how many different colors of food you have included (for example--red: tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries; blue: blueberries; green: green pepper strips, broccoli flowerettes; orange: cantaloupe cubes, carrot sticks; yellow: pineapple cubes, corn on the cob; purple: plums).

3. Track the weather. Make a chart with columns where you can list: weather (sunny, cloudy); temperature; precipitation (rain, downpour, drizzle); wind (no wind, strong winds, light breeze); fog; and thunderstorms. Record the weather for a week each in June, July and August. Did the weather change? How? Then, record the weather during other seasons and compare the results with your summer chart. Parent’s Page

he single most important activity “T Summertime = Family Time for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” Reading Time Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading,” Play Time 1985.

You Are Special Doesn't Mean You Are Perfect from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood Article for Parents (www.pbskids.org/rogers/parentsteachers)

“When you say to your child, ‘You're a terrific kid!’ or ‘I love you,’ that's one way you're helping your child feel good about him or herself. Children need to know they are special in their parents' eyes.

But ‘You are special’ doesn't mean ‘You are perfect.’ We all make mistakes, whether we're children or adults. No one is perfect. Of course, it's much easier to learn basic things like that in the context of a warm, loving family. When children know they are loved, they appreciate that they, as well as everyone else, have weaknesses as well as strengths.

And, isn't that the message we want for our children, ‘You are special...and so is everyone else in the world.’ * Spend some time in the day, listening and talking with your child. Just being there to listen helps your child feel valuable. Bedtime can be such an important time for that kind of caring conversation. * Help your child find "jobs" to do around the house. Even small jobs, like setting the table by putting out spoons or napkins or sorting socks in the laundry, can help a child feel important and needed. * Some families, around the dinner table, ask each one (including parents), questions like: What was the best thing about your day? What was the worst thing about your day? What did you do to help someone today? What did someone do to help you?” Summer Reading Adventures www.readingrockets.org BUILDING BLOCKS Visit the Reading Rockets web site for 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adveantures for OF LITERACY You and Your Kids and engaged in reading to keep and childrenlearning. interested Topics for a wide range of activities for children of all ages Language include: Speaking (AND listening), singing, rhyming, word 1. Celebrate Summer games. 2. Keep in Touch 3. Discover Recipes for Fun Reading 4. Travel the World Even after a child can read themselves, you can read 5. Enjoy the Great Outdoors aloud stories they will understand and enjoy, but are 6. Visit Fun Places too difficult for their reading abilities. 7. Become a Publisher 8. Watch the Skies Writing 9. Design Something Big Practical purposes, like grocery and To Do lists; 10. Honor Summer’s End creative writing--stories and poetry. For Families from NHPTV Ready To Learn

Summer 2005 Volume VII, Number 1

Explore the with Weekly Schedule of “” Children’s Programming

Summer is a wonderful time for exploration. Take children on 7:00 a.m. ‘journeys’ throughout the United 7:30 a.m. Clifford States, as well as Canada, 8:00 a.m. Sesame Street Mexico, and Puerto Rico, with 9:00 a.m. “Postcards from Buster.” 9:30 a.m. Caillou 10:00 a.m. Berenstain Bears In each episode, Buster travels to a different location. 10:30 a.m. Barney and Friends He meets a wide variety of children and their families, 11:00 a.m. and experiences their culture (food, music, traditions) 11:30 a.m. and geographic area. This makes children aware of the rich cultural diversity in our country and what 1:00 p.m. Cyberchase different regions are like--from fertile farmland to 1:30 p.m. deserts, plains to the Rocky Mountains. The series 2:00 p.m. Reading Rainbow also supports language learning, especially for children 2:30 p.m. Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood acquiring English. 3:00 p.m. ZOOM 3:30 p.m. Arthur In July, Buster visits cities like Brooklyn and 4:00 p.m. Postcards from Buster Manhattan in ; San Francisco and Los 4:30 p.m. Maya & Miguel Angeles in California; Seattle, Washington; Miami, 5:00 p.m. Dragon Tales Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and New Orleans, 5:30 p.m. Clifford Louisana. He also goes to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Guanajuato, Mexico; and Iqaluit, Canada near the Saturday Arctic Circle. Closer to home...... 6:00 a.m. Big Comfy Couch July 28 Hartford, Connecticut 6:30 a.m. Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat July 29 , Massachusetts 7:00 a.m. Clifford the Big Red Dog 7:30 a.m. Thomas and Friends FREE “Postcards from Buster” poster maps, 8:00 a.m. showing episode sites, and guides for 8:30 a.m. Angelina Ballerina parents and teachers are available by contacting Pat VanWagoner at 1-800-639- Sunday 3413 or [email protected]. The 6:00 a.m. Sesame Street 7:00 a.m. Arthur booklet contains program descriptions, 7:30 a.m. Thomas and Friends lesson plan suggestions, activities and related 8:00 a.m. Dragon Tales books, plus a list of locations by state or 8:30 a.m. Clifford’s Puppy Days country for the first 40 programs. Airs weekdays on NHPTV at 4 p.m. www.pbskids.org Visit the web site: www.pbskids.org/buster