Classroom Idaho Fall Session Broadcasts Free Lessons for Home Learning

Access to the internet is difficult in Idaho and that’s why, with COVID and online learning, IdahoPTV is bringing the classroom to the viewer with Classroom Idaho: Learn@Home. Last spring when schools across the state shut down and moved to distance learning, IdahoPTV knew there were thousands of parents and students without internet access and/or devices to access high quality instruction. In response to that need, we launched Classroom Idaho, a broadcast service, received for free over the air that connects students with certified Idaho teachers.

Classroom Idaho fall 2020 is available for FREE across the entire state via over-the-air antenna. Fall school sessions will air on our CREATE Channel. Additionally, many cable providers broadcast the CREATE Channel in your area.

Lessons are taught by certified Gem State teachers, and are aligned to Idaho content standards. Hourlong K-6 modules will air Monday through Friday, beginning at 8 a.m., September 14 through December 18. *There will not be classes during Thanksgiving week.

Hourlong English language courses (ELL) will air on Mondays and repeat on Fridays at 3 p.m., September 14 through December 18. These courses will be for both children and adults. *There will not be classes during Thanksgiving week.

College and career readiness sessions will be offered on Mondays and repeated on Fridays at 4 p.m. These courses will be taught by academic advisors and help prepare students and parents for college and career. *There will not be classes during Thanksgiving week.

During the 14-week fall session, K-6th-grade students will be given standards-aligned direct instruction from a certified Idaho teacher via our CREATE Channel. Students in grades 7-12 can tune in directly after Classroom Idaho for quality PBS programming and secondary teachers can find links to corresponding teaching resources on our website at idahoptv.org/classroomidaho.

IdahoPTV’s over-the-air broadcast channels are free to receive. All you need is an antenna. Our signal is available to over 99 percent of the households in Idaho. For information on where to find our CREATE Channel and other free channels in your area, or how to re-scan to find our channels, visit our website.

Our full channel lineup is also available on many major cable outlets around the state. Check with your local cable provider.

Idaho Public Television General Manager Ron Pisaneschi shared the station’s enthusiasm for the project noting that “We are pleased to partner with the Boise School District, Jannus, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and the State Board of Education to use the power of public television to deliver these lessons to students and families in homes throughout Idaho. PBS has always been America’s largest classroom, but now we are bringing Idaho’s teachers and their lessons directly into students’ homes.”

“For anyone who has studied another language, excellent instruction and opportunities to practice are key. Partnering with Idaho Public Television allows us to provide remote learning in new ways. The IdahoPTV platform allows families to learn English and access lessons from the safety of their homes. These lessons are meant to help build language skills in children and parents and to provide opportunities for families to practice together.”
— Kate Udall, Manager of the English Language Center at Jannus

“The academic needs of our students are consistently at the forefront of our Board’s work. Now more than ever, we must utilize every tool available to support moving into the new school year. Classroom Idaho is one of those tools. Every opportunity we have to highlight these opportunities is time well spent. We see so many partners springing to action and we need every one of them. Leveraging the power of IdahoTV, we can bring the needed supports right to homes and to students.”
— Debbie Critchfield, president of the State Board of Education

CLASSROOM IDAHO is a partnership of Idaho Public Television and Boise School District, the English Language Center and the Idaho Office for Refugees (projects of Jannus), Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and the State Board of Education.

Double Your Contribution During ‘Democracy in Action’

More than 200 years ago Thomas Jefferson said, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” And as our country prepares for this fall’s elections, that statement is more timely than ever.

As Idaho Public Television and PBS prepare to cover the 2020 elections and shine a light on our democracy in action, your active involvement and continued support are vital. 

Public media plays a critically important role in our democracy as a bastion of accurate, impartial information, providing clarity and context in a confusing world. We hope you’ll agree that supporting public media and the trusted, informative and unbiased reporting it provides is more critical now than ever before.

A generous group of statewide donors has created The 2020 Democracy in Action Matching Gift Fund.  These donors strongly believe in the power of public media and have created a fund to match all gifts received between now and October 31, up to $40,000! 

CLICK HERE to make a donation now, and your gift will be matched – so you can double your gift and double your impact!

This viewer comment from April perfectly captures the importance of public media’s role in journalism and the upcoming elections: 

“In these perilous times, public television is a beacon of hope, like a lighthouse revealing the breakers upon which this ship of state could wreck. I’ve watched my whole life and hope to continue living and watching.” – C. Wolfe, Boise

Sincere thanks to these statewide donors who made generous contributions to create The 2020 Democracy in Action Matching Gift Fund:

A.J. and Susie Balukoff

Anne Voillequé and Louise Nelson

Thomas and Marilyn Beck

Doug Oppenheimer

Carol Lloyd

Thank you!

CLICK HERE to contribute now, and double your gift to support this vital coverage of our American democracy in action!

Educators, Parents Invited to Online Screening of New Science-Themed Series

Join Idaho Public Television on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 10/9 a.m. Mountain/Pacific for an online preview of the new PBS KIDS program, Elinor Wonders Why.

The half-hour preview will be immediately followed by a discussion with Kari Wardle, IdahoPTV’s education manager; Gracy Ruddy, our PBS Early Learning Champion; and Joan Cartan-Hanson, the writer and producer of IdahoPTV’s award-winning program and website Science Trek.  The panelists will share strategies for parents and teachers to spark inquiry and ignite curiosity with children. Parents and teachers can type their questions in the chat bar during the program and throughout the panelist conversation for an interactive experience.

This free preview screening and discussion will be hosted on the interactive online streaming platform OVEE. To register for the event, and to access the screening on Aug. 29, click here.

About ‘Elinor Wonders Why’

The stories in Elinor Wonders Why center around Elinor and her friends Ari, a funny and imaginative bat, and Olive, a perceptive and warm elephant.

In each episode, Elinor models the foundational practices of science inquiry and engineering design — including her amazing powers of observation and willingness to ask questions and investigate. When she encounters something she doesn’t understand, like why birds have feathers or how tiny ants build massive anthills, she just can’t let it go until she figures it out. And in discovering the answers, Elinor often learns something about nature’s ingenious inventions and how they can connect to ideas in our designed world, and what it takes to live in a community. Elinor Wonders Why encourages children and parents to ask their own questions and experience the joy of discovery and understanding together.

Along with the television series, Elinor Wonders Why will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers. Elinor Wonders Why games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games app, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video app.

An Elinor Wonders Why app will also launch after the series’ debut. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.

Special Guests Featured in Online Screening of ‘Ahead of Her Time’

Join Idaho Public Television and Idaho Women in Leadership on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 8 p.m. (Mountain time) for an online screening of the new Idaho Experience documentary “Ahead of Her Time: Women’s Suffrage in Idaho.”

The half-hour screening will be immediately followed by a live Q and A with Emmy Award-winning documentarian Jennie Sue Weltner; Idaho Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb; Rebecca Scofield, Ph.D., assistant professor of twentieth-century American history at the University of Idaho; and NNU student leader Mariela Esquivel-Rodriguez. The discussion will be moderated by IdahoPTV producer Marcia Franklin, who did research and conducted interviews for the documentary.

The screening will be hosted here on the video streaming platform OVEE. Viewers can create an OVEE account (it’s free) and then participate in the screening and Q and A session through a computer or iPad with a strong internet connection.

The documentary will also air on Idaho Public Television (without the Q and A session) on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 8:30 p.m.

About “Ahead of Her Time: Women’s Suffrage in Idaho”

In August, America celebrates 100 years of voting rights for women with the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. By 1920 women in Idaho had already been voting in — and winning — elections for 24 years. The documentary explores how Idaho became the fourth state to grant women voting rights.

“The fact that Idaho granted women the right to vote almost a quarter of a century before the rest of the nation is a pretty remarkable story and one that isn’t part of the national narrative about the history of women’s voting rights,” says independent documentary producer Jennie Sue Weltner. “Ahead of Her Time explores how and why it happened in Idaho and shines a light on some of the remarkable women who made it possible.”

In late 19th-century America, the idea of voting rights for women was radical and considered the most extreme social experiment since post-Civil War reconstruction.

“That Idaho was so ahead of the nation on women’s suffrage is a source of pride for our state and a cause for both celebration and exploration,” says Weltner.

Most of the history about women’s voting rights focuses on the East Coast. However, Western states were leading the way. Wyoming granted women the right to vote in 1870, followed by Colorado (1893), then Utah and Idaho, both in 1896. Utah and Washington states granted women the right to vote earlier, then revoked the privilege. After Idaho, it took another 14 years for a state to grant suffrage to women.

The reasons why Western states granted women the right to vote are complex — and Idaho is no exception. Religion, race, politics, paternalism and prohibition all factor into Idaho’s decision. 

Ahead of Her Time: Women’s Suffrage in Idaho features regional historians and scholars on the subject and digs deep to uncover lost history. 

The documentary is a partnership between Idaho Public Television, Idaho Women in Leadership, and the Idaho State Historical Society as a legacy project for Idaho Women 100.  

Major funding for Idaho Experience is provided by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Anne Voillequé and Louise Nelson, Judy and Steve Meyer, the Futura Corporation, the Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation, the Friends of Idaho Public Television, the Idaho Public Television Endowment and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Ahead of Her Time: Women’s Suffrage in Idaho was independently produced by Jennie Sue Weltner with funding provided by Idaho Women in Leadership, the Pottenger Family Foundation, Zions Bank, Idaho Power, and Midas Gold.

Additional resources:

• Endorse the #IdahoWomen100 campaign and honor Idaho women’s #CourageousPast and help shape the #UnlimitedFuture of women’s leadership in our state! Show your support at www.idahowomen100.com/endorse. 
• We challenge YOUth to be a part of the #IdahoWomen100 celebration! Join the Idaho Women 100 Youth Challenge at www.idahowomen100.com/youthchallenge. 
• Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/
• Idaho Historical Society: https://history.idaho.gov/
• Voting information from Idaho Secretary of State: https://sos.idaho.gov/elections-division/
• IdahoVotes https://idahovotes.gov/
• Reading: “Path Breaking” by Abigail Scott Duniway; “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History” by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

IdahoPTV Announces 2020 PBS KIDS Writers Contest

For the 26th year, Idaho Public Television is hosting the PBS KIDS Writers Contest. IdahoPTV’s three regional stations — KUID/Moscow, KISU/Pocatello and KAID/Boise — encourage children who were in kindergarten through third grade during the 2019-2020 school year to write and illustrate their own imaginative story and submit it by Friday, August 14, for a chance to win prizes and have their work published online.

As a result of the delay of the contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children entering the contest will be entered in the grade level they were in last school year, NOT the grade they are going into.

Entry forms, rules, FAQs and teacher tips are available at idahoptv.org/kids/writers.  The contest is open to children in kindergarten through third grade residing within IdahoPTV’s over-the-air service area, which includes all of Idaho and parts of Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon and Nevada.

Regional volunteer panels will judge the entries on creativity, originality, language skills and illustrations. Winners in each grade level from each region of Idaho will be selected and will receive prizes including toys, books, and a $100 contribution to an IDeal Idaho College Savings account. Winners will be announced on or around October 1, 2020.

In October, a virtual awards ceremony will be held in each region of Idaho to celebrate the winners and their stories. By November 1, the winning stories will be uploaded in full color onto the IdahoPTV website: idahoptv.org/kids/writers.

IdahoPTV thanks the sponsors of this year’s contest: The F.M., Anne G. & Beverly B. Bistline Foundation in the Idaho Community Foundation and IDeal – Idaho College Savings Program.

Boise Teacher Katie Mason Named Idaho Public Television 2020-2021 ‘Digital Innovator’

Idaho Public Television is delighted to announce that teacher Katie Mason has been named the 2020-2021 IdahoPTV Digital Innovator. As a first grade teacher at Koelsch Elementary in Boise, Idaho, Mason takes her students to new technological heights.

The Digital Innovator program recognizes Idaho teachers who enhance learning by integrating technology or digital media into their classrooms. Each spring IdahoPTV selects one educator who will serve as Digital Innovator for the following school year.

“We are so excited to welcome Katie Mason to the IdahoPTV family of innovative and inspiring educators. Katie was nominated for this by a parent, which speaks volumes about her,” says Kari Wardle, IdahoPTV Education Manager. “She was chosen because of her ability to ignite in her students a love of learning and technology, which is no small feat since she teaches first grade. I am looking forward to working with Katie during the 2020-2021 school year and in the years to come.”

“Katie Mason is a true go-getter. She serves  in various leadership roles at Koelsch and does so honorably,” says Koelsch Principal Pam Dietz. “When Katie is presented with a situation she is solution driven and does what is best for her students and family. She is mindful of the various needs of her students and addresses them with care and compassion. She is a valuable professional at Koelsch and is respected by staff, students and families.”

Mason will have many opportunities to explore new teaching strategies and share her knowledge with other Idaho teachers. Throughout the year, she will partner with IdahoPTV education staff on professional development trainings for teachers around Idaho.

Mason will also receive an expenses-paid trip to the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE) conference in Seattle (March 2021) as well as a classroom innovation kit from IdahoPTV.

The IdahoPTV Digital Innovator Program is based on the national PBS Digital Innovators Program. Each Idaho honoree will be considered for the national honor of PBS Digital Innovator All-Star. For more information contact Kari Wardle, IdahoPTV Education Manager, at kari.wardle@idahoptv.org or (208) 373-7314.

Get Your Child Ready to Head Back to School and Prevent the “Summer Slide”

Join Idaho Public Television, the English Language Center and the Idaho Office for Refugees, projects of Jannus, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and the State Board of Education for  Classroom Idaho’s back-to-school Boot Camp on our CREATE Channel. Classroom Idaho Boot Camp is available for FREE across the entire state via over-the-air antenna. Additionally, many cable providers broadcast the CREATE Channel in your area.

Lessons are taught by certified Gem State teachers, and are aligned to Idaho content standards.  Elementary school modules will air Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 8 a.m., July 14th through August 13th. 

English Language courses (ELL) will air on Mondays and repeat on Fridays beginning at Noon, July 13th through August 14th. These courses will be for both children and adults.

College and career readiness sessions will be offered on Mondays and repeated on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. These courses will be taught by academic advisors and help prepare students and parents for college and career.

The same lessons will also be available for students with internet access at IdahoPTV’s YouTube channel.

During the five-week summer session, K-6th-grade students will be given direct instruction from a certified Idaho teacher via our Create channel. For the primary grades, students will get a crash course in literacy, while fourth through sixth grades will focus on English language arts and math. Packets are available for K-3. 

In addition to our over-the-air programming, parents of K-3rd-grade students can register their students by visiting Idaho Digital Learning Alliance or by texting the word “register” to 201-474-3831. After enrolling, you will receive enrichment activities and support from a certified teacher.

IdahoPTV’s over-the-air broadcast channels are free to receive. All you need is an antenna. Our signal is available to over 99 percent of the households in Idaho. For information on where to find our CREATE channel and other free channels in your area, or how to re-scan to find our channels, visit our website.

Our full channel lineup is also available on many major cable outlets around the state. Check with your local cable provider.

Idaho Public Television General Manager Ron Pisaneschi shared the station’s enthusiasm for the project noting that “We are pleased to partner with the Jannus, the State Board of Education and Idaho Digital Learning Alliance to use the power of public television to deliver these lessons to students and families in homes throughout Idaho. PBS has always been America’s largest classroom, but now we are bringing Idaho’s teachers and their lessons directly into students’ homes.”

“For anyone who has studied another language, excellent instruction and opportunities to practice are key. Partnering with Idaho Public Television allows us to provide remote learning in new ways. The IdahoPTV platform allows families to learn English and access lessons from the safety of their homes. These lessons are meant to help build language skills in children and parents and to provide opportunities for families to practice together.”
— Kate Udall, Manager of the English Language Center at Jannus

“We are so excited to work with Idaho Public Television to bring the joy of reading to K-3 students.  Certified teachers from both organizations have worked together to create a fun summer program that will help make sure students are ready for their next grade level when school opens again this fall.”
— Jolene Montoya, Ed.S. Director of Curriculum On-Line Principal

“The academic needs of our students are consistently at the forefront of our Board’s work. Now more than ever, we must utilize every tool available to support what was lost and minimize the impacts moving into the new school year. Classroom Idaho Bootcamp is one of those tools. Every opportunity we have to highlight these opportunities is time well spent. We see so many partners springing to action and we need every one of them. Leveraging the power of IPTV, we can bring the needed supports right to homes and to students.”
— Debbie Critchfield, president of the State Board of Education.

CLASSROOM IDAHO: Boot Camp is a partnership of Idaho Public Television, the English Language Center and the Idaho Office for Refugees, projects of Jannus, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance and the State Board of Education.

Join Us From Anywhere for Online Screenings of These New Films

Idaho Public Television is launching a new virtual viewing and online discussion experience. This month, join us to watch new episodes of Idaho Experience on July 12 and Outdoor Idaho on July 13. Each screening is followed by conversations with the filmmakers, experts and special guests answering your questions.

These are free online events using the video streaming platform OVEE. You will need to sign up with OVEE (it’s free) and then all you need to participate is a computer or iPad with a strong internet connection. Before the event, you can click here to run a test to ensure OVEE works properly on your device.

Fall 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. It remains a war without peer and is arguably the most documented in American history. Yet, the vast majority of that documentation has been produced by people from older generations.

Now, a group of Idaho State University honors students have co-authored Idaho in World War II, a book highlighting life in Idaho during that time and how the state played a vital role in the war.

Register here to attend a free OVEE screening of Idaho Experience “Through Youthful Eyes” and a Q&A with the producers: Sunday, July 12, at 6 PM Mountain Time.

As Idaho’s population increases, the space that separates humans from animals continues to shrink, and that has led to moments of wonder as well as problems for wildlife managers. To capture some of these moments, Outdoor Idaho reached out to people across the state for footage of their brief encounters with wildlife in their own backyards.

Register here to attend a free OVEE screening of Outdoor Idaho “Urban Wildlife” and a discussion with the filmmakers: Monday, July 13, at 7 PM Mountain Time.

“Idaho Public Television’s mission is to ‘harness the power of public media to encourage lifelong learning, connect our communities, and enrich the lives of all Idahoans,'” says Jenifer Johnson, IdahoPTV’s director of strategic fundraising. “We are launching these virtual events to reach out, connect and engage with others, even when we can’t be face-to-face.”

“We are using an online streaming platform called OVEE, which stands for Online Viewing and Engagement Experience. Created by the Independent Television Service, and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, OVEE is like a virtual theater that allows us to watch together and chat live with friends, fans, and experts. It’s all about quality video and quality conversations. When you register, you will be asked to create a profile on OVEE – which is free – and we’ll connect with you in that space, when the screening starts.”

Idaho Public Television plans to host at least one screening event monthly, so check our events page for announcements and registration links. Registration information is found at www.idahoptv.org/events.

Idaho Residents Document Urban Wildlife, World War II Era

New episodes of Outdoor Idaho and Idaho Experience in July meet Idaho residents whose videos and writing capture some unique aspects of life in our state.

“Urban Wildlife” on Outdoor Idaho

As Idaho’s population increases, the space that separates humans from animals continues to shrink, and that has led to problems for wildlife managers as well as moments of wonder. To capture some of these moments, Outdoor Idaho reached out to people across the state for footage of their brief encounters.

“I had no idea we would receive so much video from folks,” says producer Lauren Melink. “I figured we’d get a goose or two, but not mountain lions in the backyard. It’s really been incredible to see urban wildlife through the eyes of the people actually experiencing it firsthand, but it can also be unnerving when a mountain lion is peering through your window.”

Urban Wildlife airs Thursday, July 16, at 8 PM. Or stream it early on the PBS Video app or online beginning July 9.

According to the show’s host, Bruce Reichert, “In our 37 year history, we’ve never used so much video from other people. So it’s a great program to produce during a pandemic; we can maintain social distancing and still tell an interesting story.”

“Through Youthful Eyes” on Idaho Experience

Fall 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. It remains a war without peer and is arguably the most documented in American history. Yet, the vast majority of that documentation has been produced by people from older generations.

Now, a group of Idaho State University honors students have co-authored Idaho in World War II, a book highlighting life in Idaho during that time, and how the state played a vital role in the war.

Their professor, Dr. Alex Bolinger, is proud of how a group of millennials — Kathryn Rose, Sophia Perry, Dalene Hunter and Ashley French — approached such an important topic. “Not only is their research incredibly thorough, but they care … they want to connect to events that happened 75 years ago.”

Idaho Experience producer Forrest Burger is equally impressed. “It’s apparent these young women are excited to bring a youthful perspective to a war fought generations ago.”

Through Youthful Eyes airs Thursday, July 16, at 8:30 PM. Or stream it early on the PBS Video app or online beginning July 9.

Idaho Ready to Learn: Countdown to Kindergarten, Virtual Parent and Caregiver Event June 23rd & 24th

If your child is starting kindergarten this fall, join Idaho Public Television, Idaho AEYC (Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children), Lee Pesky Learning Center and other community partners for our two-day Virtual Parent and Caregiver Event June 23rd & 24th on Facebook Live. Educational professionals from around the state will share information about kindergarten registration, what to expect during your child’s first year of school, developmental milestones, summer learning activities and much more.

Idaho Ready to Learn: Countdown to Kindergarten is an exciting new program that supports parents and caregivers of incoming kindergartners. We have weekly calendars full of activities you can do with your child to help them feel excited for all the fun they will have in kindergarten. Each week will focus on a different skill that will be taught in kindergarten. For each skill there are hands-on activities, digital games, and unplugged activities for every day of the week. Our website is a great place to find even more resources to help your child get excited and feel confident on their first day of school.

Join us June 23-24 for a two-day event on Facebook Live! Professionals from around Idaho will share important information, tips, and educational activities to help your child get excited and registered for kindergarten.