Join IdahoPTV and MontanaPBS for “Tech Talk Tuesday”

Join Idaho Public Television and MontanaPBS for Tech Talk Tuesday, a monthly online virtual discussion about teaching and learning with technology. The monthly discussions are hosted by Kari Wardle and Nikki Vradenburg, public media educators who are tech nerds and former classroom teachers!

The monthly discussions are held the last Tuesday of each month and feature teachers from both states sharing strategies, tips and tricks, and real-world solutions for integrating technology in your classroom.

This is NOT another boring webinar! Tech Talk Tuesdays are all about teachers talking about teaching and learning with technology! With more than 30 collective years in public education (and nerddom), Nikki and Kari have the expertise and ability to provide relevant and useful content for teachers. If you can’t join live, don’t worry, all Tech Talks will be recorded and archived on YouTube. Learn more at idahoptv.org/techtalk

“MontanaPBS is thrilled to collaborate with Idaho Public Television to host Tech Talk Tuesday for teachers in both of our states. The conversations are sure to be packed with great, just in time, information for teachers as they implement media and technology with students.  This is a rich opportunity for teachers in Montana and Idaho to share and learn together proving that in public media we are better together!”
— Nikki Vradenburg, MontanaPBS

“I am excited to partner with MontanaPBS to facilitate Tech Talk Tuesday. We recognize that teachers are being inundated with distance learning and remote teaching resources, so we hope that Tech Talk will provide teachers with the WHY and the HOW for using those resources. Additionally, we are proud to elevate the voice of innovative teachers from both of our states and showcase the amazing things they are doing. Please join us on the last Tuesday of each month. You won’t be disappointed.”
— Kari Wardle, IdahoPTV

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.

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.

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.

IdahoPTV launches its first virtual book club

We have launched our new Virtual Book Club for kids grades 3-6. Our first book will be “The Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson. We will meet once each week via Zoom to explore the book together. Learn more and sign up for the book club.

Any child in grades 3-6 can participate in the virtual book club. If you cannot afford a book, please email me at samantha.hill@idahoptv.org. Financial assistance is available and no child will be turned away due to a financial need.

The book club is virtual, via Zoom. The meetings will be password protected so we can ensure the group will stay private and safe. Prior to the first group meeting, we will send you a link to join the session.

3rd grade will meet Wednesdays from 4:00 – 4:30 PM.
The meeting schedule is as follows:

• May 13th – Introductions
• May 20th – Chapters 1 & 2
• May 27th – Chapters 3 & 4
• June 3rd – Chapters 5 & 6
• June 10th – Chapters 7 & 8
• June 17th – Chapters 9 & 10
• June 24th – Chapters 11, 12, & 13

4th grade will meet Tuesdays from 9:30 – 10:00 AM.
The meeting schedule is as follows:

• May 12th – Introductions
• May 19th – Chapters 1 & 2
• May 26th – Chapters 3 & 4
• June 2nd – Chapters 5 & 6
• June 9th – Chapters 7 & 8
• June 16th – Chapters 9 & 10
• June 23rd – Chapters 11, 12, & 13

5th and 6th grades will meet together Thursdays from 10:30- 11:00 AM.
The meeting schedule is as follows:

• May 14th – Introductions
• May 21st – Chapters 1 & 2
• May 28th – Chapters 3 & 4
• June 4th – Chapters 5 & 6
• June 11th – Chapters 7 & 8
• June 18th – Chapters 9 & 10
• June 25th – Chapters 11, 12, & 13

Parents are not required to attend the video call with their child, but are welcome to if they feel more comfortable. We will not be recording the discussions in order to protect the privacy of participants. If you have other children in the house who would enjoy being part of the club, they are welcome to participate. We would love to see entire families be part of this!

• Each week, I will email audio recordings of each chapter to support kids who prefer to follow along while listening.
• You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon for $7.99.
• If you need assistance getting the book, please let us know when you RSVP. No family will be turned away due to financial need.
• Please fill out this short form to RSVP for the book club.

If any questions come up, please don’t hesitate to email me at samantha.hill@idahoptv.org.

I am looking forward to starting this adventure with your family!

 

Bright by Text supports healthy child development and builds strong, resilient families

Looking for some help engaging your little one? IdahoPTV has you covered. Simply text the word IDAHOFAMILY to the number 274448. Bright by Text is a free service offered in English and Spanish. Games and activities to help kids learn at home are tailored to the age of your child and texted directly to you for free 2-4 times a week. For more information visit idahoptv.org/families.

To help parents navigate the latest information and recommendations to ensure the health of families, Bright by Text offers expert tips about community resources, safety protocols and at-home activities to engage children. Bright by Text collaborates with experts like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), PBS KIDS, Nurse-Family Partnership and others to provide an expert-backed health and wellness curriculum.

“IdahoPTV is excited to partner with Bright by Text to meet the needs of Idaho families,” says Kari Wardle, IdahoPTV education manager. “This gives us a greater opportunity to get our resources into the hands of parents who may not have the internet or the ability to attend activities with their kids. Bright by Text is a creative way to reach out to families with very young learners and help set children up for success from cradle to career.”

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, neighbor, or babysitter, Bright by Text can make caring for a little one easier! To receive free tips and learning-games directly to your phone, simply text the word IDAHOFAMILY to the number 274448.

CLASSROOM IDAHO: Learn @ Home

Thousands of Idaho students don’t have a computer at home or a way to connect to the internet so they can learn remotely during this coronavirus pandemic. But nearly every family in Idaho has a television set and can watch Idaho Public Television. That is where IdahoPTV’s “Classroom Idaho: Learn @ Home” programming can connect these students with certified Idaho teachers so that they can finish learning for the balance of this school year.

Beginning April 20, Idaho teachers will provide instruction to students in grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 via Idaho Public Television’s CREATE channel (one of our five free over-the-air broadcast channels).

Third grade instruction begins at 8am MT/7am PT, and will repeat at Noon MT/11am PT; 4^th grade instruction begins at 9am MT/8am PT; 5^th grade instruction begins at 10am MT/9am PT and 6^th grade instruction begins at 11am MT/10am PT. The instruction will be aligned with what the students would be learning if they were still attending their brick-and-mortar schools.

The same lessons will also be available in playlists for students with connectivity at IdahoPTV’s YouTube channel.

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 State Department of Education and Idaho Business for Education to use the power of public television to deliver these lessons to students 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.”

“Idaho Business for Education is working during this epidemic to get computers and internet connectivity to as many students as possible who don’t have these resources at home,” IBE President and CEO Rod Gramer said. “But we also know that getting these resources to every student in a timely way may not be possible. That’s why IBE so appreciates Idaho Public TV stepping up and providing “Classroom Idaho: Learn @ Home” so that all 3rd-6th grade students in Idaho have access to instruction from one of Idaho’s great teachers.”

“For the State Department of Education and educators throughout Idaho, a crucial objective during this soft closure has been to find ways to reach all of our students with distance learning, although online access and equipment is a major challenge in many communities and households,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said. “I am thrilled that Idaho Public Television has stepped forward to level the playing field, providing instruction via equipment that virtually all households already have – their TVs.” “Through this partnership with Idaho Public Television and Idaho Business For Education, some of Idaho’s great teachers will provide instruction in math, history and more to students in grades 3 through 6, the key demographic that is not currently reached by educational TV in Idaho. We are thrilled to line up teachers for the project and help bring this brilliant idea to Idaho children and families.”

CLASSROOM IDAHO: Learn @ Home is a partnership of Idaho Public Television, Idaho Business for Education and the State Department of Education.

IdahoPTV CREATE & IDAHO Channels Broadcasting Educational Programming Monday-Friday

With schools closed across the Gem State, Idaho Public Television is here to support teachers and families with at-home distance learning. We have added free over-the-air programming for grades 4 through 12 every weekday afternoon (M-F) on our CREATE channel. This will ensure Idaho students will have access to educational programs regardless of their access to broadband internet. Tune in weekdays from 1:00 to 6:00 PM Mountain time and from noon to 5:00 PM Pacific.

The lineup of educational programs was selected with home-teaching support in mind. Each program has free lesson plans and support materials that can be used by parents and teachers alike to support learning at home. Find them at pbslearningmedia.org.

In addition to our CREATE channel programming, we have programming for grades PreK-4 on our main IDAHO channel from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM weekdays.

To help teachers and parents locate corresponding educational materials, Kari Wardle, our teacher ambassador, posts the broadcast schedule each week with links to accompanying resources that correspond to some of the shows airing during the day. These schedules are posted on the IdahoPTV Teacher Facebook page and the IdahoPTV Families Facebook page.

“We are Idaho’s only statewide media organization, reaching nearly 100 percent of Idaho homes with five free over-the-air broadcast channels,” says Ron Pisaneschi, Idaho Public Television’s general manager. “With schools closed in Idaho and students and teachers at home, we wanted to use the power and reach of IdahoPTV’s broadcast to provide a schedule of curriculum-based, high-quality educational programming for these grade levels each weekday.”

If you aren’t receiving our five channels on your over-the-air antenna, rescan your TV to access the five free channels, including our CREATE and IDAHO channels.

Find the CREATE channel in your area:
Eastern Idaho on 10.3
Magic Valley, Wood River Valley on 13.3
Palouse, Camas, Prairie on 12.3
Panhandle on 26.3
Treasure Valley on 4.3