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. 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.” — Samantha Hill, M.Ed., IdahoPTV Family Engagement Specialist

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.

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

 

PBS KIDS Virtual Edcamp for Early Childhood Educators

Idaho Public Television is excited to partner with PBS KIDS to host PBS KIDS Virtual Edcamp for Early Childhood Educators!

PBS KIDS Virtual Edcamp is NOT a traditional conference; no keynote speaker, pre-arranged content, or registration fee.

So what exactly is it? A PBS KIDS Virtual Edcamp is a local virtual gathering of PreK-3 grade educators connecting through shared experiences and peer-led conversations with a PBS twist!

An idea conceived by teachers eager to challenge the status quo and take control of their own professional learning, the Edcamp model was initially sparked by informal conversations between educators on social media. Across the country, educators were connecting on Twitter to discuss topics of interest and learn new ideas. These conversations inspired educators to continue the dialogue in person as participant-driven, peer-led gatherings.

Interested in attending? Sign up for the PBS KIDS Virtual Edcamp!

**Upon registration, a Zoom video link will be sent to the email you provide. Please use that link to join us.