WSRE Raising Readers

Wondering what to do with your child today? Whether you're at home, at school, or out running errands, use the Reading Activity Calendar to find fun, simple ways to make reading a part of your every day life. Flip through the calendar above for ideas, activities, and silly holidays to celebrate together. Find more free reading games and activities for kids at PBS KIDS Island!

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WSRE is proud to be one of 20 PBS stations in the United States selected to host the PBS Kids Raising Readers initiative. The PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative uses research-based, innovative television programs and related multi-media content to help meet the critical literacy needs of children ages 2-8, from low-resource families. A unique 360 degree approach to learning surrounds families, caregivers, teachers and parents with ready-to-use literacy resources and supports at home, in school and in the community. The initiative harnesses the power of the media to enhance early literacy skills using content from PBS KIDS shows as a springboard for quality learning.

Integrated resources include:

PBS KIDS Television Programs - Sesame Street, Between the Lions, Super WHY!, WordWorld, Martha Speaks, The Electric Company and WordWorld

Online professional development courses for childcare providers

PBS KIDS Island - A stimulating, interactive reading web site for kids, parents, teachers, caregivers

PBS KIDS Raising Readers Library Corners

Super WHY! Summer reading camps

Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Program

WSRE Literacy Link, a coalition for community organizations focused on literacy 
Community outreach activities and events

The national project is funded by U.S. Department of Education's Ready To Learn grant with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS, and the Ready to Learn Partnership. For more information, visit www.pbskids.org/read/about.

Community Events
More information will be posted regarding the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiatives and upcoming events. However, WSRE did feel the POWER and hosted an interactive stageshow hosted by Shock of The Electric Company. View the photos >>

WSRE Raising Readers Library Corner
WSRE launches a PBS Kids® Raising Readers Library Corner What do you get when you mix kids, books, online literacy activities and PBS characters together? Family reading fun at the library! WSRE and the West Florida Regional Library have partnered together to host the PBS Kids® Raising Readers Library Corner. The downtown Pensacola branch "library corner" gives children and parents the opportunity to strengthen literacy skills through fun, engaging multi-media platforms, hands-on activities, books and much more.

Information for Parents/Caregivers
Parents and caregivers discover handy tips and tools to encourage children to read. Link to relevant resources and easy-to-use activities that tie into everyday learning. Beyond just books, this site introduces many creative ways to raise a reader and encourage early learning. Visit www.pbs.org/parents to learn more. Also, see www.pbskids.org/read/parents.

Resources for Teachers/Child Care Providers
Liven up classroom learning with links to lesson plans, articles and curricula to help every child learn to read. Show your students how fun reading can be when you bring Big Bird, Super WHY! and other favorite characters into classroom activities. Click here to discover a wealth of resources: www.pbs.org/teachers or www.pbskids.org/read/teachers.

Gulf Coast area childcare providers can learn online and meet professional development requirements with two PBS KIDS Raising Readers courses.  Raising Readers:  Preparing Preschoolers for Success and Raising Readers: Ready to Read and Write with Digital Media (PreK) are approved for 15 clock hours CEUs and offers licensed providers an opportunity to learn anytime, anywhere – online! Click here to learn more:  http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/catalog/browse/?sa=3

Fun for Kids at PBS KIDS Island
Take a voyage and have fun learning on this interactive island brimming with exciting stories, games and reading activities featuring content from PBS KIDS programs. An embedded progress tracker helps parents, teachers and caregivers monitor children's literacy skills and reading development online. Click here to begin the discovery: www.pbskids.org/read

	PBS KIDS On-Air Programming Roar and read with Between the Lions, fly high with Super WHY! and sing along with Sesame Street when you tune into the creative shows behind the PBS KIDS Raising Readers initiative. Integrated content from the shows, engaging activities and quality resources throughout their sites enhance and support children's literacy skills in a fresh new way.
	Sesame Street Kids favorite, and parents too, Sesame Street brings a cast of furry friends to life to get kids ready for school and help establish an early foundation for learning. Colorful characters sing upbeat songs and interact with everyday people to engage children in relevant interactive learning.
	Between the Lions Lovable lions run a magical library where book characters come to life to help children learn letters and sounds through skits, songs and animation. The literacy series, for kids ages 4-7, playfully demonstrates the joys of reading with a fun-loving family of lions.
	Super WHY! Children ages 3-6 interact with literacy super heroes in a magical place called Storybook Village. The playful, animated characters solve problems with their unique literacy-based super powers. Leap into learning and get to know Alpha Pig with "Alphabet Power," Wonder Red with "Word Power," Princess Presto with "Spelling Power," and Super Why with the "Power to Read."
	Martha Speaks Tune into this new animated series for kids ages 4-7 and meet Martha, a beloved family dog, who slurps alphabet soup that gives her the power of human speech. Martha Speaks engages kids in learning through humorous adventures to help expand their vocabulary.
	The Electric Company Get re-charged with this contemporary, hip new version of the classic children's series from the 70's. The Electric Company teaches important literacy skills and motivates school age kids to read using cool dance moves and energetic music.
	Word World Animals form words with their bodies in an enchanting 3-D animated series which encourages kids ages 3-5 to make friends with playful word friends Dog, Sheep, Frog, Duck, Pig and Ant. Words come to life and meander into the minds of curious kids through this high-spirited cast of characters.

WSRE's TV Schedule

For more information about the PBS KIDS Raising Readers Initiative, please contact Jill Hubbs, WSRE's Director of Education, Outreach & Content Development at jhubbs@wsre.org.