Insight Resources – Connecting with Parents

Insight is continuing to offer two different presentations for Parents’ Night at your school.  Kay Zoretic will bring a 15 to 30 minute presentation for parents about either of two different subjects. 

(1) How to Watch TV – I know we all know how to watch TV, but this presentation helps parents realize that children view television much like they read – based on their experiential background.   We will review video clips and discuss the way children of different ages would view them.   Parents often learn new ways of talking to their children about the programs they watch together.

(2)  Cook with Your Kids -  This 30 minute presentation shows parents how kids learn valuable lessons and enjoy the special time together when cooking with a parent.

If you would like Kay to bring a Media Literacy or a Cook with Your Kids presentation to your Parents’ Night, call her at 796-8204 or email Kay to schedule a session. 

Know what your kids are watching!

I hope as educators you keep your copies of Access Learning.   The articles in them can serve as a valuable resource for you as you move through the school year.   Last June, Peggy O’Brien, the Executive Director of Cable in the Classroom and a noted educator furnished us with an article, Planning the Family Media Diet that contains valuable information schools can use to help parents as they guide their children’s television viewing habits.  Dr. O’Brien makes the point that “monitoring what media your young children watch is similar to monitoring older children’s friends and social activities.   If you don’t agree with the plan, location, curfew, or group, tell them no.”   The article is full of suggestions, ideas and rationale to help parents as they help their children in the formation of positive media viewing habits.    It would also provide an excellent “mini session” for an elementary school “Parent Night”.

Access Learning issue -June 2004

The Learning Channel has fantastic educational programming lined up for educators this spring.    TLC’s material is adapted from Discovery Channel material, but with vocabulary and concepts more suitable for elementary students.  Each half-hour program airs on Fridays at 5:00a.m. (CT), and consists of several short segments so you can easily incorporate one or more of them into your existing lesson plans.  By the first of February, check TLC to download the spring schedule and a complete description of the wonderful TLC offerings.

Nickelodeon has a calendar full of programming for you.   Elementary teachers find programming at Nickelodeon very helpful to enhance and enrich the curriculum standards.  Guidance counselors find many of the Special Edition programs wonderful to use for group guidance sessions.  All of these are FREE with long copyright clearances.  Programs air more than once, so go to the Nick Calendar for a taping schedule.