Monday, May 3, 2010

“PBS KIDS Raising Readers Launches 'The Great Word Quest' in Time To Keep Kids Learning This Summer” plus 3 more

“PBS KIDS Raising Readers Launches 'The Great Word Quest' in Time To Keep Kids Learning This Summer” plus 3 more

PBS KIDS Raising Readers Launches 'The Great Word Quest' in Time To Keep Kids Learning This Summer

Posted: 03 May 2010 06:21 AM PDT

ARLINGTON, Va., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- PBS and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced the launch of The Great Word Quest, an innovative new feature of the PBS KIDS Raising Readers Web site (readytolearnreading.org) that provides literacy games for children ages six to eight.  The Great Word Quest allows kids to play learning games with characters, themes and ideas from favorite PBS KIDS GO! television programs THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, WORD GIRL, and MARTHA SPEAKS.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100503/NE96413LOGO )

The Great Word Quest is introduced just in time to combat what is known as the "summer learning gap," or the general loss of academic skills during summer vacation. "PBS knows learning doesn't stop when children leave the classroom at the end of the day; it continues beyond the end of the school year," said Rob Lippincott, Senior Vice President of PBS Education. "We want to provide an inviting and exciting -- yet educational -- platform for kids to engage with throughout the year."

The Great Word Quest takes kids on virtual adventures designed to scaffold and improve core literacy skill development.  Joining one of three teams -- the Aquanauts, Trailblazers or Skyscrapers -- players advance through literacy-based scavenger hunts to earn words that they can then use to play games and create their own silly stories.  These activities help kids strengthen critical reading skills, such as phonics, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.  Perhaps most importantly, a Progress Tracker charts a child's progress for parents and teachers and provides customized activities that help make reading a part of everyday life.

The Great Word Quest builds on the success of PBS KIDS Island, a literacy-focused site for preschoolers that launched in Fall 2008.

"We know that when kids are engaged, they learn.  That's why The Great Word Quest teams kids together in a scavenger hunt, sparking their interest in learning new words and developing reading skills that they can use in adventures beyond the screen," said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children's Media, PBS.

Research and Funding

PBS worked closely with leading early childhood experts to develop The Great Word Quest, including Dr. Julie Wood, Ed.D., adviser for PBS KIDS Island and WORDWORLD, and Maria Salvadore, Reading Rockets advisor and University of Maryland professor. Activities are based on cutting-edge research on how children learn to read and the role of electronic media, and what works in classroom and home settings.  

About PBS KIDS Raising Readers and The Ready To Learn Grant

PBS KIDS Raising Readers is a national initiative that uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages two to eight, with an emphasis on children from low-income families.  The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. 

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child's total well-being, family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, PBSKIDS.org, PBSKIDSGO.org, PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org), and PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's nearly 360 public television stations, serving more than 124 million people on-air and online each month. For more information on specific shows supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom.

About CPB

CPB, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1100 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services.

The contents of the release were developed under grant #PRU295A050003 and #PRU295B050003, from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

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'Big brothers' can change kids' lives -- and their own

Posted: 03 May 2010 05:57 AM PDT

Over the past decade, Matt Jarvis has spent hundreds of hours with his "little brother," DeAndre Tinsley.

That included trips to Cincinnati to watch the Reds and to Downtown Indy to see the Indians, games at Hinkle Fieldhouse and Conseco Fieldhouse, breakfasts and lunches, study sessions and casual chats.

What began as mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana has evolved into a friendship that both say they value.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, though, says Jarvis is a rare commodity and that it doesn't have enough volunteers like him: men who can commit four to six hours a month to build a relationship with a child in need of a role model.

The nonprofit has launched a campaign to persuade the men of Indianapolis to take up that mission, an irreverent push that needles men with the playful suggestion that they might not be brave enough to be a mentor.

It's easy, the group says.

"You can make a big difference just volunteering four to six hours of your time a month, and the impact that has on somebody's life, the one-on-one time, makes a difference," said Jarvis, 31. "We are friends now more than anything."

Beyond testimonials from those such as Jarvis, Big Brothers Big Sisters is dispatching a mascot around town to put the pressure on: a chicken.

So far, the chicken has appeared at sporting events, popped into restaurants and even run a 5K race.

Curt Bennett, chief recruiter of men for Big Brothers Big Sisters, said staff members are trying to break down people's preconceived notions about mentoring. For instance, he said, many people say they don't have time but could easily incorporate volunteering into their daily lives as they watch sporting events or have dinner.

Volunteers who want to become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters must be 18 or older and undergo a background check and interview before being matched with a kid.

"We're just letting people know being a big brother is fun," Bennett said. "Just include him in your life. Let him share the laughter with you when you play basketball with your buddies or go to the IMA to check out the art museum."

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Special Olympics program gives kids place to blossom

Posted: 02 May 2010 09:53 PM PDT

When Caitlyn Shirley was 5 years old, she had a hard time interacting with others.

"She wouldn't do anything," said dad Ron Shirley of Peoria. "She'd just sit there and have her head down."

But after three years in the Special Olympics Young Athletes program, now 8-year-old Caitlyn is running, jumping and playing with about 17 other kids, both developmentally disabled and not.

"Now she's taking turns; she's encouraging other kids," Ron Shirley said. "She went from one of the screaming kids to one that helps out. It's amazing."

The program, now in its third year, seeks to give kids ages 2 to 7 years old a place to develop their motor skills and interaction with others, including taking turns and good sportsmanship, said Lisa Lamb, program coordinator for Peoria.

Sunday marked the last event of the year in an awards program to honor the kids and allow them to show off what they have worked on all year. Some rolled a large ball back and forth while others walked on a balance beam.

Family members applauded from the bleachers.

"It teaches them how to do things they'd do in a typical school environment with their peers," Lamb said. "You can play and jump and do things your peers can do, but maybe in a different way."

The group meets monthly at St. Philomena School from September to May and works on throwing, kicking, jumping, running, catching and balancing with a series of toys and games.

Lamb said she began the program as a way to support her daughter Rachel, 4, who has Down syndrome.

Now the group is made up of kids with Down syndrome, autis, and other disabilities, as well as peer athletes - brothers, sisters and pals who come to play.

Jocelyn McDaniels, 4, raced around the gym with mom Becky McDaniels, of Morton, behind her.

"She does gymnastics and we thought it was a good way to work on her coordination," Becky McDaniels said.

Meanwhile, Bianca Feazel, 4, navigated the jumping and balancing section of the gym.

"She has a lot of fun," mom Roshena Feazel of Washburn said. "We work on things you don't typically work on."

As kids in the program grow older, they have the chance to switch to traditional Special Olympics sports. Caitlyn will do that soon participating in softball and golf.

The program is free, Lamb said. Interested families can check out the Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association website, hoidsa.org, or e-mail Lamb at lisalamb67@aol.com.

 

Lauren Rees can be reached at 686-3251 or lrees@pjstar.com.

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Normal CornBelters Add Three Additional Home Games.

Posted: 03 May 2010 06:39 AM PDT

May 3, 2010 - Frontier League (FL) Normal CornBelters

NORMAL, IL - The Normal CornBelters, presented by the Illinois Corn Farmers, recently added three additional home games at the Corn Crib against the Oakland County Cruisers. The games are Tuesday, July 6, Wednesday, July 7 and Thursday, July 8 at 7 p.m. The CornBelters play the first home game of their inaugural season at the Corn Crib on Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. versus the Windy City Thunderbolts.

CornBelters reading program participants can redeem their vouchers on July 6. Also, kids can run the bases following the game! Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the ballpark on July 7 (Dog Days!) and July 8 will feature $1.00 beers (Thirsty Thursday)!

Full season ticket holders will receive complimentary tickets to each game! Individual game tickets can be purchased by visiting the CornBelters website at www.normalbaseball.com, contacting the Ticket Sales Department at (309) 454-2255 (BALL) or stopping by the temporary office (321 Susan Dr., Ste. D, Normal, IL 61761) during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.).

THE NIBLET: The Normal CornBelters players will be arriving for the start of Training camp on Thursday, May 6th. You can meet the official team at the Meet the Team Banquet on Wednesday, May 19th at 6pm. Our Keynote speaker will be former Chicago Cub Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins. Table of ten (10) are $400.

Full season tickets, mini-plan packages, various group outings and individual game tickets for the CornBelters inaugural season are on sale now. To make an investment, or for more information, simply visit their website, contact the Ticket Sales Department or stop by the temporary office during normal business hours.

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Frontier League Stories from May 3, 2010

• Normal CornBelters Add Three Additional Home Games. - Normal CornBelters

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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