SEPTEMBER 2008

Here are some highlights from Idaho Public Television's programming this month. Be sure to check out the Classroom Calendar at http://www.idahoptv.org/learn/toolbox.cfm for additional programs suitable for use in the classroom, professional development courses, telecourses and more. (Time zones are MT/PT where two times are shown)

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FOR ELEMENTARY -
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Math & Science:

D4K DIALOGUE FOR KIDS: DINOSAURS. Airs Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 2:00/1:00 pm. Dinosaurs are one of D4K viewers’ favorite topics, and this month students can learn about recent discoveries about these ancient creatures on the premiere of D4K’s 10th season. Host Joan Cartan-Hansen will be joined by leading paleontologist David Varricchio, an Assistant Professor at Montana State University. The D4K web site, which will launch September 1st, offers facts, links, reading lists, a glossary, pod casts of programs and special D4K web exclusive programming. http://www.idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/ (60 min)

History:

PROCEEDING ON…VISIONS OF IDAHO. Airs Thursdays, Sept. 4 thru 25 at 1:00/12:00 am. Produced by Idaho Public Television, this history series for fourth graders is comprised of fifteen 15-minute segments, perfect for use in the classroom. The segments are: Geography, Geology, Early Lifestyles, Tools (9/4), Storytelling, Early Exploration, Religious Settlers, Homesteading (9/11), The World Comes to Idaho, Mining, Agriculture, Timber (9/18), Quality of Life, Spirit, and Contributions to Idaho (9/25). (15 min ea)

Music, Art & Literature:

READING RAINBOW. Airs weekdays at 2:30/1:30 pm. September episodes include: Bugs (9/9), Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (9/19), Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story (9/22), Desert Giant (9/30) http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow (30 min)

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FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL -
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Math & Science:

NOVA: EINSTEIN’S BIG IDEA. Airs Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7:00 pm. The story behind the world’s most famous equation, e=mc2. It celebrates the ingenuity and chronicles the human conflicts that ultimately unleashed the power of the atom. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/ Repeats Saturday, Sept. 20 at 4:00 pm (2 hrs)

NATURE: RAPTOR FORCE. Airs Sunday, Sept. 21 at 8:00 pm. With the help of a miniature camera harnessed onto the backs of raptors, you'll see for yourself what it's like to fly with these deadly aces. Lesson plans available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/raptorforce/ Repeats Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 1:00/12:00 am (60 min)

EYES OF NYE. Airs Tuesdays at 3:30/2:30 am. Bill Nye’s mission is to encourage scientific literacy and to help viewers understand the science issues that impact their everyday lives. September episodes include: Astrobiology (9/2), Pseudoscience (9/9), Addiction (9/16), Cloning (9/23), Nuclear Energy (9/30). http://www.eyesofnye.org/ (30 min ea)

Social Studies, History and Economics:

BIZ KID$. Airs Tuesdays at 3:00/2:00 am. This program shows kids how to make and manage money. Don’t miss the easy-to-download Biz Kid$ learning materials, developed by Junior Achievement, to help young people get the most out of the show. http://www.bizkids.com/ (30 min)

DEBATING OUR DESTINY II. Airs Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 9:00 pm. Host Jim Lehrer interviews President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Senators Lieberman and Kerry to get their perspective on presidential and vice presidential debates. The web site http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny is designed to augment American History, Social Studies, Public Speaking and Debate curriculums. Repeats Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2:00/1:00 am. (60 min)

NEWSHOUR. Airs weekdays at 6:00 pm. The “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” has an excellent online current events site for teens. Be sure to check out http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/index.html for great lesson plans and other resources for teachers. (60 min)

IN THE MIX. Airs Wednesdays in September. This series focuses on teens who are making positive choices in their personal lives and making important contributions to their schools and communities. September episodes are: 9/11 Looking Back....Moving Forward (9/3 at 2:30/1:30 am); The New Normal: Get The News? (9/10 at 2:30/1:30 am); Alcohol: What You Don't Know (9/17 at 2:00/1:00 am); Action! Not Apathy (9/17 at 2:30/1:30 am) http://www.pbs.org/inthemix (2 x 30 min)

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FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS –
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EDUCATION NEWS PARENTS CAN USE: BACK TO SCHOOL. Airs Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 3:00/2:00 am. The program profiles key strategies for maximizing student academic achievement, showcases schools that have proven successful in closing the achievement gap and helping all students reach and exceed grade level proficiency, and spotlights the Department’s Teaching Ambassador Fellowship program. http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/index.html (60 min)

DIALOGUE: TEACHER EVALUATIONS. Airs Thursday, Sept. 18 at 8:30 pm. Host Joan Cartan-Hansen discusses proposed teacher evaluation issues with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and IEA President Sherri Woods. http://www.idahoptv.org/dialogue Repeats Sunday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 pm. (30 min)

MAKING SCHOOLS WORK. Airs Monday, Sept. 1 at 2:00/1:00 am. Learn how some American communities have raised student performance and closed achievement gaps for minority and poor students. The discussion guide is designed to stimulate public discussion of effective techniques and crucial issues of educational reform and can be found at http://www.pbs.org/makingschoolswork/ (2 hrs)

SEPTEMBER’S CHILDREN. Airs Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 1:00/12:00 am. The program focuses on the effect of war and terrorism on children from New York City to Afghanistan, Israel and Gaza. Teachers, parents and others use innovative techniques to treat the emotional havoc caused by violence. (60 min)

WHERE WE STAND: AMERICA’S SCHOOLS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Airs Monday, Sept. 15 at 10:00 pm. As America’s college graduation rate declines, this program presents a frank evaluation of our educational system’s strengths and weaknesses and attempts to answer the question: Is the U.S. doing all it can to prepare its students to win jobs and maintain a robust economy? Repeats Wednesday, 9/17 at 1:00/12:00 am. (60 min)

CALIFORNIA’S SCHOOLS: AMERICA’S FUTURE. Airs Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 3:00/2:00 am. This new program updates the 2004 documentary, First to Worst, about the history of California public schools. The program both informs and points the way toward solutions. http://www.pbs.org/merrow/tv/calischools/ (60 min)

TRIBUTE: A CONCERT HONORING THE TEACHERS OF AMERICA. Airs Friday, Sept. 26 at 1:00/12:00 am. Celebrities recall their favorite teachers, as they lead a tribute to the teachers of America, an all-star back-to-school special. (60 min)

TEACHERS & THEIR COACHES. Airs Mondays, Sept. 8 to 22 at 2:00/1:00 am. This six part series is designed to provide practical information and inspiration for teachers. (2 x 30 min)

THE WRITING CODE. Airs Mondays, Sept. 15 to 29 at 1:00/12:00 am. This series of three documentaries explores the history of writing systems, the evolution of writing technologies, and the importance of writing in a literate society. http://www.thewritingcode.com/index.html (60 min)

KIDS & DIVORCE: FOR BETTER OR WORSE. Airs Monday, Sept. 8 at 3:00/2:00 am. Millions of American families are affected each year by divorce. The aftermath of a failed marriage generates strong emotions for both parents and children alike. (60 min)

DEMYSTIFYING DYSLEXIA. Airs Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 3:00/2:00 am. Compelling personal stories, innovative educational methods and cutting-edge scientific research highlight the important contemporary issues surrounding dyslexia. http://www.thinkbright.org/dyslexia/about/default.asp (60 min)

CHILD SAFETY: IT’S NO ACCIDENT. Airs Monday, Sept. 1 at 1:00/12:00 am. The program illustrates and reinforces important points for children to remember in a variety of potentially dangerous situations - staying home alone, riding a bike or as a passenger in a car, playing at home or in school, communicating with strangers via computer, and living in homes with guns. (60 min)

PROMISE OF PLAY. Airs Thursdays, Sept. 11 to 25 at 2:00/1:00 am. This series explains why human beings and animals need to play, and shows how lack of play has been shown to contribute to serious violent crime and the breakdown of the social "glue" that bonds communities together in positive ways. (60 min)

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VIDEO WORKSHOPS BEGINNING THIS MONTH:
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LEARNING MATH: MEASUREMENT. Airs Fridays, Sept. 5 to Oct. 10 at 2:00/1:00 am. A 12 part video course for elementary and middle school teachers that examines some of the major ideas in measurement. http://www.learner.org/resources/series184.html (2 x 30 min)

TEACHING READING K-2: A LIBRARY OF CLASSROOM PRACTICES. Airs Fridays, Sept. 5 to Oct. 10 at 3:00/2:00 am. This 12 part video library features the teaching practices of a diverse cross-section of kindergarten through second grade teachers from across the country. http://www.learner.org/resources/series162.html (2 x 30 min).

Thanks for reading!
IDPTV Learning Services