This week on our WCTE Get Ready To Learn radio show, host Cynthia Whittaker Putman will share information about At-Home Learning with WCTE, as well as tips for dealing with anxiety, and resources for educational, mental and self-care.
WCTE PBS is dedicating its daytime weekday broadcasts to educational programming provided by PBS, PBS Kids and the Tennessee Department of Education. The new 6AM- 4PM CST schedule includes specific blocks of instructional resources for grades Pre-K through 12th.
Also, you can follow WCTE PBS on Facebook for more daily activities and updates!
Educational Programming on WCTE PBS:
WCTE PBS At-Home Learning media resources from PBS and the Tennessee Department of Education (found here) can be used to enhance the online learning assignments. This media guide was developed to help schools and districts bridge the digital divide and provide equitable access to learning for all students at home, regardless of access to the Internet or computers.
WCTE PBS is free over the air to all people and can be accessed by a home antenna, within an 80-mile radius of Cookeville.
Free Internet: Parents can sign up for free internet at Internet Essentials for two months. After the two months, you can keep the service for only $10 per month. You must select the school that your child attends to receive the discount.
Spectrum Free 60 Day Internet Access Promo: Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
These are challenging times as we deal with the COVID-19 health crisis and disruptions in work, schools, and community affairs. Social relationships are more important than ever while we maintain safe distance.
With the closure of schools, libraries, community centers, childcare facilities, and out-of-school programs, families are left to care for their children’s physical, emotional, and educational needs in unprecedented ways. This is hard for every family; it’s especially hard for families that were struggling to meet their basic needs before COVID-19 hit.
Parent Encouragement:
Parents don’t need to be an expert or have the answers; they don’t need to be the teacher during these stay-at-home times.
They can support their child by talking with them, asking questions, and searching for answers together — especially in response to their child’s interests. Activities like these are expressions of encouragement that build confidence and sustain interest.
Staying Calm:
Research shows that just being in the presence of a compassionate, safe adult can help kids calm down. As families, we can be “that person” for each other.
Check out PBS Parents for more tips for how you and your kids can de-stress during the coronavirus.
None of us are perfect parents, so the best we can all do is remember to step away when we need to and come back when we can respond calmly. Asking for an assist—from your partner, an older child, or even via a friend or grandparent over FaceTime—can be a life-saver, too.
Fun Question for the Day:
“What’s the funniest word in the English language?”
So much discussion of toilet paper these days—and where has it all gone? But here’s the real question: Should it be hung “over” or “under”? For extra credit, read the original patent to see what the inventor intended.
“Tear gas makes people cry and laughing gas makes people giggle. What other kinds of gases do you wish existed?”
“What PBS KIDS character would you like to change places with for a week?”
Practice Gratitude:
When stress is weighing on parents, it can be harder to model gratitude for our kids. Try a “gratitude circle” at dinner: Go around the table and take turns talking about the various people who were generous and kind to each of you—and how it affected you.
This is an excellent time to reinforce the importance of hand washing, elbow coughing and sneezing, and using lots of soap and water along with hand sanitizer.
Journey of a Germ | Sid the Science Kid | PBS KIDS
Sid and his friends have a song about the journey of a germ.
As always, visit wcte.org for more resources and thanks for checking out our radio show and blog! Feel free to share with any friends who might need this info.
