Amarillo
TX
USA
At Home Learning initiative
Greetings from Panhandle PBS! Introducing our new At Home Learning initiative – a partnership with Panhandle PBS, Amarillo ISD, Region 16 ESC, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Texas PBS – starting Monday, April 27th. Thank you very much!
Panhandle PBS, Amarillo ISD and Region 16 to join
educational programming collaboration
Panhandle PBS, Amarillo Independent School District, and Region 16 Education Service Center are joining the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas PBS stations across the state in a joint initiative to air TEKS-aligned educational programming each week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officially known as the At Home Learning Initiative, the collaboration strengthens TEA’s efforts in assisting school districts and public charter schools with establishing instructional continuity and at-home learning during this unprecedented public health crisis.
Panhandle PBS will preempt regularly scheduled weekday programming from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with the following grade-level-appropriate programming:
10:00 a.m. Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
(History/Social and Emotional Learning for ages 5 – 8)
10:30 a.m. Peg+Cat (Math for ages 3 – 5)
11:00 a.m. Cyberchase (Math for ages 4 – 8)
11:30 a.m. Molly of Denali (Literacy/Informational Text for ages 4-8)
Information on individual program episodes, as well as correlating educational resources, can be found at panhandlePBS.org/athomelearning. Additional programs will run throughout the day on Panhandle PBS that will benefit students of all ages. Learning goals for Panhandle PBS’s children’s programming include social and emotional learning, literacy, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), social studies, and the arts. The overall station schedule may be found at panhandlePBS.org/schedule.
As part of this statewide partnership with all ten Texas PBS stations and TEA, this free programming will reach 96 percent of Texas’s student-age population with targeted programming at specific times during the school day.
“This joint initiative between TEA and PBS stands to benefit all students as they work each day to navigate uncharted waters and continue to do their best to learn and grow as students and individuals” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “While we’re living through uncertain times, we are thankful to have PBS commit itself in such a meaningful way to serve the needs of communities across our state. We are all in this together, and our friends at PBS understand and exemplify that.”
Weekday At Home Learning programming on Panhandle PBS will commence on April 27th. “Panhandle PBS is proud to work with the Texas Education Agency, Amarillo ISD and Region 16 ESC to help ensure that young children in our area stay on track with learning,” said Panhandle PBS CEO, Kevin Ball. “Panhandle PBS’s mission is centered around education. We are pleased to adjust part of our daytime schedule to respond to and support teachers, parents, and students at this time, in partnership with our local education providers.”
In addition to the broadcast options, TEKS-aligned supplemental materials—including interactive lessons and media galleries—are available at PBSLearningMedia.org. A free texting service called Bright by Text for parents and caregivers supports the development of young children with literacy, language, behavior and healthy/safety tips and is available at panhandlePBS.org.
Local support for this initiative is provided by the Mary E. Bivins Foundation. For more information on At Home Learning at Panhandle PBS, please contact 806-371-5479 or cclutz@actx.edu.
Cullen Lutz