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Talking with the Star and Executive Producer of Nature Film “Otter 501”

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When it comes to wildlife, otters have a corner on the cuteness market. They are also fascinating endangered animals with an uncertain fate, and one of them is the subject of a new nature film called Otter 501, in select cities May 11.

 

Today in The Motherhood, we were joined by Otter 501 star Katie Pofahl, and the film’s executive producer, Mark Shelley. They chatted with Holly, Tropic of Mom; Katie, OC Mom Activities; Aracely, Daytripping Mom; Anne, Upstate Ramblings; and Tammy, Tammy’s Two Cents about all things otters.

 

Read on for a Q&A, and check the Otter 501 Facebook page for a schedule of film screenings.

 

 

What is Otter 501 about?

 

It’s the story of Otter 501, who is abandoned as a pup, rescued and re-released into the wild as an adult. You see her story unfold through the eyes of Katie Pofahl, a zoologist and recent transplant to Monterey from the Midwest, who (in the film) finds Otter 501 on the beach. Katie provides Facebook updates to her friends and family back home about Otter 501, becomes a volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, learns “otter spotting” and shares insights about nature, otters and conservation throughout.

 

Katie Pofahl: “We wanted to change the way natural history storytelling is done – too often it is preach-y and didactic.”

 

Mark Shelley: “I am glad to see the positive references to the ‘storytellers’ of nature films on television. As the executive producer of Otter 501, one of the things I’m most proud of is introducing a new storyteller – a strong, smart, curious, science-loving young lady. We need those role models.”

 

Why otters? What inspired the making of the film? (Becki)

 

Katie Pofahl: “Obviously they are SUPER cute…and that’s an easy way to get folks interested in the ocean. But for us, as filmmakers, science geeks and conservationists, otters are the perfect subject because they are fascinating animals to study and watch. They have it all – complex behaviors, social structures, a critical role in their ecosystems, a torrid history of destruction and recovery…it was an easy match!”

 

Mark Shelley: “We were approached by a volunteer at The Monterey Bay Aquarium who not only fell in love with the otters on exhibit, but saw that visitors from all over and all ages responded in a special way to seeing the otters. He thought a film would reach people not only about otters, but the need for a clean and healthy ocean. We agreed.”

 

Who is Otter 501 (the otter whose plight the film follows)? How is she doing now? (Katie, OC Mom Activities)

 

Meet 501 on video here.

 

 

Katie Pofahl: “She was found June 2010 when she was only a few days old. So that makes her nearly 2! She was released April of 2011, after she’d spent a lot of time being nursed back to health, paired with a surrogate mom at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 501 is still in Elkhorn Slough doing well!”

 

How long did it take to do the filming for the movie? (Anne, Upstate Ramblings)

 

Mark Shelley: “It took about a year to get the story right, all the permits and agreements in place, then we did the actually filming over about 10 months. We followed little 501 from the day she arrived at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the day she was released, about 6 months later. And we spent hundreds of hours filming otters in the wild. Couldn’t have been more fun.”

 

Do you think the film will make its way into the classrooms? (Tammy, Tammy’s Two Cents)

 

Katie Pofahl: “The film will definitely be available for classroom education. We are cutting a 50 minute version that can be used for just that reason and we will also make it available along with an educator resources guide. That will go up on our website when we’ve got a chance to get it done.”

 

Will the film be released nationally?

 

Mark Shelley: “We are hoping that the cities we are opening in now will show that there is an enthusiastic audience for the film. If theater owners see that, we’ll be able to add new cities. Your interest and requests for screenings in your area mean a lot!”

 

For a list of where and when the film will be released (beginning May 11), check the events section of the Otter 501 Facebook page.

 

One of the things that struck me the most was learning that the California otter population had gotten down to only 50! And the current population of more than 2,500 has all grown from those original 50. (Katie, OC Mom Activities)

 

Katie Pofahl: “Otters are considered a federally threatened species. To get them off the endangered species list, the population would need to be over 3K. However, it’s been shown that the CA coast could hold 16K otters. So the question becomes ‘how many otters do we really need?’ I think that we really need to work to restore the sea otter population to a level that will allow them to play the role in their ecosystem they were evolved for. That’s the only way we can have healthy coastal ecosystems with restored structure (kelp forests!) and function (cleaning our air of CO2!) This might mean a far sight more than 3K otters.”

 

Mark Shelley: “From about the mid-1930’s to today the population has only grown from those 50 to about 2700 today. There are some biological reasons, but there are also some environmental and policy reasons – things we can do to ensure the population continues to grow and return to a healthy number.”

 

Mark, you mentioned there are some things we can do to ensure that the otter population continues to grow. Could you give us some examples? (Kayla)

 

Mark Shelley: “Regardless of where you live, all water eventually runs into the ocean. What we put into our watersheds impacts the health not only of the local watershed, but ultimately the ocean. And the otters are telling us that runoff from ag fields and the things we put down our drains and on our lawns is adversely impacting the coastal ocean. So, basically: we all can think about what ends up in our water.”

 

Last summer, we rented a boat and roamed around the Morro Bay Estuary and we saw dozens of sea otters. I could have watched them for hours. (Aracely, Daytripping Mom)

 

Mark Shelley: “You were lucky. The otters have only recently made it to Morro Bay– we’re hoping that they’ll make it further south soon. For now there is a restriction keeping otters from going further south. We hope that ban gets lifted by the end of the year.”

 

Get your fill of cute otter photos in this Facebook album and Pinterest page.

Winning the Chore War: How to Get Kids to Help Around the House

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So, how are the chore wars going around your house? We do not have them over at my place. That is because a “war” involves engagement from both sides. At my house, one side mutters, “For the love of Pete, how can you get dirty clothes over every square inch of your room and STILL miss the hamper?” and the other side stares with confusion and mild concern, as if his mother were having some sort of nervous breakdown in Portuguese.

 

Today in The Motherhood, Dr. Deborah Gilboa of Ask Dr. G was joined by a panel of expert moms, including Mysti Reutlinger, Jessica Torres, Kimberly, Jennifer A. Hall, and Stefanie Mullen to discuss all things to do with our kids’ chores.

 

Why Bother?

 

First off, why do we even have our kids do chores? After all, much of the time, by the time we finish telling our kids what to do (the first time) we could have done it ourselves. Many of us agreed with Kimberly, who has her kids do chores to learn responsibility, and with Jessica, who also likes them to learn to help around the house. Mysti wants her kids to learn the value of contribution, and Cooper added that she wants her kids to feel like “part of a team.”

 

Most of the panelists have their kids do chores that help the whole family, like unloading the dishwasher, rather than just picking up after themselves. That supports the concept that we do chores because we’re part of a family, part of a team. When one of my kids complains (usually about picking up a sibling’s stuff), my response is, “Hey, I don’t wear your underwear, but I wash it.”

 

Dr. G offered another benefit of chore participation: “As kids get older they usually distance themselves from the family. This is a great way to show them how integral they are to the family unit, and keep them connected. Even if they don’t like it, everyone likes to be needed.”

 

 

When to Start?

 

How old does a child have to be to have chores? Not very, it turns out, as long as the chores they have are age-appropriate. For example, most of our panel started teaching their kids to pick up and put away toys as soon as they were able to walk (the kids, not the toys; if the toys could walk they could put themselves away). Dr. G offers free resources, including a chart showing appropriate chores by age. With toddlers, singing “Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up” can be an effective cue to start picking up. With teenagers, Deborah pointed out, it can be even more effective, because they will do anything to get their mom to stop singing. Hey, whatever works.

 

Deborah made another excellent point: “Asking a child to do a specific chore without actually teaching that chore, is a lesson in defeat. Some chores have to be taught many times. ” The panel echoed her sentiments, and Mysti said, “We try to introduce only one new chore per month that requires learning. That gives us ample time to reinforce how the process progresses.” Dr. G affirmed that while it would be faster to do a given chore ourselves, it’s “still important to teach each skill and then “let” them practice until they move out!” I agree–the hour I spent showing my son, step by step, how to clean a bathroom was some of the  best time I’ve ever invested.

 

To Pay, or Not to Pay?

 

So, do you pay your kids for their chores? Or do you think allowance and chores should be kept separate? The panel and participants had varying opinions. Dr. G said, “I think tying allowance to chores gives the false idea that chores are optional – the child could always give up the (money) and opt out of helping.”  Jennifer felt that kids should be rewarded for doing their chores; Jessica ties chores to a point system, with her daughter being allowed to choose a reward after she’d gotten a certain number of points.  Mysti doesn’t give an allowance for chores, but uses  a work-hard, play-hard model:  “Once a month, we let the kids decide a fun outing as a reward for all their hard work.”

 

Kimberly offered, “We do give an allowance for chores. It’s not a lot though, as we do feel that there should be some responsibility at home.” Stefanie said, “We keep it separate in our house. You do chores because you live here and should contribute.” Other panelists were on board with that rationale, though most agreed that they would pay the child for doing a bigger task that wasn’t a part of their regular chores.

 

Dr. G noted, “We do have consequences for not helping, but don’t reward for helping. We praise and appreciate (and ask them to notice what we do for them).” And really, isn’t that something we all want?

 

Making it Easier

 

We all know words are powerful, and the word “chore” is powerfully unappealing: it just sounds like drudgery. Dr. G recommended taking a poll around the dinner table to rename the concept to make it easier to deal with. “Tidying,” for example, sounds a little more quick and brisk.

 

Many of us struggle with whining from kids who don’t want to do chores, or having to repeatedly remind kids to do them. Stefanie said that getting kids in the habit of doing their chores from a young age helps: “We started them young and now they just do it because it is what they do.” If you didn’t start early, though, don’t fret; it’s never too late to learn. Missing out on a fun activity or use of a game or toy can be a consequence for not getting a chore done. And Dr. G says that the imposition of an additional task to do can be an effective consequence for whining about chores.

 

In the end, as Stefanie said, “Doing chores around the house is more about teaching my kids to be responsible adults as they prepare to leave my house than forcing them to do work.”  Raising good adults–that’s number one on every mom’s to-do list. Teaching our kids to do some of the other stuff frees us up to do it.

 

What’s Your Signature Cocktail?

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We all have that default drink we order – or make – every single time we get together with friends for cocktails.

 

Maybe it’s because you know you like it, and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as they say.  Or maybe you just haven’t been inspired to try something new.  If that’s the case, keep reading for delicious ideas to help you branch out.

 

Ilina Ewen, blogger at Dirt & Noise and creator of 5:00 Fridays, a blog feature that offers a new drink recipe each week, hosted a great group of women in The Motherhood today, all sharing their best tips on stocking your home bar, entertaining guests and creating delicious adult beverages for a crowd – or just for you.

 

 

Stocking Up

 

If your liquor cabinets are bare, you need to stock up before you can really get started in cocktail experimentation.  Ilina provides a handy list of basics here – including “basic white liquors, variety of juices, ginger ale, cola, tonic, lemons/limes.”

 

And if you want to make it a group affair, try hosting a Stock the Bar party like Kristy of The Wicked Noodle and get your friends involved.  Encourage them to think outside the box (or bar cart, rather), too – fun ingredients like herbs and simple syrups are great additions to cocktails.

 

Prepping to Entertain

 

Having a party and inviting all of your friends over can be a lot of fun – but massive amounts of cleaning and generally “making it such a hassle sometimes prevents me from even wanting to have friends over,” as Emily of Mommin’ It Up pointed out.

 

Luckily, “I believe in stress-free entertaining and think it can be done to be easy but look special,” said Ilina.

 

One of her suggestions for easy entertaining? “I did a champagne bar for our 14th annual Christmas Eve party, and it was a huge hit. The best thing about this idea is that guests can concoct something according to their own taste.”

 

If you’re not one for crowd-sourcing, try offering “a featured drink at each party,” like Gina of Bowl Licker. The best kind of featured drink “can be quickly made, and quickly becomes the accessory of the party.”  This strategy has the added benefit of cutting costs, since you can simply purchase the ingredients needed for the featured drink.

 

You can also cut costs by making large batches of your own drinks at home, such as “mojitos, pomegranate margs, sangria,” suggested Kristy of The Wicked Noodle.  And if you have leftovers, “As long as the fresh herbs aren’t added until a couple hours beforehand, you could keep them for a few days or so. I’d also wait to add fresh or frozen fruit to the sangria until a few hours before.”

 

Ilina is also a proponent of using the proper accoutrements. “Have the right glassware on hand. I also have an unhealthy obsession with cocktail napkins,” she said.  And pretty up your spread: “post recipe cards with cocktails by the bar when you entertain. I’m a big fan of garnish too so put out an array of goodies.”

 

Impromptu or Regularly Planned Gatherings

 

Gatherings of friends don’t always have to be planned – or they can consist of a weekly or monthly outing, putting less pressure on a single host.

 

“We do girls night once a month. And during the summer my friends are always popping over in the afternoon for margaritas. I love impromptu cocktail hours!” said Kristy of The Wicked Noodle.

 

If you get along well with your neighbors, try starting a neighborhood get-together as Ilina’s neighbors do. “The same neighbor hosts it every week so he just flips on his Christmas lights (that are on year round for this reason) so we know when it’s time to pop over. It’s BYOB.”

 

Drink Up

 

Suggestions for tasty cocktails abounded, but here are a few of our favorites.

 

Lillet spritzer (suggested by Gina of Bowl Licker; recipe from Martha Stewart Magazine): In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1/4 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, 3 ounces Lillet, 3 ounces fresh orange juice; shake well. Pour into a glass and top with club soda or sparkling wine. Makes 1 drink.

 

Lemongrass mojito (from Kristy of The Wicked Noodle)

 

Jessica asked for a boubon cocktail idea, and Ilina suggested she mix the liquor “with ginger ale and a splash of apple cider.”

 

Melissa of Staten Island Family provided the link to a Pinterest search filled with cocktail ideas.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

Is All That Lies Between Me & Happiness a Clean Kitchen?

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The Motherhood hosted a live Talk with Real Simple managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop, Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families & Work Institute and Christine Koh of Boston Mamas to talk about Real Simple’s groundbreaking study, “Women & Time: Setting a New Agenda,” based on a survey of 3,200 American women between the ages of 25-54 conducted with the Families and Work Institute.

 

“The good and the bad news seems to be that when it comes to free time, we’re our own worst enemies,” said Kristin van Ogtrop.

 

According to the study, at least 50% of women say they don’t have enough free time and  61% feel guilty spending what little time they do have on themselves.

 

“One of the findings that was surprising from the study was that we do things in our free time (defined as time we spend on ourselves where we can do things we enjoy) that we DON’T enjoy – like laundry, cleaning and decluttering!” said Ellen Galinsky.

 

“We feel as if we have to finish our chores before we ‘earn’ free time for ourselves … but chores never seem to be finished!” added Ellen.  “I used to wait for others to give me permission for free time and why should they…it is not in their self-interest.”

 

And here’s the rub.  The survey also found that “women who set aside regular free time are ultimately more satisfied with their lives.”

 

So what’s an over-worked, time-starved mother to do?

 

We gathered some of the most trusted voices in the blogosphere to talk with Kristin, Ellen and Christine about the study and share their advice and approaches.  We were blown away by the conversation.  Here are some of the takeaways:

 

“It’s unusual, if not unheard of, for me to have an entirely clean house, but if I even have ONE tidy room, that seems to allow a good mental space to approach the day,” said Gabrielle Blair, Design Mom.

 

“I quickly learned that my husband does not clean. DOES. NOT. CLEAN,” said Karen Walrond, Chookooloonks.  “But I’m okay with this, because he’s a helluva cook. So our rule is that he cooks and I clean. I do miss cooking sometimes, but this keeps us saner.

 

“My husband once said that he would do the dishes for the whole rest of our lives so that I would stop complaining about doing dishes, said Heather, Rookie Moms.  “I took him up on that one.”

 

“I spoke with an organizational expert at Dad 2.0, and while I always knew about the “everything has a home” thing, HOLY CRAP, when instituted, it is magical, said Kristen Chase, Cool Mom Picks.

 

For me, Ellen’s article on The Huffington Post was a true a-ha moment – it never occurred to me, a 35 year old woman, honestly, that I didn’t have to be as perfect as possible in every way, and that includes finishing my chores, said Morra Aarons, Women Online.

 

“I hate our cultural tendency to downplay our own desires or abilities to find free time, all couched in the “OMG I’m so busy I can’t breaaaathe!” narrative which does nothing but make everyone else feel like THEY should be crazy-busy, too,” said Meagan Francis, The Happiest Mom.

 

“I tell people who visit that they can have a good meal to eat or a clean house to eat it in…but not both,” said The Motherhood member Becki.

 

I don’t have any help outside of the kids and the man who live here, said Kelly Wickham, Mocha Momma.  “I remind myself that THEY all helped to make this mess, too.”

 

“The BIGGEST help to me, my life, our family’s life, and my marriage was finding *where* my husband did not have clutter blindness and putting him in charge of that (the kitchen) and where the kids would take responsibility (their rooms) and putting them in charge of that,”  said Julie Pippert, Using My Words.

 

“I subscribe to the theory of resolving what makes you crazy. I don’t feel OBLIGATED, but a clean kitchen makes me feel more at peace,” said Whitney of Rookie Moms.

 

“I find that as my life has gotten more complicated and “messy” I have tried to seek order through making everything tidier at home and in my workspace,” said Isabel Kallman, AlphaMom.  “And I have.”

 

“We’ve got to overcome to-do list tyranny,” said Kristin van Ogtrop.  “There was such a strong correlation in the study between happiness and carving out free time. Put that guilt in a box and close the box.”

 

“I decided a long time ago that I am NOT in charge of cleaning the refrigerator and my husband (who is a GREAT cook) is,” said Ellen Galinsky.  “I have accepted that I will live with mold on the ‘slow movers in the back of the refrigerator’ and I do. I know that if I ever jumped in, I would “own” the refrigerator again.”

 

“I tell my husband, I am a stay at home MOM.   Not a stay at home HOUSEKEEPER,” said Brandie. “I do need help. Just like when he goes to work, he isn’t the only person doing his job, he isn’t the only person in the company. He doesn’t have to do it all there. I don’t have to do it all here.”

 

“I’m a big fan of integrating my kids into things that need to get done… making it fun and also teaching them about basic living,” said Christine of Boston Mamas.

 

“Is there a biological difference in men and women that makes it easier for men to disconnect in this way?” asked The Motherhood member jbrileyb.  “I used to resent my husband for it, but now I am looking at him like a mentor of sorts.  He just decides he’s going to watch a hockey game, sits down and does it ….  I’m realizing I should be more like Mark, not that he should be more like me.”

 

“I end up in that shame cycle of: can’t keep up = stress = no desire to do anything, especially cleaning, when I do have free time = more mess = more stress, etc. I try to keep things ‘maintained’ and hope when the kids are older I’ll actually have it super clean,” said Steph of Adventures in Babywearing.

 

“I am a self described “mostly mom” meaning I am not seeking perfection, said The Motherhood member Deborah.  “I wouldn’t really know where I put it anyway. 😉 The ten minute or 30 minute tidy as a family keeps our family happy and sane.”

 

“I have done huge purging regularly,” said Julie.   “I’ve gotten more mindful about what I bring in. Also, if I won the lottery that I never play? I might buy out the Container Store.”

 

“One of the motivation threads for this conversation was one I hosted on The Motherhood the other month,” said Christine.   “I once read in a running magazine that a 10 minute run is better than no run at all. And I have applied that to self care in general. I encourage you to give yourself the permission of 10 minutes a day (if you can do more, great!) to do something that is just for you. This morning I went for a 10 minute run and it did wonders on many levels.”

 

“I LIKE talking with ‘slackers’ who admit they take ‘my own time,’ said Julie.  “It reinforces this permission I give myself.”

 

“When something bad happens, you don’t think, gee, I wish I would have dusted more often,” said Brandie. “On some level, some things need to be done. But I don’t need to vacuum every day to have a clean house … find something you enjoy. And do it, if only a few minutes each day. It will be good for you.”

 

“Remember that YOU DRIVE THE BUS,” said Christine.  “You can choose to fill your life with joy and creativity and happy small moments and you can choose to let go of things that are unnecessary. Really, you can.”

 

“We need to change the narrative from ‘I’m so busy, sigh’ to ‘I’m filling my life with things I love.'”  Meagan of The Happiest Mom

 

Click here to read the full transcript of this amazing conversation!

 

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For more advice on delegating work to your kids, The Motherhood is hosting a Talk later this month on winning the chore war and getting kids to help around the house. Join us!

 

 

 

 

Get your grill going! Live Talk from a celebrity chef’s backyard grill

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Hi everyone!

 

 

Please join us on Thursday, April 5 for a delish and delightful virtual cooking school class called Firing Up the Grill: New Recipes, Flavors and Ingredients to Kick-Start Barbeque Season. The class is part of the Cooking Connections series on The Motherhood.  

When: Thursday, April 5, at 1 p.m. ET.  It will last 30 minutes.

 

Where: TheMotherhood – here is where the class will be held


About the class: It’s been a warm spring, giving us a head start on grilling season! Join celebrity chef George Duran, coming to us via live video feed from his own backyard, as he shares his top grilling techniques and new flavor twists on old favorites.

 

Giveaway! We are also giving away two summer grilling gift baskets for class participation – don’t miss out!  There are TWO methods of entry if you’d like to get involved:

 

1) post your own idea for a hot dog or hamburger recipe in the text chat on this page. You must use one of these required ingredients in your recipe: Hebrew National, Ro*Tel, Hunt’s Ketchup, Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes, Gulden’s Mustard or Wolf Chili.

 

2) go to ReadySetEat.com, pick a recipe you’d like to try the next time you grill or host a barbecue, and post the name of the recipe in the text chat on this page.


The class is sponsored by ReadySetEat.com and ConAgra Foods, and it is hosted by TheMotherhood.  We’ve got a great group of co-hosts, who will be sharing their own yummy grilling recipes and tips. JOIN US!

 

Amy, Cajun Inspired Living, http://amybayliss.com/
Caryn, Rockin’ Mama, http://rockinmama.net/
Faith, An Edible Mosaic, http://www.anediblemosaic.com/
Jennifer, Mom Spotted, http://momspotted.com/
Kate, Stolen Moments Cooking, http://stolenmomentscooking.com/
Kelly, Kansas City Mamas, http://www.kansascitymamas.com/
Lisa, Life with Lisa, http://www.lifewithlisa.com/
Monet, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, http://anecdotesandapples.weebly.com
Vanessa, The Sew*er, The Caker, The Copycat-Maker, http://sewcakemake.blogspot.com/
Victoria, Veep Veep, http://www.veepveep.com/

 

Cool Classroom Tech from PBS LearningMedia

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When most of us were growing up, laser pointers were on the cutting edge of teaching technology.  In the classroom, educators used low-tech tools like the chalkboard and overhead projectors to get their point across.

 

We all know it’s a whole new world for our kids, with the invention of iPads and other gadgets with accompanying educational apps. We discussed the wide range of resources available for educating kids today during a chat in The Motherhood with Kim Smith, VP of Education at PBS, and Christina DeYoung, PBS LearningMedia and WGBH.

 

“As an educator, I can vouch for the vital role of technology in the classroom as a tool to increase student achievement, engagement, and to bring the real world into our classrooms,” said Elena of Ciao Mom.

 

Classrooms of the 21st Century

 

New classroom tech ranges from Smartboards – which are used as chalkboards or white boards but operate by touch – to iPod touches for math drills and handheld devices that students can use to respond to questions.

 

“My kindergartener uses the computer to indicate his lunch choice – buying (and which meal), buying milk, or packing,” said Amy of Teach Mama. “And our school uses a daily TV show, so that is broadcasted in the classrooms, and most days the kids spend at least 30 min in one of their ‘choice labs’ or free computer rooms.”

 

Michele of Scraps of My Geek Life said her kids have had a similar experience. “It’s funny because my husband and I will always say, ‘Can you see what is on the chalkboard?’ and my kids will look at us like, ‘chalkboard?'”

 

“93% of teachers believe that interactive whiteboards enrich classroom education,” said Kim Smith, VP of Education for PBS, but “it’s surprising to see how many whiteboards are not being utilized in a way that would make the learning more engaging. Good professional development and teachers embracing technology is key.”

 

Educational Apps

 

Beyond the technology itself, there are the programs used for teaching.

 

“My 5 year old loves Stack the States to learn about geography,” said Emily of West of the Loop. “We also like games that have an educational component like Where’s My Water, which teaches about fluid dynamics (really!) and Cover Orange, which also teaches about physics.”

 

“You can find lots of free educational game apps on Google Chrome, including ‘PBS Kids Play!'” said Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires.

 

Christina DeYoung of PBS LearningMedia, along with several others, recommended “Super WHY! We’ve got lots of resources on PBSLM.”

 

 

Using PBS LearningMedia

 

“One challenge with technology in the classroom is that teachers need the right professional development to learn how to best integrate the tools. We have aimed to make PBS LearningMedia simple to use,” said Kim Smith.

 

And that helps homeschooling parents adapt, too. “Homeschoolers have used PBS content for many years – on-air and DVD,” Kim acknowledged. “They are really embracing the digital platform.”

 

Christina DeYoung of PBS LearningMedia had several simple suggestions for those getting started with using the site:

 

1) Sign Up. It’s FREE and easy to register!

 

2) Browse the Content. There are resources from favorite shows like Frontline, American Experience, Sid the Science Kid, and even Curious George… PBS LearningMedia has resources across K-12 covering all subjects. We’re the strongest in science with ELA social studies right behind. We’re also growing! Over 200 resources are added per month, and we’re working to add more PBS favorites for elementary students in particular.

 

3) Search and Save. The site has flexible features filters for searching and saving what you find, including a feature called “My Favorites,” which allows teachers to save resources in a personal area. Teachers can add custom keywords to organize the resources they way they see fit, and add notes for students. Provides a high level of customization.

 

“The resources look like they are extensive! It makes a teacher’s life so much easier to have great quality content in one place,” said Elena of Ciao Mom.

 

Agreed Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires, “With budgets being cut everywhere, this free resource is wonderful!!”

 

For more on PBS LearningMedia, check out their Facebook page and website.