The Television Mom

Going Old School

2011-01-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Clearly television is a big part of our family's life, given the fact that my husband works in the industry...as does pretty much everyone else we know. Recently, we thought it would be nice to expose our boys to some TV oldies (but goodies) and started with the Three Stooges. (Yes, I do know that the Three Stooges isn't technically a tv show, but short film.)

We weren't sure what the boys would think of the show. Up until we showed it to them for the first time last week, my three-year-old assumed that anything in black and white was scary. Long story short...they love the Three Stooges. In fact, it's pretty much all they want to talk about. At first we thought it was so fantastic that something with such history could be so meaningful and entertaining today. That was until we realized that not only did they love to watch the Three Stooges, but they wanted to recreate the Three Stooges. The show winds them up and puts them on a crash course set for disaster! I have never in my life seen anything wind two little boys up more!

We've had to set parameters on Three Stooges view: never before bedtime and everyone has to stay seated...or at least wear padding and a helmet. :)

Winner!

2010-12-18T12:09:00.001-08:00

Congrats to "Our Ordinary Life" who won the Standing Ovation DVD!

2010-12-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season seems to be flying by and now that the kids are out of school for winter break, a little extra TV time may be on tap for your family. Over on the ABC Family channel, Disney is ceebrating the 25 days of Christmas with lots of special programming throughout the day, everyday through Christmas. The programming consists of Christmas-themed specials and holiday-themed and family-favorite movies. Some of my favorites include Toy Story Saturday night at 8p.m., Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too on Monday at 6:30, Miracle of 34th Street on Tuesday at 6, The Santa Claus on Thursday at 6:30, and Mickey's Christmas Special on Christmas Eve at 5. Stop by ABC Family and check out the family-friendly special holiday entertainment lineup!

Standing Ovation DVD Giveaway

2010-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

Standing Ovation tells the musical story of “The 5 Ovations,” five middle school friends who form a singing group to compete in a national music video contest. Along their journey to success, the 5 Ovations encounter their share of ups and downs, especially from The Wiggies, a group of five talented sisters who, together with their parents, will do anything to sabotage the Ovations’ chances of competing for the grand prize of one million dollars! Armed only with their talent, passion and street smarts, the 5 Ovations discover something even more valuable then prize money: that perseverance, family and friendship – plus a healthy dose of laughter – are instrumental in fulfilling your dreams!

Filmed on location in Atlantic City, Philadelphia and New York City, this charming and kinetic musical brims with electricity and sincerity, stemming from a talented cast of 7- to 17-year-old, who are actual elementary and middle school students playing themselves!

The compelling and catchy music and incredible dance sequences will inspire tweens and teens across the country – even after the last note has sounded – to go after their own dreams and make them a reality!

Buy It:

You can purchase Standing Ovation on Amazon.com! Standing Ovation has been made available through CreateSpace DVD on Demand

Win It!

I am giving away a copy of Stading Ovation to one luck Television Mom winner!

To enter, you must follow this blog publicly and and your favorite DVD to watch with your kids. Leave one comment letting me know you have done both of these. These are required and must be done before the extra entries count!

EXTRA ENTRIES!
You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do.

1- Follow dlandmom on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to leave the link to your tweet. You can tweet once a day for an extra entry every day! (1 entry per tweet)

2- Follow The Television Mom on Facebook. (1 entry)

3- Follow my other blogs Babes in Disneyland and/or Queen of our Castle on Google Friend Connect. You can also like them on Facebook for extra entries. (Babes in Disneyland on Facebook /Like Queen of our Castle on Facebook ) (1 entry for each)

Contest ends at 11:59pm PST on December 17, 2010. Entries received after that day and time will not count. The winner will be chosen via random.org. PLEASE leave your email address if it is not visible on your profile. I will notify the winner via email and they will have 36 hours to respond!

2010-12-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

PBS KIDS is always looking for ways to innovate and produce quality educational programming and apps for kids. Keeping with that tradition, PBS KIDS has launched its newest app at the iTunes App Store - DINOSAUR TRAIN Eggspress! The app, based on the hit TV series DINOSAUR TRAIN from the Jim Henson Company, promotes science and math skills for pre-schoolers while guiding children through three prehistoric eras and various exciting games including a Dinosaur egg hunt. This app joins a suite of popular PBS KIDS educational & innovative apps including SUPER WHY! & MARTHA SPEAKS Dog Party.

The app is available from the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch for just $2.99, or at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dinosaur-train-eggspress/id405658128?mt=8.

A Special Look at the NBC Show, Minute To Win It

2010-12-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

As The Television Mom, I really do LIVE life in the world of television. My hubby is the supervising producer of the NBC primetime game show, Minute To Win It. He has been working on the show since its inception and I am so proud of how hard he works on the show. Here a few of my family's favorite memories at the show.

My son joined dad at work.

Aidan loved watching the games from backstage.

This is my favorite. Aidan is watching my husband judge the games. This one is up in our house.

And Marbles Grande is one of the games my husband created.

Aidan and Guy.

Aidan and my husband practiced playing Face The Cookie backstage.

Guy and his staff cooked at the Minute To Win It wrap party held on the CBS Radford backlot.

All of the producers and executives played Face the Cookie at the wrap party.

The hubby and me with Guy.

Great Holiday Entertainment on PBS

2010-12-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for some great holiday entertainment for your kids, look no further than your local PBS station with these great PBS Kids shows.

DINOSAUR TRAIN – “Dinosaurs in the Snow”
Buddy and his Pteranodon family ride the Dinosaur Train to the North Pole - where it's cooler out and the skies are dark all winter long! The kids get to play in the snow and slide on a frozen pond for the first time. This show will premiere on December 14.

Throughout December (check local listings)

CURIOUS GEORGE: A VERY MONKEY CHRISTMAS
Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There's only one dilemma - neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.

SUPER WHY! – “The Nutcracker”
Princess Pea doesn't know what to do about her friend Sleeping Beauty who is very, very grumpy! Super Why and his friends dance their way into the story of The Nutcracker, accompanied by Tchaikovsky's memorable music, to find out why the Mouse King is so cranky and give an innovative twist to the holiday classic. But will the super readers be able to restore magic to The Land of Sweets?

BARNEY & FRIENDS – “Gift of the Dinos and A Visit to Santa”
Gift of the Dinos -- It's Christmas and BJ dreams of getting a new baseball glove to go with his baseball, while Riff hopes for new drumsticks to use his drum. Barney reminds them that Christmas is more than just getting gifts and helps them learn the meaning of Christmas.

A Visit to Santa -- Melanie spends so much time helping her friends at Christmas that she is late writing her own letter to Santa. Barney takes her on a trip to the North Pole to deliver the letter in person.

CAILLOU – “Caillou’s Christmas”
Caillou goes out caroling for the very first time with Mommy, Daddy, Rosie, Grandpa and Grandma. He finds out caroling is lots of fun - you get to stay up late and surprise your friends with carols, and you even get treats! They finish up the night with a big finale at the seniors' home and Caillou imagines he's really 'dashing through the snow' in a horse and sleigh.

WORDWORLD – “The Christmas Star / A Christmas Present for Dog”
The Christmas Star -- It's the night before Christmas and Frog needs a star to hang on his Christmas tree. Duck thinks this will be the perfect present for Frog, and tries to lasso one out of the sky for him. Try as he might, Duck is unable to catch a star for Frog, and cries himself to sleep. But while he sleeps, someone leaves him a wonderful present: the letters S-T-A-R…

A Christmas Present for Dog -- It's Christmas morning, and all the WordFriends are excited by the presents Santa has brought for them! Pig has a sled, Bear has a doll and Ant has a cookie. But not all the letters for Dog's present came down his chimney. All he has is a B-A-L. Bear gets filled with the Christmas spirit and makes a sacrifice to ensure Dog's Christmas will be merry!

Jersey Shore: oh to be so tan...

2009-11-26T08:09:00.001-08:00

I like bad television. I'll admit it. I often watch it in private, too embarrassed to expose my love for watching morons at their worst. There's a new show that I not only cannot believe has been made, but I am so excited to see...Jersey Shore on MTV.

I should preface this that even at my advanced age (somewhere in the abyss of my 30s), I'm still a fan of MTV. There's a lot of junk on MTV, but then I think there's a lot of redeeming real-life television shot documentary style that entertain and educates young people and old people like me on trends in the lives of young people. I love the True Life series, as it seeks to expose the real lives of teens and young people with all sorts of life conditions--from dealing with adoption to drug use to interracial dating--all of which dealt with in an nonglamorous manner, gritty, and well...real. Coming soon on MTV is a series on teen moms that shows the bad and ugly of being a 16 year-old mother. This is a show that I hope serves as birth control for many, many years. I feel like these shows that do not glamourize but show the grit and reality of life are a service to young people as they make life decision and informative to old folks like me as we parent our children.

Now back to Jersey Shore. Being a California girl, born and raised, it is often hard for me to understand the Jersey lifestyle, clothes, and the like. The tanning, the over-buff and clearly 'roided out dudes, the dramatic and over made-up gals--it's all so intriguing to me because it's not even remotely close to my life. If you haven't seen a clip or trailer for this show, check out the clip below. The entire thing has my jaw on the ground. I love a train wreck and won't be able to divert my eyes from this spectacle.

MTV Shows

Yes, yes, I know what you are saying. It looks like just one more crap television show. So maybe it is. You are probably saying that this show can't be real. Well, as the wife of a television producer, I can tell you this. No one can "edit" you to look bad...not even the best editor. The producers and editors will string together your most interesting and colorful moments and that's the participants doing .

As an armchair sociologist and a woman obsessed with learning about the lives of others so very different than my own, I will be setting my DVR to watch this show. I cannot wait to see the drama, the hairspray, the tanning sessions, and the nights at the club. I can't wait to hear that awesome Jersey accent and be thankful to have been raised in the golden state.

Vampire Diaries

2009-11-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

I'm not certain if this is something I should admit publicly, but I have never read any of the Twilight books and haven't seen the movies. I really didn't see the appeal of the vampire stories. (Please don't hate me Twilight fans!) I mean, could vampires be appealing or interesting or have depth of character?

When the Vampire Diaries premiered on the CW, my husband was excited at the idea of a vampire show on every week. I mocked him and told him he was ridiculous. So...then I watched the Vampire Diaries. I watched the first and second episodes with him. He lost interest and I...became obsessed. I love this show! It is awesome--compelling, hot guys (too young for me, of course), smart dialog, good acting, and interesting twists and turns in the story lines. I look forward to each week's episode as a "supernatural escape" with vampires and witches mixed with a tragic love story and family tensions.

The great news is that it's not too late to be bitten by the Vampire Diaries. The CW will start a Vampire Diaries marathon on Monday, December 14 that will go through Friday, December 18. Each night, the CW will show two hours of "The Vampire Diaries" per night, in order. This is perfect timing, as if you are new to the Vampire Diaries or missed an episode, the last new episode of 2009 aired this last Thursday, November 19.

Curious George Holiday DVD Giveaway Winner

2009-11-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Renata, winner of the Curious George Holiday DVD giveaway.

Please don't forget to tune in to "Curious George, A Very Monkey Christma

s" on PBS, November 25.

Happy Birthday, Sesame Street

2009-11-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

Thinking back in life, perhaps one of my earliest memories is of Sesame Street. Back in the days before the 24-hour cartoon and children's programming cycle, the Sesame Street hour was a cherished hour for families. For moms, it was undoubtedly a time for a quick shower, call to a friend, or chance to clean the kitchen without grubby hands following close behind. For children, Sesame Street was a chance to get away to a magical place of friends and sharing, monsters and learning.

When I was very, very young--about 2 1/2 or 3--I was pretty sick. Sesame Street was an opportunity to get away from the sickness. I would sit in front of the television, with my bowl in which to throw up in every few minutes or so, and take a magic carpet ride to that street so far away. I loved my sweet, lovable friend Big Bird and the silly frustrations of Kermit the Frog. I squealed with delight when Grover would get it all wrong as a waiter and loved trying to figure out "which of these is not like the others...which of these doesn't belong." (You know the song.)

Sesame Street not only provided me a happy place of wonderment and escape, but it provided a place for me to learn. It provided me background knowledge on counting and number sense. I learned letters, phonemic awareness, and the concept of blending sounds in order to make words. It taught sharing and kindness. It taught me the qualities to look for in good friends.

Over the summer I had the chance to sit in on a press breakfast on the new Sesame Street. It was magic...I'm not kidding. We watched a short retrospective on Sesame Street presented by President Obama. I was an emotional trip back in time. And then, after the breakfast, I met the REAL Maria, Grover, and Cookie Monster. I just cried...like a moron. I've met celebrities in the past...but none as big as these...in my opinion at least. I must have looked like such an idiot, but these were three of my very first friends. I felt like I had known them forever. I loved them and knew them so well through our relationship back in the '70s, '80s, and today. I was instantly the three year old standing in our little house in Gardena, California again. I had reverted back to the day I had packed my dark yellow suitcase with who-knows-what and announced I was running away to Sesame Street to be with my pals. I didn't care that it was in some place called "New York" (according to my less-than-amused mother), I was going to take a magic carpet...just like the song said. Finally my magic carpet had arrived.

To top off my awesome Sesame Street experience, Abby Cadabby made a special video for my two sons. It is something that our family will always treasure.

On the eve of Sesame Street's 40th birthday, I salute the hard work of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) and its fine educators past and present. Today, the CTW continues its mission to provide children fantastic learning opportunities through television--something that critics said was not possible before it aired. I applaud their effort to educate children on the issues that matter most in their homelands around the world. I thank them for creating happy television friendships, memories, and learning opportunities for my children. I wish Sesame Street a happy 40th birthday and a blessed and successful 40 more.

There's still time to stop by and enter to win a Curious George holiday DVD. It's so easy to win!!! I've extended the contest a few more days.

Curious George Holiday DVD Giveaway

2009-10-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Is it too early to talk Christmas? Don't answer that, I think I know the answer. Is it too early to talk Christmas DVD giveaway? I hope the your answer is a bit more positive when it comes to this question. Who doesn't want a fun new DVD to ring in the holiday season?!

This Christmas, Curious George is getting into the holiday spirit. Premiering November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving,) the Curious George holiday special, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, finds George and The Man with the Yellow Hat having a very merry time counting down the days until Christmas. There’s only one problem--neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present. The Man is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t have a clue about what to get for The Man who has everything.

While you'll be able to catch this holiday special on PBS November 25, I am happy to be giving away a boxed DVD copy of Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas to one lucky reader.

Want to win Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas? Your kids will love it or it could make a great gift! It’s so easy and there’s lots of ways to enter. The more ways you enter the better chance you have at winning!

LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY ITEM

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Follow me on Twitter (dlandmom) and leave your twitter name in your comment – 1 entry

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This contest will end on Friday, November 17, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. All entries received after that time will be deleted. Make sure to leave one comment for each entry! I will use random.org to select the winning number. Good luck and thanks for checking out my new blog!

Sid the Science Kids Makes It Easier For Kids to Stay Healthy This Flu Season

2009-10-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of talk about vaccinations lately--especially when it comes to the seasonal and H1N1 influenza strains. As a parent, I admit that all of the talk has stressed me out. And while I have tried to shield my children from all of the frightening news, it's tough to keep them completely in the dark. I've become the wash-your-hands-use-hand-sanitizer-don't-touch-your-eyes/mouth/nose police.

Today, PBS Kids premiered a new Sid the Science Kids episode that deals with these very issues. The Jim Henson Company and the US Department of Health and Human Services partnered to produce this special episode, which aims to help answer children's questions about the germs, virus, and vaccinations. What I find truly amazing is the fact that the typical six-month production time of normal Sid episodes was trimmed to only six weeks, from greenlight to delivery, in order to get this episode "Getting a Shot: You Can Do It!" out at this crucial time of year. I was lucky enough to attend a special event hosted by PBS Kids and First 5 California at the Kidspace Museum last week to preview the episode.

This episode of Sid the Science Kid once again highlights what puts PBS Kids' programming head and shoulders above other children's programming. The characters on the show are truthful with the kids that shots "hurt a little but help a lot." As a parent, our first instinct is to tell our kids that things like shots don't hurt, but let's be real...it does and we are doing our kids a disservice by not preparing them.

I know that many parents do not believe in vaccinating their children. For those families, the later part of the program is still very informative for the preschool set. After telling kids why they get their vaccines, the show goes into what germs are, how they are spread, and what we can do to minimize them. It so super cute and reminds me of the Donald Duck cartoon they used to show us in school about how germs are spread, but in a hipper way for the current generation. Parents and their children can learn more in cyberspace. At PBSKids.org/sid, children can learn about germs, illness, and getting shots through age-appropriate activities and videos. Parents can learn more about preparing their children for flu season and vaccinations by logging on to pbsparents.org.

If you missed today's episode of Sid the Science Kid, it will air again on October 29 and November 3, 11, 19, and 27, as well as December 21. Check your local listings for times.

I am so sorry I didn't get this posted before the show aired this morning. I came down with a cold yesterday morning. Oh the irony! I guess I need to practice what I preach and wash my hands a little more often!

A Little Bit of Bragging

2009-10-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a couple of pieces my husband did for his show, That Morning Show on E!. My husband helped create the show and celebrated his last day there yesterday, as he is moving on to produce a new prime time family challenge show for NBC. While there at That Morning Show as the creative executive, he got to live out his on camera dream and do a bunch of field segments. Here's a few.

And yes, that is our dog. And yes, that was just before a desperately-needed grooming appointment. You honestly wouldn't recognize him now. And yes, he is pretty old and just that calm all the time.

The "oh-so-funny" part of this piece is that my husband lost his wedding ring in the surf while frolicking with another woman. Hilarious, right? (INSERT SARCASM HERE.)

I'm so proud of my hubby and all of his hard work. He moved to a roach-infested apartment right after college and got a job as one of those tour guides aboard the trams at Universal Studios. I stayed behind in Long Beach while he worked his butt off to make it in an industry in which he knew no one (in an industry in which you MUST no someone). His hard work and determination never ceases to amaze me.

Hate Watch

2009-10-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Do you hate watch? You may and not even know it. I brought up the term of "hate watch" recently to a friend and she laughed and then remarked, "I had no idea I was doing it!" I know see her include the term in her Facebook updates frequently.

So what does it mean to "hate watch?" When one "hate watches" a show, they watch a show they hate because they just can't believe how bad it is. I hate watch a couple of shows, but I am the most dedicated to hate watching the CBS show, "The Ghost Whisperer." I should preface that by saying there was a time when I watched the show because I liked it. I liked the initial premise and I am certainly a believer in the paranormal as seen in the video below that aired on my husband's show, That Morning Show.

Ok, so back to what I was saying. I hate watch The Ghost Whisperer, although I used to really enjoy it. And while I can't say that it jumped the shark overnight, although it has more than jumped the shark at this point. It has jumped the aquarium! And, yes, I realize to say that a show about ghosts has become too unbelievable sounds a bit odd, but it really has gone far beyond what is normally expected within the realm of normal human behavior. I attribute how bad this show has become to HORRIBLE writing compounded by producers who think the general public is incredibly stupid.

As I hate watch each episode, I'm looking for three main (horrible) elements:

1. How many times they (the wardrobe stylists, producers, and Jennifer Love Hewitt) can prop up JLH's boobs in perhaps the most inappropriate clothing any woman (especially a busy working mom) has ever ran around town in. Oh, and while JLH's boobs are ever-so-prominent in the dress above, she is wearing a strapless cream-colored dress to her child's outdoor fifth grade birthday party. Huh? What? Seriously? That seems like a good idea when there's a ton of kids running around your yard eating cake. Oh and yes, she is holding a trash back and cleaning up in said dress in the pic. I'm sure you have hosted your children's parties in similar attire. I prefer to pull out my wedding dress for my kids' parties, but that's just me. :)

2. How JLH has no idea how to pull off being a mother on camera. This inability coupled with the fact that the writers clearly do no have children and have no idea how to write for mother/father roles is a recipe for the most unrealistic portrayal of parenting and parent/child roles. JLH and her tv husband look as though they just took a bottle of happy pills every time their five year old (who incidentally aged from birth to five years in this season's premiere episode) is in their presence. Whether they are busily eating breakfast in the morning or putting the kid to bed, it's pure joy and elation. Ok, I love my kids, but seriously...is saccharine really necessary? No one acts like that unless they've had a lobotomy, and even then I don't think a parent would be as happy as the parents on this show were when their son left his toys all over the living room.

3. Ok. And then there's the moment when this show completely jumped the aquarium in the season before last. At the end of that season, JLH's husband died and then in the last season his "spirit" jumps into the body a completely different actor. Now, his character should look like the person whose body it inhabits, but doesn't. At first the show would show both men during the episodes, but now it doesn't. It's so weird.

So anyway, I hate watch because the show is so completely insulting and perhaps because I lead a very small life. It is doubtful that I will stop hate watching Ghost Whisperer, no matter how bad a time my husband gives me. Do you hate watch any shows that are so bad that you can't wait to see where they go?

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Prize Pack Winner!

2009-10-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

I would like to congratulation the Swails Family! They are the lucky winners of the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Prize Pack!

Making Every Minute Count

2009-10-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

If I haven't bored anyone with this fact already, I'm a reading intervention teacher. I work with kids who are significantly below grade level in reading language arts. During my time in this position, I have worked with hundreds of children. I always find it very interesting when I work with students in the primary grades who come to me knowing very little. I don't mean they can't read; I mean it's like they've never left the house. Now, sometimes these children are fighting against odds that we simply must be thankful to not fight against ourselves--sometimes learning disabilities, sometimes family problems, sometimes low IQ, the list goes on. Since I know many of these kids' parents aren't exposing them to things like the zoo, library story time, or museum trips, I have to assume they are watching television.

Again, don't get me wrong. I love television. My hubby works in tv and it is our livelihood. But when it comes to our kids, I feel like we have to be careful and monitor what we put in their heads just like we monitor what goes into their tummies. Listen, I get it if your preschooler loves Sponge Bob or Scooby Do, but do those shows fortify your kids for their educational future? I think a good Sponge Bob or Disney animated movie are fine "as a sometime treat" (in the words of the great Cookie Monster). When it comes down to it, however, there may be better options for kids, so even if your kids are sitting in front of the television, they are learning.

Clearly, I'm a fan of the children's programming on PBS. It is put together with exceptional attention to detail and understanding of children's learning needs and stages of development. PBS, however, is not the only outlet for educational programming. There are countless options for parents when it comes to educational programming. I like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and it's focus on math. While many shows for children put a great deal of emphasis on literacy, the characters at the clubhouse bestowed kids with great basic math concepts. And while I there are times that I have disagreed with the concepts (that they were too high or presented in a way that was simply not attainable by the preschool audience), I do appreciate the broad spectrum of math concepts covered. The show does a lot with number identification, number order, counting, addition and subtraction, measurement, and geometry. It also puts great emphasis on problem solving with its "mouse-ke-tools."

Back to PBS. My all time favorite children's educational program in Sesame Street, the grand-daddy of them all. What is your favorite children's program and what do you find to be its educational value?

Time to Turn on the Electric Company

2009-10-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

In the last five years that I have been a reading intervention teacher, I have worked to find ways to make reading accessible to older children. When a child is in fourth and fifth grade, if he or she has not yet grasped the basic concepts of reading, it is very difficult to provide the student with content and lessons that are appropriate for their particular age. They don't want to read about kittens and trips to the store; they want to read about skateboarding and movies. They need to be interested in the content.

I am so very pleased that the Electric Company is back and providing these very valuable lessons to children. Geared toward the interests of children in third grade and high, the electric company has combined eye-catching graphics with music and popular culture in order to teach very basic reading concepts (first and second grade level). The skills they teach are the very same skills that I fight to teach my struggling fourth and fifth grade students. The show is interesting, funny, and filled with celebrity guest spots. The lessons are straight and to the point and provide students with easy ways to remember basic concepts that most students with educational gaps lack. Specifically, the show aims to fill the following gaps that older struggling readers often exhibit:

Decoding: Children increase their ability to manipulate sounds in spoken words and map those words to print. The most basic and vital skill for readers.
Vocabulary: Children expand the amount of words (vocabulary) that they use and understand.
Comprehension of Connected Text: Children learn strategies that good readers use to understand connected text (phrases and sentences).
Motivation: Children are motivated to read connected text and express themselves using text.

The executive producers of the show are dedicated to providing children with high quality entertainment rich with opportunities to learn. I am thankful for this program and plan on recommending it to my intervention students' parents this school year. And not only do I recommend encouraging students to watch the show, but I also encourage students (and parents) to follow up on the concepts presented on the show by logging onto the show's website at http://pbskids.org/electriccompany to check out the games, videos, and more. I plan on keeping up to date on the parents and educators section of the site at http://www.pbs.org/parents/electriccompany.

Welcome to The Television Mom - Enter to Win Two Great Prizes

2009-10-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to officially launch The Television Mom blog! Let’s face it, we all watch television and in these crazy economic times, it’s the cheapest entertainment out there. On this blog, I talk television from the points of view a teacher, mother, and wife of a television producer. With the launch of the blog, I am excited to offer two great giveaways.

First, I have a ticket giveaway. PBS Kids is giving away tickets to attend a special sneak-preview of an upcoming episode of Sid the Science Kid called "Getting a Shot: You Can Do It!"" at Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California on October 20. At the event, children can meet and take photos with Sid, as well as participate in educational activities all from First 5 California. Healthy snacks will be served and event participants will receive goodie bags filled with fun items for kids and resources to keep the whole family healthy this flu season. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and the show starts at 3:30 p.m. This will be a fun way to explain to your kids how vaccinations keep people healthy and teaches how to prevent the spread of germs during flu season. PBS Kids will give away TWO FREE tickets to the first five people who e-mail f5countyta@rogerspr.com and say they read about this event on The Television Mom. How easy is that?! Additional tickets can be purchased at the event.

Second, I am giving away a very special Wow! Wow! Webbzy! prize-pack giveaway including the brand-new “Wubb Idol” DVD, two “Wubb Idol”-themed books from Scholastic, and the new Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Sing-A-Song CD that features the original song composed and performed by Beyoncé Knowles! This prize pack is being offered to celebrate the release of the Wubb Idol DVD. In “Wubb Idol” (SRP $16.98), Wubbzy, his best friends, Walden, Widget and Daizy, can’t wait for the most popular girl group, The Wubb Girlz, to pay a visit to host the “Wuzzleburg Idol” talent show! Everyone in town hopes to win the contest. If Wubbzy can wow the judges, he’ll get the chance to go on to Wuzzlewood and perform with Sparkle, Shimmer, and Shine at their big concert and maybe even become a movie star! But will he remember the importance of just being himself? Beyoncé Knowles makes her voiceover debut in “Wubb Idol” – her first-ever children’s project – as Shine, the lead singer of the most awesome girl group, The Wubb Girlz!

Want to win the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! prize pack? Your kids will love it or it could make a great gift! It’s so easy and there’s lots of ways to enter. The more ways you enter the better chance you have at winning!

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Tell me (and the world) the children’s television show that you secretly LOVE but hate to admit. For me, I secretly love Hannah Montana!

This contest will end on October 21, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. All entries received after that time will be deleted. Good luck and thanks for checking out my new blog!

Official Launch is Coming...

2009-10-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

The official launch for The Television Mom will be tomorrow. I will be posting not one but TWO giveaways! Stay tuned...

Dinosaur Train Halloween Costume

2009-10-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Still trying to figure out what your little one is going to be for Halloween and feeling a bit crafty? The good folks at the Jim Henson's Creature Studio have created patterns so that your little dino can dress up like Buddy from their favorite PBS show Dinosaur Train. There's a sew and no-sew option (for folks like me!) in sizes 3-5 are available by clicking here.

All Aboard the Dinosaur Train

2009-10-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Boys love two things. Ok, they love more than two things, but two things that would definitely be in their top-ten list of favorites would be dinosaurs and trains. The good folks at the Jim Hensen Studios recently premiered a great science-curriculm-based show called the Dinosaur Train. At attending a recent media event for the show, I was given a DVD with two episodes on it. My boys have watched the episodes over and over...and over. My boys watch the Dinosaur Train while I make dinner and I swear that my four year old has picked up more science knowledge-not limited to dinosaurs--than I had ever imagined.

The Dinosaur Train airs on PBS and in my opinion is geared at children approximately 2 1/2 to about 7 years. It hits on some very important scientific elements and most notably, the scientific method. I love the idea that my son is learning the scientific method without even knowing it. I can't wait for him to learn about it in school and be able to explain a hypothesis. As schools struggle to fit in the rigors of language arts and science, in some classrooms social studies and science fall by the wayside. Shows like the Dinosaur Train give kids a leg up on science and will only enhance the great or dismal amounts of science they receive in school.

Check your local listings for times in your area.

Finally...Worthy Super Heros

2009-10-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

In June I was invited to sit on a special presentation by the great folks at PBS Kids on how they make their show Super Why!. For those of you not in the know, Super Why! is a show that teaches reading concepts suitable for children three and over. As a mom, I am always interested in learning more about what my child watches on television. As the wife of a television producer and having lived on the production side of things, I love hearing television professionals talk about their shows. However, most important to me was my career background I brought to the event. I am a reading intervention specialist. Day in and day out I deal with students who struggle to read and figure out ways we can combat those struggles.

The Super Why! discussion was led by the show's executive producer. I was very pleased to learn that the producers at PBS Kids approach creating and producing television shows much like I (or any teacher) prepares his or her curriculum. First they identify what is to be taught in the show (reading skills, science, etc.). Second, they research the specific skills or topics that need to be taught by the program. In the case of Super Why!, the show focuses on the very basic building blocks children need in order to become readers--letter-sound identification, understanding of text direction, etc. All good reading intervention uses research-based teaching methods and strategies to teach, and Super Why! is no exception.

As a mom, I think Super Why! is a great show. As a reading intervention teacher, I know that the skills taught by Super Why! are those that all children need in order to become readers and those that are often missing in the children I work with.

Super Why! airs Monday through Friday on your local PBS station.

Mister Rogers Is On Your Television and Online

2009-10-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...espeically when it comes to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. It was recently announced that 26 favorite episodes will be part of the national PBS KIDS Saturday morning broadcast lineup beginning September 12 (check local listings) and will be available to stream online later this fall at PBSKIDS.org/rogers for fans to enjoy whenever they want. Mr. Rogers has been a caring friend to millions of children and for the first time I turned the show for my four year old just last weekend and he was mesmerized.

There is a newly redesigned Mister Rogers' Neighborhood website complete with full episodes mentioned as well as video clips and memorabilia. It also features virtual field trips with Mister Rogers to visit a penguin exhibit, a dinosaur museum exhibit, an art museum, a pediatrician's office and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, along with the ever-popular factory visits. The site also encourages parent-child interaction with Parent Tips on every screen to help adults understand what their children are working on through their Web experience.

In the all-new Neighborhood of Make-Believe area, children can explore two new environments -- inside Lady Elaine’s Museum-Go-Round and Daniel Striped Tiger’s clock.
In the Museum-Go-Round – never depicted before on TV or the Web - children can create artwork of their own, make a kaleidoscope, or just delight in the simple joy of discovery as they make things spin and go up and down.
Inside Daniel’s clock, Daniel Tiger is getting ready for bed, offering an open-ended activity which gives children an opportunity to reflect on their own feelings about bedtime and separation from the ones they love. As they turn out Daniel’s lights or get him his blankie or teddy bear, they can listen to a Mister Rogers bedtime song or hear Mister Rogers tell a bedtime story.
And for fans of all ages, the all-new “Neighbors of All Ages” section invites kids and adults to share their memories of growing up with the Neighborhood and provides tools through photo sharing site Flickr to post photos and letters.

Parents and teachers can also continue to access content and resources that support essential childhood themes in MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD through PBS Parents (PBSPARENTS.org) and PBS Teachers (PBSTEACHERS.org). PBS Parents offers articles, activities, tools, recipes and printables that parents and caregivers can use to extend the learning at home. PBS Teachers provides classroom resources from the series that educators can download and use to support education in community engagement, the arts, mental and emotional health and many more topics.