We're not normal

Ever find yourself sitting in a lecture and re-organizing the outline in your head? Rephrasing some of the main points of the presentation because you understand what the presenter is trying to get across but he isn’t doing that great of a job? I found myself doing that last week during a parent workshop. (I know, pretty annoying. That’s not the worst of my editing traits. I pointed out to Noel during a routine drive home recently that the font had changed on some of the new freeway signs and they were now inconsistent with the old signs. I believe I left him completely baffled.)

PBSHawaii reaches out to the public schools here via a “Ready to Learn” Parent Workshop. I signed up happily when the flyer came home in Robbie’s backpack one day and didn’t need the teaser “Free Books!” to get me there. Over the course of the hour and a half, the presenter meandered along, making good points here and there, but what I kind of took out of the session was the idea that, “Hey, the TV will be on in your house. We understand that. That’s why you should watch PBS Kids programming, and here’s why.” He ran through a few programs, gave their history, explained some of the ways that the programs help children in reading, writing, etc., and pointed out which program has the endorsement of the National Education Association. (Extremely rare. I think it was this group, could have been the Teachers Association. I don’t see it in my notes now.)

The presenter’s rambling discussion on technology and early adoption lead to an interesting, yet not that shocking discussion on the digital learner. One talking point: cell phones with TV capability is around the corner and TV stations are already addressing this platform in their future programming plans. Then, somewhat out of order, he polled the group of 25 or so parents, ”How many televisions do you have in your house?” I was the only one in the room who said one. The rest said 3 and 4, one might have said 5. The presenter didn’t seem to think this was shocking, he said, “No that’s not too bad. I’ve had one family in [the Waianae area] who had 13. Awful. But to be fair, it was a multigenerational family in one house.” One other almost-laugh-out-loud comment: “Don’t watch the Cartoon Network.”

Along with our free books (Sesame Street board books for Cub, Curious George and other goodies for Robbie), I concluded that I think we’re doing OK with our daily reading and TV watching. And that may not be normal.

If you’re interested in online resources, in addition to www.pbskids.org, check out these recommended sites: Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org) and the International Reading Association (www.reading.org).