DENVER — Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Education, and Colorado Education Initiative are partnering with Rocky Mountain Public Media (RMPBS, KUVO JAZZ, The DROP) to provide K-3 students, their families and caregivers with direct-to-home remote lessons in literacy, science, art and math though Colorado Classroom: Learn with Me at Home starting Sept. 7 and airing for 15 weeks on RMPBS. The website, which will include accompanying lesson plans for families, caregivers and their children will launch the same day at: rmpbs.org/ColoradoClassroom.
“This partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS is a creative way to ensure that young, Colorado learners can continue receiving important lessons in literacy, math, science, art and more,” said Governor Jared Polis. “While many students are already back in class, other school districts haven’t begun in person learning yet and we want to do everything we can to support Colorado students, teachers, and parents as we navigate these challenges together. Our children are the key to our future, and I want to thank all of the partners and master educators who are making sure students continue receiving quality instruction this fall.
Funding for this initiative comes from the Colorado Empowered Learning through the Governor’s GEER Grant, Education Reform Now, and Delta Dental. This partnership builds on the existing RMPBS partnership that began in May of this year with literacy-focused learning for K-3 students.
“As an organization that always puts students first, Education Reform Now is proud to partner in this amazing effort at such a critical period for our youngest learners,” said Jen Walmer, Colorado Director of ERN. “These direct-to-home remote lessons will offer a crucial resource to families and caregivers as they strive to support their students and optimize their progress during this unprecedented and trying time.”
Through its Rocky Mountain PBS (RMPBS) stations that include Denver (KRMA), Pueblo/Colorado Springs (KTSC), Steamboat Springs (KRMZ), Grand Junction (KRMJ) and Durango (KRMU), and online presence at rmpbs.org, Colorado Classroom: Learn with Me at Home will be broadcast and made available for free on a statewide basis in English with Spanish subtitles, providing K-3 learners with access to reading, science and math resources at home on television. By providing lessons online and on broadcast television, this will reach families in all parts of the state, regardless of access to broadband internet service. For information about which channel airs RMPBS in your location, visit rmpbs.org/channels/.
“Rocky Mountain Public Media considers this important learning program to be an extension of our educational mission in service to Colorado communities during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly for children who live in rural areas or in our cities who do not have consistent access to high-speed internet or computers at home, offering this complementary curriculum on our RMPBS broadcast channel ensures every child has a place to continue learning,” says Amanda Mountain, president & CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media.
Colorado Classroom: Learn with Me at Home allows master teachers from across the state to teach students through lessons geared specifically toward K-3 age ranges every Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. -10 a.m. for at least 15 weeks starting on Labor Day. To engage students in literacy learning across many different topics, including science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), the fall program will have themed weeks, starting Week One with Me & My Home and subsequent weeks with the following themes: Space, Art, Earth, and Animals. Every Friday, Denver Museum of Nature & Science is providing family science programming with interactive and engaging science lessons, as part of the curriculum.
"We are excited to bring our mission to life by connecting families across Colorado with fun and educational nature and science programming. Using broadcast as a resource brings access to more students, families, and educators at this critical time," said Denver Museum of Nature & Science President & CEO George Sparks. "We're thrilled to be a part of Colorado Classroom with science programming and hope families will tune in for demonstrations, games and activities to connect with nature and science in fun and surprising ways."
The Colorado Education Association has provided the funding for stipends for the master teachers. This fall, RMPBS is thrilled to have returning teachers from the spring Colorado Classroom programming, including Mrs. Tori Teague, Mrs. Ellie Radue and Mrs. Marietta Stechmeyer. Mrs. Stechmeyer is a 1st grade teacher at Strive Prep Ruby Hill in Denver and is the beloved “Phonics Queen” who taught K-1 Intermediate/Advanced English Language Development with interactive songs and games as part of her lessons that engaged and delighted students from all parts of Colorado.
“I am thrilled to be returning to Colorado Classroom this fall! It was a privilege to be able to reach students throughout the state last spring through the magic of PBS,” says Mrs. Stechmeyer. “This experience has reminded me just how much I love teaching and interacting with kids, no matter what the format. I'm inspired every day by the joy and resilience of children across Colorado.”
Viewers can watch or record the lessons, as they will be rebroadcast overnight on RMPBS to allow for DVR recording. Accompanying lesson worksheets will be available at rmpbs.org/ColoradoClassroom starting September 7 for parents and caregivers to use, adapt, and build upon. Thanks to a partnership with the Colorado State Library, participating libraries across the state are also offering access to the worksheets for families that do not have internet capabilities, with no requirement for a library card to do so. For a list of participating libraries across the state or to request that worksheets (in English or Spanish) be mailed directly to homes, families and caregivers can call 800-274-6666.
“Through the Governor's GEER grant, CEL is delighted to be a funder for Colorado Classroom: Learn with Me at Home on RMPBS this fall. This is such an important initiative to ensure that children and their families across the state of Colorado have access to learning opportunities, especially for those under-resourced school districts where students have little or no access to the internet,” says Dr. Ken Haptonstall, program director for Colorado Empowered Learning.
“When we launched this programming in late spring, we knew then that we needed to radically shift educational delivery to ensure families and students across the state had access to high quality content and that is even more true today,” said Rebecca Holmes, President and CEO of the Colorado Education Initiative. “We know that 30,000 Colorado students lack internet access and ensuring learning arrives in homes is a critical partnership we must make with families during this moment of disrupted learning.”
Local listings will reflect individual station schedules and include programming for additional educational content.
Rocky Mountain Public Media thanks the following partners for their support:
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Education Reform Now
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Colorado Education Association
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Bright By Text
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Invest In Kids
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NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
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Denver Museum of Nature & Science
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Simple Gift Series
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Ent Credit Union
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Denver Botanic Gardens
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The Denver Zoo
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National Science Teaching Association
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The Space Foundation
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Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
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National Cybersecurity Center
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Bemis School of Art
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Denver Art Museum
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Sangre de Cristo Art Center
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Colorado State Library
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Colorado Counties, Inc.
Monday-Friday Daytime Schedule (8 am – 10 am MT):
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8 a.m. - Kindergarten
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8:30 a.m. - 1st Grade
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9:00 a.m. – 2nd Grade
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9:30 a.m. – 3rd grade
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“Math Minute” lessons will run throughout day
Monday-Friday Overnight Schedule*:
*Check your local listings for air times.
Colorado Classroom: Learn with Me at Home will re-air nightly from 3 a.m. – 5 a.m. MT for families to record and use at their convenience.
Online:
Lesson plans and student work packets at: rmpbs.org/coloradoclassroom
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