Education with Reading Rainbow

It comes as no surprise that the founder and co-executive producer of the twenty-time Emmy-award-winning show, Reading Rainbow is an educator and avid reader herself. Dr. Twila Liggett was born to teach.

Liggett's passions led her to a number of jobs, which includes school principal, state reading consultant for Nebraska, a handbook writer and teacher of grant-writing courses. When Nebraska Educational Television decided to be the progenitor of a national children's series, Liggett was their selection. With her talents, Reading Rainbow was born.

Reading Rainbow found a formula that works and sticks with it. Every episode highlights three books that are reviewed by real kids. LeVar Burton, the host of the show, talks candidly to viewers and asks questions that encourage them to answer from their living rooms. Burton goes on location to discover topics addressed in the books so young children can see genuine footage of the events getting discussed. Kids are taught to question and analysis, skills that teachers and parents encourage.

Reading Rainbow does not shy away from tough concerns. They are part of children's reality and Reading Rainbow is there, helping children to cope with the globe. The Emmy award winning Tin Forest offers with 9/11and is included in the Children First!® Film and Video Festivals. Visiting Day focuses on kids with a parent in prison.

The role of the show extends far beyond the actual television set. Burton and Liggett bring their joy of reading into schools, and neighborhood networks promote literacy programs based on the concept that reading should really be enjoyable. In the American school technique, there is a superb push for children to be more literate, but busy schedules stop older young children, such as tweens, from growing their literacy skills by reading for enjoyable. "Reading is the greatest joy on the planet. As soon as you read, the world is there for you," Liggett summarizes.

Parents can be very good role models by reading books themselves. Liggett suggests the public school program of Sustained Silent Reading for everyone, adults as effectively as youngsters. She further recommends that parents come across an author their child enjoys then search for other books by the same author. Some splendid resources are the and the New York Times recommendations.

Amongst the greatest rewards of the Reading Rainbow legacy are loved ones literacy projects, according to Liggett. Across America local stations sponsor initiatives that reach out, bringing reading to everybody-including the poorest communities. Reading supplies are brought to hospital waiting rooms, parents in prison, and rural communities and with them they bring the joy of reading.

However, literacy programs cost capital, a factor lacking in Reading Rainbow's otherwise prosperous production equation. "My dream of dreams is to have a wealthy entrepreneur, preferably one with children and grandkids of the identical mindset, determine that they want to make a distinction in this globe by supporting literacy and supporting Reading Rainbow," Liggett says with a sigh. Funding comes from numerous several resources, neighborhood PBS stations with matching funds grant funds and corporations with a corporate underwriter such as the present sponsor of Reading Rainbow, The Children's Location.

Though waiting for their dream benefactor, Liggett and the Reading Rainbow team struggle together to raise the funds essential for the best-top quality show. Liggett has intriguing plans to use the web as a fund-raiser. For Reading Rainbow, the future is uncertain. You can support Reading Rainbow by donating to your nearby PBS station with a note saying you are supporting them due to the fact they run excellent shows like Reading Rainbow.

Reading Rainbow is a production of GPN/Nebraska ETV Network and WNED-Television Buffalo and is produced by RCN Entertainment, New York. Reading Rainbow is a registered trademark of GPN/WNED-Television.