Slide 1 Vegas PBS Family Literacy Kits Vegas PBS Family Literacy Kits were designed for use by blind and visually impaired children and their caregivers. The kit offers fun and interactive learning activities to be shared between you and your child. Please continue to learn more about this project. Pictured: The contents of the Family Literacy kit are displayed which consists of a colorful backpack, two of the same storybook one in Braille and The other in Large print, Arthur and DW stuffed plush toys, parent guide, Braille vocabulary and alphabet charts, two Braille Pop-A-Cells, DVD and booklet titled, “Because Books Matter.” Slide 2 text only Components of the Kit Explained Slide 3 Parent Guide: There are five different version of the literacy kit. Each is unique in the storybooks and activities offered. A parent guide, available in both Spanish and English, walks caregiver and child step-by-step through each component of the kit. Pictured: The parent guide. It’s cover consists of the Vegas PBS Logo followed by the title “Family Literacy Kit” and subtitle, “Knots on a Counting Rope.” Graphics below consist of the cartoon character Arthur smiling while walking along a grassy knoll with backpack on his back and open book in hand. Several flowers of different colors appear on the hillside with two birds standing among them. Slide 4 Parent Guide Continued: Each parent guide was designed with three days of learning activities that can be completed within 30 minutes or less. Activities were designed to apply concepts from the Arthur episode and storybook into the real world. They were also designed to be engaging and fun! Pictured: Three parent guides are opened and spread in a cascading manner to display the titles, “Day 1,” “Day 2,” and “Day 3” at the top of each open page. Slide 5 Descriptive Dolls: The most unique aspect of this kit are Arthur and DW dolls that were modified with audio devices. The audio describes characteristics of each doll. The dolls are used in the very first activity of each parent guide, “Getting to Know Arthur and DW.” Pictured: Standing next to one another, the Arthur and DW Plush dolls. Slide 6 DVD with Audio Description (DVS): Each kit includes a DVD of an Arthur episode. For ease of accessibility, the DVD was created with the DVS audible. Audio description or DVS enhances the television viewing experience by providing descriptions of key visual elements for blind and visually impaired viewers. With the DVD included in this kit, descriptions will play automatically, making menu selections unnecessary. Pictured: DVD standing outside of case labeled For use with: Vegas PBS Family Literacy Kit, WGBH, DVD, Arthur 509, “Just Desserts, The Big Dig.” Running Time 28:46 , DVS Audible Slide 7 Braille and Large Print Books: The storybooks are available in both large print and Braille formats. The Braille book is Grade 1 with the text interlined. Large print fonts are specific to each book ranging between 14 and 16 pt fonts. The stories selected match concepts introduced within the Arthur episode. Here, television learning is reinforced and applied to new experiences encountered in the story. Pictured: Two books standing side-by-side. On the left a Braille Book Labeled, “Now One Foot, Now the Other” by Tomie DePaolo. The Large Print Book is also labeled “Now One Foot, Now the Other” with illustration of Grandfather with grandson standing along a walkway. In the background an open grassy field appears with a tree in the foreground. The grandson stands nestled close to his grandfather who has one arm around his grandson while is other hand rests in his pocket. The grandfather looks down at his grandson while the young boy looks our way. Slide 8 Braille Literacy Activity: Each kit includes a Braille literacy activity. Here the vocabulary consists of high frequency words chosen from both the storybook and the Arthur episode. With the Braille Pop-A-Cell, parent and child can both engage in Braille spelling and other fun games. Pictured: A red folder stands open with Braille literacy activity sheets resting on either side. On the left, a Braille Alphabet Sheet, on the right, a Braille Vocabulary Sheet along with two Braille Pop-A-Cells. Slide 9 Braille Blocks: The Braille number blocks are included with the DVS Kit, “Now One Foot, Now the Other.” This Braille activity will have you recreating a scene specific to this story, while practicing Braille numbers. Pictured: Nine colorful blocks are stacked in three separate piles. The face of each block differs with the number that appears in both print and Braille. Slide 10 Book for Parents & Teachers: Finally the book, Because Books Matter by Carol Castellano was included. This book introduces new parents and teachers to the joys of reading print/Braille books with blind children. The booklet shares basics about the Braille code and why Braille reading is so important Pictured: Two booklets are standing on display in both English and Spanish. The Spanish Book is standing behind the English version with only it’s title appearing, “Porque Los Libros Si Que Importan.” The English book appears in front with title “Because Books Matter: Reading Braille Books with Young Blind Children” by Carol Castellano. Also on front is printed, “National Braille Press.” Illustrated is a drawing of a parent reading a Braille book with a child. Slide 11 text only A Look Behind the Scenes: Slide 12 Creator & Author Lynnette Stevens, Vegas PBS Pictured: Two photos of Lynnette sitting with her young daughter at a table while making Braille letters with the Braille Pop-A-Cells. Slide 13 Vision Impaired Services,CCSD Andy Macklberg Pictured: Bother looking down at a textbook, Andy shows Lynnette how a magnification device is used along with a large print book. Janet Anderson Pictured: Janet sits at a table in the offices of the VIS Department critiquing a Braille literacy activity with Lynnette. Lori Moroz-White Pictured: Lori is seated behind a young male student, her arms around him in guidance while they read a book together. The book is printed in Braille. Slide 14 Nevada Talking Books Brett Silver Pictured: In first picture, Lynnette guides Brett’s hand to depressed the audio device on the Back of the described Arthur doll. Both are seated and smiling. In the second Picture, Brett is seated at his desk in his office at Nevada Talking Books, while looking at the descriptive Arthur doll. Slide 15 Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation Cathy & Amber Sterbentz Pictured: In first picture, Amber is seated on a couch, with Braille book resting in her lap, while she reads a book from the literacy kit. Her mother sits close by watching and holding one side of the book in her hand. In the second picture, Amber and her mother Cathy smile While seated on a couch. Amber has the kit resting beside her. In her hands she hold the DW doll, while the Arthur doll rests close by. Slide 16 Ready to Learn, Vegas PBS Candace Thompson Pictured: In both pictures, at a table, Candance reviews the Braille components Of the kit while seated with Lynnette. Slide 17 Educational Media Services, Vegas PBS Lee Solonche Pictured: Seated at his desk, Lee reviews the kit. Mark Nelson Pictured: Seated at his desk, Mark reviews a parent guide. Slide 18 Graphic Arts, Vegas PBS Brian Larsh Pictured: Seated at his desk while, looking at his computer, Brian Larsh completes graphic arts work for this project. Slide 19 Voicework for DW Doll Jade Utterback, CCSD Student Pictured: In the first picture, Jade sits at a desk with an open smile while hugging the DW doll. In the second picture, Jade is reading her script into a small microphone that is recording her voice. Slide 20 Voicework for the Arthur Doll Guy Tannenbaum, CCSD Student Pictured: In the first picture, Guy appears seated at a desk with his parents standing above him as he holds both the Arthur and DW doll. They are all smiling at us. In the second picture, Guy is seated at the same desk reading his script into the microphone. Slide 21 Each descriptive doll was hand sewn to secure the audio device in place. Brian Larsh, Vegas PBS Edward Needham, Vegas PBS Pictured: In first picture, Brian Larsh sets at a chair with a DW doll held face down in his lap. He looks down at the doll, concentrating, while his right hand is extended high above his head, pulling needle and thread through the backpack. In the second photo, Edward Needham sets at his desk with the DW resting on Her side in his lap. His left hand is shown extended while he pulls needle and thread through her backpack. Slide 22 198 dolls sewn and still smiling! Brian Larsh Edward Needham Pictured: In two separate picture, Brian and Edward appear Up at the camera to take a moments break from sewing. They are both smiling at us. Slide 23 Spanish Translation, Vegas PBS Mark Skinner Sandra Abston Wendy Castro Pictured: In the first photo, Mark and Sandra sit at a desk together reviewing The parent guide. In second photo, Mark stands with Wendy. Mark is holding parent Guide open in his hand. They are both smiling at us while the Arthur and DW Dolls appear over their shoulders. Slide 24 Special Thanks to: Slide 25 Tom Axtell, General Manager, Vegas PBS Pictured: Tom is seated at table in his office, smiling while holding backpack and dolls while they rest on table. Lee Solonche, Director, Educational Media Services Pictured: Lee sets at his desk, smiling while looking through The booklet, “’Because Books Matter.” Slide 26 Programming Department Virginia Nelson Pictured: Virginia sits at her desk with programming paperwork in hand While smiling at us. Jackie Whiteman Pictured: Jackie stands in her office, smiling at us. Slide 27 Engineering Department Joe Cordova Dennis Gardner Pictured: Joe and Dennis stand smiling among broadcast equipment in the master control center of Vegas PBS. Charles Leyrer Pictured: Dave sets at his worktable among papers and engineering equipment while smiling at us. Slide 28 WGBH Boston For permission to distribute and duplicate Arthur episodes utilized with each kit as well as creating the DVD with DVS Audible. Writing scripts for the descriptive Arthur & DW dolls MGM Mirage Voice Foundation For funding this project Final Slide: Questions or comments contact: Lynnette Stevens, Vegas PBS 702-799-1010 X5354 lstevens@vegaspbs.org Thank you! End of Slide Show