Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

From childhood to adulthood, Fred Rogers has been a role model for me. His words of wisdom reached me through a television screen growing up and now through books, lesson plans, and memories. In fact, it was his amazing work that steered me to WQLN, the public broadcasting station in Northwestern Pennsylvania through which I host an educational television segment called: Ready, Set, Learn!

Ready, Set, Learn airs every Friday during the morning news on our “neighbor” ABC affiliate station, WJET-TV. The folks at WJET and WQLN truly are neighbors, both literally and figuratively. As a result, we collaboratively to produce an educational segment that reaches out to parents, teachers, and caregivers to provide educational tools, resources, and ideas. Each week I demonstrate a hands-on educational activity that parents and children can enjoy together. And of course, with every Ready, Set, Learn lesson I recommend a great children’s book for parents and children to read together. A complete archive of the lessons is available on the web at www.wqln.org/education.

“What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This quote from Fred Rogers truly resonates with me and many other children of the neighborhood. And that is why Ready, Set, Learn encourages exploration, time together, nurturing, and creative play with very few “bells and whistles.” In my mind, 10 minutes spent together reading or pretending is far more valuable than any toy that can be purchased at the store. So, every week we’ll gather stuff from around the house and create our very own homemade educational fun!

I’ll be using this blog to share some of my experiences at WQLN, in the classroom, and in our community. And, I hope to hear from some of you too. There is nothing more rewarding for me than to hear from parents and teachers who are using RSL activities and books with their children.

For now, enjoy your day and I’ll see you around the neighborhood!