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Welcome to KIDS FIRST!® NEWS. All articles are by Coalition for Quality Children's
Media unless otherwise noted.
Dear
Friends,
I just love
success stories from people humbly using their talents to bring
joy to others. This month I had two delightful interviews for the
main article below with men who have done just that. They use their
talents and enthusiasm for history and politics to make history
come alive for children. I remember when my children and some local
children reviewed the titles highlighted in the article. They were
completely glued to the set and started asking many questions about
US Presidents and senators. It was definitely much more interesting
to them than their school textbooks.
As always, I
welcome your input. If you have comments on titles we have endorsed;
notices of media awards, publications, and products; or suggestions
for articles, please drop me a line.
Christine Pollock,
Editor
Dear Friends,
This edition of my newsletter is written in memory of my father,
Irving Mattson, who passed away this month 29 years ago. I often
tell people that when your loved ones pass, they stay with you
in a different way, and somehow your life gets bigger. My father
made a great impact on my life. I am often reminded of the things
he said to us that guide me to this day. As I look to the year
ahead of us, he's guided me in my resolutions for the new year.
Topping my list of resolutions is to expand the venues that we
take our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival to this year, to personally
scout out the best venues on land and on sea for our producers
to show their films in the most unique and interesting environments.
My Dad always said that every "no" was a firm "maybe,"
and I'm going to go back out to talk with some of the most prestigious
venues who have turned us down in the past. One thing I have learned
is that people change and circumstances change. Eight years ago,
when we first started the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, we truly
didn't have a clue what it could become. Now we do, and I believe
that we have some of the best children's films in the world. I
want to share them with as many children and families as I can.
If you want to join us in making a conscious decision to make
a difference in every child's life, then help us out. If you know
of an established film festival, a children's museum, an art museum,
a non-profit film society, a library, a community organization,
a cruse line, or a resort who would love to show KIDS FIRST! films,
let me know. Write me at (contact
Ranny).
Just a few of the venues that we're already working with in the
2007 calendar include: Calgary International Film Festival, Los
Angeles County Museum of Art, Newport Beach Film Festival, USA
KidFilm Festival, Tiburon International FilmFestival, San Diego
County Fair, Denvery Film Society, Durango International Film
Festival, Avalon Theater, Delray Beach Film Festival, Miami International
Kids Entertainment, Coolidge Corner Theater, Images Cinema, Arts
for Range Children, Inc., Brooklyn Children's Museum, Long Island
Children's Museum, Children's Museum of Manhattan, and the Belcourt
Theater. These venues each hold their own unique appeal. Speaking
of unique appeal, we just had two outstanding live appearances
this month. Mary Matilyn Mouser, the voice of Eloise appeared
at the USA KidFilm in Dallas and Hip Hop Kidz appeared at the
Long Island Children's Museum.
Lastly, remember that you can make a donation to KIDS FIRST! simply
by booking your travel on our travel website, ytbtravel.com/kidsfirst.
We are a member of the YTB Travel Network, which uses the Travelocity
search engine so you get the same rate as if you were booking
on Travelocity.
Enjoy your month and happy viewing.
Love,
Ranny
Levy
Founder
and President, KIDS FIRST!®
__________________________________
I just wanted to thank you for your support. We have (happily) been
offered and, after some negotiation, signed a distribution contract
with Echelon Entertainment. This is the next step in learning about
this world. I wanted to thank you for your support. Without (Ranny),
and KIDS FIRST!®, I'm not quite sure this would have happened. -Doug
Kondziolka, Don Juan and
Miguel LLC
__________________________________
We entered 5
Bumblz
songs into the International
Song Writing competition (in the children's music category)
and all 5 have made it through to the next round! Dan and Dag deserve
a nice round of applause - regardless of the final results, with
over 14,000 entries, the boys are finally getting the industry recognition
they deserve. The final results will be in February 1st...wish us
luck! Cheers. -Ed.
ONLINE
JUROR TRAINING PROGRAM
Concerned
about what kids watch? Want to do something about it? Become a KIDS FIRST!® juror. It's easy. Take our online training. It will
take you about four hours to complete, and we will provide you with
your own personal trainer. The $40 fee is 100% reimbursable once
you evaluate six titles for KIDS FIRST!® . You may keep any
movie you approve. What a wonderful way for teachers, librarians,
parents, and daycare providers to build their own quality media
library while helping evaluate movies for others. KIDS FIRST!®
Independent Producer members get an additional benefit of one waived
submission fee, once they complete the training and evaluate their
first 6 titles. To register or get more information, please visit
our KIDS FIRST!® juror's page.
KIDS FIRST!® WEB STORE FEATURES
**************************************************
Wai
Lana's Little Yogis: Daydream CD.
Wai Lana combines ancient yoga relaxation techniques and quiet music
to bring a deep sense of calm and inner balance to children. Whether
your kids are too active or just need to rest, the Daydream CD will
introduce them to the benefits of yoga. Includes two tracks, each
containing guided relaxation, original songs, and recordings of
ocean waves. From Wai Lana, host of the long-running PBS series
Wai Lana Yoga. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Peaceful and
nice. Encourages relaxation and imagination; good nap time CD for
a daycare or bedtime music. Soothing voice wraps the listener with
messages of love and peace. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:
Put them to sleep. "I like to sleep. It's nice to listen to
when I'm going to sleep." "I thought about getting cozy
and resting." Found the music pleasing: "The music is
haunting." "The lady sings pretty." Audio. 75 mins.
Ages 1-5. Wai Lana Productions.
Judy
Pancoast: Are We There Yet? Diversified musical styles and clever
lyrics will make this CD quickly become a family favorite on car
trips and at home. Judy Pancoast performs fourteen original songs
from "Monkey Girl" to the award-winning "The Potty
Dance." KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Entertaining.
Wide range of music, moving between slow and soothing, and fast
and catchy. Techno pop, ballads, country, piano boogie, even orchestra.
High production quality. Peppy and positive. A few songs have lyrics
that imply something else such as: monsters from hell(o). KIDS FIRST!®
KID Juror Comments: Almost all of them loved all of the music, listening
to it over and over. "There are lots of cool songs, especially
'Monkey Girl'." "It wasn't nice putting a tarantula on
his cousin and laughing." 'The Potty' song wasn't respectful,
but it was fun." "A little corny." Audio. 48 mins.
Ages 3-7. Judy Pancoast.
The
Big Space Shuttle. Explores the behind-the-scenes action at
the space shuttle program, including the astronaut training, the
crew roles, shuttle maintenance and orbital gravity experiments.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: A big hit. Everyone liked
the narrator, the backstage look and seeing real astronauts. A look
at a topic kids relate to. "It was great to watch with my child,
interesting, no violence and a great learning tool," one mom
said. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments: Captured kids' interest
and motivated further inquiry into the subject. Kids liked it because
it was real. They particularly enjoyed the launch. "Everything
in it is great." "I liked seeing the girl scientists."
DVD. 50 mins. Ages 6-10. Little Mammoth Media.
Dave
& Augie's Home Movies: Theodore Roosevelt. Join Dave, Augie,
and Hillary as they travel to Sagamore Hill, the home of Theodore
Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, NY. It is here that we learn about our
twenty-sixth president and the work he did to make the world a better
place. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Wonderful for a history
class or documentary screenings. Interesting, good information.
Entertaining to most kids and parents as well. Cool muppets. Excellent
for President's Day screenings. Lots of information, well presented.
Many photos and documents from Theodore Roosevelt's life. KIDS FIRST!®
KID Juror Comments: A group of 6 boys, ages 2-9 watched this. All
sat through the entire title and talked back to the characters on-screen.
Afterwards, they discussed the content as well as what they knew
about other presidents. Several said they wanted to visit the president's
house. DVD. 30 mins. Ages 5-10. Freggie Entertainment.
Signing
Time! Volume 5: ABC Signs. Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins,
and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more "Signing Time"
fun! Teaches the alphabet in American Sign Language, and introduces
more than 50 signs for words corresponding to different letters.
Sign and sing along with the fun and fabulous new songs including:
A is For Alex and Alligator; LMNO; Lonely Letter X. Includes ASL
tips and a sign-by-sign walk-through of "A is for Alex and
Alligator." KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Great presentation.
High energy format. It's the alphabet with a sign language twist
and a great way to introduce any child to the alphabet. Each letter
is repeated several times by the kids. Segments of the alphabet
are separated by the ABC song and original songs that review the
previous section and keep the viewer's attention. Much more content
than can be absorbed in one viewing. KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror
Comments: Enjoyed it. Kids had fun singing along and signing. One
student wondered why the little girl talked funny, but then she
talked with her teacher about it and understood. One three-year-old
particularly enjoyed the signs performed by scrunching the fingers
together. During the alphabet song, he declared, "I like this."
Good humor, danceable music. DVD. 30 mins. Ages 2-5. Two Little
Hands Productions.
Braincandy:
My 5 Senses. Braincandy is an inventive series that focuses
on children learning about themselves and the world through their
five senses. Braincandy introduces concepts about the five senses.
Original music score. KIDS FIRST!® Adult Juror Comments: Novel
approach. Effective use of sound effects, music, puppets and live
footage. Good visual clarity and light, catchy music. Very conceptual,
though the idea of the brain talking to the body parts is beyond
the understanding level of the target age group. Slow and somewhat
scattered. "Cute puppets - once you get over the idea that
one puppet is a brain." KIDS FIRST!® KID Juror Comments:
"My daughter enjoyed the puppets. She said they were 'funny.'
She laughed and moved to the music, pointed out the children on-screen,
and the toys or objects they played with." Others needed explanations.
"The only thing my daughter disliked was the brain puppet.
She didn't understand what it was doing." All the kids crowded
around the screen to see the cookies. DVD. 40 mins. Ages 2-5. Think
Film Kids.
ANN'S
AVENUES
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KIDS
FIRST! Across the Country
Brooklyn Children's Museum - a fun place for kids
of all ages.
ABOUT BROOKLYN
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM - Founded in 1899
The Brooklyn
Children's Museum is well-equipped to provide 21st century learning
adventures for growing numbers of children from the neighborhoods
of Brooklyn, from the greater New York metropolitan region and beyond.
The Museum will be able to serve 400,000 visitors a year - up from
250,000 after expansion which is slated to be completed this year.
The Museum will also incorporate the latest innovations in high
performance architecture - and is slated to be the first "green"
children's museum in the New York City.
More than 800
neighborhood children between the ages of 7 and 18 turn to the Museum
Team for a safe, fun and free place to go - and to learn - after
school (and on weekends and holidays, too). During winter break,
February 19-23rd, KIDS FIRST! is screening the new Hip Hop Kidz
"It's A Beautiful Thing" every afternoon at 4:30, and
the Hip Hop Kidz dancers will perform live at the Museum on Monday,
February 19th at 4 pm.
Of
course, film and live performances are great, but students can also
become scientists when they visit Brooklyn Children's Museum - and
the new, high-performance features in the Museum will give them
a firsthand lesson in energy efficiency and environmental conservation
as they investigate the building's many "green" features.
For the young
set, the innovative Totally Tots program, part of the Museum's Early
Learner Initiative for preschoolers, has a new home this year -
a 2,500-square-foot gallery with child-powered vehicles and opportunities
for caregivers to browse through a range of parenting resources
while they encourage their toddlers to get an early start to learning.
Stop in when
you are in town. Your kids will love the fun! Visit the calendar
of events for more information at www.brooklynkids.org.
Brooklyn Childrens Museum
145 Brooklyn Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Phone: 718-735-4400
If you know
of another great location that should be screening KIDS FIRST! titles,
drop me an email, and I will send you a free copy of my latest favorite
KIDS FIRST! festival title.
Ann Church
SELECTIONS
FROM KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival 2007
****************************************************************************************************************
For a complete list of all Festival titles currently
being shown, visit
our website.
Dora:
Musical School Days. L. 98 Mins.
Dora the Explorer is taking you on a musical adventure in her new
release, "Musical School Days" featuring the never-before-seen
episode, "La Meastra de Musica"! In this new adventure
you help Boots' teacher get to school on time to greet her students
with a song, learn new Spanish words, cheer up the Grumpy Old Troll
and help Dora and Boots deliver mail! English, French dubbed, Spanish
dubbed. Age 2-5. Paramount Home Entertainment.
Backyardigans:
The Legend of the Volcano Sisters. L. 99 mins.
The Luau Brothers (Tyrone, Pablo and Austin), must bring a special
gift to the Volcano Sisters (Uniqua and Tasha), in order to stop
a volcano from erupting and ruining their luau. Includes three other
episodes: "The Swamp Creature," "Horsing Around"
and "Special Delivery." Bonus features include an interactive
"Secret Agent" dance-along video with Uniqua, and a 'sneak
peek' of The Wonder Pets! English, French Dubbed. Age 2-5. Paramount
Home Entertainment.
Nashe
Maalo: Home. L. 28 mins
Elvis becomes friends with the orphan, David, after they break
a window. Angry that his parents won't adopt David, Elvis finds
him a small room to live in. In his efforts to help David, however,
Elvis hasn't really been listening to his friend's needs. Age 12-18
Search for Common Ground.
Whale
Sharks of Hollbox. L. 5 mins.
The islanders of Holbox, Mexico, facing a dwindling supply of
fish, have successfully converted their economy to ecotourism. In
doing so, they have helped protect the world's largest fish, the
Whale Shark. Ages: 8-18. Student Production; Highschool Edition
- Mike Wham.
NEW
AND RENEWING MEMBERS
***************************************************
Big
Red Frog
is a company that has been born out of a merging of three separate
business partners, with different talents and methods - but the
very same vision. Passionate about life, all three partners, whose
separate businesses were in fitness, television, sponsorship, design
and marketing, are now unified and dedicated to the message of well-being
for all. The 'frog' is the "Lifestyle Entertainment Amphibian"
- engaged in the creation, production & marketing of innovative
entertainment content and products across several platforms. Focusing
on kids, family and the young at heart, the genres most pertinent
to the big red frog team are health, the fight against obesity,
fitness, food, adventure, fun, sport and leisure. Brand led and
content driven, the company is focused on high-end production, innovative
approaches and unique creative projects within the 'Lifestyle' genre.
Snigglezoo
Entertainment produces "The Money Mammals," which
teaches kids 2-6 about the value of money. Kids learn to "Share
& Save & Spend Smart Too!"
Storytellin'
Time welcomes you to a world of storytelling for young and old
where you can learn to enjoy and foster a love of story using props,
puppets and storytelling resources.
WonderWorld
Films is a film and video production company specializing in
poetry on video.
MEMBER
NEWS
****************************************************
Congratulations
to Author/illustrator Mo Willems and Weston Woods Studios
Knuffle Bunny, the DVD is based on Willems' book Knuffle
Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for
excellence in children's video.
Congratulations
to Al Gore
Al Gore has received a nomination for the Nobel
Peace Prize and his KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival Title, An
Inconvenient Truth, on the perils of global warming, scored
two Oscar nominations for best documentary feature and best
original song. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased
that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that
movies really can make a difference." - Al Gore
Congratulations
to Karma Cafe
Karma Cafe received several awards recently...best short (Flickering
Image film Festival), honorable mention (Beverly Hills hi-def Film
Festival), and honorable mention (Smogdance Film Festival).
Congratulations
to Binta and the Great Idea
These are the first Academy Award nominations for Javier Fesser
and Luis Manso. Read
More
Sony
Pictures Home Entertainment Unveils Zoom: Academy for Superheroes
on DVD February 13, 2007.
Leaping in a single bound from the graphic novel to the silver screen,
starring Tim Allen (The Santa Clause films, Galaxy Quest), Courtney
Cox (TV¹s ³Friends,² Scream
1, 2 and 3), Chevy Chase (National Lampoon¹s Vacation), and
Spencer Breslin (TV¹s ³Two and a Half Men,² The Shaggy
Dog), Zoom: Academy for Superheroes promises thrills, justice, and
family fun for all!
NEST
Family Learning And Discovery Education Team Up To Engage
Students With Video Content In The Classroom
This partnership will provide more than 30 million teachers and
students across the country with NEST learning tools through
the Discovery Education unitedstreaming online digital service.
Discovery Education unitedstreaming will add The Animated Hero Classic
collection from NESTto its digital media library of more than
4,500 full-length educational videos. The animated stories will
be divided into content-specific segments and made available for
streaming into schools and libraries across America.
MEDIA
NEWS and CONTESTS
********************************************
National
Student Television Awards - Deadline February 16th
All entries must have been originally broadcast, cablecast or webcast
within the National Awards Eligibility Period from February 1, 2006
to January 31, 2007. Applicants must be currently enrolled as a
full time student as of the application deadline (Feb 16, 2007).
The seven Award for Excellence categories include (1) News, (2)
Arts & Entertainment/Cultural Affairs, (3) Documentary, (4)
Sports, (5) Hubbard Family Public Affairs/Community Service/Public
Service, (6) Technical Achievement, and (7) Writing. For more information
visit: www.nationalstudent.tv
DreamWorks
Animation and Wallace & Gromit Creators, Aardman Animations,
Split
The split appears to be mutual with both sides acknowledging their
success and owning up to their differences. Read
More
Sidney
Sheldon Passed Away
During his extensive career he wrote several Broadway musicals,
screenplays and televisions series, in addition to a multitude of
novels. His television career included producer of The Patty Duke
Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and Hart to Hart, in addition to a number
of his novels produced as made-for TV movies including Rage of Angels,
Bloodline and Memories of Midnight. Read
More
American
Library Association announces literary award winners.
FAMILY
AND PARENTING NEWS
********************************************
Check out Photos
From Mary Maitlin Mouser's Visit to USA KidFilm in Dallas
http://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/html/press.htm
PBS Kids Sprout
Celebrates Valentine's Day
Sprout's Special Valentine Delivery will be a 12-hour event on Wednesday,
February 14, 6a-6p.
Current Events
for Your Children
NEWS
FLASH FIVE,
a pioneering Web site to encourage 8-11 year-olds to learn about
current events, and bring them a fresh way of receiving and
reporting news online. The announcement was made at the Television
Critics Association Press Tour.
******************************************
American Political History in Film by Christine L. Pollock
How does one
make politics and history exciting and inspiring for children? Filmmakers
Mike Hazard, The Magic
Green School Bus: Paul Wellstone, and Gregory Ciano,Dave
and Augie's Home Movies, have figured out the magic formula
in their popular films and are willing to share it with you. Make
the children active participants.
Hazard
was a student in former Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone's college
class and was inspired by this common man who turned into a politician
for the good of the people. When the Senators career was cut
short by a tragic airplane crash, Hazard decided to do a film as
a eulogy. He contacted Mindy Holte, a teacher at Lake Country school,
a Montessori school, realizing that students could tell the story
as nobody else could.
Before filming,
only one or two children in the class had ever heard about Paul
Wellstone. Holpy began reading excerpts from Wellstones book,
The Conscience of a Liberal to acquaint them with Wellstone.
The students revolted, asking to hear the entire book. They learned
that in politics, and in person, Wellstone believed one achieves
power by being nonpartisan.
As Hazard worked
with the students, he discovered that the project resonated in unexpected
ways. More students were interested in running for the student council.
One student decided she wants to run for President and realizes
that she was born in Korea, she needs to change the Constitution
first. Another student stated that he learned to respect political
parties other than his own. He was inspired by the way Wellstone
worked for what he wanted.
Overall, kids
got the belief/feeling that they could change the way things are
and they want to make changes. They found their film deeply touched
other kids, perhaps because it was made by kids. Hazard feels that
everybody needs the positive message of the film. Apparently, the
twin cities PBS station agreed because they showed the film on Sunday,
February 4, 2007.
As
Hazard coaches children in the art of filmmaking, Ciano entertains
and educates children with a talent he cultivated as a child himself
-- puppetry. In 1999, Ciano founded Freggie Entertainment, wanting
to make history exciting. As a self-trained puppeteer and filmmaker,
Ciano remembers the days of building his first puppets by himself
and filming his first projects with his home camcorder.
Now, two of
Cianos titles, Ben
Franklin and Theodore
Roosevelt, have premiered in the KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival,
and he is also entering an agreement that will allow KIDS FIRST
to represent him as an agent with television programming directors
and such.
Both Ciano and
Hazard found that using film to make history and politics interesting
for children had the additional bonus of inspiring them personally.
An important lesson Ciano learned while working on his current film,
based on the life of George Washington, is to never give up. Washington
nearly broke down when a group of soldiers almost ruined their sneak
attack while crossing to Trenton. Washington lost his cool, as humans
do, but quickly pulled back together and marched on to win the war.
Hazard finds reaffirmation in his mission of filmmaking with students
in comments such as the one Howard Zinn, historian, states about
his film,
It is a good example of how to take a subject
that at first glance seems rather dull, and invest it with vitality,
humor, inspiration, without sacrificing serious ideas."
*******************************************
CRAFTS
AND ACTIVITIES
Dr. Toy's Tips on Use of Video by Stevanne Auerbach, PhD. /Dr.Toy
www.drtoy.com Smart Play /Smart
Toys (www.educationalinsights.com)
Valentines
Showing
affection is important for children. Children easily communicate
often and happily with teddy bears, soft dolls, or other plush friends.
When they are ready and old enough to take on the responsibility,
another good way to express affection and practice responsibility
is to learn to care for pets. Be sure to monitor this activity to
assure the pet is being well cared for and the child is showing
plenty of affection. In each of these areas you can help your child
by using media like videos and CDs to complement all these activities.
A great KIDS FIRST!® title that demonstrates this is Strawberry
Shortcake: Best Pets Yet.
Craft
- Paper Plate Owl. -- Not really a pet, but instills an appreciation
of animals.
Materials: Paper plate, 2 buttons for eyes (or circles of construction
paper), scissors, stapler or tape, brown construction paper
For instructions,
go to craft
page.
KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival Schedule
********************************************************************
Films from our
KIDS FIRST!® Film Festivals travel around the country where
more than 100 local venues host screenings of them throughout the
year. More than 10,000 screenings will take place in these venues
annually. To find out what is being played in a venue near you,
go to www.kidsfirst.org/fest.
Other
Events
February 16th
Deadline. National Student Television Awards. All entries must have
been originally broadcast, cablecast or webcast within the National
Awards Eligibility Period from February 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007.
Applicants must be currently enrolled as a full time student as
of the application deadline (Feb 16, 2007) Read
More.
March 24-28,
2007. Johannesburg, South Africa. 5th
World Summit on Media for Children 2007, Media as a Tool for
Global Peace and Democracy. The Children and Broadcasting Foundation
for Africa (CBFA) is to host the 5th World Summit on Media for Children.
The event is expected to bring together around one thousand delegates
plus some 300 teenagers. Unlike past Summits on Media for Children,
the youngsters will be taking official part in the main plenary
sessions.
March 30. University
of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. The theme of the 5th
Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference is "The Mass
Media, Children, and Values." Description: "The growing
media literacy movement has helped children and youth to become
more media literate for many years now, with a major emphasis upon
accessing, analyzing, and evaluating the many complex messages presented
through the mass media, particularly advertising in its many forms
and formats. The rapid spread of new technology devices and techniques
have had a great impact upon the types and extent of mass media
exposure in todays youth culture, including cell phones, voice
and text messaging, ipods, blogs, MySpace, Facebook, ebay, video
games, etc. But what impact has all of this mass media exposure
and technology had on children and youth in terms of their thinking,
choices, priorities, actions
and their values?"
June 23-27.
St. Louis, Missouri. The biannual National
Media Education Conference (NMEC), hosted by the Alliance for
a Media Literate America, is the largest, oldest and most comprehensive
professional conference for teachers, academics, youth advocates,
health professionals and media activists to learn about media literacy
education. The first annual Media
Literacy Education Research Summit is a pre-conference event
held June 23 and 24, immediately prior to the NMEC. The Summit will
host an international group of experts from a diverse array of fields
who will convene to review the existing research evidence about
the efficacy of media literacy education and to develop a research
agenda for the future.
July 9-13, 2007.
Ithaca, NY. Project Look
Sharp is offering its 9th annual summer institute. This 5-day
intensive media literacy workshop includes both the theory of media
literacy and hands-on practice with digital/computer technology
(Mac-based). The institute takes place on the campus of Ithaca College,
Ithaca, New York, and inexpensive on-campus housing is available.
Limit of 18 participants. More
information.
SPECIAL
OFFERS:
KIDS FIRST!®
Cares
Through the combined efforts of Corporations for Character, KIDS FIRST!®, and your generous donation, we can fulfill our mission
to provide positive, encouraging movies into each of more than one
million children's hospital beds. This effort will provide entertainment
for children while they are confined in a hospital. To support KIDS FIRST!® Cares, go to www.kidsfirstcares.org.
All credit card transactions are secure.
********************************************************************
Become a Coalition for Quality Children's Media Member
If you've found our e-zine and web site helpful, please consider
becoming a member of KIDS FIRST!® Members help underwrite the
various projects of this organization. The Coalition for Quality
Children's Media relies on the generous support of its members and
donors to support its programs. An individual/family membership
is only $25/year. An organizational membership is $100/year. An
independent producer membership is $200. To join, go to: http://www.kidsfirst.org
or contact our office at 505.989.8076 or KIDS FIRST!®.
VISIT
OUR MEMBERS' SITES ******************
Please visit our website for an up-to-date list of Coalition members
by clicking here: http://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/html/whomem.htm.
IF YOU FIND THIS NEWSLETTER USEFUL ... FORWARD IT TO FRIENDS AND
FAMILY ****************
This
newsletter may be reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2002 by Coalition for Quality Children's Media, http://www.kidsfirst.org
ABOUT
CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!®
******************************************
KIDS FIRST!® is the not-for-profit Coalition for Quality Children's
Media's initiative that evaluates and rates children's media - videotapes,
CD-ROMs and television - using a highly acclaimed method that has
been praised by parents and educators alike. It utilizes professionally
designed criteria and evaluation tools and engages a volunteer jury
comprising child development professionals, teachers and parents
nationwide and children of diverse geographic, socioeconomic and
ethnic backgrounds. KIDS FIRST!® endorsed titles appeal to people
around the world and include many programs on topics important to
children's development. KIDS FIRST!® -endorsed titles are available
on CQCM's award-winning Internet site, in the KIDS FIRST!® Film Festival and in reviews we provide to more than 75 publications.
CQCM
evaluates feature films, television programs, videos, CD-ROM, DVDs
and audio recordings. For an application form and application deadlines,
visit our website at http://www.kidsfirst.org,
call our office (505.989.8076).
Coalition for Quality Children's Media, 112 W. San Francisco St. , Suite 305A, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
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