Prime Time; Make and Take Program

(KRMA Announcer) Every Thursday night at 9:30 on Channel Six (Moderator, Don Kinney) An update from the legislature from state house reporter Dan Taylor. A perspective on the massive airline cutbacks from Robert Michael. Those are among our topics this week on The State of Colorado. Tomorrow night at 7:30. I'm Don Kinney. Join me and our top notch guest reporters for The State of Colorado. The state of Wyoming has an above average interest in this Friday's, Profiles in American Art for Wyoming native and artist, John Klimmer is the subject. Alexander Scourby hosts Friday night at 9:30 on your station, Channel 6. (music opening for the program) (Ed Sardella, program host) Hello, I'm Ed Sardella, host for Prime Time. Each week KRMA reports on

educational programs in the Denver Public Schools, bringing you highlights of learning opportunities that involve the staff, students and community. This week Prime Time will cover some of the music and arts activities in the schools. The citywide seventh grade band in a winter concert, a play at Stedman School, and tapestry weaving at Boulevard School. Superintendent of schools, Dr. Joseph Brzezinski will discuss parent education and the preschool program with Dora Anne Von Vihl. And we'll attend a Make and Take workshop where parents learn how to make reading games for their children. The art of spinning and weaving is one of man's oldest industries, dating back to before the dawn of civilization. Although technology of the 16th century led to the development of textile factories in many parts of the world primitive spindles, distaffs, and looms still create rugs, blankets, clothing and beautiful tapestries. At Boulevard School students are studying weaving and designing pieces that will be combined into a school

tapestry. (Linda Chariton, teacher) OK what you're going to do today, is you're going to become a weaver. (Spanish words spoken) You're going to be weavers, and you're going to get to weave on all these machines. First you're going to get to weave on this small loom right here, the small loom, and then you're going to get to weave on this big tapestry over here. And this is going to be our brotherhood tapestry because you'll see that when all of you work together; we're all sort of different kinds of kids you know, we have different moms and dads, we come from different places, but when we work together we're going to make a beautiful tapestry because when you work together you can make really beautiful things happen. And over there on the wall, those are the, the beautiful tapestries that we made last week. OK now, what's this thing we're doing? What's it called? (children answering weaving) Weaving. OK. Pick a thread, take your little finger up here. OK now, this is a beautiful thread. This is the prettiest thread you ever did see. Mine is turquoise with silver lines through it. What color is your thread, Wong? (Child replies green and purple) Green and

purple. OK what color is your thread, Darby? (child replies purple) All right, OK we're gonna weave then I'm gonna go through the first line, and then you're going to go through the first line with me. Let me go first. OK, we're going to go over, Under. Over. OK, join me now. Under . . . say the words with me; over, under, over, (Children speaking) over. We're good weavers already. OK, those are the two basic things to remember. OK. (Dania Pettus, teacher) How many, how are you guys today, first of all? (children answering fine) Good. How many of you went to the stock show? (children answering) Did you see the sheep at the stock show? Well, what I have here is some wool that has been shaved or sheared off of some sheep, and I'm just passing this around, a few little pieces. And you can feel it. How does that feel? Does that feel good? Would you like to have a blanket made out of that? (Kids in unison say, No) Me either (one child says yes) You would? Don't you think it would be kinda dirty and smelly? Smell it. See what it smells like. Smells kind of yucky doesn't it? I think I'd rather have mine

cleaned and these instruments right here, who knows what these are called? Cards. Boy you guys are sure learning fast. OK what we have to do with the cards. The first thing we do is we charge the cards and charging the cards means we take this wool and we brush it across these cards. Then what we do is we take it and we comb it. How many of you have dogs at home? Boy, a lot of dogs. And do you comb your dog's hair? (children replying yeah) Yeah, and you know what, this is just like combing your dog's hair and look what happens to it. It's kind of nice and clean now isn't it? (children responding yeah) We can pull it off. And if you do this long enough; see it's nice, it's getting nice and clean. If you do that long enough, this is whats happens to it. This wool is wool that has been carded, and it's been washed. Feel how nice and soft that is. That's getting a little closer to what I

think I'd like my blanket made out of. I'll trade ya. OK. (teacher speaking spanish; translation) Divide into three groups. We're going to divide into three groups, three centers, and each of you will get a chance to go to every center. (David Pettus, parent) This is a tennis racket, an old tennis racket we had around the house and all that Mrs.

Pettus did was take some yarn, she went over, under, over, under and you can see what she made. She made a flower. All right? And this is something everybody has around their house, a soup can, or a can of some sort. And the warp was made by wrapping string around, and it was woven over, under, over, under, just like you did with your fingers around the outside of the can. Does anybody know what this is? It's not a frisbee, but it's just a plastic top. All they did was punch some holes in, tie the strings on the back, and then just wove it around, and you got a circular pattern. Yes. Here, we have an old picture frame. String was put in, and a picture has been made on it. Here's the sun. So you can see you can make a circular pattern even on a square warp. Here's a tree, real pretty tree. Doesn't look a whole lot like a tree, does it? But, use your imagination. It can be a tree and a cloud, with the hills in the back.

But this is something that's just made out of an old picture frame with some nails in it. Same way the tapestry room over on the other station, that's just some old lumber that was put together with nails. (music playing) (Dania Pettus) What's your name? (child responds Dolores), Dolores, OK, kneel down, Dolores. Instead of weaving back and forth like this, we're going to weave up and down. We're going weave with a thread that we've already woven. OK. We're going to go over this one and under that over this one (voice fades). (Chariton) By the way, you guys, I got this book at the Denver Public Library. If you go down there with your mom

maybe you can check a book out. (child speaks; teacher resumes) And I might even find Rumpelstiltskin down there. OK, so this is Rumpelstiltskin. And try to listen to the words about the weavers. OK. Listen for the, the talk about the weaver (voice fades with music) (Ed Sardella, PRIME TIME host) The meaning of words becomes clearer when dramatize in plays that tell exciting stories that stimulate the imagination. At Stedman School, the second and third grade students staged the one act melodrama, "Make Him Smile." The play told the story of a cranky landlord who threatened to evict a toy shopkeeper but the

landlord changes his mind when the dolls and toys come to life. (different children actors staging the melodrama) "Look. He isn't angry any longer." (boy actor) I should say I'm not angry any longer, how could I be angry when all you dolls have shown me how much better people can be when they jump and sing and dance. Well, I feel so good I want to jump and sing and dance. All right, let's see you." (children singing) (piano playing) (audience clapping) inaudible (laughter)

"I realize those words are rather shocking, Mrs. Bimilie. It was rather hard to explain. inaudible words Your dolls, your jolly happy dolls. God bless them." (music playing)

(Superintendent Dr. Joseph Brzeinski, Denver Public Schools) The home is the center of life for the young child. It's the first school. It's in the home that the first awareness of social relationships develops. The relationships that form the building blocks for the future. Research has shown that when the child reaches the preschool age of 3 and 4, the opportunity for childhood development is greater than ever. Childhood development is enhanced through greater socialization, through a wider variety of experiences that supplement the home environment. For parents, there is a need to develop skills and a better understanding of child rearing. Since 1934, the parent education and preschool program has been an integral part of the Denver Public Schools and here to discuss the program with us is Mrs. Dora Anne Von Vihl Mrs. Von Vihl is coordinator of the parent education and preschool program department at Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Mrs. Von Vihl, what is the purpose of the parent education and preschool program?

(Mrs. Dora Anne Von Vihl, Parent Education and PreschoolProgram Emily Griffith Opportunity School) Dr. Brzeinski I've been privileged to work with this program for a long time. And as I have been working with the groups, I find the most important thing I hear all the time is my problems aren't any different than anyone else's. And they come thinking every day problems are so out of proportion. And, when they get together and they find that, really it, it isn't such a big problem. Somebody else handled it so they can handle it. And they have the chance to expose these fears without feeling like they're inept, inept or dumb or something. (Brzeinski) How is the program organized and who can attend? (Von Vihl) Well, it's made up of parents primarily with preschool agers. However, we're finding lots and lots more of the little ones coming along with mamas and daddies. By the way, we have lots more fathers participating, and we love having them. And these parents have the opportunity to say what they want; the things they're interested in. And they pursue this in their own groups, so no

two groups are really doing the same thing at the same time. (Brzeinski) I've had some of the parents say to me that it's an excellent way to meet people and also to develop leadership skills that they can use in other organizations and throughout their life. (Von Vihl) This is so true. And they learn to do their own groups, they learn to be good leaders and they learn to present material to groups, they learn to get discussion from groups sometimes and difficult kinds of, of getting groups motivated. These are all things they learn to do, and then they go on to be leaders in their church groups or their civic organizations. We have two school board members in Jefferson County and one in Denver Public Schools that are former alumni. (Brzeinski) Great. You can see that it has done some good. Where are these meetings held? (Von Vihl) We have over 80 groups and they're in all parts of the city of Denver. And, I would imagine there's a group within walking distance of most everyone and all we need to know is where they want to go, and we'll find some place for them. (Brzeinski) How can parents enroll in the program? (Von Vihl) Well, we'd like to have

them call us. They can call the office at Steele School, and that number is 744- 3-6-7-4 or the other way is to go to the elementary school that's right in their area, and we don't have them in every school but that school will know where the closest group is. (Brzeinski) Now is there any charge for attendance for Denver residents? (Von Vihl) There is no tuition charge as such, but there is a little fee that we charge for the materials, the things that the children use, and it amounts to about four dollars for the entire school year. (Brzeinski) Well, that certainly sounds reasonable. What do you think are the most important parts of the program? (Von Vihl) I think the fact that, that it really meets each individual's needs in such a, a unique way. Each group may study, what at that time is a real issue for the group and just,

just for fun I thought you might like to know some of the things that came in from the group, groups recently. Here's one that's going to do sibling rivalry, another that's creativity and children with a speaker, school services, children in the reading process, children's fears. (Brzeinski) Well, it certainly sounds as though you've got some interesting topics, and you're inviting parents, mothers and fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers... (Von Vihl) Right. ...to get in touch with you and to join one of these groups. (Von Vihl) I certainly am, and I hope no one will ever say to me, "I wish we knew you were there." Because, it's, it's an obligation for all of us to let them know we are here. (Brzeinski) Well I've heard it's one of the best programs we have and thank you very much for being with us. (Von Vihl) You're so welcome. I appreciated coming. to welcome We appreciate it coming. (Brzeinski) Thanks. (PRIME TIME host, Ed Sardella resumes) The Gove Community School hosted a family dinner and a time to explore the pleasures of reading. Parents participated in a Make and Take workshop sponsored by the Denver Public Schools' Prime Time project. The idea is to stimulate reading

activity in families by inviting parents to select a reading game to take home and play with their children. (Dorothy Sandberg, Department of Instructional Services) We have approximately 200 reading games that reinforce and enrich the skills that are found in our reading programs. We're really very happy to be here with you tonight to share our reading games with you, because we feel that reading games are a valuable aid to increase children's reading skills in a very fun and enjoyable way. (Sardella ) The primary aim of Make and Take workshops is to enhance the reading skills of children, but they also reinforce the involvement and importance of parents in helping their children improve or increase reading efficiency. When parents join their children in game playing, their role becomes that of a friend and by creating a happy relaxed environment, learning can be fun. The games for early childhood

focus on reading readiness skills. These include the introduction to the letters of the alphabet and the beginning concepts such as up and down, in or out. Games for kindergarten through second grade emphasize beginning words. Those that rhyme and the decoding skills which are the vowels in the beginning and ending sounds of words. By the time children are in the fourth grade, they're ready for games that stress comprehension. For example, determining what is the main idea, distinguishing between fact and opinion, cause and effect relationship, inference and sequencing. For some of the games, the atlas, dictionary and other reference materials are used as learning tools. Most of these games were created by Denver teachers and the elementary reading department. They'll be more Make and Take workshops in the future at Cory, Gilpin and Gust schools. For schedule information call the Denver Public Schools Elementary Reading Department at 837-1000. A well balanced comprehensive school

curriculum stresses the basic subjects, but it also allows for the cultural growth of its students. Music education in the Denver schools discovers and nurtures creative talent and provides the opportunity for students to perform in a wide range of musical groups. The seventh grade citywide band under the direction of Stephen Gonzales is composed of 64 members, selected from the bands at 19 junior highs. At the Annual Winter Band Festival, the young musicians played Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Major by Bach and Manhattan Beach by Sousa. (playing of that music) Next week on Prime Time, we'll have highlights of an open house at Abraham Lincoln High School

where parents are encouraged to visit the classroom and see the learning activities taking place. The citywide high school symphonic band performs in a winter concert and Dr. Brzeinski will discuss the executive internship program with acting director Albert Mahevic Join us next week for Prime Time. I'm Ed Sardella. (music) (music background).

(voice of Don Kinney, KRMA) An update from the legislature from state house reporter Dan Taylor, a perspective on the massive airline cutbacks from Robert Michael. Those are among our topics this week on The State of Colorado. Tomorrow night at 7:30. I'm Don Kinney. Join me and our top notch guest reporters for The State of Colorado. (announcer)This Friday, don't miss the fun of Bill Moyers latest "Creativity" show. That's No Tomato, That's a Work of Art. Find out how the creative juices are needed in the growing and selling of the tomato, Friday evening at 9:00 on SIX. (music) Acquisition of sneak previews is made possible locally by a grant from New West Colorado

Incorporated. inaudible (voices from movie clip) (Scott Glenn) Whata ya doing? (Mariel Hemingway) Ready to give it a try. (Glenn) Good, good. Look there's no point in mincing words.

I don't want you and Tory on the field at the same time. (Hemingway) Why not? (Glenn) Let's put it this way. I don't think you can handle it. Anything to say? (Hemingway) I work out with everybody else, or I don't work out at all. (Gene Siskel) Mariel Hemingway arguing with her Olympic track coach there, Scott Glenn in Personal Best, one of four new movies we'll be reviewing this week on Sneak Previews. Across the aisle from me, Roger Ebert, film critic from The Chicago Sun Times. (Roger Ebert) Across the aisle from me is Gene Siskel, film critic of The Chicago Tribune. Along with Personal Best we'll also be reviewing Jack Nicholson's new film, The Border and a kidnap and poisonous snake thriller named Venom. Now Gene starts with the offbeat music.