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‘Rise and Shine,’ Arkansas Teachers of the Year share tips along with Arkansas PBS summer learning series

Posted 18 Jul 2022

Series to help students gain key knowledge between school years continues

featuring summer learning tips from Arkansas Teachers of the Year

CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — “Rise and Shine,” a fun summer learning broadcast series designed to help K-5 students gain knowledge that aligns with Arkansas academic standards, continues on Arkansas PBS weekdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. To help keep the learning going all summer long at home, some of the Arkansas Teachers of the Year who are hosting the series and other guest teachers have offered these tips:

Jessica Saum, 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year:

• Find time to read or listen to a story read every day.
• It is also so important to get outside and be active, ideally for an hour each day. Consider a family walk, playing with a pet, riding a bike or scooter, or playing in the sprinkler and other water to stay cool.
• Learning in the summer should be fun and as active as possible.

Susanna Post, 2021 Arkansas Teacher of the Year:

• Ask your child what they need to work on before they return to class in the fall.
• Set goals together for what they will work on each day, and acknowledge their work.
• If you need ideas for setting learning goals, you can always start with memorizing math facts, the “Rise and Shine” Power Packets, or a math activity book.
• The most important part is that your child is doing something every day to keep their minds engaged and out of the summer slump.

Stacey McAdoo, 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year:

• Turn your vehicle into a mobile classroom – every ride in it (be it around the corner, to the store or on an extended road trip) becomes a learning experience.
• Print off the “Arkansas Refrigerator Curriculum” for the grades the children have just finished and the ones they are entering.

Randi House, 2018 Arkansas Teacher of the Year:

• Visit the local library a few times over the summer to either borrow books or attend some of the incredible activities they have planned daily to keep students engaged and learning over summer. 

 Lady Molina, Guest Teacher:

• Create a weekly schedule, but be sure to set realistic expectations for your office hours, meals, pool time and whatever else you plan.
• Try not to feel guilty about working from home during the summer or taking care of the kids – you’re a working parent, which sometimes means your kids take priority over work and vice versa.

Trey Suskie, Guest Teacher:

• Get outside, reduce screen time and promote critical thinking by observing and investigating the outdoors.

Each weekday, students can tune in to “Rise and Shine” for lessons led by Arkansas Teachers of the Year and featuring virtual field trips with partners across the state. Field trips for week two include:

• Yoga with instructor Jo Ann Camp teaching basic yoga poses and why yoga is important.
• Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs to learn about the new dinosaur exhibit and conduct an experiment.
• Klipsch Museum of Audio History in Hope to learn about Paul Klipsch and speakers throughout history.
• Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock to learn step by step how to make a pottery vase.
• Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff to learn about the history of and some interesting facts about the railroad.

Field trips for week three will include:

• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at Dry Run Creek in Mountain Home to learn about fly fishing.
• Sunset Farms Sanctuary to learn about a few of the 141 animals that are cared for on the farm.
• Royal Theater in Benton to learn about all of the different aspects of a live play production.
• Young Chef’s Academy in Rogers to learn step by step how to make focaccia bread.
• Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden in Little Rock to learn all about the sculptures with tour guide, Nancy.

Other special segments throughout the week will include science with "Wendy Weather Balloon,” nutrition information with “Zach Lunch,” Mr. Steve, The Music Man music videos, “When I Was a 3rd Grader” animated shorts and spelling practice in “Spelling Bs With Benji and Bart.” 

In addition to broadcast, the programming is now available on-demand through streaming devices, the Engage Arkansas PBS app and on the Arkansas PBS website. More information about the “Rise and Shine” program, including PDFs of the Power Packets to download and the request form to receive printed Power Packets by mail for weeks 4-6, is available at myarpbs.org/riseandshine.

For photos of the program, visit myarpbs.org/riseandshinephotos.

About “Rise and Shine”

Consisting of more than 90 hours of high quality programming including mini-lessons from Arkansas Teachers of the Year, “Rise and Shine” segments are grounded in the learning targets provided by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. With  original songs,  original digital shorts, more than 30 field trip segments and dozens of mini-lesson segments featuring Arkansas teachers, much of “Rise and Shine” is locally produced. Also available are supplemental printed learning activities in both English and Spanish.

About Arkansas PBS

Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Lee Mountain) and KETS (Forrest City).

About Arkansas Department of Education

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is a division of the Arkansas Department of Education which provides leadership, support and service to schools, districts and communities so every student graduates prepared for college, career, and community engagement. For more information, visit dese.ade.arkansas.gov.

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