The emphasis in Cursive Handwriting is on demonstration and practice of cursive letters and words. Direct instruction, letter animation, and graphics introduce letters and words that can easily be practiced by the students during and after the television lesson. Specific instruction is given for both right- and left-handed students on correct cursive writing, paper and pencil position, and posture. The letter formations shown in this series are basically similar to the Zaner-Bloser method of handwriting. The programs should be used in sequence.

Program of Studies
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Conventions, Writing Process, Writing Structure

Using humor and engaging examples, nationally known author and educator Barry Lane leads viewers through exercises to help them develop more creative writing pieces. These programs are designed for teachers to use in the classroom or to watch themselves for professional development.

Program of Studies:
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Process, Writing Structure, Writing Conventions
Technology: Research, Inquiry, Problem-solving/Innovation

Write Ideas is a series of 10 short video exercises designed to spark children’s imagination and help them find clever, enticing ideas to write about. Poet and host Aleda Shirley spent a career teaching creative writing to young people in the south, including the Jefferson County Public School System. This KET-produced series is a compact, video version of the successful techniques she used.

KY Program of Studies:
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Process, Writing Structure, Writing Conventions

More than 50 percent of the words we use today are derived from Latin. Students who want to increase their “word power” in English can do so either by studying Latin in a traditional way or by learning some basic root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Joan Jahnige, KET’s former distance learning Latin II teacher, designed this six-part series to help high school students improve vocabulary decoding skills by learning some of those basic Latin roots.

*Though designed for high school students looking toward college entrance tests, this series will also be valuable enrichment for advanced middle school students.

KY Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Technology: Information, Communication and Productivity High School; Research, Inquiry/Problem-Solving and Innovation
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

This series for high school, college, and adult learners introduces basic principles and strategies for communicating in writing to a variety of audiences and for improving general composition skills. A wide array of professionals whose work involves writing—not only authors, journalists, and teachers, but also musicians, judges, nurses, engineers, scientists, and athletes—discuss how they write with their specific audiences in mind.

Even-numbered programs in the series focus on thinking and writing strategies; odd-numbered programs cover the writing process and mechanics.

English Composition is from the Annenberg/CPB Collection.

Program of Studies
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Developing an Initial Understanding, Interpreting Text, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Technology: Research, Inquiry, Problem-solving/Innovation Information, Communication and Productivity
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Structure, Writing Conventions, Writing Process
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

Kentucky author George Ella Lyon leads a group of adult workshop participants through exercises designed to spark creativity and provide ideas for writing. Each program focuses on a specific form of writing, from poetry to the personal narrative.

Lyon is the author of the novel With a Hammer for My Heart as well as Come a Tide and other children’s books. For additional background on the writer, pair Everyday Voices with An Electronic Conversation with George Ella Lyon, in which she talks about the inspirations for her own work and her writing process.

Program of Studies:
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Structure, Writing Process, Writing Conventions
Arts and Humanities: Purposes for Creating the Arts, Processes in the Arts, Interrelationships Among the Arts
Practical Lviing/Vocational Studies: Career Awareness, Exploration, and Planning; Employability Skills
Technology: Inquiry and Research; Research, Inquiry/Problem-solving and Innovation; Information, Communication and Productivity High School
Speaking, Listening, Observing

Between the Lions opens up a world of literature and learning for children aged four to seven. Each episode centers on a book or other written material that Theo and Cleo and their cubs, Lionel and Leona, and their friends discover in the library. Some of their friends are Click the Mouse, the library’s cyborg communications expert; Cliff Hanger, a swashbuckling comic book hero who escapes from sticky situations through quick thinking and literacy skills; Tiger Words, a multi-talented sports figure who plays with vowels and consonants instead of golf balls and tees; Martha Reads and the Vowelles, a rhythm and blues group that sings only vowel sounds; and the stalwart knights of “Gawain’s World” whose jousting matches create words instead of wounds.

Scheduling Note: The distributor does not allow block feeds of this series.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

The content of this series is based on careful selection of the best available books for children. The rationale is straightforward: Children become involved in good literature by reading books with intrinsic value and interest. The programs are great motivators for children to obtain the books.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Speaking, Listening, Observing

Complementing the primary-level language arts curriculum, this series shows how folk and fairy tales promote active listening, sharpen comprehension skills, and extend vocabulary. Their simple, direct plots provide superb examples of structure, organization, and chronological sequencing and can be used to help students develop logic skills. The stories can be a springboard for teaching the analysis skills such as thinking critically, interpreting information, and predicting results. Teletales also can enhance the various social studies, as distant lands and distant times are brought near.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

This KET-produced series features Appalachian, African-American, and Native American stories told by master storytellers.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanties: Humanity in the Arts
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

Cover-to-Cover is a reading motivation series designed for today’s 3rd- and 4th-grade students. Each program gives a “taste” of a book through two readings in which scenes and characters are colorfully illustrated by artists. A cliffhanger ending piques students’ interest and promotes reading.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Intrepreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

Each year, Kentucky schoolchildren select the winners of the Bluegrass Awards by voting for their favorite recently published books. The three new Reading Room programs for 2005/06, produced by KET, promote the books on the latest list for grade levels 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. They are designed to motivate reading and discussing books by getting kids excited about rating the books they like best.

The list of books for this year, as well as past years’ winners and master lists and more information about participating in the awards project, can be found on the web site.

Each year, Kentucky schoolchildren select the winners of the Bluegrass Awards by voting for their favorite recently published books. The three new Reading Room programs for 2005/06, produced by KET, promote the books on the latest list for grade levels 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. They are designed to motivate reading and discussing books by getting kids excited about rating the books they like best.

The list of books for this year, as well as past years’ winners and master lists and more information about participating in the awards project, can be found on the web site.

Read On: Cover-to-Cover is relevant to today’s 4th and 5th graders while building on the style and charm of the past Cover-to-Cover series. Like those series, Read On uses “cliffhangers,” music, and narration to bring stories to life. However, there is a new emphasis on multicultural stories, computer graphics, and other contemporary production techniques.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

American versions of classic folktales are featured in the live-action film adaptations of From the Brothers Grimm. Each program has a different historic American setting chosen from authentic locations around the Virginia countryside. The series stimulates interest and understanding of folk literature and presents the classic folktale in an accessible format.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanities: Humanity in the Arts
Technology: Inquiry and Research; Research, Inquiry/Problem-solving and Innovation
Speaking, Listening, Observing

Host John Robbins introduces each book (one or two per program), and the narration takes viewers up to a crucial point in the story. Students must read the book to learn the ending. The goals are to introduce 5th and 6th graders to a variety of exciting and well-written books, stimulate the desire to read, broaden each student’s reading experience, expand reading abilities, and instill the simple enjoyment of leisure reading.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Speaking, Listening, Observing

Kentuckian George Ella Lyon, author of more than 20 books for children and adults, answers questions from students in this KET production, which originally aired live in May 1997. Topics include where story ideas come from, how being a Kentuckian influences her writing, writing strategies, techniques for crafting dialogue, and the relationship between words and pictures in children’s picture books.

Program of Studies
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanities: Humanity in the Arts
Writing: Writing Content
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

James Still’s River of Earth is a portrait of one of Kentucky’s most distinguished and honored writers as well as an introduction to his work; it also gives students insight into the history and culture of the Appalachian region from which that work springs. Still’s publishing career spanned 70 years and includes novels such as River of Earth, story collections such as Pattern of a Man, children’s books, collections of mountain lore and sayings, poetry collections such as The Wolfpen Poems and The Wolfpen Notebooks: A Record of Appalachian Life.

Through interviews with Still and people who knew him—including scholars, friends, and relatives—this KET production highlights the uniqueness of the man and the importance of his vision. The program also includes archival photographs; reminiscences; and readings from Still’s poetry, stories, and novels.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanities: Humanity in the Arts
Writing: Writing Content
Speaking, Listening, Observing

Join five of Kentucky’s best-loved authors—Bobbie Ann Mason, Wendell Berry, Gurney Norman, Ed McClanahan, and James Baker Hall—for a celebration of creative writing. This 90-minute special features readings the five writers gave in the fall of 2001 as part of the 50th anniversary of the University of Kentucky’s Creative Writing Program.

Educational Use: Teachers will want to preview the program in advance. It is divided into “chapters” which allows for easier use in the classroom. Visit the Living by Words web site at for additional information about all five writers, essays on Kentucky’s literary tradition, and advice from the writers.

This program has been flagged because one poem has the word “s---.”

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Intial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanities: Purposes for Creating the Arts, Humanity in the Arts, Interrelationships Among the Arts
Speaking, Listening, Observing

This KET production features discussions by a panel of readers of books written by Kentucky authors. Selections include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, history, and biography. Though the focus is on contemporary works, several Kentucky classics also have been featured since the series debuted in January 1999.

In addition to introducing a wide range of Kentucky books and authors, the bookclub@ket programs can serve as examples of how to think and talk about literature. While some of the featured books are appropriate for teaching in high school classrooms, others contain adult language and subject matter. The web site has a complete list of the selections.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanities: Humanity in the Arts
Writing: Writing Content, Writing Structure, Writing Process, Writing Conventions
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

From William Faulkner to Flannery O’Connor, Southern writers have brought distinctive voices to American literature. This KET series profiles five Kentucky writers as well as an Appalachian writer with close ties to the state who are helping to continue that tradition of originality. These portraits of artists in mid-career—Barbara Kingsolver, Bobbie Ann Mason, Ed McClanahan, Marsha Norman, Lee Smith, and George C. Wolfe—humanize and demystify the creative process. Biography, process, and performance come into play as we learn where writers come from, how they go about their work, and how they perform, or read, their own work.

Each program features interviews with the writer as well as colleagues, friends, relatives, and critics; visits to places that have figured in or inspired the writer’s work; and readings from that work. The teacher’s guide includes biographical information, a short bibliography on each writer, and ideas for writing activities for students.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanties: Humanity in the Arts
Practical Living/Vocational Education: Career Awareness, Exploration, Planning
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

Young writers talk about writing with Ed McClanahan and Bobbie Ann Mason, two of the six writers featured in KET’s Signature series, in these two programs taped live before a KET studio audience of high school and college students.

Program of Studies:
Reading: Forming a Foundation, Interpreting Text, Developing an Initial Understanding, Reflecting and Responding to Text, Demonstrating a Critical Stance
Arts and Humanties: Humanity in the Arts
Practical Living/Vocational Studies: Career Awareness, Exploration, Planning
Speaking, Listening, and Observing

Six of America’s most memorable poets are portrayed in these programs, originally produced for a college-level telecourse. Nobel Prize winner Joseph Brodsky, writer Mary McCarthy, the late author James Baldwin, and poet Adrienne Rich join other notable writers, scholars, and performers in exploring the work, lives, and times of individual poets. Drama, dance, performances, interviews, archival footage, on-location cinematography, and recordings of poets reading their own works heighten appreciation and understanding of the literary texts.

Programs 105 and 106 have been flagged for content and/or language. KET strongly encourages teachers to preview these programs. Call or e-mail KET Education, (800) 432-0951, ext. 7261, for more information.