07/05/2022
Curriculum focused, locally produced content features Arkansas Teachers of the Year, guest teachers, statewide virtual field trips
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Season Two of “Rise and Shine,” an extensive educational program designed to boost summer learning and offer K-5 students an engaging way to gain academic knowledge between school years, will kick off Tuesday, July 5, on Arkansas PBS. The six-week program airing weekdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch will feature lessons grounded in Arkansas academic standards and led by Arkansas teachers to reinforce learning in literacy, math, science and social studies.
Season Two of “Rise and Shine,” a partnership of Arkansas PBS and the Arkansas Department of Education, will consist of national PBS KIDS educational programming, as well as more than 90 hours of high-quality, predominantly locally produced programming and resources available at no cost to families. The over-the-air broadcast of “Rise and Shine” will help fill the void for students who do not have internet access outside of school. The full schedule for week one – including hand-picked PBS KIDS episodes, teacher segments and more – can be found at myarpbs.org/riseandshine.
The six-week series will connect students with mini-lessons led by the following Arkansas Teachers of the Year:
- Jessica Saum, 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Susanna Post, 2021 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Joel Lookadoo, 2020 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Stacey McAdoo, 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Randi House, 2018 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Courtney Cochran, 2017 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
- Meghan Ables, 2016 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
Additionally, two new guest teachers – Trey Suskie and Lady Molina – will host special segments.
Each weekday students will be taken on a virtual field trip with partners across the state. Field trips for week one will include:
- Little Rock Zoo to learn about snakes.
- Petit Jean State Park to learn about the history and the sites of the park.
- Arkansas Travelers to learn about all the different jobs it takes to make a baseball game work.
- Little Rock Rangers to learn all about how to be a great fan for the Little Rock Rangers Soccer Cub.
- City of Conway Recycling to learn about the importance of recycling and where all the trash goes.
Other special segments throughout the week will include science with "Wendy Weather Balloon”; nutrition information with “Zach Lunch”; Steve the Music Man music videos; “When I was a 3rd Grader” animated shorts; and a new segment “Spelling B’s with Benji and Bart.”
In addition to broadcasts, the programming will be available on-demand through streaming devices, the Engage Arkansas PBS app and on the Arkansas PBS website. A robust community outreach component will localize the effort in all counties. More information is available at myarpbs.org/riseandshine.
Families and organizations are encouraged to download “Rise and Shine” Power Packets – free summer learning activity kits that follow along with the series – to help extend learning beyond the broadcast. Power Packets are available in English and Spanish and can be downloaded at myarpbs.org/riseandshine.
For photos of the program, visit myarpbs.org/riseandshinephotos.
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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