February 2008

Program Descriptions

March 2008

February 2008

MARCH 2008 CABLE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Action Algebra – Action Algebra is aligned to the 8^th grade and Algebra 1 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, which are tested on all three high school level TAKS. This program will feature Algebra's use in styles, pleasures and rewards of being involved in music. Art Osborne, better known as “Mr. Bandman, is an award Winning published Author, Composer and an Educator living in Dallas, Texas. (Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday 5:30 p.m., Thursday 7:30 p.m.)

After School Algebra Show Encore! – Rebroadcast interactive programs for students' grades 9-12. Produced by HISD Math Department.

• Fact Families - (Monday - 11:15 p.m.)
• Graphs – (Tuesday 11:15 p.m.)
• Sweet Heart Math – (Wednesday 11:15 p.m.)
• Symmetry & Transformations – (Thursday 11:15 p.m.)

American Passage:

• Utopian Promise – This program explores the lasting influence that the Puritans and Quakers had upon the American identity. (Monday 11:30 p.m.)
• Spirit of Nationalism – This program explores the Enlightenment, which brought new ideals and a new notion of self to the American colonies. (Tuesday 11:30 p.m.)
• Slavery & Freedom – This program examines the classic slave narratives of Harriet Jacobs and Frederick Douglass and the fiction of Harriet Beecher Stowe. (Wednesday 11:30 p.m.)
• Regional Realism – This program compares Mark Twain's depiction of Southern vernacular culture to that of Charles Chestnutt and Kate Chopin, and in doing so, introduces the hallmarks of American Realism. (Thursday 11:30 p.m.)
• Social Realism – This program presents the authors of the American Gilded Age, such as Edith Wharton, and juxtaposes them with social realists like Anzia Yezierska. (Friday 11:30 p.m.)

Beliefs & Visions– Discusses issues and events important to parents, students and the community hosted by former Board President Manuel Rodriguez Jr. (Monday 12:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. {Spanish}, Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. & 9:30 p.m., & Sunday 7:30 p.m.)

CATE Show – (Thursday 10:30 p.m.)

Colonial Williamsburg Series: Rebroadcast of electronic field trips exploring our early American heritage. Watch as they rediscover the secrets of the 18^th century builders. (Sunday 3:00 p.m.)

A Conversation with our Superintendent - Superintendent of Schools Dr. Abelardo Saavedra talks about the challenges and plans for the future of the Houston Independent School District. (Wednesday 7:30 p.m.)

Discovering Psychology

• Motivation & Emotion – A review of what researchers are discovering about why we act and feel as we do, from the exhilaration of love to the agony of failure. (Monday 10:00 a.m.)
• The Mind Awake & Asleep– The nature of sleeping, dreaming, and altered states of consciousness, and how consciousness empowers us to interpret, analyze, and direct our behavior in adaptive, flexible ways. (Tuesday 10:00 a.m.)
• The Mind Hidden & Divided – A look at how the events and experiences that take place below the level of consciousness alter our moods, bias our actions, and affect our health as demonstrated in repression, discovered and false memory syndrome, hypnosis, and split-brain cases. (Wednesday 10:00 a.m.)
• The Self – How psychologists systematically study the origins of self-identity and self-esteem, social determinants of self-conceptions, and the emotional and motivational consequences of beliefs about oneself. (Thursday 10:00 a.m.)
• Testing & Intelligence – The field of psychological assessment and the efforts of psychologists and other professionals to assign values to different abilities, behaviors, and personalities. (Friday 10:00 a.m.)

Dogan Elementary Spark Park – Spark dedication former counselor member Eleanor Tinsley in attendance. The principal welcomes the new community spark park. (Monday 10:45 p.m., Friday 10:45 p.m., Saturday 12:30 p.m.)

The Earth Revealed: This series shows the physical and scientific processes that shape our planet. From earthquakes and volcanoes to the creation of sea-floor crusts and shifting river courses, this series offers stunning visuals that explain plate tectonics and other geologic concepts and principles. Follow geologists in the field as they explore the primal forces of the Earth.

• Earth's Structures – (Tuesday 11:00 a.m.)
• Earthquakes – (Wednesday 11:00 a.m.)
• Geologic Time – (Thursday 11:00 a.m.)
• Evolution Through Time – (Friday 11:00 a.m.)

End of the Day Gourmet – Co-Production by ARAMARK Food Service & Houston Independent School District Chef Robert Maccarone shows parents quick nutritious and creative meals for their families. (Monday 6:45 p.m.)

Fine Arts Friday – Performances by HISD school children. (Monday-Saturday @ 1:00 p.m., Sunday 10:30 p.m.)

Fun-A-Licious Kid's Club– Positive Pre-K thru Third Grade lifestyles in HISD. (Saturday 9:30 a.m. & Friday 11:30 a.m.)

Heritage Road – (Sunday 10:17 p.m.)

HISD Counselor Training – (Monday 9:00 p.m.)

HISD News Today - Daily activities, events in HISD schools are featured. (Monday - Sundays 8:00 a.m., 12:00 Noon, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. also Monday-Thursday 11:00 p.m.)

HISD Pages of History – A compilation of programs describing schools of the past. (Tuesday 7:00 p.m.)

HISD Perspectives - A magazine of current activities in the Houston Independent School District (Monday 7:00 p.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m., Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 p.m., Sunday 7:00 p.m.)

HISD Sports – A new thirty-minute weekly sports program highlighting local schools produced by Terry Burdick of Internet Athletics and the HISD Athletic Department. (Wednesday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m.)

HISD Success Stories - People and programs that are making a difference... the inner-workings of what works in HISD. (Tuesday 8:00 p.m., Friday 12:30 p.m., Sunday 8:00 p.m.)

HSPVA: Performance by the High School for Performance and Visual Arts students'.

• HSPVA Mariachi – (Thursday 6:45 p.m.)

In Search of the Novel: Discover creative strategies for effectively bringing novels to life for middle and high school students, featuring the words and works of 10 novelists. Produced by the Educational Film Center. 2000.

• Who Owns the Novel – (Monday 3:00 p.m.)
• What's the Story – (Tuesday 3:00 p.m.)
• Are Novels Real? – (Wednesday 3:00 p.m.)
• Where Do Novels Come From – (Thursday 3:00 p.m.)
• Why Do I Have to Read This Book – (Friday 3:00 p.m.)

Kennedy Center for Theater Arts – Performance and discussion centered on the arts and the classics. (Saturday & Sunday 4:00 p.m.)

• Robotopia Rising – Author of Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots, Tim Hornyak takes students on a historical journey detailing the rise of robots in Japan during this discussion and demonstration program. Students take a virtual tour of the robot exhibition, a part of JAPAN! culture + hyper-culture at the Kennedy Center, featuring some of Japan's most popular robots. Students also meet two researchers who have made remarkable progress in the field of robotics: Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro and Robo Garage's creator Tomotaka Takahashi. (Sunday 9:00 a.m.)

Kid Fit – An elementary workout and nutritious program hosted by Candy San Pedro/North Region Office produced by the Houston ISD Instructional Media Services. (Thursday 11:30 a.m., Saturday 12:30 p.m.)

Lexiles for Learning - Join the two co-creators of the Lexile Framework for Reading as they discuss with a panel of HISD educators how teachers can best implement Lexiles into the classroom and how parents can help their children become successful readers. (Monday 4 p.m., Wednesday 4 p.m.)

Marzano's High Yield Strategies – (Saturday 8:00 p.m.)

Math-A-Letics – A fun and exciting mathematics program designed to help K-6 students understand mathematical concepts. (Monday – Saturday 5:00 p.m., Thursday 7:00 p.m.)

Meet the Author – Noted authors share their approach to research, writing and publications. (Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., Thursday 8:00 p.m.)

My Math Plus – (Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m., Wednesday 12:30 p.m.)

NASA Education Hour – (Monday – Friday 4:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. & Sunday 10:30 a.m.)

NASA Programming – A variety of shows including daily launches and educational studies. (Sunday 12:30 p.m.)

News Writing:

• Broadcast News Writing – Compares broadcast and print journalism, and follows a young reporter as he assembles a daily news package. (Monday 6:00 p.m.)
• Public Relations Writing – Demonstrates the interaction of journalists and PR people. (Tuesday 6:00 p.m.)
• Beyond the Summary Lead – Encourages novice writers to explore creative introductory styles, including anecdotal, quote, questions, narrative, and direct address leads.. (Wednesday 6:00 p.m.)
• Feature Writing Styles - Explores the differences among feature news, soft features, and advocacy journalism. (Thursday 6:00 p.m.)
• Column Writing & Editorial Writing – Reveals the relationships among hard news writing, opinion writing journalistic critique, and column writing. (Friday 6:00 p.m.)
• Covering Disasters – Demonstrates the use of journalism's basic principles in crisis situations and under deadline pressure. (Saturday 6:00 p.m.)
• The Ethics of Journalism – Introduces a reporter's on-the-job ethical challenges. One reporter demonstrates real-life ethical decision making as she covers a controversial local story. (Sunday 6:00 p.m.)

Parents Guides to TAKS Testing - (Monday 2:00 p.m., & Saturday 2:00 p.m.-English) (Tuesday 2:00 p.m. & Saturday 3:00 p.m.-Spanish)

Positively Parents - Produced by the HISD Department of Parent Engagement, the series is designed to strengthen the relationship between parents and the schools. Marybelle Perez will acquaint parents with the various avenues of involvement available throughout the year. (Wednesday 7:00 p.m.)

Power of Place:

• Challenges in the Hinterlands – Andalucia: Developments in the Hinterlands- Spanish Andalucia struggle to move beyond tourism and agriculture to integrate with Europe's heartland. Iceland: Edge of the Habitable World-At the borders of the habitable world, Iceland must balance sustainable fish harvests with social costs. (Monday 10:30 a.m.)
• Northwest Contrast – St. Petersburg: Russia's Window on the West – What challenges continue to face this Russian port in post-Soviet society? Vologda: Russian Farming in Flux-How have previously state-owned collective farms changed with privatization? (Tuesday 10:30 a.m.)
• Holding the Hinterlands – Dagestan: Caucuses Disconnect?-The ethnically diverse, Islamic republic of Dagestan contrasts with neighboring Chechnya where rebels fight for independence. Bratsk: The Legacy of Central Planning-Communist ambitions creates the world's largest hydro-electric project followed by a Russian city in the middle of Siberia. (Wednesday 10:30 a.m.)
• A Challenge for Two Old Cities – Lanzhou: Confluence of Cultures-We travel to the frontiers of Han and Muslim China in the city of Lanzhou. Shenyang: Hope for Chin's Rust Belt?-A previously dynamic industrial city continues to struggle with modernizing its manufacturing infrastructure. (Thursday 10:30 a.m.)
• The Mainland – Laos: Isolated Heart-Laos is emerging from isolation to join the global economy as an exporter of hydroelectric power. Vietnam: Fertile Dreams-As the world's second largest rice exporter, Vietnam's booming economy is evident in the explosive growth of Ho Chi Minh City. (Friday 10:30 a.m.)

Primary Sources:

• Common Sense and The American Revolution: The Power of the Printed Word – This workshop explores the power and importance of America's first “best-seller.” Using the language of ordinary people, Thomas Paine's Common Sense called for revolution, challenging many assumptions about government and the colonies' relationship with England. (Wednesday 2:00 p.m.)
• The Lowell System: Women in a New Industrial Society – In the earliest days of American industry, the Boston Manufacturing company created an innovative, single-location manufacturing enterprise at Lowell that depended on the recruitment of female mill workers. This workshop debates the impact of this new form of employment on workers-for better or for worse. (Thursday 2:00 p.m.)
• Concerning Emancipation: Who Freed the Slaves? – This workshop examines the role of the enslaved in bringing about he end of slavery in the United States in relation to the role that Lincoln played. (Friday 2:00 p.m.)

Region Focus –This is a new program, produced in both English and Spanish will highlight schools and activities important to the Region Offices. (Tuesday 7:30 p.m., Thursday 12:30 p.m., Friday 11:00 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. & 9:30 p.m.)

Reporté de HISD - A discussion of programs of interest to Spanish-speaking parents (Monday 7:30 p.m., Tuesday 11:30 a.m., Friday 7:00 p.m.)

Rice/HISD Elementary Model Science Lab – Elementary teachers throughout the district learn methods to engage their students in the science classroom. Calibration between Rice University & HISD. (Wednesday 6:45 p.m.)

Science Faction – Hands on science lessons for all ages. (Tuesday –Friday 8:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m., Monday –Thursday 8:45 p.m.)

Special World of Butterflies – (Thursday 6:45 p.m.)

State of the Schools 2008 – A presentation by Superintendent Dr. Abelardo Saavedra to the Community. (Monday 1:00 a.m., Tuesday 9:00 p.m., Saturday 7:00 p.m., Sunday 5:00 p.m.)

Summer Leadership Institute Keynote Series: Keynote speakers from 2007 Summer Leadership Institute discuss the benefits and methods of implementing Professional Learning Communities in HISD schools.

• Doug Reeves – (Wednesday 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 p.m.)
• Fenwick English – (Thursday 9:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 p.m.)
• Rick Stiggens – (Friday 9:00 p.m.)

Teaching Reading K-2:

• Building Oral Language – Cindy Wilson's kindergarten class promotes oral language development and individual responsibility. The Chinese-and English-speaking students take leadership roles, guiding classmates through daily routines. Through hands-on activities, the students explore celebrations of Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year. (Monday 9:30 a.m.)
• Thalia Learns the Details – As the school year starts, Thalia Valdez-a kindergartner at a bilingual school-is beginning to get excited about letters. With the support of her teacher, Jim St. Clair, Thalia steadily learns the basics of reading and writing, such as one-to-one word correspondence, letter sounds, and left-to-right text. Using fine motor skills, she adds text to her inventive drawings. (Tuesday 9:30 a.m.)
• Connecting Skills to Text – Learning to read in Charmon Evans's first-grade classroom is skills-oriented and fun. Students interact with a talking puppet or are contestants in the Word Wall Game Show. Ms. Evans balances skill development-phonemic awareness, phonics, and sight word identification-with authentic reading and writing tasks to encourage a love of learning.
• (Wednesday 9:30 a.m.)
• Promoting Readers as Leaders – Valerie Kostandos believes all her first-grade students should take on the role of leader. They take attendance, help each other discover character motivation in a text, and make decisions about when they need support in reading. Ms. Kostandos makes sure students understand the purpose behind each lesson. (Thursday 9:30 a.m.)
• Students Making Choices – Becky Pursley's first-grade students have a broad range of reading levels. She uses a workshop approach to meet individual needs and provide choices. Students can read books or poems, draw and write about a book, work at a classroom center, or participate in readers' theatre. She stresses purposeful instruction and close assessment. (Friday 9:30 a.m.)

TV Smarts – (Thursday 10:17 p.m.)

U.S. Department of Education – (Tuesday 10:00 p.m., Sunday 2:00 p.m.)

World Tour of Language: Learning beginning Spanish and Japanese.

• Japanese Lessons 11-15 – (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.)
• French Lessons 11-15 – (Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m.)

Comcast Cable channel 18; Phonoscope channel 76;

TV Max channel 96; Suddenlink Cable channel 18
(check your local listings)