Newaygo County Parents as Teachers Project

WGVU has entered into a unique partnership with Newaygo County Parents as Teachers (PAT), with the financial support of the Gerber Foundation, Newaygo County RESA and an anonymous donor.

Newaygo County PAT trainers visit 400 families with children between 0-8 years monthly. During a winter 2007 visit the PAT trainer demonstrates to the parent the use of the PBS Ready to Learn “Learning Triangle-View/Read/Do.” Through active participation, parents learn how and why to use educational television in appropriate ways, follow up with books and stories, and do simple educational activities, with their children to help prepare them for success in school. Parents are introduced to PBS Web sites for parents and children. During each visit the family will receive an age appropriate book for their child.

In a follow-up visit the PAT trainers will discuss any barriers that parents have encountered in implementing the Learning Triangle and how to over come them. In the third visit the PAT trainer will give a brief survey to assess the effectiveness of the training.