🍎May is Mental Health Awareness Month

In this issue:

Community Education: Libraries
Youth Mental Health
PD: Trauma-Informed Teachers
PD: The Startup Teacher Playbook
10-minute STEM Survey for Educators
On Our Minds Podcast, Season 2
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness
Upcoming Events
Space Scouts game and app

Nature Cat is visiting Boise, Meridian, Glenns Ferry, and Gooding in May. See Upcoming Events below.

Community Education: Libraries and STEM

Wow, April was a whirlwind for Community Education at Idaho Public Television! In the past month's outreach, I interacted with more than 1,200 kids and adults in 22 communities in southwest, central, and north Idaho.

Here are some highlights:

I traveled to north Idaho for National Library week, hosting storytime and STEM activities at Priest Lake, Post Falls, Hayden, Pinehurst, and Coeur d’Alene. During this trip I also got to visit libraries in Priest River, Spirit Lake, Kellogg, Osburn, Wallace, Rathdrum, St. Maries, Fernwood, and Moscow.

I also shared IdahoPTV and PBS KIDS resources or STEM activities at:

virtual storytime with Moscow Public Library
Pepper Ridge Elementary STEM Night
IDAEYC’s Day of the Young Child event
PBS KIDS Scratch Jr with Caldwell’s 21 Century Learning Classrooms

I ended the month by attending Idaho STEM Ecosystem’s spring convention in Lewiston, where more than 50 other STEM enthusiasts across Idaho gathered to learn more about what our partners are doing to move the needle forward on STEM education in our state.

—Trisha Mick, Community Education Specialist, IdahoPTV

Summer STEM in Glenns Ferry

Glenns Ferry Public Library Beyond the Books Bus brings resources to rural communities

I traveled to Glenns Ferry for the unveiling of the public library's new Beyond Books Bus. I'll be visiting the bus at a few stops this summer to host STEM programs.

Glenns Ferry Public Library received a generous grant through Idaho Commission for Libraries’ ARPA funds to purchase a bus to extend library services to Hammett, King Hill and others. —Trisha Mick

May is Mental Health Month

Several collections of youth mental health resources for teachers are available on PBS LearningMedia.

PD: Trauma-Informed Teachers

Being a trauma-informed teacher is critical because Idaho is the fifth highest in the nation for children with three or more ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

Three webinars focus on self care and mental wellness, trauma-informed classrooms, and practical applications and ideas for managing trauma in the classroom.

PD: The Startup Teacher Playbook Virtual Book Study

Back by popular demand is IdahoPTV's summer virtual book study for teachers!

From June 14 to July 12, we'll meet every Tuesday for two hours on Zoom. Earn 1 professional development credit for participating and a FREE copy of the book!

Space is limited so register now to reserve a spot.

10-minute SURVEY:

Idaho STEM EcosySTEM Professional Development Needs

Formal and Informal Educators: What type of professional development is valuable to you?

If you could design an ideal training, what would it look like?

The Idaho STEM EcosySTEM Educator Preparation, Training, and Support working group has created a survey to get a better understanding of professional development needs for formal and informal educators in our state.

Thank you for your time and for all that you do for Idaho's learners.

Help us understand what you need and want out of professional development.

Start Survey

On Our Minds Podcast, Season 2

On Our Minds — a podcast made by teens, for teens, all about teens and mental health — is back for another season! Produced by students participating in PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness

Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness airs July 27 and 28 at 9pm on Idaho Public Television.

Follow the journeys of more than 20 young Americans from all over the country and all walks of life who have struggled with thoughts and feelings that have troubled and, at times, overwhelmed them.

Hiding in Plain Sight presents an unstinting look at both the seemingly insurmountable obstacles faced by those who live with mental disorders and the hope that many have found after that storm.

Nature Cat will visit several libraries in Idaho!

May 18, 5:30 pm, Meridian Library District

May 20, 1:00 pm Glenns Ferry Public Library at 1:00pm

May 20, 3:30 pm, Gooding Public Library

Saturday, May 21, 10am-2pm

Summer Reading and Learning Celebration, lawn and amphitheater at Jack's Urban Meeting Place (JUMP), Boise.

Join Boise Public Library with partners Ada Community Libraries, Boise Schools, Idaho Public Television, and Rediscovered Bookshop to celebrate reading and learning opportunities for youth this summer! Free event.

With special appearance from Nature Cat!

Space Scouts game

Ages 6-8

Build structures for astronauts

and earn badges with other

STEM-focused games.

Space Scouts app

Grades K-5

Become the Ultimate Space Scout by designing, building and engineering with 5 STEM focused games and badges.