What would your day be like without Public Television?

Federal funds for public broadcasting are in jeopardy. Below, Paula Kerger, President of PBS, addresses the situation. This is very real for KLRN and all public broadcasters across the country. You CAN help. Local information is available here . Thank you for listening.

Watch the full episode. See more PBS Presents.

Shaping History

by Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

Past events have helped shape our country to be what it is today. Students will often ask you “Why are we learning this?” In regard to the subject of history, the typical answer is “so history will not repeat itself.”

February is “Black History Month,” a time to commemorate African Americans who have shaped history. This celebration began in 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, of Harvard, initiated “Negro History Week.” Dr. Woodson, who was a historian, chose the second week in February because it included the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. It was extended in 1976 to the entire month of February.

During the month of February, we remember those exceptional African Americans who helped shape our nation. We remember Rosa Parks and her stand against inequality, abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Students, for the most part, are familiar with these individuals. They might not, however, know who Benjamin Banneker and James Van Der Zee were. Teachers need to not only teach students about those well known famous individuals, but also those individuals who have shaped history but might not be in their textbooks.

Carl L. Becker said that history is the memory of things said and done. Every time a teacher recounts the history of our country, students are led down a path of critical thinking. Questions arise in classrooms over our state. How could this have been prevented? Why did this happen?

As cliché as it might be, one thing I always urged my students to remember is that “one person can make a difference.” One such person was Blanche Kelso Bruce, who was the first African American to serve a full term in the U.S Senate. He fought for the rights of minority groups from 1875-1881 while serving as a U.S. Senator. People can shape the history of our country with just one simple act or a few simple words speaking out for equality.

The Power of the Arts

by Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

When I was four years old, my mother introduced me to the music of the Nutcracker Ballet composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Mesmerized by the wonderful music, from that moment on I wanted only to listen to the beautiful music. A few years later, I was taken to a musical play and again I was entranced. My parents knew that I was the artsy child of their four children and I needed a heavy dose of the arts in my life. Dance classes, museum visits, auditions for plays, and countless theater-going experiences turned a shy little girl into someone who loved the stage. Who knew that years later my favorite stage would be my classroom?

I was the teacher who did voices for every character and would search for music to help with climactic moments in the story. Read-Aloud time was my students’ favorite time of day. I got to act for the most gracious of audiences and they were entertained for a few minutes by the teacher who was all math and reading the whole morning long. It was a win-win for both.

The older our students become, the less we bring music, art, and drama into our lessons. According to a recent study, involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Then why is it that Art programs are being taken out of many schools in our nation? Teachers hope that the Arts teachers or someone in the community will take on the cultural enrichment of our students as we are much too busy teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Is it only the job of the rotation teachers in elementary and the arts teachers in middle in high school to show our students the wonder of music, art, and drama? We worry so much about our students learning what is tested that we forget that we want to have students who are well rounded and ready to take in the world through their own point of view. I challenge you to try to incorporate one of the arts into your lessons at least once a week. You will see your students want to learn with more enthusiasm as they see the world from your cultural point of view and as they develop their own. Write and tell us about how you incorporate art, music, and drama into your everyday lessons.

KLRN Welcomes Rick Casey, Launches TEXAS WEEK

KLRN is proud to provide a (not-so)new home to Rick Casey, in a program launching on January 21...TEXAS WEEK with RICK CASEY. Rick's experience as a journalist, his point-of-view, his insight, and his Irish wit will make this weekly local news and issues program one not to be missed. With contributions and editorial from Texas Tribune's Evan Smith, discussions with local experts, and a "final word from Rick", this program will bring to San Antonio (and South Central Texas) something new, something exciting, and something informative. Welcome Rick! We're glad to have you. Look for TEXAS WEEK with RICK CASEY on Friday nights at 8:30 pm.

Get outside, even though you are inside...

Nature
The wonders of our world are on full display this holiday season in these three specials.



Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone
Friday, December 3, 4:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Saturday, December 4, 2:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Tuesday, December 21, 9:00 AM [KLRN World 9.2]
Thursday, December 23, 11:30 AM [KLRN World 9.2]
Saturday, December 25, 11:30 AM [KLRN World 9.2]
As snow falls and Christmas lights glow in Jackson Hole, a holiday season of a different sort settles in just beyond the town, in the great winter world of Yellowstone. Breathtaking landscapes frame intimate scenes of wolves and coyotes, elk and bison, bears and otters as they make their way through their most challenging season of the year. NATURE journeys in the footsteps of the men who first explored the park, and travels with their modern-day counterpart on his own journey of discovery. From the unique crystals of individual snowflakes to the grand sweep of Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, this is a Christmas like no other.

Nature: Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air
Sunday, December 5, 6:30 PM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Tuesday, December 7, 2:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Hummingbirds represent one of nature's most interesting paradoxes -- they are the tiniest of birds, yet they qualify as some of the toughest and most energetic creatures on the planet. New knowledge gained from scientists currently making great breakthroughs in hummingbird biology makes this a perfect time to focus on these shimmering, flashing jewels of the natural world. Stunningly beautiful high-definition, high speed footage of hummingbirds in the wild combined with high-tech presentations of their remarkable abilities help us to understand the world of hummingbirds as we never have before.

Panda Tales
Sunday, December 12, 7:00 PM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Wednesday, December 15, 2:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Friday, December 17, 4:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Go behind-the-scenes at the San Diego Zoo for a rare look at the first year of life of a baby Giant Panda. "Zhen Zhen" captivates visitors at the Zoo with her antics and charm, but she also represents hope for the future of this endangered species. Panda Tales combines music and fun scenes of the baby panda growing up with the science behind panda conservation efforts.

Relief from the parking lot battle...

Yoga & Healthy Living
Regardless how much we say that we’re not going to get stressed out this year, the holidays can still provide a lot of anxiety as we battle the parking lots and fret over our lists. In the midst of it all, don’t forget to take care of you. Here are a few programs that might help you unwind just a bit.



Back Care Basics: Yoga for the Rest of Us
Sunday, December 19, 9:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Just as Peggy Cappy has modified yoga poses in her earlier videos Yoga for the Rest of Us and More Yoga for the Rest of Us to make yoga accessible to every body, Peggy turns her attention to stretches and exercises that are most beneficial to back care. Strong, healthy back muscles provide support for your spine and result in more energy and vitality in everything you do. Peggy shows you the right exercises and yoga poses to protect your back and improve your posture. These simple but powerful exercises stretch and strengthen back muscles and can alleviate back pain caused by muscular tension. And, with regular practice, they can keep back pain from returning.

Easy Yoga for Arthritis with Peggy Cappy
Sunday, December 5, 9:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Tuesday, December 7, 5:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Friday, December 10, 5:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Saturday, December 18, 2:00 PM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Peggy Cappy’s newest program is a fabulous anti-stress yoga sequence, presented in her gentle style that everybody can do. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US, affecting some 37 million people. In this video Peggy shows how yoga can relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength.

Heart Healthy Yoga: Yoga for the Rest of Us
Sunday, December 12, 9:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Pioneering yoga instructor Peggy Cappy has made her mark in the world of yoga by developing and teaching an approach that makes yoga accessible to people of all ages, abilities and sizes. Continuing her mission to help Americans get healthier — and to promote yoga to the population at large — Cappy offers viewers a documentary special that demonstrates the heart-healthy benefits of yoga and shows how the simplest stretches and exercises can be incorporated into anyone’s daily routine.

Dr. Lori Mosca’s 3 Keys to Heart Health
Tuesday, December 7, 9:30 PM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Friday, December 10, 2:00 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Sunday, December 12, 10:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Tuesday, December 14, 2:30 AM [KLRN PBS 9.1]
Heart disease is the number one killer of women… and men. It can't be cured, but it can be prevented. Dr. Mosca will cover simple steps to prevent heart disease and lead a happier, healthier life for you and your family.

Hot cocoa required...

It’s that time of year to nuzzle up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa and KLRN. We have a great line up of holiday themed programs that are sure to get you in the spirit of the season!



Click on any of the program titles below for dates, times and descriptions.

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
Great Performances: Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas
Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone
Orla Fallon’s Celtic Christmas
Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes
Rick Steve’s European Christmas
Straight No Chaser: Live in New York: Holiday Edition

Need some food for thought?

Looking for ideas on what to cook for dinner? This December we are airing some of your favorite cooking programs, that will help to...get the juices flowing! Find your inspiration in roasting a chicken with Julia Child, traveling to Mexico with Rick Bayless for authentic Ceviche or grilling up a flavorful BBQ feast with Steven Raichlen.

(back by popular demand--Julia Child Memories Dec 11 at 5p)


Click on any of the program titles below for dates, times and descriptions.

America’s Home Cooking: Chocolate

Julia Child Memories: Bon Appétit!

Lidia’s The Best of Italy

Mexico One Plate At A Time

Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen

Can you feel the music?

I must say that PBS/KLRN is well-liked by music lovers (I happen to be one of them). The reason being, there is always a rich variety of music shows that cover everything from comfy classics that we love, to new up and coming artists, to big names that have taken the music industry by storm...then throw in some a cappella. We have it all! Over the next few weeks, we have some great musical programs for you. I hope you have a chance to tune in and take a moment to get lost in the music. Enjoy!





11/29 Roy Orbison: In Dreams
11/30 Motown Memories
12/2 Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics: 60s
12/2 Carole King-James Taylor Live at the Troubadour
12/4 John Sebastian Presents: Folk Rewind
12/4 Jeff Beck Honors Les Paul
12/5 Steve Miller Band: Live in Chicago
12/5 Love Me Tender--The Love Songs of Elvis
12/8 Straight No Chaser- Live in NewYork: Holiday Edition (watch preview)
12/9 Celtic Woman: Songs From The Heart
12/11 Great Performances: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
12/12 John Denver: A Song's Best Friend

For the love of wine...

KLRN is so pleased to announce the 2011 San Antonio Wine Festival event chairs. Dan and Soonalyn Jacob are spearheading this series of events that benefits KLRN. Now in it's 31st year, the San Antonio Wine Festival is a favorite event for people from all across South Central Texas. Many of them have seen it grow from a singular event for a handful of friends to a weekend of three different events, bringing "something for everybody." The Jacobs are filled with ideas, enthusiasm, spirit and a love for wine. We are thrilled to have them on board and look forward to a great and successful 2011.

Children’s Books in K-12 Classrooms

by Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

Watching a student spellbound by a book has to be one of my favorite things to see. The way that the whole world is shut out and the only thing that matters is what the author has written. Then again, I think that all teachers feel this way at one point or other.

Not too long ago, I walked into a high school classroom to observe and saw one of the most amazing things…all of the students were sitting on the floor as the teacher was reading a children’s book. Yes, this was a high school class. They were mesmerized as the teacher changed her voice to add drama to each character. This was her way of introducing her lesson. She read to them for five minutes, taught her lesson and in a mere twenty minutes, the classroom once again looked like an AP Junior English class.

It was fascinating to see a high school teacher entrance her students with the techniques that a kindergarten teacher uses. As we grow older, the child inside each of us often dies. This teacher made me think of a colleague who once dressed up as Christopher Columbus to introduce a series of books about Columbus’ journey from different points of view. She went as far as renting a period custom that included a wig. This is only one of many things she did to ensure that her students were engaged in her lessons. Although I did not teach for decades, I was lucky enough to see wonderful techniques by many amazing educators that taught me that an excellent teacher plants the seed in students to become readers for life.

November is National Children’s Book Month. Since 1919, it has been celebrated nationally in libraries, bookstores, and schools. This month gives educators, librarians, and families the opportunity to celebrate children's books--and the love of reading. Light the fire and encourage students to re-visit an old favorite and look at it, analyze it, and enjoy it once again!

This month, I don’t have a question for you but a task. Find your favorite children’s book and incorporate it into one of your lessons, whether you are an elementary teacher or high school teacher. And, then tell us about what you did.

Healthy Students

by Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

As educators, it is our job to ensure that our students are lifelong learners who thirst to know more about everything--knowledge that will extend far beyond the classroom’s lessons in Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies. As an avid reader and seeker of knowledge, I remember reading an interesting quote that made me reflect on my goals as a teacher. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” What was I doing to make sure that my students where healthy, both physically and mentally?

In 2008, the year that I turned a decade older, I took it upon myself to run the Inaugural San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon. Take into account that I had never run more than half a mile in my life, and here I was committing to running 26.2 miles. Many thought I was crazy, which reflecting back, I might have had a temporary moment of insanity. The ideas to do this came from my sister who had done a full marathon two years prior. She said it changed her life. What better way to celebrate another decade of my life then to subject my body and mind to a commitment of running this full marathon? Training started in June and continued until the marathon in mid-November. I gave up sleeping in on Saturday mornings and caffeine, and changed my eating habits to ensure that my body did not go into total shock from all this exercise.

The school year began in August, and I told my class about the personal goal I had taken on that summer. They asked why I wanted to do this and also what I would gain from it. The answers were simple. I wanted to celebrate with a lifestyle change, and I would gain a healthier body and mind from this commitment. My students helped me train during the week, reminding me to drink plenty of water and asking me first thing in the morning if I had done my cross-training. They held me accountable for my commitment.

The evening before the marathon, I laid out all my gear for next morning and went to bed early. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and was at the starting line--teeth chattering and hands freezing. It was a cold morning. The start gun when off and thousands of runners/walkers were off. At about mile seven, I took a wrong step and hurt my knee; I didn’t feel it until mile 13. I was in pain. Just as I was thinking of quitting, I was hurt after all, I saw them. There where my students holding up signs and cheering me on. They cheered me on from mile 13 all the way to the finish line. I finished with a very unimpressive time but it did not matter, I finished.

I came back to work on Tuesday to a classroom full of questions and newspaper articles. My students had been bitten by the running bug and there was no going back. We made a classroom initiative to be healthy--both mentally and physically. We walked two laps at recess to get our hearts pumping, and we had brain breaks to rest our minds when things were getting a bit too stressful and intense in class. It was a great year for all of us. We learned together that our bodies, when taken care of properly, would do amazing things. About a week ago, I got an email from a former student informing me that she was going to be doing the San Antonio Marathon this year. She remembers how much fun it was to watch and now she wanted to be a part of it.

In 1994, the third week of October officially became “National Health Education Week.” It is not only the Physical Education and Health teacher’s job to make certain that students are making conscience food and lifestyle choices. National Health Education Week is an excellent opportunity to engage communities and schools to focus on important health issues that affect our society. The Mayor’s Fitness Council launch on Saturday, October 16 at Woodlawn Lake Park is one way that the Alamo City is taking a step to be a healthier community.

My question to you this month is: How do you encourage your students to make healthy lifestyle choices to promote a better working classroom environment? Use the comment box below to share your response.

FALL PREVIEW 5: MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! & INDEPENDENT LENS

We are wrapping up our week of fall season highlights with a closer look at a modern Serlock Holmes.

MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!
Sundays at 8 PM
London 2010. Sherlock Holmes — loner, oddball, genius. John Watson — doctor, soldier, war hero. Two men who couldn’t be more different ... united by adventure.
Sherlock: A Study in Pink: October 24 | When an unidentified woman, dressed all in pink, turns up murdered, Sherlock must catch the killer.
Sherlock: The Blind Banker: October 31 | When a banker is found dead inside his locked apartment, Sherlock and Watson follow the clues.
Sherlock: The Great Game: November 7 | Sherlock must solve perplexing and dangerous puzzles specifically laid out for him.

INDEPENDENT LENS
Tuesdays at 10 PM
This acclaimed Emmy Award-winning anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers.
The Longoria Affair: November 9 | Private Felix Longoria died during World War II, his Texas hometown’s only funeral parlor refused his family because “the whites wouldn’t like it.” The incident created deep divisions — but it also helped launch the Mexican American civil rights movement.

While this wraps up our look at the highlights coming this fall, there are many other programs you’ll find each night on KLRN. From the PBS NewsHour to Need to Know, Dinosaur Train to The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, Antiques Roadshow to History Detectives, we’ll keep you posted on what’s coming up with our biweekly Previews e-newsletter. Sign up at http://www.klrn.org/signup/.

And as always, we want to know what you think about our programs!

FALL PREVIEW 4: CIRCUS & FRONTLINE

We’ve heard that many of you have enjoyed the series CARRIER, which looked at life aboard an air craft carrier. The creator of that series is back with CIRCUS. FRONTLINE looks at issues close to home in October.

These are just two shows we are highlighting this week. If you don’t want to miss these or other great programs on KRLN, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

CIRCUS
Wednesdays, November 3-17
Hit the road with CIRCUS and take an unforgettable trip with the legendary Big Apple Circus. From the big top to the “back lot” — where the real heart of the circus beats — explore a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Get involved with the diverse characters who make up the Big Apple family. Share their fears and frustrations, triumphs and failures and find out what it really means to live life in the ring.
Watch a preview of Circus at http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/

FRONTLINE
As PBS’ premier public affairs series, FRONTLINE’s stature is reaffirmed each week through incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human, social and political experience.
Death by Fire: October 19 | Did Texas execute an innocent man? FRONTLINE examines the conviction and 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson death of his three young children in light of new science that raises doubts about whether the fire at the center of the case was really arson.
The Spill: October 26 | Through interviews with current and former BP employees and executives, government regulators and safety experts, FRONTLINE joins with ProPublica to examine the trail that led to the disaster in the Gulf.

FALL PREVIEW 3: GOD IN AMERICA & NOVA

Continuing our look at the programs coming this fall to KLRN, today we’re highlighting a thought-provoking collaboration between FRONTLINE and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE called, GOD IN AMERICA.

GOD IN AMERICA
Monday-Wednesday, October 11-13, 9 PM
How has religious belief shaped American history? What role have religious ideas and spiritual experience played in shaping the social, political and cultural life of what has become the world's most religiously diverse nation?
For the first time on television, God in America, a presentation of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE, will explore the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States. The six-hour series, which interweaves documentary footage, historical dramatization and interviews with religious historians, will air over three consecutive nights.
Watch a preview God In America at: http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/

NOVA
Tuesdays at 8 PM
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines.
Building the Great Cathedrals: October 19 | Carved from a hundred million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spider web of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights?
Trapped in an Elevator: November 2 | Across North America, elevators move 325 million passengers every day. NOVA reveals the secret life of these ubiquitous machines and investigates personal stories of those who have been caught inside when they fail.

If you don’t want to miss these great programs, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/