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| Stackhouse Elementary School 5th grade teacher Sherrie Y. Wilkins on NJTV Learning Live (NJTV) |
News Staff Reports
Children throughout New Jersey are tuning into NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network, for NJTV Learning Live, a program featuring lessons taught by New Jersey teachers.
The initiative, designed to advance learning during the statewide school closures caused by the COVID19 pandemic, was created through a partnership between NJTV, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).
“This is a great example of how New Jerseyans are coming together, from educators to broadcasters, to help improve student learning throughout the state,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “This partnership demonstrates the kind of commitment and idealism that epitomizes throughout New Jersey’s school community.”
Each weekday, NJTV Learning Live will offer four programs for grades 3 to 6. Third-grade instruction begins at 9 a.m.; fourth-grade programming is at 10 a.m.; fifth grade is 11 a.m.; and sixth-grade instruction begins at noon. Subjects will include English language arts, math, science, social studies, and a “special” such as art, music or physical education.
Each hourlong segment features a lesson recorded by a teacher from his or her home. The NJEA is
working with the NJDOE to invite teachers to participate in the broadcasts, with the initial outreach
attracting more than 200 educators who volunteered to provide instruction.
“Nothing is better than face-to-face instruction given by a teacher in the classroom, but while we are all doing our part to flatten the curve, NJEA members are also looking for every opportunity to help
students keep learning,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “These lessons will provide valuable
enrichment and supplement what students are already getting from their own teachers. They will also
showcase the amazing work that our educators continue to do every day, even in the middle of a
pandemic.”
The NJDOE reviews and selects the teachers, and NJTV will provide its services to produce and broadcast the programs (locate your local channel on NJTV’s “Where to Watch” webpage).
“At this most unique time in our state’s and our country’s history, public media is poised to help more
than ever before,” said NJTV General Manager John Servidio. “NJTV Learning Live perfectly aligns with NJTV’s mission to serve our community, and only our unique broadcast reach, which reaches into all 21 counties of the state, makes this possible. We can extend lessons from teachers’ homes to students across the Garden State.”
NJTV Learning Live is scheduled to run until May and can continue into mid-June if needed.
The on-air classroom lessons will be livestreamed and archived on the network’s website,
NJTVonline.org.