For my last blog, I chose to take a closer look at Sesame Workshop located on the web at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/home.  This site is an additional educational site that goes along with the ever popular Sesame Street program on PBS.  I have to admit, I was impressed with their expansion since I was a child.  Their mission statement reads, “We are committed to the principle that all children deserve a chance to learn and grow; to be prepared for school; to better understand the world and each other; to think, dream and discover; to reach their highest potential”.  The website, as well as the show, definitely lives up to that statement.  On the website I found four initiatives:  Health and Wellness, Respect and Understanding, Literacy and Numeracy, and Emotional Wellbeing.  These are the areas that programming and educational resources reach.

When I was a child I only remember letters and numbers sprinkled with a few “be kind to others” type skits.  Now on Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop we see a broader theme to cover acceptance of others worldwide.  I am impressed that Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop are reaching out to at least eighteen countries outside the U.S.   Their programs explore other cultures in America as well as abroad in a fun way using their most popular characters such as Big Bird and Grover.

Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop are also exploring issues that separate and divide those of us in the U.S.  They have done shows and listed resources for bullying and economic difficulties. Children from lower income families have always seemed to struggle more in education.  Sesame Workshop media and related programming are attempting to lesson that gap by educating young children on how to cope, how to handle stress, and even teaching simple financial basics.

Personally, I think I will be checking out this website more to educate my own children at home and in my future classroom.  Sesame Workshop is geared for young children, but we all can learn from it.  Acceptance of others, bullying, and learning to cope with circumstances are things all of us need from time to time.  However, as a teacher I know I will have at least one student who deals with some of these issues almost all the time.  I believe this site can give me insight on how to help and guide that student to cope and achieve a sense of wellbeing. 

Sesame Street. (2011).  http://www.sesamestreet.org/

Sesame Workshop. (2011).  http://www.sesameworkshop.org