Martha Speaks is one of the shows that my daughter has been drawn to. She’s 6 and still enjoys Martha Speaks. We even went to see a puppet show at a local theater here in Atlanta, based on Martha Speaks. You could say she’s a fan!
The popular PBS KIDS series Martha Speaks continues its fourth season with a special episode featuring actress and super mom Jennifer Garner. Garner, mother to three young children with actor/director Ben Affleck, will be animated alongside her dog, whose name also happens to be Martha. Her appearance on Martha Speaks adds to her advocacy efforts on behalf of children’s literacy. Garner, whose mom was an English teacher, is an artist ambassador for Save the Children’s early education programs and has worked to promote legislation that ensures quality early education and literacy for children.
“Ms. Garner shares the same passion for reading and dogs we do,” says executive producer Carol Greenwald. ” We were thrilled to have her lend her talents to this episode.”
In “Too Many Marthas,” Martha is asked to sing at an animal rescue fundraiser and she’s thrilled. But on the day of the concert, Martha gets mixed up with another Martha – a dog belonging to a lady named Jennifer (Jennifer Garner). Can Martha help Jennifer locate her missing pup before it’s time to sing? Kids can tune-in and learn new words like number, aria, and a capella.
Also airing is the brand-new episode “Too Much Martha.” In this episode, Martha’s constant pursuit of snacks has added some extra pounds and the vet says she needs to lose some weight. The family resolves to help Martha control her portions and maintain a balanced diet, but when Martha learns what this means, she’s pretty fed up. No more late-night pizza?
Tune in for this brand-new Martha Speaks Monday, February 4, 2013 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).
We are huge fans of PBS. We’ve been watching PBS for 11 years and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without it. I’m not just talking about the kid’s shows. We watch PBS nature shows and concerts too.
The Poetry Foundation and WGBH are teaming up to invite kids to celebrate National Poetry Month with Martha Speaksand Arthur. Tune in to PBS KIDS Monday, April 2, 2012 (check local listings) to join former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins and inaugural Childrens Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky in episodes highlighting poetry. Kids also are invited to create and publish their own poetry online with an all-new game, Marthas Rhyme Time at pbskids.org/martha and Fern’s Poetry Club at pbskids.org/arthur.
Martha Speaks and Arthur share a focus on literacy and actively encourage creativity and love of words, says Carol Greenwald, Senior Executive Producer atWGBH. Through this partnership with the Poetry Foundation, we hope to encourage and inspire the next generation of poetry readers and writers.
Children who are exposed to the joys of poetry at a young age are most likely to become lifelong readers of poetry as adults, adds Stephanie Hlywak, Media Director of the Poetry Foundation. How better to create a new generation of poetry lovers than to enlist the help of Martha, Arthur, Billy Collins, and Jack Prelutsky?
PBS Kids' Martha and Billy Collins
Airing Monday, April 2, 2012, PBS KIDS will premiere the brand-new Martha Speaks episode Billy Collins Speaks (check local listings). In this episode, Billy Collins writes great poems about dogs, and Martha thinks she knows why. Obviously, the former poet laureate must be a canine himself! When Martha meets Billy Collins, shes in for a few surprises…as is he. Tune in to learn words like poem, poet, prose, imposter, and metaphor. Then in the classic Arthur episode Im a Poet, Arthur and his friends are challenged to write a poem for a contestto be judged by inaugural Childrens Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky. Though intimidated at first, everyone comes up with a poem that reflects his or her own unique approach.
Two new Martha Speaks episodes highlighting parts of speech and featuring a visit from the Bookbots air on PBS KIDS Tuesday and Wednesday, April 3-4, 2012 (check local listings). Additionally, past episodes of Arthur celebrating creative writing will air on PBS KIDS Tuesday-Friday, April 3-6, 2012 (check local listings).
New Games Highlight Poetry and Creative Writing Online at pbskids.org!
Kids are invited to read, write, and share poetry online with Marthas Rhyme Time at pbskids.org/martha and Fern’s Poetry Club at pbskids.org/arthur.
Martha’s Rhyme Time
In Marthas Rhyme Time, kids can create rhyming couplets for Martha to perform. Building each from six different sets of words, there aremathematically speakinga bazillion combinations to create. Kids also can customize the performance stage and create a printed version to color and stick on the fridge. And, of course, with Martha being Martha, she’ll introduce and explain many new vocabulary words along the way!
Fern’s Poetry Club
Ferns Poetry Club is a long-running, popular poetry feature on the Arthur website that encourages children to write and share their poems online. Fern’s Poetry Club contains information to help kids understand what poetry is, a description of different types of poems, and tips for kids on how to write their own poemsplus an archive of poems submitted to the site over the past 10 years. To celebrate National Poetry Month, new features will be added, including poetry-related video clips from Arthur. Kids will now see Fern, Arthur, and all their friends enjoying this wonderful form of expression!
Here is a cute video of Martha assuming that the real Billy Collins is a canine and causing some trouble.. as only Martha can.
Billy Collins writes great poems about dogs, and Martha thinks she knows why. Obviously, the former poet laureate must be a canine himself! When Martha meets Billy Collins she’s in for a few surprises…as is he. Don’t miss Martha Speaks, weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings). For more information, visit http://pbskids.org/martha.
®Click image to watch video preview on YouTube
