Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Tool Kit

K-Gr 5—Martha is an unusual dog. When she eats alphabet soup, the letters go up into her head, giving her the ability to speak. The PBS Kids series, Martha Speaks, is based on Susan Meddaugh's stories and characters. This program contains eight episodes that emphasize reading and vocabulary development. In each segment, the pooch learns valuable lessons as well as interesting words. She learns to accept a new dog into the house and appreciate his uniqueness. She aspires to be a hero, longs to be a firedog, and provides positive reinforcement for a neighborhood "bad dog." Martha also exposes a crooked dog trainer, wins a prize from a radio show, and creates bedlam when her owner is sick and she's left in charge. Presented in bright, colorful animation, the stories are funny and sure to appeal to the target audience. Special features include additional classroom materials, information on how to use the program in a Buddy Reader setting, and more. One DVD features the episodes without introductory music and narration, allowing teachers to get right to the heart of things, while the other one includes narration and music, providing some setup for vocabulary instruction. This helps teachers meet a variety of educational needs and allows more flexibility in the program's use. The episodes can also be viewed from the Martha website, but the DVDs eliminate worries over bandwidth and loading speed. Students will enjoy Martha's rich fantasy life, the fun cast of diverse characters, and the delight of new words.—Teresa Bateman. Brigadoon Elementary School. Federal Way, WA