My parents instinctively realized that I, as an undiagnosed dyslexic child in the 1960s, learned better through projects and hands-on activities. I believe this experience made me a better teacher and library employee because I understand we each learn in different ways.
Our library, the Graham County Public Library in Robbinsville, concentrates on classes such as sewing, basket weaving and music. We offer all learners a comfortable place to prosper, and our hands-on classes complement the other media and ways of learning offered.
Growing up, I was raised to respect everyone and our Earth. Going to reunions and visiting grandparents and other relatives was very important. We loved playing with our cousins and listening to stories about our parents’ past. Oh, the mischief our older relatives found when they were young!
We also heard stories of hard work, survival by living off the land and finding solutions to the difficulties of living in these beautiful mountains we call home. Our mother taught us how to sew and how to break, string and can beans from our garden, which overflowed each year.
We fished, which was fun for us, but in reality it was food for our table. We also learned by sitting under the stars and listening to our mother tell stories of the constellations. She played her guitar and sang us to sleep with songs from her mountain homeland. We learned to recycle before it was the “in thing” and to care for the Earth.
Our father, a forester, taught us respect for our Earth. The stories he told of surveying deep in the forests mesmerized us for hours. He would bring home forest animals for us to see and admire. When he felt sorry for the animal, he had us release it back into nature.
The PBS KIDS show Molly of Denali reminds me so much of my childhood. She and her dog Suki, friends Tooey and Trini are surrounded by loved ones who support their sense of adventure and style of learning. As the group sets out to solve a problem, they are equipped with the shared knowledge of their community of learning, which is so beautiful and dear to me.
The plaGet ready to sled into fun with “Molly of Denali”! In this show for children ages 4 to 8, join Molly, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska. Along the way, Molly’s life is enhanced, kept on track and flat-out saved by maps, guidebooks, websites, weather reports and more. ne is stuck in the ice!
Molly learns about her heritage and history through family traditions. In Alaska Native culture, honoring your elders and sharing what you have are important community values. Participating in family traditions allows Alaska Native children to learn lessons from their elders that they can then share with their community.
Mary Griffin is the Rootle Ambassador for Graham County. She taught K–3 for over 20 years before moving to Robbinsville to take care of her mother. She has been the branch manager for the Graham County Public Library for six years.
Join us in communities across North Carolina as we play, explore and share free hands-on activities, games, demonstrations with community partners, PBS KIDS educational resources and more. Each stop of the Rootle Roadster Tour will feature learning experiences through purposeful play that families can enjoy together.
Join the PBS North Carolina Education team for a series of webinars, highlighting free educational resources available for educators, parents & caregivers in North Carolina. Each webinar will highlight a favorite PBS KIDS program and share simple strategies for using these resources in the classroom and at home.