Hello Bend!
During the crazy year of 2020, a lot of us parents of school-aged kiddos have turned to home-schooling and are finding ourselves faced with distance learning. As we desperately navigate the new territory of acting as teacher, parent, tutor, and online classroom facilitator (amongst our many other roles in life) we are on the constant look out for tools to make this easier on us. Vooks is an amazing resource I’ve been introduced to this year, and I wanted to share it with the Hello Bend Community during this era where we’re all battling screen time limits, and are in search of high-quality content for our children to get excited about.
What is Vooks?
Vooks is a streaming library of animated children’s storybooks. Narrators make the characters come alive via animation, read-along text & musical effects. A streaming service that makes learning to read actually FUN. The design of the program is to transform children’s books into immersive experiences that promote literacy, imagination, and fun for kids. Vooks is a Kid-safe (best for ages 2-8), ad-free, ever growing library, filled with all of the most favorite and beloved quintessential childhood books.
Vooks for Teachers:
Teachers–you have one of the most important jobs in the world. 2020 has changed your work in so many ways and Vooks wants to recognize your efforts and serve as a resource for you. Teachers get one year of Vooks for FREE. This includes free Educational Resources + Lesson Plans and the Pause and Ponder series that facilitates deeper questioning.
Are you a teacher? We appreciate you! Get your free year by signing up here!
Vooks for Parents:
Vooks has made it their mission to encourage and inspire kids to fall in love with reading. That’s why they feature and emphasize all the elements that make storytime so special: read-along pacing, valuable life lessons, and a visual connection between words and text. It’s quality screen time you can feel good about as a parent, and boy do we know how hard that is to come by. The platform curates kids content in a new and fresh way that makes it easy for teachers and parents to direct their children’s social and emotional development. They already have channels like friendship, bravery, and kindness. In the near future they are bringing on channels like empathy, growth mindset, science and biography.
Pencils of Promise
Pencils of Promise and Vooks are partnering to spread the love of reading and give children the tools and resources they need to succeed. Click this special link to subscribe to join Vooks + POP and build schools together! By signing up now, you’ll be helping Pencils of Promise build schools in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos.
Bonus Fact: Did you know that Vooks has a special connection to Bend, Oregon? Co-founder and Chief Communications Officer, Shannon Bex is a Mountain View High school alumna! Additionally, Shannon Bex is a nationally acclaimed performing artist: singer, dancer, choreographer and multi-platinum recording artist–maybe you’ve heard of Danity Kane? Shannon truly believes in value of a good book and bringing the love of reading to children at a young age. Something that will be a part of their lives forever–Thanks Shannon for all you do, ad for bringing us Vooks!
Vooks Blog || Vooks Facebook || Vooks Instagram || Vooks Website
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Brenda Menzel, Broker
Cascade Sotheby’s Int’ l Realty ~ Hello Bend Real Estate
541-640-2125