:: Ask Gilby! :: Akron Public Schools

Parents & Teachers

About the Show

He’s cute, furry and curious. And he’s here to make learning fun!

Why is the sky blue? Why do we need the sun? What makes people grow? Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Now they have a special friend to help them explore their curiosities! Gilby is a curious puppy who loves to fetch answers to questions from little boys and girls. His friends Miss Kathy, B.E. Mann, Augustus Bustus and many others join Gilby in his daily adventures. Whether he is visiting a farm, going on a picnic or riding a train, Gilby has a great time learning about friendship, manners and music. At the same time, children are learning skills to prepare them for school. Each half-hour show follows the same format. The familiarity of each show creates a comfortable, safe learning environment and makes it easy for children to follow the show.

Gilby encourages children to explore and learn by writing, calling and e-mailing with questions of their own. Educational consultants and child psychologists from Akron Public Schools work with show producers to link each show with lessons on colors, numbers, shapes, letters and opposites.

Here are a few things grown-ups can do to encourage children’s curiosity and share Gilby’s enthusiasm for learning:

Watch Ask Gilby^® with children.

Talk about the themes of the show, and ask children to give examples of those themes in their everyday lives.

Find activities that mirror the simple ideas presented in each show.

Build oral language skills (talking, rhyming, singing songs).

Read to your child as often as possible.

Encourage your child to choose the books you read together, and help your child tell the story from looking at the pictures.

Before beginning to read, settle your child down; and talk a little about the book (“This looks as if it’s going to be a funny story.”).

Talk about the books you read and the people, animals and things in them.

Talk about everyday print ("We are going to get a hamburger. See the sign? It says, 'Drive Thru.' ").

Point to the words as you read them.

Hold the book so the child can see the pictures and the writing. Let the child hold the book and turn the pages.

Draw attention to the illustrations when reading.

Encourage the child to join in and “read,” too.

Accept and praise your child’s attempts to read.

Leave the book handy for private readings to teddy.

Reread favorite stories again and again.

Help your child retell the story using the pictures.

Help your child enroll in the local library.

Select books that describe familiar experiences, concepts and objects as well as fairy tales and fantasy stories.

Make sure your child sees members of the family reading.

Buy books as presents. Let your child help you choose them.

Use audio tapes of favorite stories and songs in the car to play on long trips.

Help your child to recognize his/her own name.

Encourage your child to begin a book collection.

Select books that use repetition to capture the rhythm of language (“The Three Billy Goats Gruff”).

Tell stories on the way to the store, at bath time and at bedtime.

Place labels around the home (“These are Kim’s favorite books.”).

Fill your child’s room with posters, books and pictures of story characters.

Prepare snacks and meals to teach about measuring, nutrition, tastes and smells.

Group and sort household items to build organizational and basic math skills.

Play games with words, numbers, shapes and colors to teach basic language and number skills.

Visit places such as libraries, museums and stores to show your child how the world works.

Encourage creative play by keeping crayons, markers, pencils and paper in a writing area in your home.

Show times
Ask Gilby^® airs in the Akron, Ohio, area Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on APS 15 (Time Warner Cable channel 15). Ask Gilby^® also airs Mondays at 7:30 a.m. on WOAC 67 in Cleveland and airs in the following cities: Akron, Ohio; Baltimore, Md.; Boston, Mass.; Bridgeport, Conn.; California, Pa.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; North Attleborough, Mass.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; San Francisco, Calif.; Ware, Mass.; and Willmar, Minn. Times are subject to change.

The Akron Board of Education does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, creed or ancestry, age, gender, marital status, or disability in employment or in its educational program and activities.

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