Between the Lions is designed to help kids ages 3 to 7 learn to read. Unique among the hundreds of programs aimed at children, this puppet, animated, and live-action show is based on a detailed and rigorous literacy curriculum. It was developed in extensive and ongoing consultation with reading professionals. The result is a lively, educational blend of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and other teaching methods for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students. Several independent, scientifically-based reading research studies have shown that Between the Lions has a significant impact in increasing children's literacy.
The lions are joined by a cast of characters who play specific roles in reinforcing the literacy curriculum. The two knights in Gawain's Word rush headlong toward each other to give our viewers a crash course in how sounds are put together to make words. This is just one example of how Between the Lions addresses phonemic awareness. Cliff Hanger, the star of a continuing adventure series, showcases key words and sounds, and his recurring refrain, "Can't hold on much longer," provides repeated text. Reading experts tell us that repeated reading helps build fluency; the recurring Cliff Hanger segments are just one example of how we address this literacy goal.
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