KIDS FIRST! Juror Training

To become a KIDS FIRST! Juror, you first need to take our training course. This

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insures the quality of a KIDS FIRST! evaluation and endorsement. The jury training is presented as a webinar in two consequtive sessions. The course fee is $30 per person. This is 100% refundable once you complete the course and complete evaluations of six titles for us.
Class Schedule
Monday, February 1 (Pt.1) and Wednesday, February 3 (Pt. 2) 8:00 EST
Future classes will be generally be held the first Monday and Wednesday
of the month at 8:00 pm EST.
Note: You need to take both parts to complete the course.
There is an additional, non-refundable fee of $20 for an independent training.
To register, go here or call our office at 505-989-8076
If you have further questions, please Contact us.

 

Concerned about what your kids watch on TV?
At the movies? On DVD?

Concerned about violence in videogames?
Do you even know what your kids do online?

Want to do something about ALL of this?

Current Jurors click here for forms

Take the KIDS FIRST! Media Training

Rather than telling kids what to watch or what not watch, by teaching kids how to critique media, they tend to make better choices for themselves.

 

 

Our online media literacy course teaches you how to evaluate and critique a film, TV show, or videogame. The course guides you in facilitating a children's jury as well. Once you register, you are assigned a personal trainer who guides you through the course. It takes about four hours to complete. You don't have to go anywhere to take it because the course is conducted entirely online, and in your own home or work environment. This enables you to participate at a time and place convenient to you. We recommend that you complete it within one week.

The course offers a variety of self-guided activities that you complete first by yourself and second with a child or a group of children. Through the training you will address how to:

  1. Teach children to view media critically.
  2. Teach children how media can affect us.
  3. Teach children how to evaluate media using specific criteria.
  4. Teach children how to write reviews and critique media verbally, alone or as part of a group.
  5. Teach children how to identify and use great media.

    "It is very cool that I, as a kid, can have influence on other kids and parents on what movies that they buy. I have learned about how important the content of the films are and how many great movies there are for kids."

    Jay was impressed. "I asked Zeb (then 7) how he liked the movie. He started talking about the characters, what he liked and didn't like, and kept going on. I couldn't believe it. " Jay hadn't taken into consideration that Zeb had been a KIDS FIRST!® juror since the tender age of three.

Join the KIDS FIRST! Jury

Once you complete the course, you are invited to join our nationwide, community-based Jury. Together, with more than 300 adults and 3,000 kids, you become part of the nucleus for the KIDS FIRST! Endorsement Program.

Once or twice a month, you will be notified via email of the opportunity to evaluate a film, CD, or videogame. You will be given the deadline for when the evaluation needs to be completed. And, you choose whether or not to accept the materials for evaluation. If you are too busy, or going on vacation, you don't have to accept. It's up to you. One of the big benefits of evaluating programs for us is that you may keep any of the films, CDs, or videogames that you recommend. Many of our Jurors have built a hefty media library for themselves simply because they are active evaluators. If you are a teacher or librarian, it's a great way to build up your school's media library. You can donate them to your church, community center, or just keep them for yourself.

Details

There is a $30 course fee which covers everything, including the time spent by your personal trainer. No matter how long it takes you to complete, the fee stays the same. And, the fee is 100% reimbursable if you become a KIDS FIRST! juror and evaluate six films, or other media, within six months. To get started, simply fill out the online application form.

  • WE PAY EDUCATORS TO JOIN OUR JURY! If you are an educator, we'll pay you to do the training. Pay $20 upfront to take the training. Once you complete the training, including evaluating six films, or other media, within six months, we'll pay you back $30!
  • CQCM INDEPENDENT PRODUCER MEMBERS who join the jury, benefit from one free endorsement fee waiver after they have completed the course and evaluated six titles.

KIDS FIRST! jury training is presented as a webinar in two consequtive sessions. Our training fee is $30 per person. This is 100% refundable once you complete the course and complete evaluations of six titles for us.

Do it Now: Here's How to Get Started

  1.  

    I have six high energy boys here today (no school for a teacher training day) with freezing weather so they can't go out, and guess what arrived in the mail? VEGGIE TALES! And ones I've seen before so I knew it was okay to show them. You saved my day!! Christine L. Pollock, Senior Juror, Managing Editor, KIDS FIRST! News
    Fill out the online application form. Remember, the $40 fee is 100% reimbursable once you become a juror and complete evaluations for 6 titles in 6 months.
  2. Once you apply, your personal KIDS FIRST! Online Trainer will contact you with the curriculum.
  3. You will be assigned some reading material that is available on the KIDS FIRST! website, some films or TV shows to watch, and then asked to fill out an evaluation form. Your trainer will review your evaluation, give you a critique, and you'll prepare a second one. Once you have completed the adult portion of the course, you will repeat the same process with a child or group of children. It's fun! And, it's educational.
  4. Try to complete the course within ten days.
  5. Once you complete the course, your Trainer will notify the KIDS FIRST! office that you are ready to evaluate titles as a Juror. Your name will be added to our queue of Jurors you will be notified once or twice a month to ask if you're available to evaluate titles.
  6. When you reply affirmatively, two titles will be sent to you at a time. Generally, you'll have one week from receiving the films to complete the evaluation.
  7. Once we have received your evaluations for six titles within a six month period of time, the course fee will be refunded.
  8. You may continue as a KIDS FIRST! Juror for as long as you want. It's really up to you. Some of our Jurors have been with us for 10 years or longer.
  9. If you have any questions about any of this, please contact our Jury Manager, Lauren Longworth at 505-989-8076 or contact us via email.

Fill Out Your Registration Form Now!

Throughout the year, we have various opportunities for our Jurors. It might be a "members only" event at one of our film festivals, a media training seminar at a location near you or a free subscription to a magazine.

Who is KIDS FIRST!

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a national, 16-year-old, nonprofit (501-c-3) organization that is a voluntary collaboration between the media industry, educators and child advocacy organizations. The mission of the Coalition is: 1) To teach children to become critical media users and; 2) To increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media.