Community reviews for Radio Rookies

What I like about this site is that is contains youth produced radio documentaries. It asks the students to think about: What do I think about this issue? What has been my personal experience with this issue? What about my experience leads me to agree or disagree? The answers to these questions lead nicely into a unit on argument writing. The site is also organized by topics such as search by topic such as dreams, education, family, loss, race, violence, sexuality, all issues that are relevant and meaningful to students today. I also like the resources for educators such as information on how to report a story,or how to teach interview skills.

Podcasts - at least good podcasts - tell engaging stories, inform, entertain, and provoke. They draw from a palette of music and sound effects to further enhance the experience. A well produced piece will be concisely worded, articulate, and pleasing to the ear. Editing of audio recording is relatively easy, but the addition of sound-effects and music can be tricky at first. The skills gained from podcast production are generalizable to many other forms of narrative and reporting. Students of all ages and abilities can participate in making and producing podcasts. Readers may be interested in listening to a podcast made made by autistic students at http://www.autismradio.org/.